Alliance Defending Freedom has urged Egyptian authorities to free six young Christians after they posted a TikTok video that authorities considered offensive to Islam.
CAIRO — Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has urged Egyptian authorities to free six young Christians detained for more than two weeks after posting a TikTok video that authorities considered offensive to Islam.
In an Oct. 22 report, the legal advocacy organization said the six, who range in age from 17 to 23, were detained and questioned on charges of "exploiting" and "insulting" the religion of Islam.
"We urge the authorities to release these six young men and drop any investigations against them immediately," said Kelsey Zorzi, ADF's senior counsel and vice president of international advocacy.
The video posted on Oct. 4 featured audio from a popular Egyptian comedy film depicting prisoners unfamiliar with Quranic prayers. According to ADF, the six reenacted the scene.
"These young men did nothing but share a lighthearted video with a voiceover from a popular and uncontroversial film, as many others on the platform have done. There is no reason to charge or imprison them," Zorzi said.
ADF said the post attracted comments inciting violence against the young men and their families, and that some villagers reported them to the authorities.
On Oct. 6, the six were handed over to police for questioning, with the understanding that they would be released once tensions in their village had calmed, according to the organization. They remained in detention as of the Oct. 22 report.
Zorzi described their detention as part of a wider pattern of discrimination against Christians in Egypt.
"This is tragically common in Egypt, where Christians face threats, discrimination, and ultimately imprisonment for speech that is only seen as problematic because they are not part of the majority religion," she said.
ADF estimated that Christians constitute 10% to 15% of Egypt's population. The organization said they continue to face discrimination, violence, and imprisonment despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
It said the continued use of blasphemy and related "insult" laws has perpetuated the persecution of Coptic Christians.
According to ADF, scores of members of religious minorities have been prosecuted and imprisoned over the past year for social media posts deemed blasphemous amid a wider crackdown on online content considered offensive to Islam.
The organization cited Augustinos Samaan, a YouTuber who, it said, was sentenced to five years of hard labor for teaching the Christian faith on his channel.
It also highlighted the case of Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, a Christian father of five, imprisoned on blasphemy charges after sharing his beliefs in a Christian Facebook group. ADF said he was subsequently released with its support and had relocated safely to another country.
"Christian persecution has been a persistent problem in Egypt for many years. We have seen countless cases of individuals who are targeted and punished for nothing more than expressing their beliefs. Egypt must take action to address this crisis and protect freedom of speech and religious freedom for all," Zorzi said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
During his Sunday Angelus, the pope reflected on the greatest commandment and called for peace in Yemen and Jordan.
Beginning with the question posed in Sunday's Gospel, "Which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Pope Leo XIV focused his reflection before the Angelus on the theme of love.
The faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square awaited the words of hope from the vicar of Christ, their pope.
At the heart of love, Leo XIV placed our relationship with God, emphasizing that this is where the true meaning of love is found.
"Indeed, it is not enough to know that God exists, that he is the only God, or that he is the Almighty. The Lord seeks a personal relationship with us: The one true God wants to become our God," the pope said.
"In our encounter with him, the commandment of love is neither an obligation nor an imposition."
He then turned to the meaning of authentic love, explaining that "our love can be authentic only when it is a response to his love, which always precedes us. From this arises the need for a total commitment that involves the whole person: heart, soul, and mind."
Heart, soul, and mind must all be engaged in our relationship with God so that we become capable of looking at ourselves "and our neighbors through the eyes of Christ, from his perspective. In this way, selfishness is overcome and even love for oneself becomes charity: Our existence turns toward the other and becomes a gift for those around us."
Toward the end of his reflection, the pope quoted St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who wrote: "Love alone" makes "the Church's members act, and if Love ever became extinct, apostles would not preach the Gospel."
The theme, in this case, concerns the Church itself. Without love, the pope stressed, "our faith would be deprived of its essence, our good works would be reduced to mere moralism, and our hope would be in vain."
He added: "Dear friends, we cannot truly love God unless this love overflows into love for our brothers and sisters. And we cannot truly love our neighbor except as children of the same Father who loved us first in his Son, Jesus."
Following the Marian prayer, Leo XIV turned his attention to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
"I am following with concern the grave humanitarian situation in Yemen, particularly in the city of Taiz, where the population is suffering from a lack of food, water, and medical care," he said.
"I make a heartfelt appeal for hostilities to cease and for the Yemeni people and all the peoples of the region to be guaranteed the right to live in peace."
The pope also remembered the victims of a terrorist attack against Orthodox Christians in Jordan.
"My prayers go out to all those who were injured or lost their lives last Friday in the terrorist attack on worshippers at the Orthodox Church of St. George in Hamoud, Jordan. I express my closeness to the community and the entire country, which is known for its peaceful coexistence and respect between different religions."
Finally, Leo XIV urged the faithful to continue praying for peace and recalled the gathering scheduled for Oct. 27 in Assisi, Italy.
The pope had originally been expected to travel to the city of St. Francis, but following his recent surgery, he was advised to avoid traveling for the time being.
"Let us continue to pray together for peace," he said.
"The day after tomorrow, on 27 October, let us join in spirit with the heads of churches and religious leaders who will gather in Assisi to mark the 40th anniversary of the meeting convened by St. John Paul II. Never before has it been so clear that wars, as well as sowing death and destruction, impoverish and harm the world. May the Lord inspire choices of dialogue and peace!"
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.
The conference brought together dozens of diocesan directors and leaders of Hispanic and Latino ministry from various parts of the United States. Conference speakers included Bishop Óscar Cantú of San José, California; Bishop Mario Alberto Avilés, CO, of Corpus Christi, Texas; and Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, MSpS, auxiliary bishop of Seattle.
Monsignor Eduardo Chávez of the Archdiocese of Mexico City, considered the foremost expert on the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, spoke to the gathering on "The Truth of Guadalupe," which is also the title of his book on the subject.
"It has been a moment of such joy and spirituality, of such devotion and emotion, to go on discovering who Holy Mary of Guadalupe and her humble messenger, St. Juan Diego, are during this encounter," Chávez told EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.
"The Virgin of Guadalupe, through St. Juan Diego, helps us open our hearts to the presence of Christ the King, the love of God, which our people need so much," emphasized Chávez, who also served as the postulator for the canonization cause of St. Juan Diego, the visionary of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The meeting with the leaders of U.S. Hispanic pastoral ministry, he noted, "has been the best way to prepare ourselves for the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, which help us prepare for the Jubilee of the Redemption in 2033."
"There are not enough words to thank God and His Most Holy Mother, our Mother, Holy Mary of Guadalupe," he said.
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the Indigenous man St. Juan Diego at the foot of Tepeyac Hill, north of Mexico City, Dec. 9–12, 1531. There she asked him to intercede with the then-bishop of Mexico, Friar Juan de Zumárraga, so that a "sacred little house" might be built in her honor.
As proof of the authenticity of the apparitions, the Virgin asked Juan Diego to gather some roses that had bloomed on Tepeyac and place them in his tilma (a type of cloak or cape). When he unfolded the cloth before the bishop, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was found to be miraculously imprinted upon it.
To this day, nearly 500 years later, the tilma of St. Juan Diego is preserved in the Guadalupe Basilica at the foot of Tepeyac.
Our Lady of Guadalupe 'leads us to Jesus'
Chávez emphasized that the Virgin "leads us to Jesus" and that, as one examines the event of Guadalupe, "there are no longer any walls or divisions — not only physical ones, but also those related to language, culture, or traditions — because she makes us brothers and sisters to one another, something that all our peoples need so much."
Our Lady of Guadalupe, he recalled, "is the mother of humanity. She said as much to Juan Diego: 'I am your mother, the mother of all those who dwell in this land, and of all the various ancestries and nations; the mother of those who love me, who seek me, who cry out to me, and who place their trust in me.'"
Chávez was recently appointed by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes as the representative of the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico for the preparation and celebrations of the fifth centenary of the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
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.
Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Emmanuel Bishay of Egypt's Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Luxor said that relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches are good.
CAIRO — The Catholic Church in Egypt faces the challenge of keeping its young population attached to the faith, a bishop in the country said, noting that many youths abandon the Catholic faith at marriage.
However, he pointed out the challenge of keeping youths in the Church, noting that to deepen the Catholic faith, the Church runs formation programs alongside initiatives that make it easier for young Catholics to meet and forge relationships.
"At the official level, relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches are good. There is affection, and people exchange greetings on religious occasions," Bishay said in an Oct. 19 ACN report.
"Unfortunately, if a young Catholic man or woman marries an Orthodox person, they may be required to become Orthodox and to follow the Orthodox Church's requirements," he said. "This is a major challenge for us as a Church: How can we help our young people deepen their Catholic faith and remain attached to their Church?"
"I believe that the formation we provide, especially through catechesis, is an important service. We also create many opportunities for young Catholics to meet one another," he said.
In Egypt, Catholics are described as "a minority within a minority" in the ACN report. The charity organization says that the largest Christian denomination in Egypt is the historic Coptic Orthodox Church.
"Though there are no official numbers, estimates point to between 10 and 15 million Copts in the country, making it the biggest Christian community in the Middle East, by a large margin. Muslims make up the vast majority of the rest of Egypt's 120 million people," the ACN report said.
The Catholic Coptic Church, on the other hand, has only around 300,000 faithful living in Egypt, but according to Bishay, they are playing an important part in forging good relations between different religious communities and also for their contributions to health, education, and culture.
"As one travels farther into Upper Egypt, people can be somewhat more rigid in their attitudes. We make every effort to build relationships with the Orthodox community and with Muslims, who are the majority, even if we encounter some difficulties, especially in villages and small settlements," Bishay was quoted as explaining.
Regarding relations with the Muslim community, the Catholic bishop admitted that there have been difficult periods but said the situation has improved.
"The hard-line voices that used to be heard are no longer as prominent, while another voice, the moderate one, is growing. The change is slow but noticeable: People are listening to those with moderate views, and the government is giving them room to act. The process is moving in this direction. I believe that if Egypt continues along this path, things will keep getting better," the Church leader said.
Bishay further said that the Catholic Church plays an outsized role in the services it provides in Egypt, especially in the poorer regions, but its faithful continue to face difficult challenges as a minority within a large country.
"The Catholic Church is small in numbers but strong in services. Some of the best schools in Egypt are Catholic schools, and the fact that state officials regularly turn to Catholic schools is evidence of this. We also work in healthcare. Our diocese alone has 14 clinics, most of which are staffed by religious sisters who devote much of their time to this work. Another contribution is through cultural centers and libraries," Bishay explained.
He added: "The Catholic Church has not only provided these services; it has also shown Egyptian society how to provide them. The Coptic Orthodox Church learned to provide them from us and, more recently, mosques have also begun providing services of this kind, following our example. The Catholic Church has been a pioneer in this field."
The bishop went on to say that the services are particularly important in the Eparchy of Luxor.
"Upper Egypt receives less attention than the Delta and the north of the country, which means that services are less adequate, particularly in healthcare. Hospitals do not always meet the required standard, and there are also shortcomings in education and childcare. This requires a great deal of effort from us as the Catholic Church."
He added: "The figures indicate that we are among the poorest governorates in Egypt. This affects people's abilities and talents, whether intellectual or otherwise. It saddens me to see talented people whose abilities are not given their due, or whose surroundings do not give them the opportunity to develop and fulfill their potential," the bishop said.
He expressed gratitude to ACN, which he said continues to support the Catholic Church in Egypt in many different fields.
"ACN is a very important support for us. What is especially valuable is that the foundation looks at our priorities, rather than imposing its own agenda. That is very important!"
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Archbishop James Golka led a prayer during an Oct. 22 meeting at the Oval Office between Trump and over half a dozen of his fellow U.S. bishops.
Denver Archbishop James Golka this week defended his participation in a prayer event with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office, citing the gathering as an opportunity to publicly pray and evangelize the faith.
During the gathering the archbishop in part prayed for the Holy Spirit to "surround our country, to protect us against any influence of evil."
The prayer event generated some backlash for what critics have argued was a politically motivated photo opportunity on the part of the White House. Golka this week said he "knew people might be upset" at the event and that it could be "use[d] for political purposes."
"But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders," he said in remarks to the Denver Catholic.
Golka said during the meeting he articulated Church teachings to the president. "As Catholics, we're called to share our faith in season and out of season and to witness to the dignity of every human person," he told the Denver Catholic.
He denied that the event, including video of the prayer shared on social media, constituted an "endorsement" of the president. "That was never my intention," he said.
"The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party," he said. "I hold to that. However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine."
The archbishop said he has received criticism from friends about the decision and that he has responded by telling them: "I was being a Catholic priest."
He described himself as "heartbroken" at the anger over the event. He urged Christians to "look beyond the headlines, which are often crafted to provoke, towards the full truth."
"I will keep praying for our president, our governor and everyone who serves in public office, regardless of their party or position on divisive topics," he said.
The Archdiocese of Denver said after the event that praying for public leaders "is a long Catholic practice" that dates back to Apostolic Age.
The attack took place during a funeral Friday, and security authorities are continuing their investigation and search for the perpetrators.
The death toll from the armed attack on St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud, in southern Jordan's Karak governorate, has risen to nine, with others wounded. The attack took place during a funeral Friday, and security authorities are continuing their investigation and search for the perpetrators.
According to authorities, three gunmen arrived at the church in a blue pickup truck. One wore a mask and carried a Kalashnikov rifle, while the other two had their faces uncovered and carried handguns. The shooting began near the church's main entrance, where mourners had gathered.
Al Jazeera's Arabic-language website reported that the attackers carried substantial quantities of ammunition and changed their weapons' magazines several times during the assault. They also fired again at some people after they had fallen to the ground. According to the same report, all those killed were near the church entrance when the shooting began.
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya described the assault as a terrorist attack carried out by an extremist group. Public Security Director Maj. Gen. Obeidallah al-Maaytah said authorities were continuing to gather information and investigate to identify the perpetrators, arrest them, and bring them to justice.
As of Saturday morning, Jordanian authorities had not officially linked the attackers to a specific organization or announced any arrests. Media reports, citing Jordanian government and security sources, said the perpetrators espoused a takfiri ideology, an extremist outlook that declares other Muslims to be unbelievers.
A public prosecutor ordered a ban on publishing details of the investigation as authorities continued their search.
King Abdullah II pledged that the perpetrators would face the harshest penalties.
"Those who imagined that treacherous bullets could divide Jordanians have been thwarted by our resilience and unity," he said, emphasizing Jordanians' shared homeland and solidarity.
In their response, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem described the targeting of mourners at prayer as "a grave crime against God and humanity." They expressed solidarity with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Jordan, and the victims' families.
They called on all churches in the region to ring their bells at noon Saturday Jordanian time and to pray for the victims and the recovery of the wounded. They stressed that the attack would not succeed in undermining the unity and cohesion of Jordanian society.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said the attack violated the sanctity of places of worship and the right to life and to worship freely and with dignity. It described Jordan's national unity as "a safeguard against terrorism and extremism," emphasizing that the country's Muslims and Christians form one family bound by a shared history and destiny.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, under whose jurisdiction the targeted church falls, affirmed that the attack would not undermine the Christian presence or Christians' ties to their homeland.
"We are the children of this land, its living roots, and partners in its history, present, and future. We will remain here as witnesses to the faith, however great the challenges," the patriarchate said.
The Jordan Council of Churches said the attack on the church and the mourners targeted social peace and coexistence. It emphasized solidarity among all communities in Jordan and rejected attempts to sow religious division.
The statements from Jordan were accompanied by condemnations from churches across the region, including the Middle East Council of Churches and several churches and patriarchates. Their responses emphasized the protection of places of worship, the need to confront extremist rhetoric and hate speech, and the fact that Christians are an integral part of the region's societies, with deep roots in their homelands.
Church bells rang across Jordan and Palestine at noon Saturday in remembrance of those killed and in solidarity with their families and the wounded, answering the appeal of the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem.
This storywas first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Central Giza saidaid no one was hurt after a fire was set inside the Church of the Virgin Mary in Giza.
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Central Giza announced that a small fire broke out inside the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Barak al-Khiyam area of Giza in Egypt on Thursday, Oct. 22, after a man entered the church and set fire to some of its furnishings. No injuries were reported, and security forces arrested the suspect.
In a statement, the diocese said the incident occurred around 6 a.m., when an unidentified man entered the church under the pretext of praying, carrying a bottle of gasoline in a bag. He then broke through the door of a small chapel on the building's ground floor, set fire to several curtains, and damaged wooden Gospel stands and carpeting. Security forces arrived at the scene and began investigating the circumstances and motive behind the incident.
In a second statement, Bishop Theodosius, the Coptic Orthodox bishop of Central Giza, said he went to the church as soon as he was informed of the fire. Together with several priests, he reviewed surveillance footage showing the man entering the church.
The bishop confirmed that the damage was limited and that no one had been injured.
Egypt's Interior Ministry said the suspect was apprehended while sitting on a bench, having removed his upper clothing and speaking incoherently. According to the ministry, surveillance footage showed him entering with a plastic water bottle containing a white substance, without being stopped by security personnel at the gate.
The ministry said its assessment indicated that the suspect had mental health problems associated with an addiction to crystal methamphetamine and had previously been admitted to a psychiatric facility. Legal proceedings were initiated, and the public prosecutor's office took over the investigation.
The incident prompted questions about security procedures at church entrances, where police officers and church-appointed security personnel are expected to check visitors' identities and screen them before entry. Those concerns come amid rising hate speech in Egypt and around the world.
This storywas first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The late Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari was described as a man "with a pure heart and a ready smile … he was always so very calm, patient, and tolerant." asFather Patricio Sánchez
"He died doing what he loved, the Eucharist" is how Father Pedro Calle remembered his fellow Redemptorist, Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari, who died Oct. 17 after a large crucifix broke loose from the sanctuary wall and fell on him during Mass.
"It's not so easy to process or come to terms with this situation, given the way it happened," Calle shared in an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. "I could break down at any moment because of the pain I feel inside."
Calle lives in Quito, Ecuador, and manages the administrative needs of the Redemptorist congregation in the Andean-Caribbean Province, which comprises Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. He is currently in Guayaquil serving also as the legal representative to handle matters related to Sánchez's death. He is also taking part in the Oct. 19–27 novena for the repose of his soul.
Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari with some of the faithful at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Pedro Calle
"He died embracing the cross. The crucifix was not damaged, save for the part of the leg [of the corpus]. It is striking how he celebrated the Lord's passover, and the Lord celebrated his passover with him… And Patricio died doing what he loved: the Eucharist," the priest emphasized.
He loved the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary
Calle described Sánchez as a man "with a pure heart and a ready smile, a smile that created a sense of closeness. People were drawn to him because of his purity of heart, in which there was no trace of ill intent. He was always so very calm, patient, and tolerant."
"He very much loved the Blessed Sacrament. Wherever he went to any parish he would always emphasize this devotion. And he was always the first one there; he wouldn't just expose the Blessed Sacrament for a while and then leave, he would stay to pray," the priest recounted.
Sánchez served in Loja, in southern Ecuador, and later in a mission area called Vinces. He also spent nine years at a parish in Manta, and finally about four years in Guayaquil, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He served as the pastor there, and it was in that church that he died.
Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari with some of the faithful. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Pedro Calle
"He also loved the Most Holy Virgin Mary. We can describe Patricio as someone who throughout his ministry everyone felt his closeness to them, absolutely everyone," the Redemptorist priest highlighted.
"He was always a very dedicated man, always spiritual and pastoral. He would say 'yes' to everyone. We could say, then, that he was a hardworking man, very self-sacrificing, very devoted," he remarked.
Calle further noted that "Patricio was a very simple person, very approachable and full of human warmth. That's why his homilies were so simple."
"My enduring memory of Patricio," he added, "is that he was a very welcoming person, always concerned with making sure one had something to eat or drink. He enjoyed going to the cinema and was an athletic person; he liked going for a walk and swimming."
'A sign of grace'
The priest shared that he never had a conversation with Sánchez about how he would have liked to be remembered, but he highlighted one aspect he has been reflecting on in recent days following the tragic death of his fellow priest.
"Patricio's death will become, or is already becoming, a sign of grace for Catholics and for humanity, given the fact that he was in the midst of broadcasting [the Mass] and that the tragedy unfolded in precisely this way, rather than any other. That was a message for everyone," Calle remarked.
Father Patricio Sánchez Molinari with a group of the faithful. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Pedro Calle
The priest remarked, in closing, that he does not know where the story of this priest will ultimately lead but that it certainly will not leave anyone indifferent.
"I don't know if his mission is beginning now. I cannot offer any certainty or assurance; it is simply a personal perception, based on the context and the way he died."
'One day, all of us here will also die'
Sánchez was born on Nov. 6, 1973, in Cuenca, Ecuador. He made his profession in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) on Aug. 15, 2000, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was ordained a priest on Oct. 15, 2005.
He was pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in south Guayaquil. He served as the superior of his religious community, where he lived alongside a fellow religious brother who had taken his perpetual vows.
In his final homily, on the day of his death, he spoke about the importance of making time for God. "He must come first," he said, adding: "Dear brothers and sisters, one day, all of us here will also die. Sometimes, the time we have spent on material things does not hold as much meaning as the time we dedicate to God, that quality time we give to God, to our brothers and sisters, to our wife, our husband, to our children, and to our families. That is time spent in the best possible way."
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.
Maria Elena Rocha recounts how despite the tragedy of losing her husband and two sons in last summer's earthquake in Venezuela, her faith and trust in God still sustains her.
On June 24, 2026, María Elena Rocha was in Caracas. That Wednesday, a public holiday in Venezuela, she decided to set out on a pilgrimage with two friends to visit sites associated with Venezuela's first saints: St. Carmen Rendiles and St. José Gregorio Hernández.
Her devotion made the circuitous, hour-long journey from her home in La Guaira to the capital city feel shorter. María Elena lived in La Guaira's Caribbean Golf I building with her family: her husband, Wilson, and their sons, 25-year-old Ricardo and 22-year-old Enrique, all three of whom chose to stay home that day.
In Caracas, the day unfolded normally. María Elena and her friends visited the Colegio Belén, where the remains of Mother Carmen rest. Afterward, they went to the José Gregorio Hernández House Museum and concluded their pilgrimage with a Mass at Our Lady of La Candelaria Parish, where the remains of the "doctor of the poor" also rest.
Earthquakes and uncertainty
At 6:04 p.m., María Elena and her friends were in line to buy ice cream. Dark gray clouds over Caracas signaled an approaching storm, but the roar would not come from the sky but from the earth. At that moment, the ground shook with extreme violence, and panic reigned. The three of them managed to get out of the shopping mall where they had been.
Soon, the power grid failed and both the internet and telephone lines went down. Two hours later, the group was finally able to retrieve their car from where it was parked and began the journey back home, a trip that, this time, seemed to last forever.
Wilson, Ricardo, and Enrique on vacation | Credit: Courtesy of María Elena Rocha
María Elena told EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that what she encountered in La Guaira looked like something out of a horror movie. Late into the night, only fires broke the darkness. Entire buildings had collapsed. People were searching desperately through the rubble, while others were stealing and looting. There were shrieks, wailing, and weeping.
The journey home was difficult, not only because of the damaged state of the road, but also because of the shock evoked by the scene. Every meter covered, every sight of pain and destruction, dealt a blow to the hope María Elena still clung to: the hope of reuniting with her loved ones. She could only reach her home on foot.
María Elena faces unimaginable pain
It was nearly midnight when María Elena saw that where the Caribbean Golf I building had once stood there was now only a massive pile of rubble. The 49-year-old woman said that paradoxically she felt a great sense of inner peace despite the tragedy. Amidst the confusion, she was told that one of her children was alive but trapped in the rubble. With great effort, María Elena made her way to the spot.
It was Enrique, her youngest son. He was severely injured but was able to communicate with his mother. The first few hours following the earthquakes were chaotic in La Guaira; rescue efforts had to be carried out by hand because the necessary equipment for a swift response was not available. It was a very long night during which Enrique asked María Elena not to abandon him. "Don't worry, son, I will never leave you alone," she told him.
María Elena with Enrique | Credit: Courtesy of María Elena Rocha
And so, morning came, followed by the afternoon. Trapped and in pain, Enrique could hold on no longer. María Elena, always close by, said she heard his final breath: "He waited for me to take his last breath." Enrique died right there, alongside his father and his older brother. It was days later that rescuers managed to recover their bodies, which María Elena was then able to give a Christian burial.
"My faith grew stronger," María Elena said. Her journey, however, has not been easy. It has been filled with pain, reproaches, and at times even anger toward God. María Elena was left on her own, and many times she sought answers.
"I fought with God. I was filled with rage. 'Why did you leave me here? Am I so bad that I have to stay here?' Yet, I surrendered all my suffering to God for the sanctification of their souls," she shared.
Her greatest refuge has always been faith. Now she regularly attends a prayer group at a parish in Caracas, which she says has been very beneficial. She seeks indulgences for her husband and children and says she always tries to be cheerful and "let others see God in me."
"Despite the great loss I've experienced, I've held onto my sense of humor. That's one of the things I asked of God when my son Enrique passed away. I accepted his death with deep pain and entrusted him to God, but I prayed that he wouldn't take away my joy because I had always been the source of joy in our home. That's what my children and my husband used to say," she remarked.
"I want my husband and my children to feel proud of their wife and mother. I know that if I am happy, they will be happy, too. Happiness is a decision, and I decided to entrust my happiness to God because he wants all of us to be happy," she added.
Oct. 24 marks four months since that terrible day. More than 6,000 Venezuelans lost their lives in a matter of seconds; thousands were left injured, and many others remain missing.
"Despite everything, I thank God for the fact that I was able to speak with my youngest son at that moment. I am grateful to God for life," María Elena says, though she adds with that sense of humor she hasn't lost: "Although I do ask him to take me soon."
"I ask that I might fulfill my mission quickly so that I can go to Heaven, because that's what I long for most these days. Even before, I had no fear of death, because that is our destiny: to die in order to live and I want to live with God," she said.
María Elena says she doesn't yet know what will become of her life, but affirms that she has "surrendered herself" to whatever Providence may decide.
A message on the value of suffering
The Church teaches us that God does not desire suffering for its own sake, nor is he its direct cause.
The explanation of how God can permit evil without being its author is profound, yet it does not fully resolve the pain of any given loss. Through faith, we believe that God can bring good even out of evil; however, this does not make the death of innocent people a good thing, nor does it justify tragedies.
Such suffering can take on meaning when experienced in union with Christ. As has been evidenced in the case in Venezuela following the earthquakes, pain can awaken solidarity and mutual responsibility; it can even prompt a society to reflect on how it might improve. This is María Elena's conviction.
"We have been suffering for years. Just try it, you'll see: when you entrust that suffering to Christ, all the little things we go through, those moments of anger and indignation, offering them to Jesus for the sake of someone else, you will see how the blessings follow," she said.
María Elena after recovering intact from the rubble a statue of Our Lady of Fatima which belonged to the Luso-Venezuelan Center of Vargas | Credit: Courtesy of María Elena Rocha
"And another thing: thank God for everything. It's incredible, when you thank God for both the bad things and the good, blessings will follow. I'm not saying that problems won't continue to arise; I still have plenty of things to deal with myself, but when we are with God, our burdens are lighter," María Elena reflected.
"I am not alone, because I have God; I have the Most Holy Virgin Mary, who has always been with me and I have felt her presence. And who better than she who knows what this pain is like?" she said.
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.
Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.
Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA teamed up this month to launch a new tour on college campuses, in which students are invited to debate the ethics of abortion with a pro-life speaker.
The tour, titled "Feminists Lied: Prove Me Wrong," features Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins. It began on Oct. 20 to challenge the view that feminism and a legal right to abortion have helped women rather than hurt them.
"For decades, young women were told that career success, a degree, and independence were the keys to happiness, and that abortion was the price of equality," Hawkins, who is Catholic, said in a statement.
"Many Millennial women now ask whether those promises delivered, and Gen Z deserves to hear that conversation before they make the same choices," she said. "Motherhood is not a weakness to be overcome. If equality requires a woman to end her pregnancy to succeed, then we haven't liberated her at all. We've just handed her a different burden and called it freedom."
The tour includes visits to eight campuses: the University of North Texas, Grand Valley State University, the University of Cincinnati, Boise State University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, Southern Oregon University, and the University of Washington.
Following the first event at the University of North Texas, Hawkins posted on X that her pro-life tour is intended to be in line with "Charlie's legacy," referencing Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025 during a college speaking and debating tour.
Kirk, who was a conservative activist, frequently challenged abortion and encouraged young people to start families. He was an evangelical Christian who often blended political activism with evangelism.
CatholicVote reaches Hispanics on Virginia abortion initiative
The conservative organization CatholicVote has teamed up with Eduardo Verástegui — a Mexican actor and star in Sound of Freedom — to reach Hispanic voters in Virginia and encourage them to vote against a referendum that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.
The advertisement, in Spanish, informs voters of the "very important" referendum, and notes that the state's bishops have spoken with clarity against the proposal. The bishops of both dioceses in the state have said Catholics have a "sacred duty" to vote no.
Verástegui also highlighted the bishops' opposition to a separate ballot initiative to enshrine same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
English archbishop voices concern over euthanasia law in Isle of Man
Archbishop John Sherrington expressed sadness that an "assisted dying" bill will become law on the Isle of Man, which is a self-governing Crown Dependency of the British Crown.
"The Catholic Church continues to teach that life is a most precious gift of God and that we are stewards entrusted with this gift to protect it, treat illness, and care for the good of life," said Sherrington, whose jurisdiction includes the Isle of Man.
"As such, a person should never intentionally end his or her life," he said. "Catholic teaching, shared by many Christians and others of goodwill, proposes a different approach from that which has been passed into law by the Tynwald."
The law will allow people who are terminally ill to receive physician-assisted suicide.
Arizona man wins lawsuit against abortion clinic
An Arizona man named Mario Villegas won a lawsuit against the Phoenix-based abortion clinic Camelback Family Planning after a court found that the clinic failed to follow the state's informed consent law when his then-wife was prescribed chemical abortion drugs.
Villegas was awarded $5,000 in statutory damages and $62,500 in compensatory damages for his psychological, emotional, and physical injuries. He had argued in court that the clinic did not adequately inform his wife, from whom he is now divorced, about the development of the unborn child, risks associated with abortion, and possible alternatives.
In awarding Villegas damages, the court outlined that he was unable to properly function, eat, or sleep after his wife decided she wanted an abortion. The court highlighted his statements about feeling guilty after the abortion, saying "my baby was no longer living, and [I was wondering], 'was there anything else I could have [done] to change the outcome?'"
The court noted that he had spoken about his grief, with him expressing his "feeling of loss" and saying, "I lost an opportunity to have somebody in my life."
Villegas carries the ultrasound photo of his unborn child everywhere he goes, according to the court.
