Catholic News

The Vatican's General Secretariat of the Synod published Tuesday the testimonies of two men in civil marriages with other men who describe from personal experience the tensions and wounds that have marked their life of faith within the Church.

It is the first time a Vatican text has given voice to this group in such detail. One testimony is from a man in Portugal who said he suffered a deep wound when a spiritual director suggested he could have been married to a woman to "find peace" and "use my gifts," minimizing the affective dimension of marriage.

The man said the suggestion was painful because "it was a suggestion to harm a woman by robbing her of the chance to be completely loved and desired, all to fulfill a social expectation." From that point, he said, he began excluding his relationship and affective life from his prayer.

The Synod also published the testimony of a U.S. Catholic man in a civil marriage with another man, an immigrant, and active in parish life. "My sexuality isn't a perversion, disorder, or cross; it's a gift from God," he wrote. "I have a happy, healthy marriage and am flourishing as an openly gay Catholic."

Both testimonies are written in English and are published on the Synod website as annexes to the final report of Study Group 9, titled "Theological Criteria and Synodal Methodologies for Shared Discernment of Emerging Doctrinal, Pastoral, and Ethical Issues."

One of the testimonies recalls the author's experience with Courage, a Catholic apostolate that supports people with same-sex attraction who seek to live chastely according to Church teaching. Pope Leo XIV received members of Courage at the Vatican on Feb. 6.

The man wrote that he went to the group at the suggestion of a therapist he had met to deal with his "condition." He added: "I tried in vain to date a Catholic woman, but our relationship failed when my family faced a crisis. The time had come to be honest with myself, God, and others."

What the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality

Catholic teaching on homosexuality is summarized in three articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Nos. 2357, 2358, and 2359.

In these articles, the Church teaches that homosexual persons "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."

Homosexuality as a tendency is "intrinsically disordered" and "constitutes for most of them [homosexuals] a trial."

Grounded in Scripture, tradition has always taught that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered" and "do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity" and therefore "under no circumstances can they be approved."

"Homosexual persons are called to chastity," and through "the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection."

Presented to Pope Leo for study

The 32-page report, published first in Italian and presented in English as a working translation, is not a definitive doctrinal proposal. Rather, it outlines a methodological shift and will now be presented to Pope Leo XIV for study.

Drawing from the testimonies, the Synod study group says the first account describes "the devastating effects of reparative therapies aimed at recovering heterosexuality" and "contradictory advice" such as suggestions to marry a woman in order to "find peace."

The report proposes a new approach based on listening and dialogue for addressing "emerging doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues," including the experience of "people of faith with same-sex attractions."

The text is rooted in what it calls the "principle of pastorality," which stresses that Christian proclamation must take into account concrete persons and their lived experience. It proposes a change in approach to some of the most delicate questions in the life of the Church.

The report does not seek to offer total solutions but to open a path of discernment. Instead of speaking of "controversial" issues, as the subject of the report was originally announced, it proposes calling them "emerging" issues, understood as experiences that prompt the Church to rethink how to live and transmit the Gospel in diverse contexts.

The document explicitly recognizes the difficulty of harmonizing doctrine and pastoral practice. It says testimonies received by the study group show "how arduous it is for individuals and Christian communities to reconcile 'doctrinal firmness' with 'pastoral welcome.'" It adds that polarized positions often result in "profound suffering, personal lacerations, and experiences of marginalization or 'double lives'" for believers with same-sex attraction.

In this context, the report proposes a method based on three steps within what it calls "conversation in the Spirit": listening to ourselves, paying attention to reality, and summoning various forms of expertise.

The text says this dynamic of listening seeks to foster a synodal Church in which the people of God actively participate in discernment.

The report also stresses the importance of paying attention to those living on existential, social, and cultural "peripheries." It cites other examples of "emerging issues," including the rise of adult catechumens in some local Churches, which it says calls for rethinking pastoral structures.

In addition to the testimonies of two homosexual persons, Study Group 9 includes an experience of active nonviolence, as witnessed by a Serbian youth movement that helped bring about the peaceful fall of President Slobodan Miloševic on Oct. 5, 2000, drawing inspiration in part from the first Christians.

The Synod also published the final report of another study group, Study Group 7, on criteria for selecting candidates for bishop.

That report says bishops should be evaluated not only for moral integrity, doctrinal orthodoxy, pastoral sensitivity, leadership ability, and capacity to administer Church goods but also for "synodal competencies." It quotes Pope Leo XIV as saying that a bishop's duty is "to build communion among its members and with the universal Church by fostering the variety of gifts and ministries given for its own growth and for the spread of the Gospel."

The report also asks the dicasteries of the Roman Curia to review their procedures in a more synodal spirit and proposes regular independent evaluation of the processes for selecting bishops.

This story was updated at 5:56 p.m. ET on May 6, 2026, to include the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding homosexuality and homosexual tendencies.

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

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The Holy See made public on May 6 the official program for Pope Leo XIV's apostolic journey to Spain, which will take place June 6–12, when he will visit Madrid, Barcelona, ??and the Canary Islands.

The pontiff will depart from Rome on June 6 at 8 a.m. local time and is scheduled to arrive in Madrid at 10:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., a welcome ceremony will take place at the Royal Palace of Madrid, followed by a courtesy visit to the king and queen of Spain, Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia. At the same venue, the pontiff will meet with government officials, members of civil society, and the diplomatic corps, before whom he will deliver his first address.

At 6 p.m., he will visit the CEDIA 24-hour facility (an outreach to homeless people). Later that evening, starting at 8:30 p.m., a prayer vigil with young people will be held at Plaza de Lima, adjacent to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

On Sunday, June 7, he will celebrate Mass in Cibeles plaza followed by the Corpus Christi procession. In the afternoon, he will hold a private meeting with members of the Order of St. Augustine at the nunciature, and at 6 p.m. he will preside over an event titled "Weaving Networks with the Worlds of Culture, Art, and Sport," where he will deliver another address.

In the evening, he will dine at the residence of the archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal José Cobo.

On Monday, June 8, at 9:30 a.m., he will meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the nunciature before heading to the Congress of Deputies (lower house), where Leo XIV will become the first pontiff to address the country's legislature, known as the Cortes Generales.

Subsequently, he will proceed to the headquarters of the Spanish Bishops' Conference, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. There he will meet with the prelates. He will also meet with the bishops at the nunciature and have lunch there.

At 6 p.m., a prayer service and veneration of the Virgin of Almudena will take place at the cathedral. Afterward, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, he will meet with the diocesan community, where he will offer another reflection.

On Tuesday, June 9, before traveling to Barcelona, Leo XIV will meet with volunteers at a pavilion within the International Trade Fair Center, to whom he will address a few words.

Shortly after 11, he will take off from Madrid, arriving at El Prat airport in Barcelona around 12:30. At 1 p.m. he will pray midday prayer at the cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia, where he will deliver a homily.

At 8 p.m. a prayer vigil will take place at Olympic Stadium, where the pope will deliver an address.

The following morning, Wednesday, June 10, the Holy Father will travel to the "Brians 1" correctional facility. At noon, he will proceed to the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, where he will pray the rosary and deliver an address.

Following lunch with the Benedictine community of Montserrat, he will hold a meeting at 4:30 p.m. with charitable and social assistance organizations at the St Augustine Church, where he will give another reflection.

At 7:30 p.m., he will celebrate Mass at Sagrada Família Basilica, where the Jesus Christ Tower will be inaugurated.

On Thursday, June 11, the pope will travel to the city of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria Island. At 11:40 a.m., he will get a firsthand look at the reception of migrants at the port of the town of Arguineguín on the southern end of the island.

At 1:30 p.m., he will meet with bishops, priests, deacons, religious, seminarians, and pastoral workers at Santa Ana Cathedral. Later that day, at 6:30 p.m., he will celebrate Mass at Gran Canaria Stadium.

On Friday, June 12, he will fly to the city of Santa Cruz on Tenerife Island, arriving at 9:10 a.m. Subsequently, he will hold a meeting with the migrants housed at the Las Raíces center.

At 10:10 a.m., a gathering focused on migrant integration initiatives is scheduled to take place at the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna. After noon, he will celebrate Mass at the port of Santa Cruz on Tenerife.

Following a farewell ceremony, his plane will take off at 3 p.m. bound for Rome, where it is scheduled to arrive at 8:10 p.m. Rome time.

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

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PARIS?— The Catholic Church in France is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV for an apostolic visit expected to take place at the end of September, the French Bishops' Conference announced in a May 6 communiqué.

While the Holy See has yet to make an official announcement, the news came as no surprise, as rumors of a papal trip to France had been circulating since March. 

"Since his election, a year ago, Pope Leo XIV has been asked by several bishops to come to France," the communiqué said. The formal invitation was extended by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the French Bishops' Conference, acting in coordination with the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Celestino Migliore. It received an important boost when French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his own support for the trip during his Vatican visit April 10.

Commenting on the announcement, Aveline, who has held several working sessions with the pope on the matter, said that "Leo XIV has expressed, on various occasions, the great esteem he holds for our country and its spiritual history."

The cardinal continued: "His coming would be an opportunity to share with the pope what our Church in France is living and to let ourselves be encouraged by his word." He added that the two had already begun mapping out a tentative itinerary.

According to the itinerary currently under consideration, the Holy Father would visit both the French capital — where he is also expected to visit Notre-Dame Cathedral — and Lourdes, a landmark site of Marian apparitions in the Pyrenees Mountains.

According to reporting by press agency I.Média quoted by Famille chrétienne, the name of Scy-Chazelles, a small town in the Moselle department (northeast of France) that is home to the residence and tomb of Robert Schuman — known as the "Father of Europe" and whose cause of canonization is underway — has also been regularly mentioned as a possible stop. The Diocese of Metz, however, has said it has no confirmed information to that effect. 

If the visit goes ahead as planned, Leo XIV would be the first pope to make an official state visit to France in nearly two decades. The last came in September 2008, when Benedict XVI traveled to Paris and Lourdes. Pope Francis visited France three times during his pontificate — in Strasbourg in 2014 to address the European Parliament, in Marseille in 2023 for the Mediterranean Meetings, and in Corsica for a symposium on "popular religiosity in the Mediterranean" in December 2024 — though none of these trips constituted an official state visit. John Paul II, for his part, made no fewer than seven trips to France across the course of his pontificate.

The choice of date, according to observers, can be explained by the Holy See's desire to distance itself sufficiently from the electoral calendar in the interest of neutrality, as the presidential elections are scheduled for the first half of 2027.

The announcement comes at a time of unexpected renewal for Catholicism in France, a country known as the "eldest daughter of the Church" but long associated with aggressive "laicité" ("secularism") and de-Christianization.

In recent years, the Church has seen a steady increase in the number of adult catechumens, with 13,000 of them receiving baptism at Easter this year. In response, the bishops of the Île-de-France region convened a dedicated pastoral council focused on how to welcome these newcomers appropriately — accompanying them not only through the sacraments of initiation but also toward a lasting and deeply rooted life of faith. 

Pending the official announcement from the Holy See, the bishops of France have asked all the faithful to hold the preparation of this event in prayer.

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Ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's meeting with Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump told "EWTN News Nightly" that one message he wants to get to the Holy Father is: "Iran cannot have nuclear weapons."

"Well, I can tell you this, that as far as the pope is concerned, it's very simple, whether I make him happy or I don't make him happy, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump told EWTN News' Toby Capion when asked what message he hopes Rubio delivers to Leo at the May 7 meeting.

"And he seemed to be saying that they can [obtain a nuclear weapon], and I say they cannot because if that happened, the entire world would be hostage, and we're not going to let that happen," he said. "That's my only message."

Trump has repeated the claim several times that Leo believes Iran should be able to obtain a nuclear weapon; however, the pontiff has never said those words and has spoken out against nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and against nuclear weapons more broadly.

When speaking about the Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025, Leo said: "The commitment to creating a safer world, free from the nuclear threat, should be pursued through respectful encounter and sincere dialogue, to build a lasting peace, based on justice, fraternity, and the common good."

On March 5, Leo spoke more broadly against nuclear weapons, saying: "May the nuclear threat never again dictate the future of humanity."

During a news conference on May 5, Rubio told reporters that his May 7 meeting with Leo is not about the president's criticism of the Holy Father. Rather, he said the meeting had already been scheduled.

"The trip is really not tied to anything other than the fact that it would be normal for us to engage with them and other secretaries of state have done that in the past," Rubio said, noting common interests in religious freedom, Christian persecution, and humanitarian aid to Cuba.

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said on Wednesday it would be premature to discuss sanctions against the German bishops for blessings of same-sex couples.

Parolin, however, did not rule out an intervention by the Holy See but expressed hope that it would be avoided.

"It is premature now to speak of sanctions. Let us hope we never have to get to sanctions, and that problems can be resolved peacefully, as they should be in the Church," Parolin told reporters on the sidelines at a book launch at the Patristic Institute in Rome on Wednesday.

Several members of the German Bishops' Conference, citing the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans, have formalized blessings for same-sex couples in their dioceses in Germany. Recently, a 2024 letter was circulated from the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith prohibiting this practice.

Pope Leo XIV has also weighed in on the issue, recently stating that the Holy See does not agree with the German bishops with the "formalized blessing of couples" beyond the allowances of Fiducia Supplicans.

Rubio to meet with Pope Leo

Parolin also weighed in on the May 7 meeting scheduled between Leo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. President Donald Trump's recent criticisms of the pope. Parolin said the United States remains an interlocutor with the Holy See and described the latest verbal attacks against Leo as "strange."

"We will listen to [Rubio]. We will listen to him. The initiative came from [the Trump administration]. I imagine we will talk about everything that has happened in recent days; we cannot avoid touching on these issues," Parolin said.

Leo recently spoke to journalists at Castel Gandolfo and rejected Trump's claim that the Church supports nuclear weapons. Parolin echoed those sentiments on Thursday, stating that the "Holy See has always worked, and continues to work, precisely on nuclear disarmament."

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Researchers have named a moth species "Pyralis papaleonei," or "Pope Leo moth," in honor of the Holy Father.

"The new species is dedicated to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV," authors Peter Huemer, Lauri Kaila, and Andreas H. Segerer wrote in a research article on the species. "The pontiff is a strong advocate of climate and environmental protection, and we hope that his voice may serve as an example for humanity."

In the journal, Nota Lepidopterologica, the entomologists said the species was discovered on the Mediterranean island of Crete. It is a medium-sized species with a 2-centimeter wingspan, gold spots, and prominent white bands.

"Furthermore, due to its distinctive coloration and overall appearance, the new species belongs to a group of Pyralidae whose species names refer to high secular or ecclesiastical offices including Pyralis regalis, Pyralis imperialis, Pyralis princeps, and Pyralis cardinalis," they wrote.

Butterflies are often named after external characteristics, geographical locations, or in honor of distinguished individuals, according to a press release from Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, or the Tyrolean State Museum, located in Innsbruck, Austria.

Within the Pyralis genus, a different tradition has emerged. As early as 1775, Austrian naturalists and Jesuits Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller described the first species of the group as Pyralis regalis, or "royal," due to its coloration.

This prompted similar names including Pyralis princeps and Pyralis cardinalis, which belong to the superfamily Pyraloidea comprised of 16,000 described species worldwide.

In the Old Testament (Genesis 2), Adam is instructed to name all animals. According to the museum, this led to the action of taxonomy — the science of classifying, naming, and categorizing organisms — to often be considered, "in the biblical sense, the oldest task of humankind."

According to Huemer, head of studies at the Tyrolean State Museum, the naming process is more than a scientific act but a symbolic gesture. For the Pope Leo moth, it is an appeal to the head of the Catholic Church and to draw attention to humanity's central responsibility for the preservation of creation.

"We are facing a global biodiversity crisis, yet only a fraction of the world's species has been scientifically documented," Huemer said in a statement. "Effective conservation of biodiversity requires that species are first recognized, described, and named."

Huemer's call echoes the pope's "call for conversion" at a 2025 international conference on climate justice, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si'.

"It is only by returning to the heart that a true ecological conversion can take place," the Holy Father said. "We must shift from collecting data to caring, and from environmental discourse to an ecological conversion that transforms both personal and communal lifestyles."

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The Vatican's General Secretariat of the Synod published Tuesday the testimonies of two men in civil marriages with other men who describe from personal experience the tensions and wounds that have marked their life of faith within the Church.

It is the first time a Vatican text has given voice to this group in such detail. One testimony is from a man in Portugal who said he suffered a deep wound when a spiritual director suggested he could have been married to a woman to "find peace" and "use my gifts," minimizing the affective dimension of marriage.

The man said the suggestion was painful because "it was a suggestion to harm a woman by robbing her of the chance to be completely loved and desired, all to fulfill a social expectation." From that point, he said, he began excluding his relationship and affective life from his prayer.

The Synod also published the testimony of a U.S. Catholic man in a civil marriage with another man, an immigrant, and active in parish life. "My sexuality isn't a perversion, disorder, or cross; it's a gift from God," he wrote. "I have a happy, healthy marriage and am flourishing as an openly gay Catholic."

Both testimonies are written in English and are published on the Synod website as annexes to the final report of Study Group 9, titled "Theological Criteria and Synodal Methodologies for Shared Discernment of Emerging Doctrinal, Pastoral, and Ethical Issues."

The U.S. testimony recalls the author's experience with Courage, a Catholic apostolate that supports people with same-sex attraction who seek to live chastely according to Church teaching. Pope Leo XIV received members of Courage at the Vatican on Feb. 6.

The man wrote that he went to the group at the suggestion of a conversion therapist he had met to deal with his "condition." He added: "I tried in vain to date a Catholic woman, but our relationship failed when my family faced a crisis. The time had come to be honest with myself, God, and others."

The 32-page report, published first in Italian and presented in English as a working translation, is not a definitive doctrinal proposal. Rather, it outlines a methodological shift and will now be presented to Pope Leo XIV for study.

Drawing from the testimonies, the Synod study group says the first account describes "the devastating effects of reparative therapies aimed at recovering heterosexuality" and "contradictory advice" such as suggestions to marry a woman in order to "find peace."

The report proposes a new approach based on listening and dialogue for addressing "emerging doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues," including the experience of "people of faith with same-sex attractions."

The text is rooted in what it calls the "principle of pastorality," which stresses that Christian proclamation must take account of concrete persons and their lived experience. It proposes a change in approach to some of the most delicate questions in the life of the Church.

The report does not seek to offer total solutions but to open a path of discernment. Instead of speaking of "controversial" issues, as the subject of the report was originally announced, it proposes calling them "emerging" issues, understood as experiences that prompt the Church to rethink how to live and transmit the Gospel in diverse contexts.

The document explicitly recognizes the difficulty of harmonizing doctrine and pastoral practice. It says testimonies received by the study group show "how arduous it is for individuals and Christian communities to reconcile 'doctrinal firmness' with 'pastoral welcome.'" It adds that polarized positions often result in "profound suffering, personal lacerations, and experiences of marginalization or 'double lives'" for believers with same-sex attraction.

In this context, the report proposes a method based on three steps within what it calls "conversation in the Spirit": listening to ourselves, paying attention to reality, and summoning various forms of expertise.

The text says this dynamic of listening seeks to foster a synodal Church in which the people of God actively participate in discernment.

The report also stresses the importance of paying attention to those living on existential, social, and cultural "peripheries." It cites other examples of "emerging issues," including the rise of adult catechumens in some local Churches, which it says calls for rethinking pastoral structures.

In addition to the testimonies of two homosexual persons, Study Group 9 includes an experience of active nonviolence, as witnessed by a Serbian youth movement that helped bring about the peaceful fall of President Slobodan Miloševic on Oct. 5, 2000, drawing inspiration in part from the first Christians.

The Synod also published the final report of another study group, Study Group 7, on criteria for selecting candidates for bishop.

That report says bishops should be evaluated not only for moral integrity, doctrinal orthodoxy, pastoral sensitivity, leadership ability, and capacity to administer Church goods but also for "synodal competencies." It quotes Pope Leo XIV as saying that a bishop's duty is "to build communion among its members and with the universal Church by fostering the variety of gifts and ministries given for its own growth and for the spread of the Gospel."

The report also asks the dicasteries of the Roman Curia to review their procedures in a more synodal spirit and proposes regular independent evaluation of the processes for selecting bishops.

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

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ABUJA, Nigeria — The judicial vicar of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt has urged Christians in the West African nation to adopt a balanced approach of nonviolence while taking necessary steps to defend themselves in the face of growing persecution.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa,  following the resurgence of violence in Nigeria, Monsignor Pius Barinaadaa Kii stated that although Christianity promotes peace, believers must not ignore the need to protect their lives. 

"Christian persecution in Nigeria is real. It is more pronounced in some parts of the country than others," he said during the May 4 interview.

He added: "Even though we adopt a nonviolent posture, we also have a necessary obligation to defend our lives and to defend ourselves to any extent that we can."

Addressing concerns about insecurity and targeted attacks on Christians, Kii reiterated the Church's long-standing commitment to peace while clarifying that this does not preclude self-defense.

He made reference to the teachings of Jesus Christ, explaining that while Christ advocated nonviolence, there were moments when he acknowledged the need for defense.

"Our Lord was a nonviolent person, because violence always begets violence," he said.

He however pointed to a biblical moment involving Peter to underscore his argument, saying: "There was a moment in the life of Christ when he told Peter, 'Sheath your sword, the moment will come when you will need it.'"

The Nigerian priest emphasized that Christians must remain vigilant and responsible in safeguarding their lives, especially in regions where attacks have become frequent.

Kii also addressed Nigeria's current economic challenges, acknowledging the hardship faced by citizens while expressing cautious optimism about ongoing reforms.

He urged Nigerians to remain patient and forward-looking despite the difficulties.

"Nigeria has been in a situation for a very long time," he noted, adding that while reforms are "very biting," they are necessary steps toward long-term stability.

"The president himself said it will not be easy, but we should prepare for a rough ride so that we have a smoother ride tomorrow," he said.

A canon lawyer, Kii expressed hope that the economic measures being implemented would eventually yield positive outcomes, likening the expected turnaround to the joy of Easter following the sorrow of Good Friday.

"We hope and pray that all the reforms will be quick for us at Easter in this country tomorrow," he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria's political future, particularly the 2027 general elections, Kii called for trust in divine providence and a renewed sense of faith among citizens. He urged Nigerians not to lose hope, emphasizing that God remains in control of the nation's destiny.

"God remains God on his own terms. Let God be God on his own terms," he said.

Kii said faith in God's plan is essential in navigating both political uncertainties and national challenges. He reassured Nigerians that the country is on a divinely guided path.

"God knows what he is doing in our country. God knows where he is taking our country to," he said.

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

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A poll found two-thirds of Americans have a positive view of Pope Leo XIV's calls for peace amid the Iran war and a majority of people hold a negative view of President Donald Trump's criticisms of the Holy Father and threats to destroy Iranian civilization.

The Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll surveyed 2,560 American adults between April 24–28. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.

Pollsters asked people whether they hold a positive or negative view about statements and actions by Trump, Leo, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

It found that 66% of people have a positive view of Leo asking Americans to contact members of Congress to work toward peace and reject war and only 30% view his words negatively.

Leo made that comment to reporters on April 7 after Trump threatened to annihilate the "whole civilization" of Iran if the country did not reach a peace deal with the U.S. The Holy Father called the threat "a sign of the hatred, the division, the destruction that the human being is capable of."

The pontiff also called the language "unacceptable," and the poll found most Americans agreed with that assessment. Only 21% of people viewed the threat positively, and 76% viewed it negatively.

Americans also disliked Trump saying "I don't want a pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon," which was one of the president's reactions to the pope's comments. It found just 38% of people viewing the retort positively and 57% viewing it negatively.

Leo never said Iran should have nuclear weapons but rather spoke against nuclear proliferation in the Middle East when Iran and Israel entered military conflict in 2025. The pontiff also spoke against nuclear weapons more broadly.

The poll found that Americans also overwhelmingly disliked Trump posting an AI-created image of himself resembling Jesus Christ amid his public disagreements with the Holy Father, finding that only 9% of people viewed it positively and 87% viewed it negatively. The president deleted the image and said he thought it portrayed him dressed as a doctor rather than Christ.

Americans also disliked a public prayer by Hegseth in which he asked God for "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy" in relation to U.S. attacks on Iran. The poll found only 27% of Americans viewed those comments positively and 69% negatively.

Views on Trump and Leo

Trump's approval among Catholics and Americans broadly has fallen in recent months amid the Iran war and the higher cost of gas and food and broader hikes in inflation and the cost of living that followed.

The poll found Trump's disapproval from Americans rose to 62% and his approval rating was only 37%. On certain key issues, Trump's approval is even worse, with 66% disapproving of the way he is handling Iran, 72% disapproving of his handling of inflation, and 76% disapproving of the way he has handled the cost of living.

It found 46% believe Trump's attacks on Iran are inconsistent with his campaign promise to avoid foreign wars, 22% see it as consistent, and 30% are unsure. It found 36% of people believe military force against Iran was the right decision, and 61% view it as a mistake.

American views about Leo are much better, although many non-Catholics still do not have an opinion about the first American pontiff.

The poll found that 41% of Americans have a favorable view of Leo, 16% have a negative view, and 43% have no opinion. Among Catholics, 61% have favorable views of the pope, 14% have unfavorable views, and 25% do not have an opinion.

John White, professor emeritus of politics at The Catholic University of America, told EWTN News the poll shows "the danger and absurdity" of Trump directly criticizing Leo when the president is facing bad poll numbers and when those who have an opinion about the pope mostly view him positively.

"Trump spent even more political capital with his false assertion that the pope favors a nuclear Iran," he said. "As Pope Leo responded, this is simply not true. The teachings of the Catholic Church and of Pope Leo's predecessors have been consistent in this regard."

Unlike Trump, White said Leo does not "think in terms of political capital but only to preach the Gospel."

"In this, Pope Leo is fulfilling his mandate," he said. "And the message of the Gospel has endured because billions of people have accepted it."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Leo on May 7, although Rubio said this meeting was already planned and is not related to Trump's comments.

For his part, Leo told reporters it's "not in my interest at all" to debate with Trump: "So we go on the journey, we continue proclaiming the Gospel message."

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Psychological distress significantly affects priests, who may find themselves exposed to situations involving stress, anxiety, and emotional burnout due to the nature of their mission, said Father Wenceslao Vial, a priest and physician.

His remarks in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, come against a backdrop of growing concerns about mental health issues within the clergy. In April, Filipino Cardinal José Advíncula warned that "almost 1 in 5 priests in the Philippines suffers from psychological distress" and urged that mental health be prioritized in order to sustain pastoral ministry.

Vial, a professor of psychology and spiritual life in the theology department of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, emphasized that this problem should come as no surprise, as it is part of a broader reality.

"In many countries and not just among priests, people suffer from psychological distress," he said, noting that "nearly 30% of the adult population suffers from some form of psychological pathology" and that anxiety "affects roughly 25% of the general population."

Warning signs: When to be concerned

Vial stressed the importance of identifying warning signs. According to the specialist, the first sign of a mental health issue is often "a continuously and excessively negative emotional state: fear, sadness, distress, anger, and persistent negative thoughts."

He further warned that these signs must be taken seriously when they persist over time: "When you observe a person who is overly anxious, overly insecure, or overly sad for a period that has already lasted, for instance, a couple of weeks, that's a warning sign that requires attention."

Otherwise, he cautioned, the situation may get worse: "If not addressed, the alarm itself turns into a fire. The person ends up getting burned."

Regarding treatment, Vial emphasized the importance of a proper diagnosis: "The first step is to make a diagnosis … to give a name to the difficulties." He explained that it is not enough to treat the symptoms; rather, it is necessary to get to the root causes.

Likewise, he issued a clear call to seek out specialists: "You shouldn't be afraid of health professionals — psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors."

Burnout: A common risk among priests

Among the most common problems he sees in priests is burnout, or what he calls the "disillusioned Good Samaritan syndrome," which he described as "a state of exhaustion" linked to constantly serving others.

"It occurs in people who work by serving others, by giving of themselves to others," he explained, noting that it affects not only priests but also doctors, teachers, and mothers.

A particularly relevant aspect is its root cause: "Often, it is not brought about by overwork but rather by service work that has lost its sense of purpose."

Shared responsibility in the Church

Vial emphasized that caring for mental health is not solely an individual responsibility. "When problems arise in a diocese, the bishop must take the time to see what is happening," he said, noting that both personal and institutional factors are typically involved.

Among these, he cited "excessive perfectionism," "insecurity," and "unhealed wounds" but also situations such as "leaving the priest excessively isolated" or "burdening him with too many responsibilities without providing support."

"That is why it is a collaborative effort," he emphasized.

Vial highlighted the importance of the support provided by the laity. "All of us in the Church must pray for our priests … and look out for our pastors," he said. They are "the ones entrusted with leading us to heaven and bringing heaven down to earth."

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

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