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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 31, 2025 / 17:10 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

White House official: Trump spoke with Xi Jinping about Jimmy Lai's release

A White House official told EWTN News White House Correspondent Owen Jensen that U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about imprisoned pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai. 

According to Jensen, the official stated: "As President Trump said, Jimmy Lai should be released and he wants to see that happen."  Prior to leaving for Asia, Trump had told Jensen that he would appeal to the Chinese leader for Lai's release amid concerns for his health while in solitary confinement.

Lai is a Catholic entrepreneur and founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid paper known for its critical reporting on China and the Hong Kong government who was arrested in December 2020 for charges including unauthorized assemblies, protesting, fraud, and participating in the 2020 Tiananmen Square vigil, a service commemorating those who died in the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

EWTN Poland honored with 'Christoforos' award 

EWTN Poland was honored with a "Christoforos" (Bearer of Christ) award at the 25th anniversary Gala of MIVA Poland, an organization dedicated to supporting missionaries by providing them with means of transportation. 

The award, which was co-granted by the Polish Bishops' Conference Commission for Missions, was received by Piotr M. Pietrus, CEO and editor-in-chief of EWTN Poland. "We see this distinction as a confirmation of our mission. Through the media, we strive to carry Christ to places where it is often difficult to reach otherwise — just as missionaries do, thanks to MIVA Poland's help," he said upon being presented with the award. 

Syrian-Armenian foundation in Aleppo marks step toward broader social partnership

In a sign of renewal in northern Syria, Aleppo has witnessed the founding of the Syrian-Armenian Community Foundation, the first civil organization established by the Armenian community to reach beyond its own circles and serve all components of Syrian society, CNA's Arabic language news partner, ACI Mena, reported on Oct. 28.

The foundation aims to strengthen social cohesion, preserve both tangible and intangible heritage, and empower women and youth through cultural and developmental programs. "We wanted to affirm our place within the Syrian social family," said Ohannes Shahrayan, chairman of the board, explaining that post-war openness to civic initiatives made it possible to bring the idea to life.

Vice Chair Sonia Kabrielian emphasized that diversity of gender, age, and denomination is one of the foundation's strengths. She said the foundation seeks to make Armenian heritage a living part of Syria's national culture, not just through remembrance but through creative renewal that transforms tradition into a source of shared identity and opportunity.

Philippines bishop voices concern over dwindling vocations, says priests are 'rare sight'

Bishop Roberto Gaa of Novaliches is expressing concerns about the dwindling number of priestly vocations in the Philippines. 

"Ordinations have become a rare sight not only in Novaliches but also in other places because no one wants to become a priest anymore," said Gaa, according to a CBCP News report on Oct. 29. The remarks came as Gaa ordained two priests and two deacons in his diocese for the first time in roughly three years. The diocese of Novaliches, he said, has about one priest for every 70,000 parishioners. 

Bahrain to consecrate its oldest Catholic parish as apostolic shrine

Sacred Heart Church, the oldest Catholic church in Bahrain, will be consecrated as the official shrine of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia on Nov. 8, ACI Mena reported Oct. 27. The date will mark the church's elevation and its 85th anniversary. 

Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, issued a decree raising the church to shrine status "to preserve its historical symbolism and strengthen its spiritual role." The faithful attending the inaugural liturgy will be granted a partial indulgence under the usual conditions.

Built in 1940 on land donated by Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Sacred Heart Church has long served as a beacon of coexistence for Catholics of many nationalities. With its new designation, it is expected to become a center of devotion, pilgrimage, and interreligious understanding in the Gulf region.

Sudanese woman shares how she hid Bible pages in her hair during imprisonment

Mariam Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman who was arrested and imprisoned for being a Christian, shared how she hid pages of her Bible in her hair so that she could sneak them into prison. 

"Prayer was my strength in prison," she said, according to a report from ACI Africa on Oct. 31. In her testimony at the launch of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report, she described how she managed to keep her Bible in prison. Mariam said, "I had to cut its pages and hide them in my hair so I could read them in the bathroom. That was the only place I could open it without being discovered. I still carry that prison Bible with me everywhere I go." 

Apostolic administrator appointed for Libya

The Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization has appointed Father Magdi Helmy Ibrahim Mansour, OFM, as apostolic administrator of the Latin Vicariate of Tripoli, Libya, ACI Mena reported this week. The move, following Bishop George Bugeja's resignation, underscores the Catholic Church's enduring pastoral and humanitarian mission in the country.

Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV honored Helmy with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal for his service and his collaboration with Vatican diplomacy. Serving in Libya since 2006, Helmy has ministered to migrant communities and described the local church as a "modern Pentecost," a gathering of languages and cultures united in faith. Despite dwindling numbers after the 2011 conflict, Mass continues in St. Francis Church in Tripoli, one of the few Catholic sites still active in the country.

Myanmar bishops express closeness with faithful amid war

Catholic bishops of Myanmar issued a statement expressing their closeness with the country's people as elections organized by the ruling military junta approach. 

"In these times of great pain, uncertainty, and confusion, we may not be here in person, but we are with you in spirit. From north to south, from east to west, our beloved country is facing a crisis unprecedented in history," the bishops said in a message published by Asia News on Oct. 30, citing war, displacement, economic crisis, and social breakdown. "This is not the time to give up," they continued: "Peace is possible, peace is the only way. Let us not let hatred define us. Let us not let despair conquer us. Let us simply carry out our actions with the principles of "compassion in action, truth in gentleness, and peace without rest."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 31, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump said he is designating Nigeria a "country of particular concern."

In a social media post Oct. 31, Trump said, "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN'".

Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the U.S president must designate countries that engage in or tolerate "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" as CPCs. Violations include torture, prolonged detention without charges, and forced disappearence, according to the State Department. 

The last CPC designations were made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December 2023, when Blinken revoked Nigeria's CPC designation that was put in place by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2020. 

Christian leaders delivered a letter to Trump on Oct. 15 that said 52,000 Christians have been killed and over 20,000 churches attacked and destroyed in Nigeria since 2009. In addition, it said, thousands of Christians have been murdered and raped in 2025, and "over 100 Christian pastors and Catholic priests have been taken hostage for ransom."

Trump said in the social media post, "But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!" 

The president said he will charge Rep. Riley Moore, R-WVa., along with Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., "to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me." 

The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries," Trump stated, adding: "We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!"

Members of Congress and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also had sought to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced legislation in September that would require the Trump administration to adopt the CPC designation in addition to imposing targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials who facilitate or permit jihadist attacks against Christians and other religious minorities. 

Republican Senators Ted Budd of North Carolina, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and James Lankford of Oklahoma endorsed redesignating Nigeria in a Sept. 12 letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Budd posted on X.

Similarly, the USCIRF also recommended the State Department designate Nigeria as a CPC in its latest update on religious freedom in the country in late July. 

USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler welcomed the designation on social media: "We applaud @POTUS for making Nigeria a CPC." Hartzler said, "The Trump admin can now use the various presidential actions outlined in IRFA to incentivize Nigeria to protect its citizens and hold perpetrators accountable."

ADF Senior Counsel Sean Nelson told CNA, "We at Alliance Defending Freedom International are deeply grateful for President Trump's recognition of the grave persecution of Christians ongoing in Nigeria and worldwide."

Nelson added, "We hope that the Country of Particular Concern designation moves Nigerian officials to stop the denials and work strenuously to end the religious persecution happening in so much of the country."

Trump's announcement to move forward with the CPC designation comes amid the ongoing government shutdown that has left legislation on the matter in limbo. 

Moore, who was a staff member and national security adviser for the House Foreign Affairs Committee before being elected to Congress, celebrated the designation on social media, writing: "Thank you @POTUS for your incredible leadership by designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. You have always been a champion for Christians around the world, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with you and Chairman Cole @houseappropsgop to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered by radical Islamists in Nigeria."

This story was updated on Oct. 31, 2025, at 5:35 p.m. ET.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 31, 2025 / 17:57 pm (CNA).

The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) minor basilica in Barcelona is now the tallest church in the world, standing at 535 ft., surpassing Ulm Germany's main church, whose construction began in the 14th century.

According to the Sagrada Familia Expiatory Church Construction Board Foundation, as reported Oct. 30 by the Archdiocese of Barcelona, ??"the first element that forms part of the cross on the tower of Jesus Christ" was installed, marking the beginning of the final phase of construction of the church's central tower.

This latest addition consists of the lower portion of the cross, measuring over 20 ft. high and weighing 24 tons. "With a double-twist geometry, the lower portion has a square shape at the base that transforms into an octagonal shape at the top," whose exterior is "clad with white glazed ceramic and glass, materials that stand out for their reflective properties and resistance to atmospheric conditions," the news brief explains.

The tower of Jesus Christ is the tallest of the central towers of the church designed by Antoni Gaudí, who died a century ago. The completion of this structure "will be a historic milestone for Sagrada Familia and a tribute to its architect."

More than 140 years of history

The first stone of Sagrada Familia Basilica was laid on March 19, 1882, according to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. The following year, Antoni Gaudí took over the project, modifying it according to his architectural genius and renowned Modernist style. From 1914, Gaudí dedicated himself exclusively to this church until his death on June 10, 1926.

On April 14, 2025, Pope Francis declared the architect venerable, in accordance with the criteria set by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 31, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV declared St. John Henry Newman, along with St. Thomas Aquinas, as a patron saint of the Catholic Church's educational mission in his recent apostolic letter on education, "Drawing New Maps of Hope."

In the letter, the pontiff draws a connection between the two saints, separated by six centuries but united by the same mission: teaching within the Catholic Church.

Paul Gordon, professor of Catholic social doctrine and contemporary history and literature at the Ángel Ayala Institute of Humanities, reflected on the Holy Father's letter in a recent conversation with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

Union between faith and reason

As the Scottish professor noted, both Newman and Aquinas were theologians who promoted dialogue between the sciences, especially between faith and reason, positioning the gift of faith as a guide in the search for truth. 

In the apostolic letter, published on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's declaration Gravissimum Educationis, the pope recalls the words of Newman, who will also be declared a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1: "Religious truth is not only a part, but a condition of general knowledge."

According to Pope Leo, this involves an invitation to "renew the commitment to knowledge that is as intellectually responsible and rigorous as it is profoundly human."

A keen insight into modern times

Aquinas, known as the "angelic doctor," plumbed the depths of the Christian faith "in the light of Aristotle's philosophy" and Christianized the ideas of the Greek philosopher, Gordon explained.

"St. Thomas Aquinas introduced Aristotle's philosophy into the Catholic Church at the beginning of the modern world, in the 13th century," he added.

For his part, Newman, who was the first rector of the Catholic University of Ireland, "unified faith and reason" with his keen insight into modern times.

Gordon also noted that Newman is one of the most celebrated converts to Catholicism in recent times, making the pope's gesture "another milestone marking the return to Rome" that Newman himself experienced.

Though criticized by many at the time, Newman "was among the first" who "dared to leave Anglicanism, which is still the official and established Church" in Great Britain, and go "over to the Catholic Church because he knew that's where the truth resided," Gordon said.

Newman's conversion paved "the way for many other converts in my country and in English-speaking countries."

Gordon said he thinks Pope Leo XIV intends to emphasize the importance of ecumenism in light of Newman's courageous and brave example: "He shows us that we must pray for the unity of the body of Christ, because division is a sin." 

A light for teaching today

Both saints can serve as a light for the teaching profession in today's world, Gordon emphasized, where "education, especially at the university level, has become a kind of utilitarian vocational training where spirituality has no place."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 30, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

On the occasion of the centenary of the Secular Institute of the Sisters of Mary of Schoenstatt, Germany, Pope Leo XIV has granted a plenary indulgence to anyone who visits the original Schoenstatt shrine or any shrine, church, or chapel under the care of this community.

The indulgence can be obtained throughout the community's jubilee, which began on Oct. 1 and will conclude on Nov. 4, 2026.

"For our community, this gift of indulgence in our jubilee year is an invitation from God, through the Church, for a deeper purification of our hearts," the Schoenstatt Movement said on its website, adding: "We trust that God's grace will sustain us in a more perceptible way at the beginning of a new era for our family."

The decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See states that the indulgence is granted "to members of the institute and to all the faithful who, moved by repentance and love, unite themselves to the spiritual goals of the Jubilee Year 2025."

The faithful are invited to make a pilgrimage to one of the aforementioned places and spend time there in contemplation.

To obtain the indulgence, which can also be obtained on behalf of a deceased person, the following conditions must be met: sacramental confession, reception of the Eucharist, prayer for the pope's intentions — according to the decree, the Our Father, the Creed, the invocation of Mary, Mother of God, as Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy — and performing an act of penance and a work of charity.

This story was first published by ACI Digital, CNA's Portuguese-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by ACI Prensa/CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 30, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) launched an initiative to combat Christian persecution domestically and abroad, a subject at the heart of its latest summit in Washington, D.C. 

CPAC hosted a Summit on Ending Christian Persecution at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 30 as a part of its wider effort to collaborate with its coalition partners to raise awareness and identify policy solutions to religious targeting of Christians.

"As Catholics, we are all called to help those most in need, those who are facing persecution here and across the globe," Mercedes Schlapp, CPAC senior fellow, told CNA. "CPAC and our coalition partners have made it a priority to start the CPAC Center for Faith and Liberty, committed to finding policy solutions, working with national and international leaders to bring awareness to the atrocities that we are seeing against our Christian brothers," said Schlapp, who helped moderate the event.

"We hope to continue in this fight and really provide protection and solutions to those persecuted Christians, to those who have died as martyrs, and to bring peace to our world," she said. 

The event included dozens of attendees and speakers such as Sean Nelson, ADF International senior counsel; Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia; Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey; Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri; and conservative political commentator and practicing Catholic Jack Posobiec. 

Topics included a recent surge of political violence. Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah on Sept. 10. In June, catechist Melissa Hortman, the former Minnesota Democratic House speaker, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were murdered. 

During a fireside chat with Schlapp, Posobiec said that while he is proud of the work that has been done to raise awareness of persecution abroad, "it's coming here to the United States." 

A Minneapolis Annunciation School shooting left two students dead on Aug. 27.

"The shooting of the children in Minneapolis at [Annunciation Catholic School], which happened just two weeks to the day before the murder of Charlie Kirk, was an anti-Christian act of persecution," Posobiec said.

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Vatican City, Oct 30, 2025 / 16:20 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged young people to cultivate their "interior life" and to listen to their restlessness without "fleeing from it" or "filling it" with things that don't satisfy, lest they fall into existential emptiness.

"Having a great deal of knowledge is not enough if we do not know who we are or what the meaning of life is," the pope told the hundreds of university students he received Oct. 30 in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican for an event held as part of the Jubilee of the World of Education.

In his message, he invited the students to rediscover the inner dimension of life and pointed out that "without silence, without listening, without prayer, even the light of the stars goes out."

"We can know a great deal about the world and still ignore our own hearts," he noted, while encouraging the students to constantly strive "toward the heights," being "the beacon of hope in the dark hours of history."

Leo XIV acknowledged that many young people experience a sense of emptiness or inner restlessness and emphasized that this disorientation is not solely due to personal reasons.

"In the most serious cases, we see episodes of distress, violence, bullying, and oppression — even young people who isolate themselves and no longer want to relate to others," the pope observed. In his view, these deep wounds are "the reflection of "a void created by a society that has forgotten how to form the spiritual dimension of the human person, focusing only on the technical, social, or moral aspects of life."

The pope was especially approachable and relaxed with the young people, with whom he shared several spontaneous moments. He introduced himself to them twice as a "former math and physics teacher," recalling his teaching past, and even joked with them: "Perhaps you have a math exam soon?" he asked, going off script and eliciting laughter and applause.

The pope affirmed that a life that remains "stifled by fleeting pleasures will never satisfy us." Instead, he asked each person to say in his or her heart: "I dream of more, Lord, I long for something greater, inspire me!"

"This desire is your strength and expresses well the commitment of young people who envision a better society and refuse to be mere spectators," he emphasized after noting that the "desire for the infinite" is the compass they should use.

Instead of looking at your phone, 'look to the sky, to the heights'

He urged the university students to not be satisfied "with appearances or fads" and instead of "being fixated on your smartphones, to look to the sky, to the heights."

"How wonderful it would be if one day your generation were remembered as the 'generation plus,' remembered for the extra drive you brought to the Church and the world," he exclaimed.

During his address, Pope Leo cited as role models St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, who had "the courage to live life to the fullest" and "to the heights," and St. Carlo Acutis, "who did not become a slave to the internet but rather used it skillfully for good." The pontiff canonized these two young saints together on Sept. 7.

The pope also cited St. Augustine as an example, describing him as "brilliant but deeply unsatisfied" because he found "neither truth nor peace until he discovered God in his own heart."

The Holy Father focused much of his address on the challenges posed by the digital world and the development of artificial intelligence, urging that these areas not become "a cage where you lock yourselves in" nor "an addiction or an escape."

"You live in [digital education] and that's not a bad thing; there are enormous opportunities for study and communication. But don't let the algorithm write your story! Be the authors: Use technology wisely, but don't let technology use you," he urged.

'It is not enough to silence weapons, we must disarm hearts'

Leo XIV emphasized the urgency of a "disarmed and disarming education" that forms new generations in respect, justice, and equality.

"You can see how much our future is threatened by war and hatred, which divide people. Can this future be changed? Certainly! How? With an education for peace that is disarmed and disarming," the pope said. Furthermore, he warned that it is not enough to "silence the weapons," but rather "we must disarm hearts, renouncing all violence and vulgarity."

As in his recent document on education, "Drawing New Maps of Hope," Leo XIV called for avoiding all forms of exclusion or privilege in education, "recognizing the equal dignity of every young person, without ever dividing young people between the privileged few who have access to expensive schools and the many who do not have access to education."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 30, 2025 / 10:09 am (CNA).

A delegation from the Andorran government met on Oct. 22 with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to continue discussions on the decriminalization of abortion in Andorra, a country whose co-heads of state are the bishop of the Diocese of Urgell in Spain, Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The boundaries of the diocese also encompass Andorra, which is a small principality situated in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, roughly halfway between Toulouse and Barcelona.

The prime minister of Andorra who heads the executive branch, Xavier Espot, and the minister of institutional relations, Ladislau Baró, traveled to the Vatican, accompanied by the country's ambassador to the Holy See, Carlos Álvarez.

The meeting, according to the Andorran government, took place "within the framework of the institutional dialogue between the two parties to address the process of decriminalizing abortion in Andorra."

According to the executive branch of the small country, "both delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to continue working constructively with the aim of having a draft legislative text in the coming months."

At the same time, it was acknowledged that "this is a matter of great legal, institutional, and social complexity, requiring careful technical development," and therefore both parties "maintain their desire to find a solution."

This complexity relates to the Andorran Constitution, under which the bishop of Urgell and the president of France serve as co-princes who sanction and enact the laws approved by the General Council (Parliament) with the required countersignature and within eight to 15 days of approval. The Constitution also allows the co-princes to request a prior ruling on constitutionality before sanctioning a law.

"Decrimnalization" typically means that abortion remains a crime but only after a specific number of weeks of pregnancy. Prior to that time frame it is unpunishable. 

Abortion in the Andorran penal code

Title II of the Andorran penal code deals with "crimes against prenatal human life," distinguishing between "nonconsensual," "consensual," and "negligent" abortion.

Article 107 on nonconsensual abortion establishes "a prison sentence of four to 10 years and disqualification from practicing any health care profession for up to 10 years."

The same penalties apply if consent has been obtained "through violence, intimidation, or abuse of the victim's vulnerability" due to age, disability, or similar circumstances. Furthermore, the article establishes that even attempted (unsuccessful) abortion is punishable.

Article 108, referring to consensual abortion, provides for whoever perpetrates the crime "a prison sentence of three months to three years and disqualification to exercise any health profession for a period of up to five years." 

In addition, the code states that "the woman who causes her abortion or allows another person to cause it will be punished with a light sentence," typically less than three months. 

With regard to abortion caused by negligence, Article 109 establishes a brief sentence or a fine of up to 30,000 euros ($34,760) and disqualification for a period of three years if the abortion is the result of "professional negligence."

In this section it is also specified that "the pregnant woman will not be punished for this offense."

Parolin's visit to Andorra

In September 2023, Parolin visited Andorra, where he went before the media along with Espot and stated that this legal amendment "is a very delicate and complex matter that we must address with great discretion and wisdom."

"For the Holy See, the principle of defending life at all its stages is fundamental. And this principle is accompanied by the desire to be close to, and to help, all those who are in difficulty," the cardinal explained.

Parolin added that this affirmation of principles "also entails concrete actions; in this case, for example, toward pregnant women who encounter difficulties in having a child, in giving life to their child."

The Vatican secretary of state pointed out that amending the penal status of abortion in Andorra also involves "the problem of the constitutional system" under which the bishop of Urgell is the co-prince.

"It's not easy to reconcile these two aspects," the cardinal acknowledged, adding: "We are working, we are reflecting; we are further studying [the matter]. These are things that cannot be resolved overnight; they require a great deal of participation, a great deal of commitment, and a great deal of effort."

"We hope to find a solution that is satisfactory for everyone," the Vatican secretary of state concluded.

The role of the bishop of Urgell in sanctioning Andorran laws

The constitution of Andorra establishes in Article 45 subsection 1g  that the co-princes of Andorra "with the countersignature of the head of government (prime minister) or, where appropriate, the president of the General Council, who assume political responsibility," are the ones who "sanction and promulgate the laws" within a period of between eight and 15 days after their approval by the General Council of Andorra.

The reform also establishes the possibility that the co-princes, as an "act freely at their disposal," may require a "prior ruling on the constitutionality of laws" (Article 46, subsection 1e). 

ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, contacted the government of Andorra for more information on the reform and its potential implications for the bishop of Urgell but received no response. The Diocese of Urgell declined to comment.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Taipei, Taiwan, Oct 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

St. John Henry Newman has inspired many "Newman converts" to follow his path of conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism, including a 24-year-old Taiwanese man who is an ardent devotee of the 19th-century English saint.

When Kao Chih Hao, a recent convert to Catholicism living in Taipei, heard the news that Pope Leo XIV had decided to name Newman a doctor of the Church, he said the announcement moved him deeply.

"After hearing this news, I almost cried," Kao said. "It's the happiest news for me in this year since I admire him so much."

Kao, who works in sales for a computer hardware manufacturer and goes by the English name "Newman" after his favorite saint, spoke recently after Sunday Mass at Holy Rosary Parish in Taipei about how St. John Henry Newman helped inspire his conversion.

A lover of history since high school, Kao said a line from Newman's "An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine" caught his attention: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."

Newman, born in 1801, was a respected Oxford academic, Anglican preacher, and public intellectual before his conversion to Catholicism in 1845. His decision to become Catholic was controversial in Victorian England, costing him many friends — including his sister, who never spoke to him again.

He became a Catholic priest in 1847 and founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England. Dedicated to education, he established two schools for boys and founded the Catholic University of Ireland.

His work "The Idea of a University" became a foundational text on Catholic higher education. He was a prolific author and letter writer, dying in Birmingham, England, in 1890 at the age of 89.

As Kao was discerning his own conversion, he said he felt inspired by Newman's courage to give up his position at Oxford University to follow his convictions.

"Even if you are a chaplain of Oxford University, if you experience the real presence of Catholic faith of the Eucharist, you must pursue [it]," Kao said.

Pope Leo XIV will formally declare St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1. The pope also named Newman a co-patron of Catholic education this week, putting him alongside St. Thomas Aquinas.

Kao was fully received into the Catholic Church, receiving his first Communion and confirmation in October 2023. He said Aquinas' theology helped him understand the mystery of transubstantiation.

"After reading the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, I started to know that it is the real presence of Jesus Christ," Kao said. "And the real feeling for me to experience Jesus Christ in Eucharist is also in Eucharist adoration."

Kao is one of many young "Newman converts" around the world. At Newman's canonization in 2019, a 24-year-old American convert told CNA how she had decided to become Catholic two years earlier after a friend loaned her a copy of Newman's "An Essay on the Development of Doctrine."

As an enthusiastic new Catholic, Kao has set three goals: to make the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, to read St. Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica," and to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Franciscan friars, who have ministered there since 1217. He recently completed his first three-day Ignatian retreat.

His advice to anyone considering conversion to Catholicism is simple. "If you experience the real presence in the Eucharist, just pursue it. Just pursue Jesus. Just go to Jesus, go to church, find a priest, talk about the Eucharist and Virgin Mary, and do not be afraid," he said.

Reporting for this article was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan.

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http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=289439&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 29, 2025 / 12:27 pm (CNA).

Catholic charitable groups that provide food to needy families are voicing concern about the expected stoppage of federal food assistance programs as the government shutdown continues.

The shutdown reached Day 29 on Oct. 29, and unless lawmakers come to an agreement by the end of the week or the executive branch finds a solution, 42 million Americans who rely on food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will lose those benefits.

Congress can solve the problem by either passing a stand-alone bill to fund SNAP or by passing a bill that funds the entire government. Without any action, those who would normally receive food stamps on the first of the month will not receive any benefits in their accounts on Nov. 1.

"I don't think SNAP has been curtailed in previous government shutdowns," Deacon Kevin Sartorius, the CEO of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, told CNA.

More than 685,000 Oklahomans receive SNAP benefits, which accounts for 17% of the state's population — one of the highest rates of people on food assistance in the country. In eastern Oklahoma, the local Catholic Charities affiliate is the largest private provider of food assistance.

Sartorius explained that most people receiving SNAP benefits have jobs. He said their income is one means of obtaining food, and SNAP is the second source for low-income people. In eastern Oklahoma, he said "we're the third" option to fall back on.

"We go from being the third level of support to the second [level of support] when SNAP disappears," he said.

Sartorius said the impact is already being felt as some families prepare to potentially lose their SNAP benefits. Normally, in Tulsa, he said the Catholic Charities affiliate would serve about 175 families, but it increased to 205 last week and has now gone up to 292.

He noted that his organization will continue "loving the person who shows up and giving them food" but expressed concern that if SNAP is halted, that's "an amazing amount of money that just disappeared overnight from people's budgets."

"We're not going to be able to solve the problem independently, nor will any nonprofits, I don't think," Sartorius said.

"We cannot solve a very large system's problem," he added. "We can just care for the person who shows up today at our door."

'Hope we would all agree'

Rose Bak, the CEO of Catholic Charities of Oregon, told CNA that her affiliate primarily offers food to people in their affordable housing units, some of whom were previously homeless. She said most of them receive SNAP, and she has "heard a ton of concern" and "our clients and our residents are worried."

She said most SNAP recipients are either working adults, children, or seniors, and "they don't have a lot of options to get other funding." In Oregon, about 18% of people receive SNAP benefits, which is also one of the highest rates in the nation.

Bak is also concerned that "a lot of people are confused" about what's happening with SNAP at the moment and "weren't understanding the notices" because they thought the notices were related to the upcoming changes to SNAP approved by Congress earlier this year. She said she is "really concerned about" some people not preparing properly due to misunderstanding.

In Oregon, she said the charity has "a little bit of food stockpiled for an emergency" and plans to be "releasing that food" if necessary but added: "We're not going to be able to give people what they need" if the SNAP cessation lingers.

"I would hope we would all agree that people shouldn't go hungry," Bak said.

John Berry, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) in the United States, voiced concerns in a statement. SVDP is a Catholic nonprofit that helps feed needy families, among other charitable works.

Berry said "it is not our role to take sides in a political fight" but that "it is our role and our duty to speak on behalf of the friends and neighbors we serve."

"Our most economically vulnerable brothers and sisters should not be forced to go without basic needs as a result of a partisan impasse, and it is time for both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together to ensure that the most marginalized among us will not abruptly lose critical benefits," he said.

Berry urged the Department of Agriculture to "use every available mechanism, including the utilization of contingency reserves," to ensure SNAP recipients can access food in November.

"It would be simply intolerable for people to unnecessarily go hungry as the shutdown heads into its second month," he said.

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