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CHICLAYO, Peru — Pope Leo XIV returned on Friday to his former diocese, where he received an ecstatic welcome and seemed equally moved to be back.

"What a joy it is to return to Chiclayo! It is a blessing for me to be with you once again," Leo said at the start of his homily at an open-air Mass in an arid plain outside the city.

Then he added a poignant reminder that, despite the hectic pace of his 12-day trip to South America — which has left him seemingly unfazed a week into the journey — he had cancer surgery only a month ago.

"Thank you for your affection, support, and prayers, especially for my health during this time of trial which, with God's help, I am overcoming," the pope said. 

Approximately 1 million people lined the pope's route to the Mass site on the Pampas de Pimentel, and another 500,000 attended the liturgy, according to the Vatican.

Leo served as bishop of Chiclayo for eight years out of two decades in total as a missionary in Peru. He is the first foreign missionary in at least centuries to have been elected to the papacy.

But in his homily, he reminded his congregation that they were all called to evangelize.

"All Christians, whether ordained ministers or lay faithful — regardless of the degree of formation we have received in the faith — are missionary disciples," the pope said.

For most laity, he said, the task of evangelization takes the form of "the witness of an authentically Christian and coherent life." 

The pope said achieving that life "is not merely the fruit of our own will, but it is also a grace for which we must implore the Lord and with which we are called to cooperate through our personal commitment and effort."

Leo said that good works are a necessary concomitant to evangelization, "because the proclamation of the faith is linked to charity and the care of those most in need."

He also stressed that the welcome of the evangelist does not mean suspension of moral rigor, since Jesus "invites us to conform our lives to his in faithful obedience to his commandments."

"Without truth, love degenerates into mere sentimentality, while truth without love becomes rigid and cold," the pope said.

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On Nov. 15, the Dicastery for Evangelization will celebrate the 10th World Day of the Poor with Mass for people in need in St. Peter's Basilica. Lunch with Pope Leo XIV will follow a week later on Nov. 22, after his trip in South America.

According to the Vatican, lunch will include ice cream donated by Guttilla Gelateria and will be accompanied by music from the National Fanfare of the Italian Red Cross. At the end, participants will leave with a personal hygiene kit donated by Procter & Gamble.

With Pope Leo completing his tour of South America, he has designated Archbishop Luis Marin de San Martin, OSA, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, to celebrate the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 15.

Free healthcare at the heart of the Vatican

Founded in 2015 under Pope Francis, the Madre di Misericordia Clinic, and, since 2025, the San Martino Clinic, continue to offer free medical consultations and medication to the poor and homeless in Rome. During the week of the World Day of the Poor, the clinics will be open for longer hours to provide general and specialist medical visits, cancer screenings, flu vaccines, and blood exams.

Dr. Massimo Ralli, undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, noted that an additional examination room has been added to one of the Vatican health clinics, which are designed for people who "do not have documents and cannot access the Italian healthcare system."

These two clinics are run by 120 volunteers, including doctors, pharmacists, technicians, and nurses covering 26 specialties. Other volunteers give their time welcoming and talking to those who come to use the services, providing comfort in a nonmedical capacity.

"These people don't know where to go so they come here and can access specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology, or gastroenterologists," Ralli explained to EWTN News. The clinics also cover dental problems, because everyone struggles with this, he said, but especially if they do not have the wherewithal to manage the pain, "those who wish to go for job interviews [will struggle getting hired]."

To tackle this, Ralli explained that "if they need new teeth we also help them by covering the cost of new dentures." Another area the clinics cover is eyesight, because people who cannot see struggle to live a full life "so in this place they can get a visit, and we can also get the glasses."

On this 10th World Day of the Poor, the Church remembers what St. John Paul II said: "The poor are not a problem to be solved but a people to be welcomed and loved."

This statement rings true today as the Vatican prepares to welcome around 1,300 of those living on the street to a lunch with the pontiff on Nov. 22. In welcoming those living on the margins as honored guests rather than strangers, the Vatican seeks to embody the spirit of St. Francis and bear witness to the truth that the Lord remains the refuge of the poor.

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The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has called on the Canadian government to revise Bill C-41, the proposed Medical Assistance in Dying Safeguards Act, arguing that its provisions on advance requests for euthanasia raise serious ethical, legal, and human rights concerns.

In a parliamentary brief released Nov. 12, the bishops urged members of Parliament to separate two distinct issues in the legislation: the permanent exclusions of mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition for eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) and the proposed authorization of advance requests for euthanasia.

Bill C-41 was introduced in Parliament on Oct. 27 and is at its second reading in the House of Commons.

The CCCB also called for greater investment in palliative care, healthcare, and practical supports for people living with serious illnesses, disabilities, and declining independence.

Mosul honors 2 Christian martyrs as questions remain over return of displaced families

Two streets in Mosul, Iraq, now bear the names of Christian clergy killed during years of violence against the city's Christian community.

ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported that the latest dedication honors Syriac Orthodox Father Paul Iskandar, who was killed in 2006, with the street outside St. Ephrem Cathedral named in his memory. A nearby street was previously named after Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who died following his abduction in 2008.

Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Matti Sharaf welcomed the recognition but cautioned that symbolic gestures alone cannot encourage displaced Christians to return. He stressed that genuine security and stability are essential for rebuilding trust and restoring the Christian presence in Mosul.

Irish archbishop draws attention to 'threat of digitally enabled human trafficking'

The archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, has called for "renewed and collective action against human trafficking" in the face of "advances in digital technology [that] are creating new opportunities for the exploitation of vulnerable people."

Martin made the comments in a keynote address at the 20th anniversary conference of Act to Prevent Trafficking on Nov. 10 at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in Dublin. He drew attention to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and "the growing threat of digitally enabled trafficking and new forms of modern slavery."

Indonesian bishops call for Church to address poverty, other major challenges

Following their plenary assembly Nov. 4–10, the Indonesian bishops called on the Catholic Church to "move beyond pastoral statements and programs and take concrete action to address poverty, environmental degradation, and other challenges facing the country," LiCAS News reported.

The bishops made the statement at the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, which focused on the theme "Building a Sustainable Economy and Our Common Home." The bishops also stressed the need to translate Church teachings and pastoral commitments into practical initiatives that respond to the needs of communities.

Catholics join network urging EU to create new agriculture policy

A coalition of faith-based organizations working on food systems across the 27 European Union member states has called on European policymakers to strengthen environmental protections, support small-scale farmers, and promote sustainable food production in the next Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034.

In its position paper titled "A Christian Vision for the New Common Agricultural Policy," published in October, the Our Daily Bread Network argues that EU agricultural policy should reflect Christian principles of justice, stewardship of creation, and solidarity with farmers and consumers. It describes the relationship between farmers, the land, and animals as a covenant that must be protected through responsible agricultural practices.

The report identifies three priorities: justice for farmers, justice for all the living world, and justice for the people of Europe, and also stresses that greater flexibility for EU member states in implementing agricultural policy must be accompanied by accountability, transparent spending, and measurable environmental outcomes.

Oman's first Catholic church celebrates 50 years

A house of prayer established in 1977 in Oman for international workers is now a parish serving tens of thousands and is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

LiCAS News reported that an inaugural Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Ruwi, Muscat, celebrated by the apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap, on Nov. 6 opened the celebrations, which will run through Nov. 5, 2027. The golden jubilee marking the parish's service in the Arabian Peninsula will highlight "the history and missionary role of the country's Catholic community, which includes migrants from different nations."

Iraqi Christian political blocs clash over migration ministry

A dispute between Iraq's Christian political blocs, Sowayana and Babylon, has intensified over control of the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, a cabinet portfolio traditionally allocated to the Christian community, according to ACI MENA.

Although Babylon holds only two of the five parliamentary seats reserved for Christians, it argues that its alliance with the powerful Coordination Framework (the primary ruling political coalition) gives it sufficient political influence to secure the ministry. Its opponents question whether such alliances reflect the independent political will of Iraqi Christians.

The controversy raises a broader concern: whether political leaders will prioritize competition for government positions or address the emigration, displacement, property rights, and declining population threatening Iraq's historic Christian communities.

135-year-old Catholic school in England shuts down

A Catholic school that opened in 1891 and has been at the heart of a rural town in Dorset, England, has shut down suddenly, citing the Labour government's VAT (value-added tax) on private education. Parents, families, and teachers have formed a working group to reopen the school.

Implemented at the start of 2025, the Labour budget confirmed plans to apply VAT, an indirect consumption tax added to most products and services sold by registered businesses, to private school fees, as well as the plan to end charitable rate relief for private schools.

The school is known for some of its famous alumni, including actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Baroness Dido Harding. The closure has affected 600 pupils and 180 members of staff.

The company's chief executive, Hugh Dickinson, said they had not been able to overcome mounting financial pressures despite every effort to turn it around. The Catholic Schools Trust, a charity that holds the school's land and buildings, called the closure is "deeply concerning."

Isabella Reed contributed to this report.

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The Austrian Bishops' Conference has adopted its first rules on the use of artificial intelligence in the Church, declaring that AI may never take the place of human relationships, pastoral conversations, or the rites of the Church.

"The use of AI in the celebration of the sacraments, preaching, liturgy, or pastoral care may only be supportive," a core provision of the new framework states. "Replacing human relationships, pastoral conversations, community, or rituals with AI is inadmissible and is expressly rejected."

The bishops published the provision in their press statement on Thursday, explaining: "Particularly in preaching, liturgy, and pastoral care, the irreplaceability of personal encounter and human relationship must be preserved."

The full document section is titled "Framework Regulation on the Use of AI Systems in the Catholic Church in Austria and Its Institutions." It takes effect once it is published in the next official gazette of the bishops' conference. The bishops met in Salzburg from Monday to Thursday.

"Artificial intelligence is reaching ever more areas of life. The opportunities it brings are matched by high risks," the statement said. "AI also opens up new possibilities for the work and mission of the Church. Its use brings new ethical, legal, and social challenges and calls for responsible handling."

"The rules are grounded in the Christian image of man, the inviolable dignity of every person, and respect for their freedom," the bishops said. "AI should serve the human person and strengthen him in his responsibility, not replace him. Its use therefore requires critical review, human oversight, and orientation toward truth, justice, and the common good."

The framework also sets organizational requirements. "Among other things, the rules provide that every diocese must appoint a person responsible for AI," the bishops' conference said. "For cooperation across Austria, a new working group is being set up that includes all diocesan AI officers." Experts in data protection, information technology, and theological ethics will also take part, as will the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders.

In November 2025 the bishops' conference set up a working group on the use of artificial intelligence in the Church. Led by Bishop Hermann Glettler of Innsbruck, it was tasked with examining legal and ethical questions as well as practical applications for the Church.

At their summer plenary in Mariazell in June, the bishops explicitly endorsed Pope Leo XIV's social encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

"Pope Leo calls on us, even in the face of the promises of AI, to preserve the greatness of the human person, indeed the 'beauty of being human,' as a corrective and a standard," they wrote at the time.

They quoted the encyclical: "It is not enough for artificial intelligence to make us more efficient or connected; it must also serve to build a universal human family, with shared rights and duties, where digital proximity becomes a real opportunity for encounter and mutual care."

In the era of artificial intelligence, the encyclical says, "ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human." The bishops added in June: "Precisely because it is the rich and powerful who develop AI systems and use them to their advantage, we need the perspective of the poor, the weak, and the disadvantaged that the pope has called for."

"The future will not be decided by the performance of our systems but by whether we take responsibility — for the human person and for a culture of encounter, love, and peace," they wrote.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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On Nov. 13, the Catholic Church celebrates the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian-born missionary who served poor Italian immigrants in Chicago. The city plans to erect a statue of Cabrini in Arrigo Park, in Chicago's Little Italy, replacing a Christopher Columbus statue.

Here are 10 things to know about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini:

1. She was the first American citizen to be canonized.

Though born in Italy, Frances Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1909. In 1946, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII, becoming the first American citizen to be declared a saint.

2. She originally wanted to be a missionary to China.

Inspired by St. Francis Xavier, Cabrini hoped to evangelize in China. Instead, Pope Leo XIII directed her westward, telling her to serve immigrants in the United States, "not to the East, but to the West."

3. She arrived in New York with almost nothing.

In 1889, Cabrini landed in New York City with six fellow sisters and limited resources. What awaited her was not a warm welcome but housing instability and overwhelming poverty among Italian immigrants.

4. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

In 1880, she established the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious order dedicated to education, healthcare, and missionary work. The order continues its work worldwide today.

5. She built an empire of schools and hospitals.

By the time of her death, Cabrini had founded nearly 70 institutions, including orphanages, schools, and hospitals across the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

6. She served Italian immigrants during a time of intense prejudice.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Italian immigrants faced widespread discrimination in America. Cabrini advocated fiercely for their dignity, education, and healthcare.

7. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909.

Cabrini's naturalization reflected her long-term commitment to serving American communities, particularly in cities like New York and Chicago.

8. She died in Chicago in 1917.

Cabrini passed away on Dec. 22, 1917, in Chicago after years of tireless travel and work. The doctor attributed her death to chronic endocarditis, or heart disease. Her body is preserved for veneration at the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.

9. She is the patron saint of immigrants.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII officially named her the patron saint of immigrants, recognizing her lifelong dedication to displaced and marginalized communities.

10. Her legacy remains visible across the U.S.

Hospitals, schools, and institutions bearing her name continue her mission of faith-driven service and education.

This story was first published on Feb. 28, 2026, and was updated on Nov. 11, 2026.

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Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, will acquire Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the schools announced this week.

Pending institutional, canonical, and accrediting approvals from Church authorities and the U.S. Department of Education, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, which owns Marian University, said it plans to "gift" the school to Alvernia's founders, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters.

Marian will be renamed Alvernia University Marian Campus and will retain its mascot and most of its branding.

According to Alvernia president Glynis Fitzgerald, "the future of Catholic higher education will be shaped by institutions willing to work together, and steward their resources wisely."

Notre Dame adds bioengineering department

The College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame announced the opening of a bioengineering department on the heels of the recent establishment of the Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative and a $275 million investment into biomedical research at the university.

Research priorities will center on using tissue engineering and engineered disease models to lessen reliance on animal testing; the development of new medical devices and diagnostic tools to expand access to better healthcare; and biocomputing and research conducted in the microgravity environment of space.

"This new department is an exciting step in advancing Notre Dame as the leading global Catholic research university," provost John McGreevy said. "It will enable us to do even more and better research and to train students in an area where many of the most important questions facing both engineering and science are going to be addressed."

Catholic school students in 3 NYC boroughs outpace public school counterparts on 2026 state tests

Students in Catholic schools across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island scored higher than their New York City public school counterparts on 2026 state assessments, according to the Archdiocese of New York's 2025-26 Impact Report, "Renewed for Growth," released Nov. 10.

Compared with 48% of public school students, 66% of Catholic school students reached proficiency in English. In math, the Catholic school proficiency rate stood at 69%, compared with the 53% public school rate, the report states.

The findings, based on an Oct. 1, 2025, census, included 46,958 students enrolled in 146 schools across the three boroughs and seven surrounding counties.

Across the archdiocese, 65.3% of students in grades three through eight were proficient in English language arts and 67.4% were proficient in math on tests administered by the New York State Education Department.

The Catholic University of America one of 5 schools in nation awarded federal grant

The Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Services (CEVSS) has awarded a three-year, $627,000 grant to The Catholic University of America.

The university will use the award to develop a model program that serves the academic, financial, and social needs of military affiliated students and veterans, promoting their retention, enrollment, and graduation rates, and preparing them for life post-graduation. The CEVSS is a U.S. Department of Education program administered by the Labor Department.

Diocese of Pittsburgh reports growth, perfect graduation rate

In 2026, 100% of high school seniors graduated at the Diocese of Pittsburgh's 10 high schools, according to a new report. In addition, 100 new families enrolled in diocesan schools last year.

Of the 2026 graduates, 94.5% went on to college, and 5.5% went straight into the workforce, joined the military, or entered trades. The graduates received more than $100 million in scholarships, the diocese said.

"Our schools provide students with a strong academic foundation while helping them develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and discover how their faith can guide them throughout their lives," Bishop Mark Eckman said.

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On Oct. 28, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told a delegation of French lawmakers who belong to a study group on Eastern Christians that "there is no danger to the Christian presence in Lebanon." He pointed to the country's tradition of Christian-Muslim coexistence and argued that what had happened in neighboring countries could not happen in Lebanon.

Aoun's remarks come amid concerns about the security and future of Lebanon's Christian communities, as families face violence, displacement, and pressure to emigrate.

Lebanon's political system formally recognizes the partnership between its Christian and Muslim communities. Under its long-standing power-sharing arrangement, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of Parliament a Shiite Muslim. Parliamentary seats are divided equally between Christians and Muslims. Christian participation is therefore part of the country's founding political understanding. Aoun's assurance is weighed against the experiences of Christian communities across the country.

Security concerns 

Security is the most immediate and tangible test.

On Oct. 29, Maronite Father Samir Daou was found murdered by a Syrian worker. Months earlier, Father Pierre al-Rahi was killed by Israeli shelling. In February 2025, Armenian Apostolic Archimandrite Anania Kojanian was killed at his home.

The losses extend beyond the clergy. In the past few months, Israeli strikes killed dentist James Karam and his children, Tony and Theodosia, as well as Pierre Moawad; his wife, Flavia Mourad; and Roula Matar.

In the past years, the killings of Pascal Sleiman and Elias Hasrouni, both associated with the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party opposed to Hezbollah, have also deepened fears. Fadi Bejjani, a former bodyguard to a Christian politician, died in a separate incident: a 2023 shootout involving local residents and Hezbollah gunmen after a truck carrying the group's ammunition overturned.

The circumstances of these deaths differ, but they highlight the most basic condition for remaining in Lebanon: personal security.

In the south, the danger also takes the form of uprooting entire communities. Christian villages near the Israeli border have been caught in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite political and armed movement designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.

In Qawzah, Father Antonios Hanna, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, recently told EWTN News that residents had been displaced as their village became a battleground. Homes and the parish church have sustained damage.

Christians who have stayed in Rmeish, Ain Ebel, and Debel, three villages near Lebanon's border with Israel known as the "delta of resilience" face a different ordeal. Residents are cut off from jobs, universities, and hospitals, and are dependent on coordinated convoys to leave or return to their home. Despite their attachment to their land, insecurity makes staying difficult, while displaced families need safety and reconstruction to return.

Hezbollah has dragged Christian communities into a war they did not choose and cannot afford. Its disarmament is on the government's agenda, and Lebanese authorities have intercepted explosives shipments and tightened financial restrictions. Yet these measures have so far had limited impact on the group's ability to defy state authority and exert political and military influence.

The politics of land

Land is another part of the same question. Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite patriarch, has warned of increasing land sales and urged Christian owners not to surrender the roots and future those properties represent.

Various politicians, media outlets, and research centers have alleged that Hezbollah and affiliated financiers are behind large land purchases in Christian areas. Buying and selling property is normal in any country. But reports of coordinated purchases, unclear funding, and offers above market prices have raised fears that these transactions serve a strategy to expand the group's territorial and political control.

For minorities, land ownership is closely tied to survival.

Representation, employment, and emigration

Meaningful participation in national life is equally important. A Christian president does not answer every question about Christians' access to public employment and responsibility within state institutions.

For example, as reported by the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan, only three of 54 trainee accountants covered by a decree on transfers and appointments in public administrations were Christians. Lebanon's constitution reserves Christian-Muslim parity for the highest civil-service positions while making qualifications and competence the standard for other public employment. However, certain figures warrant transparent answers about recruitment and access.

Then there is the future of the young. A 2024 Arab Barometer survey found that 58% of Lebanese people ages 18 to 29 wanted to emigrate. That figure concerns Lebanese youth generally, rather than Christians alone. Lack of opportunities, instability, and the difficult financial crisis are making it hard for youth to stay in their homeland. 

Nonetheless, when young Christians leave in search of work and stability, their villages and parishes lose the families they might have formed and the skills they might have contributed. A parish's future depends on whether the next generation can afford to build a life around it.

Like all Lebanese, Christians have the right to live in peace on their own land, free from war and the coercive power of Islamist militias. The guarantee they need is a state capable of making those rights part of everyday life.

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

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