Catholic News

Pope Leo XIV begins his visit to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the fourth and final stop of his first pastoral journey to Africa as pontiff. His visit has generated anticipation in a nation where Catholicism is deeply woven into culture, language, and public life.

As the pope lands in the central African nation — comprised of the Rio Muni mainland and five volcanic offshore islands — his visit is to be viewed as both a moment of spiritual renewal and an affirmation of the local Church's growing maturity, according to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa.

Here are seven things to know about the Catholic Church in Equatorial Guinea:

1. Equatorial Guinea is Africa's only Spanish-speaking country and has a distinct Catholic identity.

Equatorial Guinea is unique in Africa as the only country where Spanish is the primary official language, a legacy of nearly two centuries of Spanish colonial rule that ended in 1968. This history significantly shaped the Catholic Church in the country.

Evangelization was largely carried out by Spanish missionaries — especially members of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CMF/Claretians) — whose pastoral methods, Marian devotion, and catechetical structures continue to influence parish life. Spanish remains the dominant language of Catholic liturgy, Church administration, and theological formation.

At the same time, Equatorial Guinea is officially multilingual. French and Portuguese were later adopted to facilitate regional and diplomatic integration, while Indigenous languages such as Fang, Bubi, Ndowe, and Annobonese remain central to everyday life and are increasingly used in local pastoral contexts.

This blend of Hispanic Catholic heritage and African cultural expression makes the central African nation unique within sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Catholics in Equatorial Guinea form one of the largest majorities on the continent.

Equatorial Guinea remains one of the most Catholic countries in sub-Saharan Africa — not only in cultural identity but also in measurable ecclesial terms.

According to Vatican Church statistics, as summarized by the Catholics and Cultures initiative drawing on the Holy See's Statistical Yearbook of the Church, approximately 74.8% of Equatorial Guinea's population is Catholic.

While this figure refers specifically to baptized Catholics — a standard metric used by the Vatican's Central Office for Church Statistics — it underscores the depth of Catholic presence in a country of just over 1.6 million people. In practical terms, this translates into a Church that permeates national life, with parishes serving not only as places of worship but also as centers of education, health care, and social organization.

Church-run schools and health facilities continue to play a critical role, particularly in rural and island communities where public services are unevenly distributed. The Catholic Church remains one of the most visible and trusted institutions in Equatorial Guinean society.

3. The country has a young but structurally expanding local Church.

Although Catholicism has deep historical roots in Equatorial Guinea, the local Church hierarchy is relatively young and continues to evolve.

The country currently has one metropolitan see, the Archdiocese of Malabo, with four suffragan dioceses: Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo, and Evinayong. The latter two dioceses were erected in April 2017.

Church leadership is now largely Indigenous, marking a shift from missionary administration to local ecclesial responsibility. This maturation is a key backdrop to Pope Leo XIV's visit, which can be interpreted as recognition of a Church that has come into its own.

4. A strong missionary legacy still shapes Catholic life in Equatorial Guinea.

Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) continue to play a defining role in Equatorial Guinea's Catholic life. The Claretians in particular remain influential in parish ministry, education, and the formation of the clergy, alongside other ICLSAL.

According to a June 2024 report by Agenzia Fides, the Church in Equatorial Guinea has drawn strength from its missionary past, even after periods of hardship. Reflecting on this history, the president of CEGE, Bishop Juan Domingo-Beka Esono Ayang of the Mongono Diocese noted that the Church has entered "a period of new dynamics" following earlier challenges.

This enduring missionary presence has helped sustain vocations, catechesis, and social outreach, especially in rural and island communities of the central African nation.

5. More than four decades have passed since the last papal visit.

Pope Leo XIV's trip will be only the second papal visit in the country's history. The first took place on Feb. 18, 1982, when Pope John Paul II visited Equatorial Guinea. During that visit, the late pontiff presided over Mass in Bata and encouraged Catholics to live "in loyalty to Christ and the Church."

For many Equatoguineans, particularly those born after 1982, the upcoming papal visit will mark their first encounter with a reigning pope.

6. Church-state relations are close but contextual in the country.

Relations between Equatorial Guinea and the Holy See have remained consistently cordial. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has met successive popes and has repeatedly expressed the government's desire to host a papal visit.

According to a June 28 Vatican News report, Teodoro, accompanied by his wife and government officials, met with Pope Leo XIV in what was the Holy Father's first formal audience with an African president following his election.

Meeting at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV and Teodoro discussed, among other topics, "the contribution of the Catholic Church in the fields of education and health care, and for the human, social, and cultural development of the population."

The Equatoguinean president also held a meeting with the Vatican secretary for relations with states and international organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, during which the two leaders noted "the good relations between the Holy See and Equatorial Guinea."

At the same time, the Church in Equatorial Guinea operates within a broader social context marked by political longevity, oil-driven wealth, and persistent inequality — realities that frame local expectations of the papal message when he visits the country.

7. The pope's stop in Equatorial Guinea is part of a linguistically and culturally symbolic African itinerary.

Equatorial Guinea's confirmation of the papal pastoral visit followed Angola's announcement, positioning Hispanic and Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) Africa at the forefront of Pope Leo XIV's first African journey as pontiff.

In December 2025, Pope Leo XIV indicated that he would visit Africa in 2026, naming Algeria as a possible initial destination. Apart from Angola and Equatorial Guinea being confirmed, Cameroon was also mentioned and later confirmed as a potential stop.

Together these destinations reflect the pope's emphasis on the Church's universality across languages and cultures: Spanish, Portuguese, and potentially French, English, and Arabic in possible future African papal visits.

Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff in modern history with firsthand knowledge of Africa. Unlike his predecessors, he had already been to eastern, western, southern, northern, and central Africa in person before his May 8, 2025, election.

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

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"For the Lord, age is no barrier," said Father Juan Daza Jara, who at the age of 64 and after 40 years of serving as a coadjutor brother of the Little Work of Divine Providence, was ordained a priest. He now shares the story of a "yes" that matured in the light of service.

Born in Laja, a small rural community on the banks of the Bío Bío River 28 miles from Los Ángeles, Chile, Daza still fondly remembers his grandmother Trinidad, who taught him how to pray "and to trust in God with a simple faith."

These days, he also turns his thoughts with gratitude toward Father Félix Eicher, the first parish priest of his hometown, a Belgian priest who remained there for 50 years and whom he still remembers today as "a great man who helped me, guided me, and accompanied me" during his vocational discernment, he recounted in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

During this period of accompaniment, Eicher recommended St. Luigi Orione to him as a model whose example sparked in him the desire "to become a brother so that I could serve the most needy in a more direct way."

As part of his discernment, in 1985 he spent a year in Argentina, completing his novitiate with the Little Work of Divine Providence. Currently, he directs a "Cottolengo" care facility housing 107 elderly residents.

A new calling

To be a coadjutor brother, he explained, means fulfilling the four vows: "Poverty, obedience, chastity, and fidelity to the pope," which is the fourth vow of the Congregation of Don Orione. "I abide by all the regulations, and I have all the rights and duties of the congregation," he said, adding that he has always felt "very content and very happy" with his consecration to religious life.

However, after several decades of service, he began to hear from colleagues and friends telling him: "The congregation needs priests; you've got to become a priest."

At first, the religious offered some resistance: "I would say: 'No! I feel content, fulfilled by what I do — happy,'" he recalled. But more recently, he began hearing this urging more frequently from acquaintances, as well as from priests within the diocese and the congregation, prompting him to consider more seriously this inner stirring. "Perhaps this had been within me all along, only I hadn't wanted to bring it to the surface," he began to think.

"I prayed about it extensively, discussed it with people of greater experience, and let them help me to be sure about this step. And after 40 years as a coadjutor brother and seven years as a permanent deacon, this restlessness arose in me about giving the Lord a more serious response regarding the path toward the priesthood," he explained. Consequently, during a visit from one of the superiors of the congregation who had arrived from Rome, Daza presented his situation to him.

Understanding each step as God's will

Following that conversation, he sent a letter to Rome as required by the formal process and also spoke with the bishop of Los Ángeles, Cristián Castro Toovey. "But I never thought this would happen so quickly," he acknowledged with surprise.

So it was that on March 21, accompanied by his mother, María Jara, and in the presence of brothers in his congregation and communities hailing from various parts of Chile and even his novitiate classmate, Father Sergio Jiménez (who had traveled from Argentina), Daza was ordained a priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Los Ángeles by the local bishop.

Reflecting on this new path that God has set before him, he said: "One must understand it as the will of God and the ways of God in the life of a human being."

"Since making my first vows, I have felt fulfilled and happy in the congregation. Today, more than ever, for this step is a huge step, a greater responsibility," he shared.

As he relived the moment of his ordination, Daza recalled it as "a great mystery," a moment in which he experienced "many conflicting emotions."

"I don't know how to explain it, because there are moments when you feel as if you are 'up there,'" he said. And he especially cherishes the presence of his fellow brothers: "It was something of immense importance."

Regarding his first Mass, he said: "As I walked behind the priests in the middle of the church, I felt something truly immense; it's very difficult to explain, like a feeling of joy, of weeping for joy. It was a very powerful experience."

A greater commitment to the people

Currently, Daza remains very active. "Don Orione always went all in," he noted as he enumerated the works of the congregation currently active in Chile: the Home for the Elderly, the ministry to young offenders, and the farm that helps generate resources for the home, tasks that demand both his time and energy. Now, in addition, pastoral care has been added to his responsibilities.

The priest said he believes that, in these times, "there must be a greater commitment to the people. People need to be heard; they need someone to dedicate time to them."

"I'm a bit hyperactive, so that's an exercise I'm going to have to undertake," he joked.

"I am deeply grateful to God and to the congregation, because my daily routine revolves around being able to help people spiritually. Many already know me, they know I can be a bit quirky," he quipped, "but it seems I inspire a certain amount of trust. I am content and happy; the fact that people feel heard, loved, and respected, that's already a big step," he emphasized.

Be courageous and let others help you

Finally, the priest addressed young people, encouraging them "to be courageous in giving a response, in placing themselves at the Lord's disposal, and in letting the Lord carry out his will."

In this regard, he recalled the motto of his ordination — "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," and assured them: "If you give yourselves over to him, you will lack nothing in your life. We have more than we sometimes imagine," he shared.

To those considering the possibility of the priesthood, he advised: "Pray often, allow yourself to be helped a great deal, be open with the people the Lord puts on your path, take heart, and I say it again: Don't be afraid; take the step, and the Lord will help you afterwards."

"In my case, it has been 40 years and today I can say with complete peace of mind that I have never once felt any doubt about my vocation, if this was truly my path or not because I have always felt secure, supported, and so loved by everyone; and that is what has kept me happy all along."

"For the Lord, age is of no consequence; what matters is simply having the desire to help," he said.

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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Pope Leo XIV continued his apostolic journey in Africa on April 20 in Angola, flying to Saurimo, where he visited a home for the elderly and celebrated Mass for more than 60,000 faithful.

"There are erroneous motives for seeking Christ, particularly when he is considered to be a guru or a good luck charm," the pope said on April 20, referring to how the crowds in the Gospel reading reacted after Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.

He concluded his day with a meeting with bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, catechists, and other pastoral workers at the Parish of Our Lady of Fátima in Luanda.

Here are some of the highlights of Pope Leo's activities on Monday:

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EWTN Spain is broadcasting Catholic programming 24 hours a day on digital terrestrial television, allowing viewers to access the content without a paid platform subscription, the network announced Monday.

News of the network's long-planned expansion comes ahead of Pope Leo XIV's June 6–12 visit to Spain, the first papal visit to the country since Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2011, EWTN Global Catholic Network said in an April 20 press release.

"If faith is truly part of our lives, it cannot be confined to a single moment — it must be present in all of them. Expanding to 24/7 programming allows us to walk with people throughout their day, offering a constant point of encounter with Christ," EWTN Spain president José Carlos González-Hurtado said. "It strengthens our ability to serve the Church in Spain and to partner more deeply with EWTN's global mission, especially as we prepare for comprehensive coverage of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain."

EWTN Spain began broadcasting four hours daily on three television platforms, including Movistar+ (channel 143), Vodafone (channel 212), and Orange (channel 92), in addition to the network's YouTube channel and website.

The network's adoption of digital terrestrial television more than doubles its viewership capacity, the release said.

Since its founding in 2020, EWTN Spain's programming has included content adapted and translated from programming produced in EWTN studios in the U.S. and Latin America. With the expansion of the network, all future content will be produced in Spain for Spanish audiences.

"At a time when Spain is grappling with profound questions surrounding the dignity of life and participation in the Church, EWTN is stepping forward in a larger way — accompanying those who are searching and offering the clarity and hope of the Gospel to every soul hungry for the truth," said EWTN Chairman of the Board and CEO Michael Warsaw.

"Launching on what would have been Mother Angelica's 103rd birthday is a powerful sign that this expansion in Spain builds on her enduring legacy and vision to proclaim the Gospel without compromise," he said.

Mother Angelica is the foundress of EWTN, the world's largest Catholic media organization, with 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels that broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours per day, seven days per week in over 160 countries and territories.

EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and more than 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.

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American Catholic and Jewish leaders and community members gathered April 16 at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., to reflect on Catholic-Jewish relations 40 years after Pope John Paul II's historic visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome.

On April 13, 1986, Pope John Paul II did what no other pope had ever done when he entered the synagogue and was welcomed by Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff. There, he notably declared that "with Judaism we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion."

Most memorably, he went on to say "you are our dearly beloved brothers and, in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers."

At the commemorative event co-sponsored by the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism and the St. John Paul II National Shrine, Eric Cohen, president and CEO of the Tikvah Fund, an influential Jewish think tank, extolled Pope John Paul II as "one of the greatest philosophers, religious leaders, and statesmen of the modern era."

Likewise, Catherine Szkop, director of public affairs at the Embassy of Israel to the United States, recalled her Polish father recounting to her that "in Poland you can say that you don't like Jesus and someone will say, 'That's your opinion,' but if you say you don't like Pope John Paul II, they'll ask in very colorful language, 'What's wrong with you?'"

In addition to being the first pope in nearly 2,000 years to visit a synagogue, Szkop noted that John Paul II was also the first pope to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem and established diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in 1994.

Cohen described antisemitism as "a perverse inversion of the election of the Jews to have a unique role in history, to be a light unto the nations, and to bring the biblical vision of the good to the world," adding that "it is the use of the Jewish people as an instrument in a campaign for nihilism and or a campaign for a version of the Almighty that seeks not covenant but radical submission through the sword."

"I believe Jews and Christians have a summons and a calling to stand together against this revolt against the Bible and to stand for the covenantal renewal of the West," Cohen said.

"And I believe in that project, America is unique," he added.

America as a uniquely Hebraic and providential nation

Cohen recalled the 1790 letter of the nation's first president, George Washington, to congregants of the Jewish synagogue of Savannah, Georgia.

Washington wrote: "May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivering the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors planted them in the promised land — whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation — still continue to water them with the dews of heaven and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah."

In addition to defending religious freedom, Cohen pointed out, Washington conspicuously advanced "the idea that you can't understand America if you don't see it as a providential nation made in the image of the Israelites. That it is the almost chosen nation."

'Elder brother' perspective

Speaking specifically from the perspective of an "elder brother in faith," Cohen urged both Jews and Christians to remember that "a theology of love, a theology that seeks peace, is not a denial of the reality of evil."

"Evil is real, and evil has to be opposed sometimes by strength and force, and the Hebrew Bible teaches that," he said. Referencing Catholic just war theory, Cohen asserted that now more than ever, "we need a reaffirmation and re-explanation of that just war tradition."

He warned both his Catholic and Jewish listeners in attendance, which included diocesan and Dominican clergy as well as members of the American Sephardi Federation, to "not give up on the teachings of the Bible about why force is sometimes necessary."

Cohen also urged Jews and Catholics to work together "for the religious education of our children."

Calling it "the great civil rights fight of our age, he said: "We have to stand together to have a renewal and a renaissance of religious education. That should be the norm in America. And tragically, it is a very, very tiny minority of young Americans who are educated in religious schools."

Cohen attributed this state of affairs to the country having a system that has until recently been designed against religious schools and "in favor of secularism."

"We have to stand together in believing that if we're going to pass down our faiths, we need an America that welcomes and celebrates religious education," he emphasized.

On being 'a blessing to each other'

"The relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community have never been more hopeful or positive than they are today," Szkop said.

George Weigel, a Catholic theologian and author of "Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II," said both the Catholic and Jewish communities "are  providentially entangled, not simply because we're living in the same space, trying to straighten out the same country, trying to defend the same good things in the world."

"We're providentially entangled religiously," Weigel continued. "That's going to take a while for us to wrap our common heads around, but I believe that conversation has started over the past six decades [referring to the 1965 Vatican II document Nostra Aetate] and I think it can only be enriching for both sides."

"The full meaning of that entanglement will only be revealed in the fullness of the kingdom of God, for which both Jews and Christians must hope," Weigel concluded.

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The U.S. Supreme Court will consider an appeal from a Colorado-based coalition of Catholic preschools who allege they were excluded from a "universal" government tuition program for preschoolers.

After granting the appeal on April 20, the court will likely hear the case in the fall.

The Colorado universal preschool program provides tuition assistance to families for a school of their choice, whether public or private, but the state government excluded Catholic preschools that have faith requirements for attendees from the program.

The Catholic preschools ask teachers and families to sign a pledge promising to uphold their religious mission, including teachings on sexuality and gender identity. The Colorado preschool program's nondiscrimination clause, however, requires schools to uphold provisions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled in September 2025 that Colorado may continue to exclude Catholic preschools due to their religious beliefs, the Archdiocese of Denver and the Catholic preschools asked the Supreme Court to grant them access to the program.

St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy began in August 2023 when two Catholic parish preschools and the Denver Archdiocese filed the first suit.

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood declined to comment, citing active litigation.

'Universal means everyone'

In September 2025, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis celebrated the court ruling to exclude Catholic schools, saying it protected students from "discrimination."

"Colorado's highly popular, free Universal Preschool saves families more than $6,000 per year, gives students a strong start, and has skyrocketed Colorado from 27th in preschool enrollment to third," Polis said in a Sept. 30 statement. "We are building a Colorado for all, where every student is free from discrimination."

Catholic parents Dan and Lisa Sheley, who have seven children, said in a statement that they hope to be able to participate in the program and choose a Catholic preschool.

"All we want is the freedom to choose the best preschool for our kids without being punished for our faith," the couple said. "Colorado promised families a universal preschool program, then cut out families like ours because we chose a Catholic education. We pray the Supreme Court will remind Colorado that universal means everyone."

A Catholic mother of three said that "Colorado is punishing young religious families."

"In a state that loudly preaches inclusion, it's shocking to see Colorado go out of its way to exclude families like mine," said Erika Navarrete Nagle, whose children attend St. Mary's. "I hope the Supreme Court will make it clear that no family should be targeted for what they believe."

Officials in charge of the program recently announced that the preschool program had reached 71.2% participation, leaving about 29% of eligible children not participating. The program's goal is to reach 77% participation by 2030.

Nicholas Reaves, senior counsel at Becket, the religious liberty nonprofit law firm involved in the case, and attorney for the families and preschools, said he is "confident" the high court will rule in favor of religious freedom.

"The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that states cannot exclude families from government benefits because of their faith," Reaves said.

"Colorado promised free preschool for all, then slammed the door on families who chose a religious education for their children," Reaves continued. "After three losses in religious freedom cases at the Supreme Court, Colorado should know better."

In May 2025, the Supreme Court declined to rule in a contentious case involving what was proposed to be the nation's first religious charter school, leaving untouched a lower court ruling that forbade the Oklahoma Catholic institution from accessing state funds.

In previous years, the high court has ruled in favor of Maine tuition assistance for religious schools in 2022 and in favor of a Pennsylvania-based Catholic foster care agency in 2021.

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More than 400 men will be ordained to the priesthood in the U.S. this year, and on average they are 33 years old and are lifelong Catholics, according to an annual CARA survey.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released its 2026 national survey of seminarians who are scheduled for ordination this year. The survey was administered between Feb. 12 and March 20.

Out of 428 ordinands invited to participate, 334 ordinands responded to the survey for a response rate of 78%. The responding ordinands represent 110 U.S. dioceses and eparchies and 34 religious institutes. Four in 5 (81%) are preparing for ordination to a diocese or eparchy, and 19% are preparing for religious institutes.

The report is created in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations and CARA about seminarians scheduled for ordination to the priesthood in 2026.

On average, responding ordinands first considered priesthood when they were 16 years old and were scheduled for ordination at the age of 33. Ordinands reported they lived in their dioceses for 16 years before entering seminary and knew the members of their religious institute for five years prior.

Most 2026 ordinands are white (62%), with others identifying as Hispanic or Latino (17%), Asian or Pacific Islander (11%), and Black or African American (5%). While most respondents reported they were born in the United States (74%), others said they were born in Vietnam (5%), Mexico (3%), Colombia (2%), or elsewhere (16%).

While most respondents reported they were born in the United States, a third (35%) were born abroad and, on average, came to live in the U.S. at 22 years old. The most common countries of birth among the foreign-born ordinands were Vietnam (5%), Mexico (3%), and Colombia (2%).

Of the men surveyed, 35% attended seminaries in the Midwest, 28% in the Northeast, 19% in the South, 14% in the West, and 5% abroad.

Education

The report found that 11% of responding ordinands were home-schooled at some point in their education and they received various levels of education. Of respondents, 29% attended high school or less, 19% reported some college or trade school, 39% received a college undergraduate degree, and 13% earned a graduate degree.

Of the respondents who went to undergraduate or graduate school before entering seminary, 22% studied theology or philosophy. Other common fields of study included business (18%), engineering (17%), and science or math (11%).

Nearly half of the ordinands (45%) attended a Catholic elementary school, 38% attended Catholic high school, and 34% attended Catholic college. Of all ordinands, 63% also reported participating in religious education in their parish.

Prayer practices

Many ordinands (81%) reported participation in Eucharistic adoration when asked about their prayer practices before entering seminary. Many also reported praying the rosary on a regular basis (79%), prayer and Bible groups (52%), and lectio divina (48%).

Overall, 93% of ordinands participated in at least one parish ministry before entering the seminary. Many reported that they had been active in parish life by serving as altar servers (79%), lectors (49%), campus or youth ministers (34%), or as catechists (32%).

Most ordinands (92%) were encouraged by at least one person to join the priesthood. For many it was a parish priest (70%), friends (49%), or mother (46%). Some also noted discouraging influences including family members (22%) and classmates and friends (17%).

Family life

The report found that 4% of respondents had served in the U.S. armed forces, and 12% reported their parents had a military career in the U.S.

Most respondents were baptized Catholic as an infant (93%), with just 7% who reported they became Catholic later in life. Most ordinands also reported that both of their parents were Catholic (86%).

The majority of respondents (88%) reported that they were raised by a married couple living together, with 97% who were raised by both biological parents and 11% who were raised by grandparents.

Of respondents, 28% said they have a relative who is a priest or religious. Most also said they have a sibling or siblings (96%).

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The Diocese of Charlotte has found that a priest did not violate any of its conduct policies during confessions with teens at Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina last December.

Multiple families whose teens attend the school had complained that a priest stepped over the line into "inappropriate" talk during confession, but in a statement to EWTN News, the diocese said it "looked into complaints raised about conversations that occurred during confession at Charlotte Catholic High School last December" and did not identify any "violations of our conduct policies" in the priest's behavior.

The families, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their daughters, said that during the sacrament of reconciliation, a priest asked the young women "unexpected and personal questions," according to a report by WCNC Charlotte.

One father said the priest, who has not been identified, asked his daughter about sexual sins.

According to the young woman's mother, the question was unrelated to the sins she was confessing at the time. "'Mom, I was telling him about missing Mass and lying to you and fighting with my brother … and we were not talking about anything sexual at all and he just asked me that,'" the mother said.

Another mother reported that the priest asked her daughter "if she's ever had a sexual relationship with a boy."

Those two families and others said they informed the school as well as the Diocese of Charlotte of their concerns.

In its statement, the diocese said it has communicated about the matter "with all involved at the time and has addressed the issue with all priests of the diocese, reiterating the need for pastoral sensitivity in celebrating the sacrament."

According to the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin also responded by letter to the families, who told WCNC they received similar responses.

"I am sorry that your daughter had a conversation in confession that made her feel uncomfortable," Martin reportedly said in his letter.

He said priests sometimes ask clarifying questions during confession or lead a penitent who has not properly examined his or her conscience.

The Catholic Church teaches that the faithful should examine their consciences regularly, but especially prior to the sacrament of reconciliation in order to make a good confession.

"Penitents frequently come to the sacrament having engaged in a limited examination of conscience," Martin continued, saying a priest might "raise common age-appropriate struggles with sin … to jog his or her memory or give them the benefit of having only to say 'yes' or 'no' so they do not have to describe the sin in too much detail."

He reminded the families that priests are prohibited from breaking what is known as the "sacramental seal," or discussing what they hear in confession.

Charlotte Catholic High School did not respond to EWTN News in time for publication.

Several of the parents who raised the issue expressed dissatisfaction with the bishop's response, however, with one parent saying she felt her concerns were "dismissed."

"The whole letter felt like we were being gaslighted," another mother told the local news outlet. "We understand what is appropriate and inappropriate."

Nevertheless, one of the mothers said "I'm still a faithful Catholic. I just want this to be about doing the right thing."

The diocese's statement continued: "Confession is a sacrament meant to address sins so a priest can offer a penitent absolution and guidance. A variety of topics come up during confession, and according to Church norms, a priest may ask clarifying questions and, if necessary, assists the penitent to make a complete confession."

"Confession is a sacrament Catholics learn about at home and at their church, through required sacramental preparation classes. Confession is offered on a voluntary basis at our schools, and as Catholics, students are encouraged but not required to participate at school," the statement concluded.

Priests' perspective

A priest who serves as a chaplain to middle and high school students told EWTN News that he knows of only one case personally where a penitent was "scandalized that the priest was asking for clarifying information," which he acknowledged priests sometimes do to help the penitent make a "good confession."

"People are sensitive about topics like that right now," said the priest, who wished to remain anonymous. "Even with completely innocent intentions, things can play out really badly. We're in the 'Me Too' season, we're in the 'priests are pedophiles' time of history."

The priest told EWTN News that he does not "regularly lead [penitents] in examination of conscience" during confession. He added: "I don't know of a single priest that does."

In addition, the priest noted that there "is a beauty of the seal of confession," he said, but because of it, a priest accused of wrongdoing "is helpless, not that he's necessarily innocent, but his ability to defend himself is really limited."

Another priest and former high school chaplain who also wished to remain anonymous told EWTN News that it is possible there was a misunderstanding, because young people, "especially teen girls, are often embarrassed to speak of sins of a sexual nature and are sometimes not clear during confession, requiring the priest to ask clarifying questions."

"But the priest should not bring up questions unrelated to the sins the penitent is confessing, and then, they should be clarifying questions only to help him or her make a better confession," he said.

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LUANDA, Angola — Pope Leo XIV on Monday thanked the Catholic Church in Angola for its long-standing witness in a nation still marked by the wounds of war, praising its efforts to help build the country on "the solid foundations of reconciliation and peace."

"Thank you also for your steadfast commitment to contribute to the progress of this nation on the solid foundations of reconciliation and peace," the pope said April 20 during a meeting with bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, catechists, and other pastoral workers at the Parish of Our Lady of Fátima in Luanda.

The parish, dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima and built by Capuchin Franciscans in 1963, welcomed the pope with a festive reception. Two children greeted him at the entrance with flowers, while young women in red skirts danced on the church square as they awaited his arrival.

The stop was one of the pope's final public events in Angola before his departure Tuesday for Equatorial Guinea, the last leg of his African journey.

Leo thanked the Church in Angola for its vitality and missionary spirit, telling clergy and religious that the Lord sees the generosity with which they have embraced their vocation.

"It is therefore worth opening your hearts completely to Christ!" he said. "Do not be afraid to say 'yes' to Christ, to model your lives entirely on his! Do not be afraid of tomorrow, for you belong completely to the Lord."

Addressing seminarians and those in formation in particular, the pope emphasized the total gift of self to God in priestly and religious life.

"It is worth following him in obedience, poverty, and celibacy. He takes nothing away! The only thing he takes from us and takes upon himself is sin. Yes, from him you receive everything," he said.

The pope also highlighted the importance of catechists, calling their ministry a foundational expression of ecclesial life in Africa.

"Particularly in Africa, it is a fundamental expression of the life of the Church, which can serve as an inspiration for Catholic communities throughout the world," he said.

Fifty years after Angola's independence, Leo reflected on the country's future and on the Christian duty to help shape it.

"All Angolans, without exception, have the right to build up this country and to benefit from it equitably; however, the Lord's disciples have the duty to do so according to the law of charity," he said.

The pope framed that responsibility above all as a call to fidelity to Christ. Referring to the Angolan bishops' current three-year pastoral plan, "Faithful Disciples, Joyful Disciples," he said the first path the Lord opens before the Church is fidelity.

"The first path is fidelity to Christ," he said, urging ongoing formation, vigilance in personal integrity, and perseverance "in proclaiming the good news of peace."

Leo said formation must be rooted not only in study and pastoral structures but also in a contemplative life nourished by prayer, adoration, and the broader cultivation of the human person.

"Formation is much broader," he said. "It concerns the unity of our inner life, care for ourselves and for the gift of God we have received … by drawing on literature, music, sports, the arts in general, and above all, prayer of adoration and contemplation."

He also encouraged clergy and religious to remain close to the people, especially the poor, and to reject privilege, arrogance, and self-centeredness.

"Do not detach yourselves from the people, especially the poor, and shun the pursuit of privileges," he said.

The pope gave special thanks to families, calling them indispensable in nurturing vocations and asking relatives to support priests and religious with prayer and honest counsel rather than seeking personal advantage from their ecclesial service.

After winning independence in 1975, Angola was plunged into a civil war that lasted until 2002. The long conflict left enduring scars, making the Church's message of reconciliation and peace especially resonant today.

Turning to Angola's history of conflict, Leo said the Church's fidelity today is especially tied to the proclamation of peace.

"In the past, you have shown courage in denouncing the scourge of war," he said. "Your contribution is widely recognized and appreciated. But this responsibility is not over!"

He urged the Church to promote a renewed sense of reconciliation by educating people in the ways of peace and by honoring those who have learned to forgive after enduring suffering.

"It is therefore essential that, while interpreting current events with wisdom, you never cease to denounce injustices, offering solutions in accordance with Christian charity," he said.

Leo also called on the Church to continue cooperating in the country's "integral development," especially through education and health care.

"Continue to be a generous Church, cooperating in the integral development of your country," he said.

He concluded by pointing to the witness of those who gave their lives for Angola and for the Gospel.

"Remember the heroic witness of faith given by Angolans — men and women, missionaries born here or coming from abroad — who had the courage to give their lives for this people and for the Gospel, preferring death to betraying the justice, truth, mercy, charity, and peace of Christ," he said.

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

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An Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus Christ's crucifixion in a Catholic village in southern Lebanon, which prompted a criminal investigation by Israel and condemnations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Catholic leaders.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 19 confirmed the authenticity of a photo on social media showing one of its soldiers using a sledgehammer to strike the face of Christ on the statue in the village of Debel, which is more than 95% Catholic and more than 99% Christian.

The photo shows that the statue was already damaged before the photo was taken, with Christ's body hanging upside down off of the cross, with only his feet connected to the wood. Photos do not show how the initial damage occurred prior to the soldier using the sledgehammer.

After confirming the authenticity of the photo, the IDF announced an investigation into the matter on its official X account. The IDF promised "appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings" and that the IDF is helping the community restore the statue.

"The IDF is operating to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure established by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and has no intention of harming civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings or religious symbols," the statement read.

Netanyahu said in a post on X he was "stunned and saddened" by the actions, and "I condemn the act in the strongest terms." He promised a criminal investigation and said military authorities "will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender."

"We express regret for the incident and for any hurt this has caused to believers in Lebanon and around the world," Netanyahu added.

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Catholic leaders condemn act

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, condemned the destruction of the statue as "a grave affront to the Christian faith" in a statement issued through the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, of which he is the president.

He said the assembly "expresses its profound indignation and unreserved condemnation of the desecration of a representation of Jesus crucified by an Israeli soldier in a Lebanese village" and warned the action "adds to other reported incidents of desecration of Christian symbols by IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon."

"It further reveals a disturbing failure in moral and human formation, wherein even the most elementary reverence for the sacred and for the dignity of others has been gravely compromised," Pizzaballa said.

The assembly called for "immediate and decisive disciplinary action, a credible process of accountability, and clear assurances that such conduct will neither be tolerated nor repeated."

Pizzaballa said that even amid the destruction of the statue, "the cross remains unassailable in its meaning."

"As St. Paul the Apostle declares, 'far be it from me to glory except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14)," the statement read. "For believers, the cross endures as a source of dignity, hope, and redemption, and as a summons to overcome violence through sacrificial love."

Pizzaballa said "it is precisely in this light that the Church continues to proclaim that true peace cannot be born of violence" and quoted Pope Leo XIV, who cited the words of Christ in Matthew 26:52, that true peace must remain "unarmed… a peace that calls to 'put [the] sword back into its sheath.'"

"For this reason, the assembly renews, with urgency, its call to bring to an end the war that has tormented this region for far too long, and to embrace a path where peace is witnessed in restraint, dialogue, responsibility, and reverence for the sacred and for every human life," Pizzaballa concluded.

Catholic villages in the south

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on April 16, but the IDF remains stationed throughout much of the land south of the Litani River, which includes the Catholic villages of Debel, Rmeish, and Ain Ebel.

Most people in southern Lebanon are Shia Muslim, but the region includes Sunni villages and Christian villages and religiously mixed villages.

More than 1 million people fled their homes, but about 150,000 people — including Catholics — stayed in southern Lebanon despite Israeli evacuation orders over fears they may not have been allowed back if they left. Some people have returned to their homes during the ceasefire.

Catholic organizations have provided shelter and aid to those displaced and those who remain in the south throughout the war. Less than two weeks ago, a Vatican humanitarian convoy was caught in the crossfire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces.

Early in the war, a Catholic priest named Father Pierre al-Rahi was killed in Israeli strikes. The Lebanon Ministry of Health has confirmed at least 2,294 deaths during the conflict.

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