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Vatican City, Apr 1, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In 2016, when Pope Francis instituted the ministry of the Missionaries of Mercy during the extraordinary holy year, Argentine priest José Luis Quijano never imagined that the pope's initiative would renew his priestly zeal. With more than three decades of ministry, he thought he'd already learned everything.

"I wasn't a priest just going through the motions; I was always very pastoral, but this meant an authentic renewal in the inner fiber of my ministry," he explained to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, nine years after having personally received from the pontiff the task of imparting God the Father's infinite forgiveness on a daily basis.

"Mercy is not for those who are squeaky clean, for those who are good or just. That's easy. The recipient of mercy is the evil person, the one who has committed horrible deeds, the one who doesn't deserve it," he explained.

Those are not empty words. Even before receiving this mission of mercy, the priest of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires had made a radical decision: to accompany a former priest in prison who was convicted of pedophilia.

Those were 20 years in which, despite the difficulties, he never doubted that his mission was to remain by the side of that man forever tainted by a terrible crime.

"When you visit a prisoner with these characteristics, the person doesn't speak. We spent hours and hours in silence. Afterward, every so often, he was transferred to another prison. Sometimes I had to drive 185 miles to see him, and once there, they would deny me entry," he recounted, noting that his only motivation was the words of the Gospel: "I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Quijano had met the priest in the early 1990s, and although he was never aware of the abuse, he had perceived in him certain worrying attitudes that denoted a life that was "hardly in order," he noted, without wishing to go into detail. In 1997, the scandal came to light. The priest involved, who was later laicized, admitted his guilt, was prosecuted, convicted, and served two decades in prison.

"When I saw Pope Francis' call to the Missionaries of Mercy, I asked myself: When in my life was I truly merciful? Because being good, being tolerant, being cordial, is easy with those we like. But true mercy is loving those who don't deserve it," Quijano reflected. He was also quite aware that the harm inflicted by the former priest on the victims is irreparable and that divine forgiveness does not erase the consequences of human actions.

"Here we must note the difference between two things. One is forgiveness and the experience of God's mercy in the heart. And the other is experiencing the world's rejection. Even if a person repents, society's condemnation remains," he explained.

When the former priest finished serving his sentence and was released, he encountered the wall of exclusion. He couldn't get a new start in life. It was impossible for him to find work or reintegrate into society. He ended up changing his name and moving to a city where no one knew him.

"Even though he may have repented internally in his intimate dialogue with God, that doesn't exempt him from the harshness of life and the resistance of a world that will always continue to condemn him. In a certain way, the perpetrator is also a victim," Quijano commented, not seeking to downplay the crimes but rather to highlight the complexity of forgiveness.

In this sense, for him, mercy must encompass "both the victims and the perpetrators."

"Being a Missionary of Mercy doesn't just mean administering the sacrament of confession but also living out mercy with others, even when it's difficult, when it hurts, when it seems impossible," he explained.

A broader vision of the priesthood

During these nine years as a Missionary of Mercy priest, Quijano participated in several meetings at the Vatican as part of his formation. In these meetings fundamental topics related to legal issues were discussed, such as how far the missionary authority goes and how they should exercise their ministry in relation to local ecclesiastical authorities, the bishops.

"In Rome, Pope Francis broadened our vision of the ministry. He reminded us that mercy is not just an act but a way of living the priesthood. It's not just absolving sins; it's bringing God's forgiveness to all, without exception," he recounted.

Quijano remains convinced that mercy is the greatest legacy Pope Francis has left within the Catholic Church.

"Everyone should look in the mirror and ask themselves: When did I truly exercise mercy? Not just forgive in words, but love someone who didn't deserve it," he emphasized. 

Quijano is one of the 500 priests who participated this past weekend in the Jubilee of Priests Instituted as "Missionaries of Mercy," the sixth major event in the 2025 Jubilee.

Pope Francis was not able to accompany them due to his ongoing convalescence at St. Martha's House after spending 38 days in Gemelli Hospital.

However, he sent a written message to impart his blessing to the priests, who came from countries such as Italy, the United States, Poland, Brazil, Spain, France, Mexico, Germany, Slovakia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Colombia, and India, among others.

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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Vatican City, Mar 31, 2025 / 13:17 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis has advanced five people's paths to sainthood after approving decrees promulgated by the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on March 28.

Blessed Peter To Rot of Papua New Guinea, Blessed Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan of Turkey, and Blessed María Carmen of Venezuela will be proclaimed saints of the Church. 

The pope also approved the beatification of Italian diocesan priest Carmelo De Palma and declared Brazilian priest José Antônio de Maria Ibiapina a "venerable" of the Church. 

The canonization ceremonies of both To Rot and Maloyan are to be discussed in a future customary consistory, according to a Holy See Press Office announcement.   

To Rot, a lay catechist born on March 5, 1912, and martyred for his faith during World War II, will be the first canonized saint from Papua New Guinea. 

Beatified by St. John Paul II during his apostolic journey to the Oceania nation on Jan. 17, 1995, To Rot is recognized by the Church as a defender of Christian marriage and a faithful catechist who continued his ministry until his death in prison.

Fame of To Rot's sanctity spread throughout Papua New Guinea and to other countries in the Pacific Ocean — including the Solomon Islands and Australia — following his 1995 beatification.

Maloyan was born on April 19, 1869, and died a martyr in Turkey in 1915 after refusing to convert to Islam. He was beatified by St. John Paul II on Oct. 7, 2001, alongside six other servants of God.

Ordained in Lebanon in 1883, Maloyan was known as an intelligent and exemplary priest with a deep understanding of Scripture. He was later elected archbishop of Mardine during the Synod of Armenian Bishops held in Rome in 1911. 

Following the great persecution of Armenians in the country with the outbreak of World War I, Maloyan alongside other priests and Christian faithful were executed by Turkish officers in June 1915 after refusing to convert to Islam.

Blessed María Carmen (née Carmen Elena Rendíles Martínez) will become the first canonized saint of Venezuela after the Holy Father approved the miracle — the healing of a woman diagnosed with idiopathic triventricular hydrocephalus — attributed to her intercession.

Born in the country's capital, Caracas, on Aug. 11, 1903, she became a religious sister of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus of the Blessed Sacrament in 1927 and later became one of the founders of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus in Venezuela in 1946.

Serving the Catholic faithful in schools and parishes alongside her sisters who founded the new Latin American congregation, Blessed María Carmen was known for her love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

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Rome Newsroom, Mar 31, 2025 / 11:03 am (CNA).

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France announced Monday that the entrances to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, featuring art by the disgraced artist Father Marko Rupnik, are being covered.

Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes called the decision a "second step" after his initial decision in July 2024 to no longer light up the mosaics at night and during processions.

"You know my opinion about the presence of these mosaics on the doors of the basilica. It seemed to me, together with my collaborators, that a new symbolic step had to be taken to make the entrance to the basilica easier for all those who today cannot cross the threshold," Micas said in an online post from the renowned Marian apparition site.

Mosaics by the alleged sexual abuser Rupnik, who is under investigation and awaiting a trial by the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, were added to the neo-Gothic facade of the lower Lourdes basilica in 2008.

The basilica's side doors were covered on the morning of March 31, and the two central doors will be covered in a few days, according to the shrine. The coverings are yellow with small crosses and the words "With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope 2025."

For the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, Micas decreed the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes to be one of two places in the diocese where pilgrims can receive a jubilee plenary indulgence. He said "passing through the entrance doors of the basilica had to be symbolic of the moment," and noted that the third Friday of Lent, March 28, was also the Memorial Day of Prayer for the victims of sexual abuse committed in the Church of France.

After forming a special commission in May 2023, Micas announced in July 2024 that, as a "first step," he had decided the mosaics will no longer be lit up at night during the shrine's nightly candlelight rosary processions. He said his personal opinion was that the art installations should be completely removed, but it was too early for a final decision.

The shrine's next steps regarding the Rupnik artwork, Micas said on March 31, is to continue with the commission "to move forward calmly rather than under pressure from various sources."

"We are working for the long term, for the victims, for the Church, for Lourdes and its message for all," he added.

Marlene Watkins, the leader of the North American Lourdes Volunteers, posted on the Facebook page "Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers" on Monday, welcoming the French bishop's "thoughtful, prayerful, and courageous discernment to address this art in the sanctuary."

"This step in his wise plan makes it possible for some and easier for many victims and those who love them to enter the Holy Doors for this jubilee. His timing seems slow to some unaware of French art legalities — but his plan is prudent and methodical to take measured steps to make the removal possible. He asked for our prayers for this from the announcement of his decision. Please, let us continue to pray," Watkins wrote.

The mosaics from Rupnik and his art and theology school, the Centro Aletti in Rome, depict the luminous mysteries of the rosary with the Wedding Feast at Cana in the center. Rupnik's signature red dot decorates one of the arched panels above the entrance.

Rupnik, a priest and artist, has been accused of spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse of religious sisters. He was removed from the Jesuits in June 2023. He is currently facing a canonical trial over the allegations he abused dozens of women religious, including some within the context of the creation of his art.

The priest's prolific art career has created a problem for many shrines and Catholic churches across Europe and North America. Rupnik's workshop was involved in projects for over 200 liturgical spaces around the world, including Fátima, the Vatican, the John Paul II shrine in Washington, D.C., and the tomb of St. Padre Pio.

The Knights of Columbus last year covered mosaics by Rupnik in the two chapels of the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington and in the chapel at the Knights' headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut, a dramatic move that represented at the time the strongest public stand by a major Catholic organization regarding the former Jesuit's embattled art.

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Bangalore, India, Mar 31, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A team of half a dozen Catholic nuns and lawyers have warned of increasing incidents of opposition to Christian funerals and hate campaigns against the Christian community in an eastern Indian state.

The group sounded the alarm after making a fact-finding visit to several remote areas under the Balasore Diocese in the state of Odisha.

"What we heard from the people in the villages was shocking to us," Sister Clara D'Souza, a member of the Handmaid of Mary Congregation, told CNA on March 27.

"Our fact-finding report has details of incidents of tribal Hindu groups protesting and objecting to Christian funeral services and even Sunday Mass, starting [before Christmas]," she said. 

"As we released the fact-finding report, a third case of a Christian funeral obstruction happened on March 22," D'Souza added.

Father Ajay Singh, a member of the fact-finding team, said the trouble for Christians in the Hatigarh area began on Dec. 18, 2024, when Hindu tribal activists demonstrated against the funeral service for a local Catholic, claiming that Christian funeral rites and prayers are against "tribal tradition."

"However, the timely intervention of the police helped the conduct of the funeral," said Singh, the former director of the social forum of the local Church. 

Later, the Hindu group — called Mahji Pragaon — created a commotion during a Sunday Mass and the police had to intervene to disperse the aggressors, who alleged that "new people are being converted" when prayer services were held in the church.

The recent fact-finding study found the Hindu group alleged in local newspapers that local Christians were "destroying the traditional culture by embracing and practicing the Christian faith." 

"This group did not even attend the meeting government officials called to address the issue," Singh pointed out.

Meanwhile, he said, the anti-Christian campaign spread to the village of Siunaguda in the neighboring Nabarangpur district. 

When 70-year-old Kesab Santa, an evangelical tribal Christian, died on March 2, the Hindu villagers insisted that they would allow "only tribal burial" and that "no Christian funeral [would] be held." 

Singh said mourners were "unable to take the body for burial in a remote Christian village" and elected to bury the deceased "in the village in tribal tradition."

When Siban Murmu, a 55-year-old Baptist of Rangmatia, died during a hospital stay on March 20, the body was brought to the village house the next day in the Catholic parish area of Hatigarh.

"Soon a local Hindu group arrived and started protesting against holding a funeral service for Murmu within the village," D'Souza said. "They said that Murmu had been practicing the Christian religion and therefore should not be buried in the village."

"Even after senior government officials arrived, the Hindu group did not relent and the dead body remained in the courtyard of the house for two days," she said. "Finally, officials suggested taking the body to the Baptist church cemetery" about 10 miles away.

The report warned that recent elections in Odisha have "escalated further vulnerable situations of the Christians."

Singh pointed out that "the sudden spurt in unprecedented anti-Christian propaganda is very much rooted" in the Hindu nationalist BJP winning the state election in Odisha last June.

"Maybe they are trying to create a Kandhamal-like situation by spreading hatred against Christians," Singh said, a reference to the Kandhamal district, which saw orchestrated anti-Christian violence in 2008 when dozens of Christians were killed, over 300 churches destroyed, and 6,000 Christian houses plundered and torched, rendering 56,000 Christians homeless. 

"We are now living in fear in this area, which had perfect harmony among Hindus and Christians until recently," Father Francis Kannampuzha, vicar of St. Paul's Parish in Hatigarh, told CNA.

"There is certainly a clear conspiracy to create trouble and divide among the people on religious lines," Kannampuzha said.

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CNA Staff, Mar 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A major U.S.-based initiative is providing tens of millions of dollars to Catholic parishes and organizations across the country to "restore and endow" Catholic communities around the country "for generations to come."

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation earlier this month announced the launch of the Catholic Initiative, described in a press release by the organization as "an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model" to help ensure the continuation of Catholic properties and parishes.

The unique model is "the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising, one that "shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization" created solely for that purpose, the foundation said.

Kevin Doyle, the chief operating officer of the foundation, told CNA in an interview that the initiative plans to start with five projects, all of which share "some similarities" with each other. 

"We're investing with organizations or parishes or schools where there is already a vibrant community, strong leadership, a strong ethos around the place, and where the community being served from our investment is under-resourced and underserved," he said. 

The first major project for the initiative is the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit, a historic parish in that city that dates back to the late 19th century. It is among the oldest continually operated Catholic parishes in the United States. 

Doyle said the effort will be "probably about a three-year project." 

"One aim is to restore this historic basilica," he said. "We're not calling it a 'renovation,' we're calling it a 'restoration,' to bring back to life what is already a spectacular design."

"We'll be restoring the stained glass, fixing the pews, and restoring and modernizing the infrastructure itself," he said, stressing that the architectural form of the building would not be altered.

"We're also trying to create more of a campus feel on the property," he said. "We're building a plaza out front of the parish and creating more of a campus alongside the basilica with green space and walkways."

"We want this to be a place where both Catholics and the local non-Catholic community will want to come multiple times a week, and not just for Mass," he said.

The initiative is further investing in the historic Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. Similar to the Detroit basilica, the school dates to the late 19th century; it was founded by the Sisters of Christian Charity. 

"There's a real opportunity for the school, like St. Anne's, to become more of a community hub," Doyle said. 

The program is also offering an endowment for Bulldog Catholic, Father Mike Schmitz's youth ministry at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, that offers Mass, the sacraments and fellowship to Catholic students there. Schmitz is on the initiative's board of advisers; the ministry is "dedicated to forming and inspiring the next generation of young Catholics," the foundation said. 

"Other projects are planned," Doyle said, adding that the foundation will wait for further endowments before it launches any more restoration and support programs. 

He said the first wave of projects includes a mix of recipients who requested the foundation's support as well as recipients whom the foundation reached out to. 

In the future "we will have a process and selection criteria that we utilize to prioritize which ones to support," Doyle said, though "we are probably a couple years away from launching that."

The foundation is further backing some innovative housing initiatives, he noted. Among them are a southern Florida housing development for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and an affordable rental housing development in Immokalee, Florida, for the region's low socioeconomic population.

All told, the foundation's housing and Catholic initiatives so far have totaled more than $100 million in commitments.

Regarding the Catholic program, Doyle said earlier this month that the initiative is working at "pioneering a new model of investing in vibrant churches, schools, and parishes in underserved communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability." 

"This model frees religious leaders and Catholic educators from their financial burdens," he said, "and allows them to focus on their true mission: serving their parishioners and students."

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ACI MENA, Mar 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Lebanon will soon have its own "camino," according to the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL).

On March 28, the group unveiled its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain.

The launch event, held in Bkerké, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, gathered prominent figures, including Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud, and Father Khalil Alwan alongside a diverse audience of clergy, religious leaders, and stakeholders.

Beyond hiking

The Caminos Lebanon project seeks to highlight Lebanon's rich religious heritage by creating a comprehensive network of pilgrimage trails that connect historical and spiritual sites across the country. 

During the launch, Father Khalil Alwan, president of the APL, articulated the project's core mission. 

"Lebanon is not just a country of natural beauty and a pleasant climate; it is a land of saints and a land of message," he declared. Connecting the initiative to the Maronite Patriarchal Synod of 2006, which recognized the importance of religious tourism, Alwan emphasized the spiritual significance of rediscovering mountain trails and the home to numerous shrines, deeply intertwined with the liturgical calendar.

The trail network is ambitious, spanning four distinct routes that traverse Lebanon's diverse terrain: Religious Mountain Trails will follow historic routes where saints once walked. Cross Trails will connect areas like Tartij, Qartaba, and Smar Jbeil, allowing pilgrims to walk through the Stations of the Cross. Thematic Trails will trace significant religious journeys, including the footsteps of Jesus in southern Lebanon and the Transfiguration Trail on Mount Hermon. Cultural Religious Trails will highlight regions such as Zahle, Ghosta, and Bchaaleh, offering visitors a deep dive into local traditions and heritage.

Roots of the project

What began as a plan for a single route has expanded into a comprehensive exploration of Lebanon's spiritual landscape. The APL has been working on the ground since 2009, receiving the blessing of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East in 2011. As its research has progressed, it has discovered the depth and diversity of Lebanon's religious heritage.

Currently, the association has published a booklet in Arabic detailing the 24 shrines along the trails. Alwan hopes to secure funding for an English translation to reach a broader international audience. "This is an open invitation for pilgrims and tourists from Lebanon and beyond to walk these trails and experience their spiritual richness," he said.

Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi described the project as a powerful spiritual initiative. "These paths are trails of faith and holiness, carrying the essence of the divine message," he said. "When believers walk these paths, they experience popular devotion, which is the source and strength of faith."

Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud framed the initiative as an opportunity for cultural exploration. "The Paths of Lebanon are not merely walking trails," she affirmed. "They are a spiritual journey and a genuine chance to explore our rich heritage."

Journey of spiritual unity

Nour Farra Haddad, a consultant with a doctorate in religious tourism and project coordinator of Caminos Lebanon, provided critical insights into the project's conception. 

Drawing inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, the initiative introduces an innovative "pilgrim's passport" system. The project showcases Lebanon's remarkable religious diversity, with over 6,000 religious sites evenly divided between Christian and Muslim landmarks.

The trail network spans 24 shrines, each offering a unique spiritual experience. From the Theology of Waiting in Maghdouche to the Personal Relationship with God in Annaya, the paths promise a deep dive into Lebanon's spiritual landscape.

"These were pedestrian routes, once traveled by Christ and the Romans," Alwan explained. "For centuries, the faithful walked them to fulfill vows and pray for personal intentions. Today, this initiative allows both Christians and Muslims to reconnect with these sacred paths, engaging in meaningful spiritual conversations along the way."

As Caminos Lebanon prepares to welcome its first pilgrims, it stands as a reflection of the country's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Alwan closed by noting: "Lebanon is not a desert, as some abroad may believe. It is a land of breathtaking beauty, home to both Christians and Muslims who have lived here for centuries — a landscape waiting to share its sacred stories with the world."

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

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ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The apostolic nunciature in El Salvador issued a correction for the irregularities that occurred March 24 during a Mass marking the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero, who served as archbishop of San Salvador during that country's civil war.

The Mass, held in the chapel where Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, included the unauthorized presence of a female Anglican bishop at the altar and banners in opposition to proposed gold mining, violating Catholic liturgical norms.

In several photos released by Salvadoran media, a female Anglican bishop can be seen behind the altar along with the bishop of the Salvadoran Old Catholic Church and anti-mining activist Neftalí Ruiz; the celebrating bishop, Oswaldo Estefano Escobar Aguilar; and Raúl Vera, bishop emeritus of Saltillo, Mexico.

In some of the photos, banners can also be seen in front of the altar with slogans such as "Every mine pollutes. No to mining, yes to life" and "Freedom for environmental defenders." 

Statement of nunciature in El Salvador

In a statement released after the Mass on the same day, March 24, the apostolic nunciature in El Salvador reminded that "ecumenical celebrations shared with members of non-Catholic churches include only the Liturgy of the Word and its commentary, along with prayers of the faithful and the prayer that Our Lord taught us: the Our Father."

Furthermore, and according to liturgical norms, the text continues, "it must be taken into account that the altar is reserved solely for the Eucharistic celebration."

"What happened this morning in the Chapel of the Hospitalito should not have taken place because it is prohibited by ecclesiastical law," the statement concludes.

Sources from the Archdiocese of San Salvador who asked not to be identified told ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that the banners were unauthorized and that they were placed at the end of the Mass. Regarding the presence of the Anglican "female bishop" and anti-mining activist Ruiz, the archdiocese emphasized that the nunciature had already issued a statement on the matter.

ACI Prensa contacted the office of the archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar, the following day on March 25 to inquire about the irregularities at the March 24 Mass. In an email, his secretary responded that "unfortunately, the archbishop had more commitments than he had planned and will be out of town, so we apologize for not being able to assist with the request."

Canon 908 of the Code of Canon Law, the law that regulates the universal Church, states that "Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of churches or ecclesial communities which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church."

Additionally, Canon 844 emphasizes that "Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone."

In February, a female Anglican minister "concelebrated" a Mass for the installation of the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chapecó in Brazil. 

Tensions between Church, Bukele over mining 

The controversy that arose during the commemorative Mass for the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero reflects current tensions in El Salvador, particularly around the metal mining law promoted by President Nayib Bukele.

The presence of anti-mining banners and non-Catholic religious figures at the altar during the celebration served to highlight opposition to the government initiative.

On March 19, the bishops of El Salvador presented a letter to the Legislative Assembly, supported by 150,000 signatures, seeking the repeal of the Metallic Mining Law. Mining had been banned in the country since 2017 but approved in December 2024 with the support of Bukele.

In December 2024, Bukele called the ban absurd, because the wealth given by God "can be used responsibly" to achieve high economic and social development.

The president said on his X account that "studies carried out in only 4% of the potential area identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued today at $131.565 billion. This is equivalent to 380% of El Salvador's GDP."

However, the bishops fear that these activities will increase "water and air pollution ... irreversibly causing death and illness," especially among the poor.

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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Jerusalem, Mar 29, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

On March 27 in Jerusalem, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from its annual report, "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem," and from a survey conducted in December 2024 with 300 Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insight into their perceptions of various aspects of life.

The briefing was held at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. A panel of experts who shed light on the challenges and anxieties facing the local Christian population included Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; Jesuit Father David Neuhaus; and Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology.

The report documents a rise in incidents of intimidation and aggression targeting Christian communities throughout 2024. Currently, there are approximately 180,000 Christians living in Israel (about 1.8% of the Israeli population), and 78.8 % of them are Arab.

Physical attacks emerged as the most prevalent category among the 111 documented cases, with the majority targeting clergy, easily identifiable by their religious attire. Spitting was identified as a common form of physical harassment. Vandalism and desecration targeting Christian churches, including graffiti, stone-throwing, and arson, were also documented. 

According to the report, the perpetrators in all known cases were identified as Jewish individuals, primarily young men from ultra-Orthodox and national-religious circles, driven by a mixture of nationalist fervor and religious extremism.

These events cause Christians to feel threatened and unwelcome in their own homeland. That's even more clear in the survey, which revealed mixed feelings regarding acceptance by Israeli Jewish society. While 30.8% of Christians feel accepted as part of Israeli society, 34% do not, with a higher feeling of nonacceptance (56%) among the 18-29 age group.

After the approval of the basic law "Israel the Nation State of the Jewish People" in 2018, 64.8% of the respondents believe it confirms Christians as second-class citizens. A significant portion (36%) are considering emigration, with a higher percentage in Haifa (48%). Security reasons (44%) and the socio-political situation (33%) were identified as key motivational factors. 

Regarding religious freedom, a majority (58.5%) feel comfortable wearing visible religious symbols in mixed or predominantly Israeli-Jewish areas, though discomfort is higher in East Jerusalem (42%).

Very significant is the theme of identity: 34% of the respondents identified themselves as Arab Christian, 23% as Israeli Christian, and 13% as Palestinian Christian, indicating a complex interplay of religious and national affiliations.

Interviewed by CNA after the briefing, Sabella noted the feeling among Christians as being "in the middle."

"After the Iranian revolution in 1979 there was a transformation across the region," he explained. "Palestinians and Arabs started identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims. As a reaction, Palestinian Christians and Israeli Arab Christians started identifying themselves as Christians."

Sabella cautioned against an overemphasis on religious identity at the expense of a broader, inclusive identity tied to the place.

"The risk is of making society not an inclusive society but a society divided along religious and ethnic creeds or differences. Therefore you lose that inclusive and comprehensive identity that ties you to the place irrespective of the nation or irrespective of the religion," he said.

"If you become more entrenched in your religious identity," Sabella continued, "there is a danger of losing the larger identity to which you belong. As Christians, we need to find a shared space with all others."

Bendcowsky highlighted a worsening political and social climate, especially after Oct. 7, 2023 — the report devotes considerable space to analyzing the context — characterized by increased extremism, polarization, and a lack of tolerance toward minorities. 

She emphasized a growing willingness of churches and Christians to report and denounce attacks as well as an increased presence of law enforcement — although there is often a lack of real dialogue and involvement of authorities in understanding and responding to the needs of the Christian communities.

The situation on Mount Zion, where Jewish and Christian religious traditions converge in a compact space, was presented as a case study of a complicated place facing neglect and negative elements leading to attacks on visitors. In recent years the number of incidents increased, resulting in vandalism to Christian religious buildings and cemeteries, in addition to physical harassment of Christian clergy and tourists.

The Rossing Center report points out that "the targeting of Christianity is not part of the political agenda" but is more linked to "a socio-political climate" and "a growing sense of nationalism, and the emphasis on Israel primarily as a state for the Jewish population."

Challenges that churches face in dealing with authorities include visas for clergy, permits for religious holidays, the tax status of churches, and attempts to expropriate some land. "Christians are simply not a priority and they do not care," Bendcowsky told CNA at the end of the meeting. "They are not purposely attacking Christians, but it is on purpose to not care about them."

The briefing highlighted a complex and concerning situation for Christian communities in Israel and East Jerusalem. While there are positive developments in reporting and public awareness, significant efforts are needed to ensure the security, religious freedom, and continued presence of Christian communities in the Holy Land.

That's also why the report includes "recommendations" for all the stakeholders. The focal point is to work on mutual understanding and dialogue. The Rossing Center encourages the development of greater awareness of these issues at the political and diplomatic levels as well as actions by those affected to condemn them on the part of the authorities.

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CNA Newsroom, Mar 29, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

As hundreds of Missionaries of Mercy gathered in Rome this weekend, Pope Francis commended their distinctive ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation that continues to flourish worldwide.

Approximately 500 priests are participating in a special jubilee dedicated to their role as part of the broader 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

In a message addressed to these priests, and written while still in hospital, Pope Francis expressed his "gratitude and encouragement" for their work as special confessors who possess faculties to absolve certain sins typically reserved to the Holy See.

"Through your service," the pontiff wrote, "you bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and constantly renews us with His forgiveness."

The missonaries' March 28-30 gathering included training sessions, communal prayer, and a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis reflected on the profound connection between mercy and hope in his message. "Conversion and forgiveness are the two caresses with which the Lord wipes every tear from our eyes," he stated. "They are the hands with which the Church embraces us sinners; they are the feet on which we walk in our earthly pilgrimage."

The Holy Father encouraged these priests to maintain a compassionate approach in their ministry, urging them to be "attentive in listening, ready in welcoming, and steadfast in accompanying those who desire to renew their lives and return to the Lord."

First commissioned during the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, these priests have seen their mandate extended twice by Pope Francis. Their numbers have grown substantially, now surpassing 1,250 worldwide, with approximately 100 serving in the United States.

In Spes Non Confundit, the papal bull of indiction for the 2025 jubilee year, Pope Francis wrote that Missionaries of Mercy should "exercise their ministry by reviving hope and offering forgiveness whenever a sinner comes to them with an open heart and a penitent spirit."

The pontiff concluded his message to the missionaries with a blessing and his customary request: "Please, do not forget to pray for me."

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CNA Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

It all began with Pope John Paul II. 

In the 1980s, the late pope encouraged Dr. Robert Walley, a Catholic obstetrician and gynecologist who died in 2020, to provide life-affirming health care to women in need. Walley went on to found MaterCare International (MCI), which is now celebrating 30 years of supporting ethical maternal health care in developing regions around the globe.

"MaterCare International is vital for women's health because it provides lifesaving maternal care to some of the world's most underserved regions while maintaining an ethical approach that values both the mother and the unborn child," Jennifer Derwey Deane, communications director at MCI, told CNA. 

MCI provides emergency obstetric care, remote transportation for rural communities to hospitals, and training for midwives and health care providers. The organization also prioritizes research into maternal health solutions. 

"Since its founding, MCI has worked to provide essential medical services, create sustainable models of maternal care, and advocate for ethical practices in maternal care, all while empowering local health care providers, like midwives and traditional birth attendants, through training and sustainable practices," Deane said. 

MCI has established branches in Canada, Poland, Australia, and previously in the United States and Ireland. Its Canada branch has developed outreach projects all throughout the world, including in Rwanda, Haiti, Kenya, and Ghana. MCI's model involves working in partnership with local communities in order to design sustainable models in various developing areas.

The organization operates solely on charitable donations and takes no assistance from government agencies. It also welcomes health care professionals who are faithful to MCI's mission to join project initiatives as volunteers.

Bringing care to underserved rural communities in Uganda

This month, MCI opened a maternity center in Nyabwina, Uganda. A team of MCI Catholic health professionals, working with local Church leaders, launched the St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village, which serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda.

Archbishop Lambert Bainnomugisha of Mbarara blessed the facility on its opening day, March 6.

The project began when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes reached out to MCI, explaining the local community's need for improved maternal health.

In addition to poor roads and flash flooding during the rainy season, the region faces many challenges to maternal health, with a high maternal death rate due to infection, lack of postnatal care, and malnutrition.

MCI worked with the local religious sisters to develop outreach centers in remote villages as well as to develop a maternity unit with proper staffing and equipment.

A Catholic perspective on health 

Deane noted that many international maternal health programs "are influenced by policies that promote abortion and contraception as primary solutions, often neglecting basic fundamental maternal health care needs." MCI combats that by providing "life-affirming" health care for women. 

"We recognize that motherhood is a sacred vocation, and our work reflects this belief by ensuring that expectant mothers receive the care and respect they deserve," Deane said.

The organization prioritizes what Deane calls "the vocation of medicine."

"The practice of medicine without vocation is a purely technical or transactional approach to health care, devoid of deeper moral, ethical, or compassionate commitment," she said. 

"When medicine is practiced without vocation, it risks becoming impersonal and utilitarian, focusing solely on procedures, efficiency, and outcomes without genuine care for the dignity and well-being of the patient."

MCI brings faith and medicine together. "It combines faith and practice in a meaningful way that builds up the practitioner, the patient, and the community that surrounds them both," Deane explained.

MCI also prioritizes following the teachings of the Catholic Church in its care practices.

"We not only offer high-quality maternal health services but also focus on the moral and ethical implications of care, following the rich teachings of the Catholic Church," Deane said. "This makes MCI a voice for life and an advocate for a comprehensive approach to maternal health care that respects both medical needs and advancements as well as the sanctity of human life."

Founding and future 

Deane explained that MCI is devoted to its founding mission. 

"The idea for MaterCare was inspired by Pope John Paul II, who personally asked Dr. Walley to create an organization that would address the growing crisis of maternal mortality and health care inequities, particularly in areas where Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life were not being adequately respected in medical practices," she said. 

This idea, Deane said, "was first introduced at a plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 1982." It took more than 10 years of planning and support among health care workers worldwide before the organization took shape and was formally established in 1995 in Canada.

Pope John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae, in which he called on health care professionals to promote a culture of life, was "the final inspiration" for the organization's founding, Deane said. The encyclical was published in 1995, the year of MCI's founding. 

The future goals of the organization are twofold. 

"Looking to the future, our goals include expanding our reach to even more regions where women still lack access to essential maternal health care," Deane said. "We aim to continue providing training for health care professionals in underserved areas, building strong partnerships with local groups and religious orders, and advocating for policies that respect the dignity of life and prioritize maternal health." 

MCI also aims to develop the realm of ethical maternal health care. 

"Our vision also includes increasing awareness about the importance of ethical maternal health care and advocating for global recognition of the Catholic approach to maternal health," Deane said.

For its 30-year anniversary, the organization announced the MaterCare International Rome Conference — an event to commemorate the founding and a call to action to develop maternal health care around the world. It will bring together faith leaders, health care professionals, and pro-life advocates to promote care for mothers in need. 

"Catholic health care professionals of the next generation are relying on us to provide them with the space to study, learn, grow, and practice," Deane said.

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