Catholic News
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday met with Peruvian bishops and led midday prayer before gathering with the faithful in the square outside Lima's cathedral.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar officially opened the government's secret police archives on Nov. 4, describing the release as "long-overdue."
Hungary's Catholic bishops are urging the faithful to not rush to judgment after the publication of files showing that some of the country's Catholic leaders collaborated with secret police during the Soviet era.
The country existed as a satellite state of the Soviet Union after World War II and was controlled by communists as the Hungarian People's Republic from 1949 to 1989. As was common with communist states, the government utilized a secret police service to spy on and control citizens there.
Current Prime Minister Péter Magyar officially opened the government's secret police archives on Nov. 4, describing the release as "long overdue." The files contain about 60,000 names of secret police informants.
In a statement after the release of the files, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Hungary acknowledged that the list included names of "individuals affiliated with the Church." Among the names are those of Cardinal László Paskai and Archbishop István Seregély.
The Hungarian bishops urged the faithful to "not … lose sight of the bigger picture." They noted that the Church in communist-controlled Hungary was subject to severe persecution, including the murder of dozens of priests and monks and the imprisonment of around 2,000 more, while "approximately 11,500 monks and nuns were forced onto the street" and overall Church activity was suppressed.
Some of the named leaders in the secret police files "did indeed collaborate with the one-party state and passed on confidential information about members of the community and others to the authorities," the bishops said. "On their behalf, we ask for forgiveness from the victims and their families."
Yet "there were also those who were tortured or blackmailed," the bishops continued. "There were those who wrote meaningless reports. And among the names on the list are also those whom the authorities merely attempted to recruit" and who ultimately refused to participate.
The "principal perpetrators" of the communist regime were not the "recruited individuals" listed in such files but the communist leaders themselves, the bishops said.
"Social reconciliation and the healing of the wounds of the past can only be achieved through the truth. We should not form hasty opinions about anyone's actions until we know every detail of their story," they said.
They urged the faithful to reject "contempt, revenge, or hatred" and opt for "confession, forgiveness, and mercy" instead.
The Hungarian government transitioned to a democratically controlled state in 1989 amid the political turmoil and upheaval sweeping Eastern Europe at the time. The Soviet Union would ultimately dissolve on Dec. 26, 1991.
The Catholic Church played a pivotal role in helping bring about the end of the communist multinational government, in large part from efforts by then-Pope John Paul II.
The British historian Timothy Garton Ash, for instance, wrote that there was a direct link between John Paul II's papacy and the revolutions of 1989 that helped bring about an end to Eastern European Marxist-Leninist governments.
Prison chaplain Father Matías de Martini said the pontiff's visit to the prison reminds us that God "rejoices over the sheep that has been found, the son who returns home."
Father Matías de Martini, chaplain of the Devoto prison in Buenos Aires, Argentina, could not hold back his tears as he thanked Pope Leo XIV for his visit to the penitentiary on Nov. 11 and for his genuine concern for the inmates.
The priest said the pontiff's visit "reminds us once again that God does not consider anyone lost, that he rejoices over the lost sheep, the son who returns home."
Pope fills prisoners with hope
On Nov. 11, Pope Leo XIV brought a message full of hope to the prisoners.
Addressing them, their families, and prison staff, he reflected on the "experience of our limitations" that human beings encounter. "Often," he noted, "we become aware of our limitations through sin and its consequences, whether by making a mistake, suffering from an illness, or experiencing the death of a loved one."
However, he said that, "even amid the evil, pain, and deepest failures you may have experienced or caused, your present circumstances can become an opportunity to begin your lives anew, as you have shared with us in your testimonies."
The pope emphasized that "human beings do not flourish in spite of their limitations, but often through them," and pointed out that "prison is also a witness to profound changes and conversions, to growth, learning, and the acquisition of new skills and knowledge."
For this reason, he assured the prisoners that "with God's grace, it is possible to move beyond total darkness and kindle small lights of hope."
At the conclusion of his address, he turned to the families and encouraged them to look to Jesus, who was himself a prisoner, and to pray that he might "grant them all strength and wisdom, so that this time of solitude and isolation will not be in vain, but will become a time of grace and salvation."
"We are part of the same human family. Let us promote whatever contributes to the good of all. Let us accompany especially our children and young people, educating them in authentic values, caring for them and protecting them, so that they do not fall into the pernicious networks of criminality," the pope said.
De Martini thanked the pontiff, saying that "through your presence we feel the embrace of the Father, an embrace that makes no distinction based on the past, an embrace that reminds us of our dignity, something that nothing and no one can take away."
The priest also recalled that "we are beloved children, and it is this truth — the deepest truth — that makes us completely free."
'Jesus transformed my life'
Cristian, 29, is an inmate who shared his testimony with the Holy Father. The young prisoner recounted the details of a past marked by drug and alcohol use which drove him to commit crimes to sustain his addiction.
"All of that ended up distancing me from my family and the people who love me. I lost my job; I lost everything," he lamented. However, he continued, "Jesus transformed my life during the time I was living on the streets."
The young man recounted with hope how he encountered Jesus after going to the prison chapel.
"There, I felt that I was not alone, that Jesus was with me, calling me to reencounter him. I decided to follow him, convinced that he is the true path. I felt him touch my heart. I allowed myself to be guided, and he removed the blindfold from my eyes. I was able to see reality, and that truth is what makes me free on the inside today. From that moment on, everything began to make sense," he noted.
His time in prison is "transforming my life," said 32-year-old Maximiliano, who also shared his testimony with the Holy Father.
He recalled how drugs and alcohol had distanced him from his family, especially his daughters. He said that while in prison, he found inner freedom through an encounter with Jesus.
Reinaldo, 44, recently completed his prison sentence and was able to reunite with his family and his four children.
He said prison was the setting "where Jesus, Our Lord and friend, offered me a new opportunity, a new life."
Reinaldo described placing his faith in Jesus as "an embrace" that heals the soul. "Today, as each new day begins, I keep in mind what it was like to return to the arms of Jesus — that sincere embrace, that embrace of forgiveness, that embrace of a Father who loves his son; an embrace that instilled in me a new hope and a profound certainty of knowing that I am a beloved son."
This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Pope Leo XIV is back in Peru, his adopted homeland, where he was welcomed by President Keiko Fujimori and addressed the nation's leaders.
The American R&B singer and others will perform in the presence of Pope Leo XIV on Dec. 5.
Grammy- and Academy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson will usher in the Christmas season at the Vatican with a concert for the poor.
The R&B artist will perform on Dec. 5 at the seventh edition of the Concert with the Poor in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. As in 2025, Pope Leo XIV will attend the concert, which will support approximately 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome.
Hudson will become the first American vocalist to perform at the Christmas concert, singing alongside the renowned priest and composer Monsignor Marco Frisina, Italian actress and singer Serena Autieri, and the choir of the Diocese of Rome. It will also mark Hudson's second performance at the Vatican, following her 2025 appearance with others at "Grace for the World," in tribute to Pope Francis, who died earlier that year.
The 2025 edition, which hosted a pope for the first time in its history, featured Canadian singer Michael Bublé, who described the experience as an encouragement to others to discuss their Christian faith openly.
"My hope is that there's a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, 'Wow, look at Bublé. He's not afraid to share it,' and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same," Bublé told EWTN News.
Pope Leo XIV has attended at least eight musical events since his election in 2025; his most recent was the "Canticle of Peace" musical prayer service at Castel Gandolfo in July, performed by Andrea Bocelli.
Tickets for the Dec. 5 concert are free, with registration opening on Nov. 19 through the website.
The Accra Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women called for prompt investigations into child sexual abuse and legal accountability for perpetrators, urging stronger protection for children.
ACCRA, Ghana — Members of the Accra Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women in Ghana have called for prompt investigations into child sexual abuse and legal accountability for perpetrators, urging stronger protection for children in schools, homes, and communities.
In a statement condemning sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation of children, the council members urged authorities to investigate every reported case promptly and professionally, regardless of the alleged perpetrator's social standing, influence, or institutional position.
"Sexual abuse is a crime, not a disciplinary matter," the Catholic women said.
The council members further stressed that responding to abuse involves responsibilities for child protection, justice, and human rights, and requires national action. Institutions and individuals have a duty to protect children from further abuse, prevent exploitation, and ensure their safety, they said.
The women called for allegations to be reported to the appropriate authorities so that investigations can be conducted and perpetrators held accountable through established legal procedures.
People who interfere with investigations, threaten victims or witnesses, or tamper with evidence should also face accountability, they added.
To strengthen institutional oversight, members of the council urged the Ghana Education Service and other relevant agencies to publish regular, anonymized information on abuse complaints, the handling and outcomes of investigations, and measures introduced to improve child safeguarding.
They also called on lawmakers and oversight institutions to strengthen their scrutiny of abuse allegations and institutional responses, and to ensure that necessary interventions are implemented.
Alongside these demands, the Catholic women called for accessible, confidential reporting mechanisms that children and witnesses can use without fear of exposure or intimidation.
Survivors should receive appropriate healthcare, psychological assistance, and legal support, the council said, together with protection from discrimination, threats, and reprisals. Schools must provide secure and supportive environments where children can learn and develop without fear, it added.
In their statement, the Catholic women also raised concern about incest and sexual abuse within families, including fathers abusing their daughters, describing such acts as grave violations of children's rights, dignity, and safety.
"Their bodies are not bargaining tools," the council members declared.
Their appeal stressed children's rights to dignity, safety, bodily integrity, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
They also cautioned against overlooking boys in safeguarding efforts, pointing out that they, too, are vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. They urged parents, religious institutions, and local communities to strengthen protection for all children, regardless of gender.
The Catholic women further called for reported child abuse cases, including those affecting abandoned and unaccompanied children, to be examined and acted upon, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the protection they need.
They maintained that safeguarding children in schools, homes, and communities must be recognized as a shared national responsibility.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Actor Neal McDonough said he hopes a new film about Jimmy Stewart will inspire Americans to rediscover the importance of faith, sacrifice, and service.
For Catholic actor Neal McDonough, the story of Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart is about more than fame or military heroism. It's also a story of faith, sacrifice, and the importance of putting God and country before oneself.
McDonough portrays Alexander Stewart, Jimmy Stewart's father, in the new film "Jimmy," produced by Papaian Studios and Burns & Co. The film, which premiered Nov. 6, explores the transformative time of Stewart's service in World War II as a bomber pilot and how this experience impacted his portrayal of George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life."
Alexander Stewart, who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I, had a profound influence on his son and inspired Jimmy's desire to serve his country. Before Jimmy went to war, his father slipped a handwritten letter — a copy of Psalm 91 — and a devotional into Jimmy's pocket. Jimmy carried and read these items before every single bombing mission he went on during his service in World War II.
That scene of a father passing down his faith to his son resonated with McDonough, who has sought to do the same with his wife, Ruvé, in raising their five children.
In an interview with EWTN News, McDonough shared that while his daughter Catherine was playing volleyball in college, she wrote a verse from Philippians on her shoe and his son, who is a baseball pitcher, always draws a cross in the dirt on the pitcher's mound before he begins to pitch.
"It makes me think, 'OK, my wife Ruvé and I did the right thing,'" he said. "We brought our kids up correctly that they're putting God first and country first before themselves."
With this in mind, McDonough pointed out that young people today need more examples of what it looks like to put something bigger than yourself first.
"Nowadays, we're pretty selfish about a lot of things, not just in America, all over the world. Social media has kind of ruined a lot of kids and a lot of thought processes … I can't imagine being 16 years old and looking at a phone and thinking, 'I could never be as cool or as pretty or as handsome as that person,' or 'Gosh, I'm a loser.' Wow, what a horrible way to start your day," he shared.
He added: "We need to have more heroes. We need to have films where kids can go to a movie theater and think, 'Oh wow, that dude did it. I can do it, too. I can work a little bit harder and not worry so much about what I'm wearing or what I'm saying or what my hair looks like. I can care more about what's the right thing for the United States of America.'"
McDonough also recalled President John F. Kennedy's famous call to service, arguing that Americans need to rediscover the spirit behind the words "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."
The actor lamented that this spirit of service has been "lost nowadays," pointing to declining trust in institutions as one reason Americans may feel powerless to bring about change. However, he encouraged people not to let that discourage them.
"There are great journalists out there. There are some terrible journalists out there, but keep going towards the good ones. There are great politicians out there. There are some not so great politicians — keep going towards the good ones and you'll weed out the bad things after a while," he said.
"But if you let the bad ones permeate into your soul and make you realize, 'Oh, there's nothing I can do as an American. I can't change the system.' Yeah, you can. You can stand up for what is right by being the best version of yourself for God and for your country, not just for yourself. That was Jimmy Stewart."
Ultimately, McDonough said, he hopes the film will encourage a new generation to recognize the importance of faith, selflessness, and service.
"It's OK to do the right thing. It's OK to put God first before yourself. It's OK to put country first before yourself," he said. "And in a day and age where people just tear heroes down so much, there are few heroes left. Jimmy Stewart is one of those heroes. And it's time for us to start building up some heroes again."
Pope Leo XIV is back in Peru, his adopted homeland, where he was welcomed by President Keiko Fujimori and addresses the nation's leaders.
On his first night back in Peru, his adopted homeland, Pope Leo XIV told the country's leaders that his return has "a very special meaning" and urged them to open paths for young people.
LIMA, Peru — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in a spectacular homecoming that drew an estimated three million people to the streets to greet him.
Leo, a U.S. citizen but also a naturalized citizen of the country where he served as a missionary and bishop for about 20 years before becoming pope, met privately with President Keiko Fujimori, then addressed her and other dignitaries about Peru's current state and prospects.
"For decades, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith," the pope said, drawing laughter when he noted that he also ate ceviche, a traditional Peruvian dish based on raw fish.
"Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you."
Invoking his deep personal experience — "I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community came to light" — Leo called on Fujimori and other public officeholders to listen to their citizens.
The pope referred gently to the national reconciliation process still underway in Peru after decades of left-wing terrorism, followed by years of a counterterrorism campaign led by President Alberto Fujimori, which was denounced for violations of human rights. The future Pope Leo, then Father Robert Prevost, criticized both the left-wing insurgents and the government at the time. He also called on the elder Fujimori to ask forgiveness.
In his speech on Wednesday the pope addressed the related problem of polarization, encouraging everyone "to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others — qualities that sustain trust among people and give strength to the life of institutions."
He also addressed the issue of violent crime, an urgent concern not just in Peru but across Latin America.
"For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going out to work without fear, caring for one's children, and returning home with peace of mind. These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them. The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice," the pope said.
At a time when many Latin American governments have moved to the right and hence to favor less social spending, Leo took a contrary position:
"When a person falls ill or needs ongoing care, the lives of those around them also change. Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical care, a friendly presence and a word of comfort mean. I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges. Many families quietly shoulder this burden, often with great sacrifice. I encourage the authorities to support this dedication by providing them with accessible health services and strengthening preventive medicine."
After the speech, Leo went to the apostolic nunciature in Lima, where a large crowd was waiting for him. On Thursday he is scheduled to meet Peru's bishops, visit Lima's cathedral and lead an evening vigil with young people.
The Holy Father will conclude his historic South American visit with nearly a week in Peru.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his visit to Argentina on Nov. 11 and departed for Peru, his adopted country where he spent years as a bishop and where he will finish his historic South American papal voyage.
The Holy Father spent his last hours in Argentina visiting prisoners at a federal prison complex and holding a public Mass before flying to the Peruvian city of Callao, where he took part in welcoming ceremonies and met with civil authorities.
Here are photos of Pope Leo's activities in Argentina and Peru on Nov. 11:
