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ACI Africa, Sep 11, 2025 / 14:04 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Inácio Saure of the Archdiocese of Nampula in Mozambique and other Church leaders in the southern African country have denounced the illegal occupation of Church land in the country and the inaction of authorities there.

In a report by the pontifical and charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, the leaders said mosques are springing up on land snatched from the Church in what they say raises fears of worsening interreligious relations in a country that is already suffering from an Islamist insurgency in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado, which neighbors Nampula.

The land includes plots on which the female religious congregation of the Servants of Mary, two seminaries, and the parish of St. John the Baptist in Marrare are located.

"In at least one of these cases, a mosque has been built on the land adjacent to one of the seminaries," according to the Sept. 8 report by ACN. 

Saure said in the report that Church land property has been vandalized, and so far, authorities have failed to act.

In reference to the attackers, he said: "They came and cut down many trees, and the wood was removed by truck. When we came to ask them to respect our private property, they appeared with machetes and spears. They threatened us and told us they were going to demolish the seminary."

The attackers, he added, also took away animals that were being reared by the seminarians.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, authorities have taken no action, he said, adding that the issue has been ongoing for some time and the Church has filed official complaints. 

On May 16, a court ordered the provisional restitution of possession of the land to the Church, but five months later, no practical action has taken place, the ACN report said.

Saure said that "officials who were sent there were chased away," leading him to conclude that "there must be a very powerful, invisible, and untouchable hand encouraging the criminals."  

He demanded that justice be served "so that our rights are restored, because these are the rights of the poor, as the Church and its works are at the service of the poor. It is not fair that the Church's goods should be stolen in this way."  

Meanwhile, Father Benvindo Isaías de Jesus, director of the local Catholic Radio Encontro, told ACN the illegal occupations began a long time ago but have recently become intense. The situation does not look good for a country that does not have religious tolerance, he said.

"Most of those who spearhead the current occupations are Muslim. Once they have taken the land, the first thing they do is build a mosque," Benvindo said.

And according to Father José Luzia, a missionary who has been in the country for almost six decades, there is suspicion among the faithful.

"Some claim that the apparently organized occupation of Church land in Nampula could be related to the fact that Archbishop Inácio Saure has recently spoken out very critically about the social and political situation in the country," the missionary told ACN.

Saure held a press conference on Sept. 3 and launched "a strong appeal, a call for help to all people of goodwill, in Nampula, in Mozambique, and all over the world, because it seems that the law is worth nothing in this country." 

ACI Africa's Sabrine Amboka contributed to this story.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 11, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

"Today, we Nicaraguans are making history again. Do not forget: God is with us and God is with Nicaragua!" said Pedro Bismarck Chau, the new auxiliary bishop of Newark, New Jersey, at the Sept. 8 Mass for his episcopal consecration, making him the first Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States.

Amid a festive atmosphere and before a packed Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, where he had been rector since 2020, Chau received episcopal consecration through the laying on of hands by several bishops. The principal consecrator was Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark.

As part of the celebration, Cardinal Christoph Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the letter in which Pope Leo XIV officially appointed Chau as bishop and encouraged him to allow himself to be strengthened "by the grace of this jubilee year and you will have reason to be confident in the gift of hope, which does not disappoint. May God continue to bless you and may he bless the people of God in this archdiocese."

The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep

In his homily in English and Spanish, Tobin encouraged the new bishop to remember that "you have been called from among the people of God and for the people of God. Not for yourself, but for the things that belong to God. Indeed, episcopacy is the name of a service, not an honor, for a bishop should strive to serve rather than rule."

"According to the Master's commandment, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all … Be a faithful steward and dispenser of the mysteries of Christ. Always follow the example of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep and is known by them, and who did not hesitate to give his life for them."

The cardinal then recalled that "Pope Francis never tired of repeating to bishops that there are three aspects to a bishop's closeness to the people he serves: closeness to God in prayer, the first task; closeness to the priests and deacons of the Church; and closeness to the people of God. … Do not forget your roots, do not forget those who have passed on the faith to you."

'God is with Nicaragua!'

At the beginning of his address as a newly consecrated bishop, Chau thanked the Deaf community in sign language, recalling that for 17 years they have been a great support and encouragement in his ministry, offering them his prayers and concluding with a clear: "I love you!"

Speaking later in Spanish, he addressed his "dear Hispanic community: Thank you for the faith and devotion you possess. You are a great gift of life for the Church in the United States. Continue, brothers, to be a Church that goes out in search of the lost sheep."

"I would also like to acknowledge the presence this afternoon," Chau continued, "of a group of people here from a very small country but with a big and resilient heart that cries out with a phrase that no other country has: 'Who causes so much joy? The conception of Mary. Mary of Nicaragua! Nicaragua of Mary!'"

The prelate addressed his family, especially his mother: "Thank you, my dearest mother, for everything and for praying so many rosaries for me, three, four, and five times a day that you pray for me. I need them, so don't stop praying those rosaries for me. OK, Mommy?"

"I love you very much," he told his family, "you know I love you with all my heart."

The example of the Virgin Mary

Chau said he hopes to "follow the example of Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today. Happy birthday, Mary! She trusted in God's plan even though she didn't know what she was being called to or where it would take or lead her. She renounced all the dreams and aspirations that a young girl would have and put God's will first."

Then addressing all those assembled he said: "I humbly ask you to remember me in your prayers to the Lord and to ask the Virgin to watch over me and bring me closer to her son, Jesus, so that I may reflect for you the image of the Good Shepherd. Thank you, and may God bless you all!" he said.

Words of Bishop Silvio Báez

Following the Mass, Bishop Silvio Báez, the exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua, Nicaragua, who has been living in the U.S. since 2019, said the episcopal consecration of Chau was a "historic celebration. The first Nicaraguan, born in Nicaragua, to be ordained a bishop in the United States. He was baptized and took his first steps in the faith in Nicaragua."

"This is a sign of the richness and fruitfulness of the Church of Nicaragua and a message of hope for all the people of God in our country. The fact that Bismarck came from Nicaragua and settled in the United States shows that it is possible to move forward despite the difficulties one may encounter," he added.

When asked about his meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in August, along with two other exiled Nicaraguan bishops — Carlos Herrera and Isidoro Mora — the prelate said: "The interview with the Holy Father was a moment of grace, a moment of hope, seeing how deeply he holds Nicaragua in his heart as well as the situation the Nicaraguan people are experiencing at this time."

Who is Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau?

Pedro Bismarck Chau was born on June 28, 1967, in Managua, Nicaragua. He studied at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology.

He completed his ecclesiastical studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange and later earned a master's degree in counseling from Seton Hall University.

He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark on May 24, 2008.

He served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield, New Jersey, from 2008–2012; as director of vocations from 2012–2016; and as head of campus ministry at Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology from 2015–2020.

He also served as pastor of the Pro-Cathedral of Sts. John and Patrick in Newark from 2015–2020 and rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart since 2020.

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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CNA Staff, Sep 11, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Three nursing students from a Catholic liberal arts school in North Carolina spent two weeks on a hospital ship in Madagascar this summer.

Emma Harris, who will graduate from Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte in May 2026, joined fellow students Caroline Gutierrez and Eric Dike on a service-oriented internship in Madagascar with an international faith-based group called Mercy Ships. After returning to the U.S., Harris said she was "transformed."

Mercy Ships operates the two largest nongovernmental hospital ships worldwide, delivering free surgeries and health care services "to those with little access to safe medical care," according to the organization. The three Belmont students, along with two other students, were selected to make up the first-ever cohort of The Mercyship, the hospital ship's summer internship program.

Harris joined Mercy Ships because she wanted to follow Jesus' example.

"Being on Mercy Ships completely transformed me," Harris said. "I went in with my whole life mapped out, but the experience changed my perspective and priorities."

Mercy Ships, which has been operating for nearly 50 years, brings medical care to people in need around the world while incorporating the faith. 

Kerry Peterson, senior vice president of advancement at Mercy Ships, said its mission is "not just about providing medical care but creating a community centered on love, service, and faith." 

More than 2,500 volunteers serve on the two ships. Students work with volunteer professionals "and witness firsthand how transformative health care can restore hope and dignity," Peterson said. 

"Serving with Mercy Ships is a unique experience because it brings people from all over the world together with one purpose: using their skills and gifts to bring healing and hope to those who need it most," Harris said.

Faith and service in a 'medical desert' 

Madagascar is a "medical desert," Peterson said. It is a country of more than 28 million residents, 75% living under the poverty line, and for every 1,000 people, there are 0.2 physicians, according to Peterson.

The Africa Ship, one of the two hospital ships, arrived in Madagascar in February 2024 and will remain there until the end of 2025.

"Access to safe surgical care is extremely limited, making it one of the world's medical deserts where patients would otherwise go untreated for conditions that are easily treatable," Peterson said.

But the Mercy Ships program helps in "cultivating the next generation of faith-inspired health care leaders who will carry forward our commitment to bringing hope and healing to those who need it most," Peterson said.

"We hope students leave with a transformed understanding of what health care can be when delivered with compassion and cultural humility, seeing how healing encompasses dignity and hope far beyond clinical procedures alone," Peterson said.

Dike, a senior from Wake Forest, North Carolina, said: "Being part of this program was both eye-opening and deeply fulfilling."

"While I was there, I could see how God was working through the staff to bring healing to those who need it most," Dike told CNA. "None of the staff are paid, yet they serve with so much joy and love — a rare and inspiring thing to witness."

Harris said she "was inspired to join Mercy Ships because of my faith in Jesus and my desire to follow his example of serving others with compassion."

"Mercy Ships' mission to bring hope and healing through love perfectly reflects the calling I feel to use my gifts in service," Harris said. "I have always had a passion for caring for others, especially children and families, and the vision of Mercy Ships, to provide free medical care and show God's love in practical, life-changing ways was the perfect way to do that."

For Harris, Mercy Ships is a "tangible" connection to Christ.

"For me, it connects deeply to my walk with Jesus, because he calls us to care for the sick, love our neighbors, and serve with humility," she said.

"Being part of this program is important to me because it lets me live out my faith by serving others, growing in my walk with God, and using my gifts to make a difference," Harris said.

Gutierrez, a senior in the nursing program at Belmont Abbey from North Carolina, joined the program because she said she felt "drawn to helping people in some of their toughest, most vulnerable, painful moments, because we are called as Christians to heal the sick, feed the poor, and show love to those rebuked by the world."

"At Mercy Ships, they start the day with prayer and worship, offering up their work and service up to God," Gutierrez said. "Everyone is there out of love of God and love of others — I found this to be the unifying key to the mission of mercy ships."

"Mercy Ships is truly something bigger than yourself," Dike said, adding that the program helped him realize "how beautiful people's hearts can be."

"Everyone on the ship speaks passionately about how much they love being a part of Mercy Ships and how it has become a lifelong calling for many of them," he said. "I was grateful to share even a small part of that by caring for patients and witnessing their joy and gratitude."

Communicating beyond words

Mercy Ships gives students the opportunity to "witness how our volunteer medical professionals combine clinical excellence with genuine care for each patient's whole being," Peterson said.

Dike said it was a "unique experience" and "very different from nursing in America." 

Health care practitioners on board "rely on translators for every patient," he noted.  

"This taught me the importance of communicating beyond words, through body language and facial expressions, when language barriers exist," Dike said.

Peterson hopes students view "their work not just as jobs but as callings to serve."

"This immersive experience shows them that faith, service, and clinical excellence aren't separate components but integrated aspects of transformative health care that treats each patient with dignity and compassion," Peterson said.

After the transformative experience, Harris said she is setting her sights on a future of service. 

"Now, the one thing I know for certain is that I want to finish my degree and get back on the ship as soon as I can," Harris said. "It showed me what it really means to serve, to live in community, and to trust God with my future."

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Denver, Colo., Sep 10, 2025 / 20:14 pm (CNA).

At least three teenagers, including the suspected shooter, are in critical condition after a shooting at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, on Wednesday.

One of the three students who has been hospitalized is the suspected shooter, the Jefferson County Sheriff's office confirmed in a post. The students are being treated at CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. 

The shooting took place at midday about 30 miles southwest of Denver at a high school of 900 students. Hundreds of law enforcement rushed to the scene. The school has since been cleared by law enforcement and there is no longer an ongoing threat, according to local police.   

"My heart is with the students, parents, and teachers at Evergreen High School. Today, we grieve for those critically shot and those left frightened and shaken," Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver said in a statement. 

"We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement on the scene, whose courage brought calm amid chaos, and for the doctors and medical teams working tirelessly to care for the injured," he continued. "The victims have been taken to St. Anthony's Hospital, a Catholic hospital, where they are receiving compassionate care."

"To our young people, know that Jesus is near you, hears your cries, and his mother Mary holds you close," Aquila said. "To hurting families, the Church is with you, and we lift you and your children up in prayer." 

"May Christ bring comfort to your hearts and may Mary at the foot of the cross wrap you in her tender care," he said.

The nearby parish, Christ the King Parish, is offering ministry for students, families, and staff amid the tragic event, according to the archdiocese. 

A team of deacons "trained to serve in disasters and critical incidents" has also been put on alert. 

"These deacons, who have partnered with the American Red Cross in past crises, stand ready to offer pastoral outreach and guidance should they be needed at the hospital or school," read a statement from the archdiocese.

"Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. "We are all praying for the victims and the entire community."

FBI Director Kash Patel posted about the tragedy, saying that the FBI was "on the scene and in full support of local authorities to ensure everyone's safety." 

This is at least the seventh school shooting in Colorado since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.

The shooting took place within hours of the shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a rally at Utah Valley University.  

"In addition to praying for Charlie Kirk, please also pray for my hometown Evergreen, Colorado, where there is a school shooting and at least two students have been shot," said Catholic commentator and Daily Wire show host Isabel Brown.

This is a developing story.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 10, 2025 / 13:18 pm (CNA).

On the evening of Sept. 9, when leaving Castel Gandolfo, where he had spent the day, Pope Leo XIV described Israel's attack earlier Tuesday against leaders of the Hamas terrorist group in Doha, Qatar, as "very serious."

Referring to the growing tension in the Middle East conflict, the pontiff stated: "We must pray a lot and keep working, searching, insisting on peace." 

On Wednesday, at the end of the general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father encouraged the faithful to remember "in their prayers and in their humanitarian projects also the children of Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions of the world affected by war."

At Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff specifically expressed his concern about the situation in Gaza, after Israel ordered the immediate evacuation of residents in anticipation of an imminent intensification of military operations.

Pope Leo XIV explained that he had unsuccessfully attempted to contact Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza.

"I tried to call the parish priest just now; I have no news," he said. "They were certainly OK before, but after this new [Israeli army evacuation] order, I'm not sure." 

Hours later, Romanelli reported on X that he had finally managed to speak with the Holy Father. "He asked us how we've been and what the situation was like. He sent us his blessing and is praying for us and for peace," the priest wrote.

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, Sep 10, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

In his general audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV explained that cries of pain, like those of Jesus in his final moments on the cross, instead of a sign of weakness, can express desire, surrender, and prayer.

A rainy morning in Rome prevented the Holy Father from spending much time greeting the faithful in St. Peter's Square. Aboard the popemobile, he toured the square amid applause and cheers, stopping to give his blessing, especially to children.

The pope dedicated his catechesis at the weekly audience, which began just over five minutes late, to reflecting on the value of crying.

"At times, what we are unable to say in words, we express with the voice," Leo said. "When the heart is full, it cries. And this is not always a sign of weakness; it can be a profound act of humanity."

Although we are accustomed to thinking of crying as something disorderly to be repressed, the Gospel gives our cry a value, reminding us it can be "an invocation, a protest, a desire, a surrender," the pope said.

"It can even be the extreme form of prayer, when there are no words left," he continued.

"One cries not out of desperation, but out of desire. Jesus did not cry out against the Father, but to him. Even in silence, he was convinced that the Father was there," the pontiff said. "And, in this way, he showed us that our hope can cry out, even when all seems lost."

A cry that manifests the greatest love

Addressing pilgrims huddled under umbrellas in protection against sporadic rain showers, Pope Leo meditated on the "culmination of Jesus' life in this world: his death on the cross."

Specifically, he highlighted an important detail worthy of faithful contemplation: That "on the cross, Jesus does not die in silence."

The pontiff explained that after fulfilling his mission on earth, from the cross, "Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last." For the Holy Father, "that cry contains everything: pain, abandonment, faith, offering. It is not only the voice of a body giving way, but the final sign of a life being surrendered." 

He also recalled that the cry was preceded by a question, "one of the most heart-rending that could be uttered: 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'"

Pope Leo XIV emphasized that, in that final moment, Jesus experiences silence, absence, and the abyss. However, according to the pontiff, "it is not a crisis of faith, but the final stage of a love that is given up to the very end."

"Jesus' cry is not desperation, but sincerity, truth taken to the limit, trust that endures even when all is silent," he emphasized.

He added that "it is there, in that broken man, that the greatest love manifests itself. It is there that we can recognize a God who does not remain distant, but who traverses our pain to the very end."

Jesus teaches us not to fear crying

The pope also explained that to cry can be a "spiritual gesture," since it is often one's first act after birth and a way to stay alive.

"One cries when one suffers, but also when one loves, one calls, one invokes. To cry out is saying who we are, that we do not want to fade away in silence, that we still have something to offer," he added.

Leo invited those listening not to hold back their tears, because keeping everything inside "can slowly consume us."

The pontiff insisted that "Jesus teaches us not to be afraid to cry out, as long as it is sincere, humble, addressed to the Father. A cry is never pointless, if it is born of love."

At the end of his message, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful to learn from the Lord to give a "cry of hope when the hour of extreme trial comes." 

"Not to hurt, but to entrust ourselves. Not to shout at someone, but to open our hearts. If our cry is genuine, it can be the threshold of a new light, of a new birth," he said. 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 9, 2025 / 14:14 pm (CNA).

Bishop Simon Peter Engurait was ordained last week, making him the first African bishop in the mainland United States. On Sept. 5, Engurait was installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana during a ceremony at Nicholls State University. 

Engurait was appointed in June by Pope Leo XIV after working as administrator of the diocese since January 2024. He had also previously served as the vicar general and as the pastor of St. Bridget Parish since 2017. 

"I am humbled beyond words that the Holy Father has chosen me, not from outside, but from among the ranks of the priests of this beloved diocese," Enguarit said after being appointed.

The diocese reported that more than 2,000 laypeople, clergy, and religious from around the world attended Engurait's episcopal ordination. He was ordained by Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans along with co-consecrators Archbishop Shelton Fabre, former bishop of Houma-Thibodaux and current archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky, and Houma-Thibodaux Bishop Emeritus Sam Jacobs.

"As a new bishop, I promise you that my first labor will be to stay close to Jesus so that everything I do flows from his love," Engurait said at the ceremony. "A bishop is not meant to be a distant administrator but rather a pastor who walks among his people. I want my ministry to be a ministry of presence."

Another 40 bishops were present for the ceremony to lay hands on Engurait as a part of the ordination rite. Concelebrants included Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., and Cardinal Wilton Cardinal Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C. 

Engurait is believed to be the first African bishop to lead an American diocese. He was born in Ngora, Uganda, in 1971 and is one of 14 children. His father was a teacher who specialized in the education of deaf people, and his mother was a homemaker. 

The new bishop studied at multiple Catholic seminaries and universities in Uganda focusing on philosophy, political science, and public administration. He worked in several positions for Uganda's government for more than 11 years, serving in departments responsible for the reform and divestiture of public enterprises. 

When studying at Katigondo Seminary in Uganda, Engurait had a profound experience with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, a movement that invites all people to experience the Holy Spirit,  which led him back to discerning the priesthood.

In 2007, he was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he graduated with a master of divinity degree. He was ordained a priest in 2013 and proceeded to hold multiple diocesan leadership positions. 

Since his appointment, Ugandans in the United States have celebrated Engurait's new role, reported the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner. Engurait represents the growing Ugandan community in the country. According to the Migration Policy Institute, about 41,000 Ugandan natives resided in the U.S. as of 2021 compared with 14,000 in 2015. 

In his closing remarks at his ordination, Engurait told attendees: "I want to be close to your families and parishes, close to you in your joys and in your sorrows, feeling with you the burdens you carry. I want to be a gentle and humble shepherd, never forgetting that the Church is for service to those most in need."

"I want to live simply so that nothing in my life distracts me from the Gospel. This is my pledge — to love you with [an] unreserved heart," Engurait said. "Holiness is a journey, not a possession. I do not pretend to be a saint, but I do long and strive for holiness. And I long for us to grow in holiness together."

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CNA Staff, Sep 9, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

After the Archdiocese of New Orleans increased its settlement offer to clergy sexual abuse claimants from $180 million to $230 million on Sept. 8, attorneys of the victims urged their clients to accept the deal.

The archdiocese was able to increase its initial offer, announced in May, after securing a buyer for the $50 million sale of Christopher Homes, a property that has provided affordable housing and assisted living to low-income and senior citizens in the Gulf Coast area for the last 50 years.

"We knew we could do better, and we have," said attorneys Richard Trahant, Soren Gisleson, John Denenea, and several other attorneys who represent about 200 of the 660 claimants.

The attorneys, who said the initial settlement was "dead on arrival," urged their clients to hold out for a better offer, saying that they deserved closer to $300 million, a figure similar to the $323 million paid out to about 600 claimants by the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York in 2024. 

In the Diocese of Rockville Centre bankruptcy settlement, attorneys reportedly collected about 30% of the $323 million, or approximately $96.9 million. Similarly, the Los Angeles Archdiocese's $660 million settlement in 2007 saw attorneys receiving an estimated $165-$217.8 million, or 25%-33% of the payout.

Payout amounts to individual claimants in the New Orleans case will be determined by a point system negotiated by a committee of victims. 

Administered by a trustee and an independent claims administrator appointed by the court, the point system is based on the type and nature of the alleged abuse. Additional points can be awarded for factors like participation in criminal prosecutions, pre-bankruptcy lawsuits, or leadership in victim efforts, while points may be reduced if the claimant was over 18 and consented to the contact. The impact of the alleged abuse on the victim's behavior, academic achievement, mental health, faith, and family relationships can also adjust the score.

The settlement offer follows five years of negotiations in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where the nation's second-oldest Catholic archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in May 2020.

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond said in a statement Monday that he is "very hopeful and committed to bringing this bankruptcy to a conclusion that benefits the survivors of abuse," he said. 

"I know there remains much work to be done, and I continue to hold this work in prayer. Please know that I pray for the survivors of abuse every day and look forward to the opportunity to meet with them to hear their stories firsthand."

Two-thirds of the victims in the lawsuit will have to accept the offer by Oct. 29. If they do not, the case could be thrown out of bankruptcy, giving alleged victims a chance to pursue lawsuits individually.

A New Orleans man who filed a lawsuit in 2021 against a Catholic religious order unrelated to the New Orleans bankruptcy case recently won a $2.4 million jury verdict. 

In 2021, the Louisiana Legislature eliminated the statute of limitations for civil actions related to the sexual abuse of minors. The new law allows victims to pursue civil damages indefinitely for abuse occurring on or after June 14, 1992, or where the victim was a minor as of June 14, 2021, with a three-year filing window (which ended June 14, 2024) for older cases. 

The Diocese of Lafayette, along with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Catholic Charities, the Diocese of Lake Charles, and several other entities challenged the law's constitutionality, arguing it violated due process, but the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld it in June 2024 in a 4-3 decision.

Critics argued the retroactive nature of the law risks unfairness to defendants unable to defend against decades-old abuse claims due to lost evidence and highlighted the potentially devastating financial impact.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 9, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said violence in the Gaza Strip is the result of years of dehumanizing rhetoric and called for the replacement of hateful language with speech that opens horizons and new paths.

Pizzaballa issued this call in a video message released during the Venice Film Festival, where the Silver Lion prize was awarded to Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania's film "The Voice of Hind Rajab," which recounts the last moments of a 5-year-old girl killed in 2024 in Gaza.

"You've already heard the news, so there's no need to delve into the dramatic daily story of what we're experiencing. The images are also very significant; unfortunately, they speak of destruction, of death, of so much pain. One of the problems we're experiencing is precisely this: We're so overwhelmed by pain that there seems to be no room for the pain of others," he said.

Pizzaballa added that "we are also experiencing a climate of deep hatred, increasingly entrenched within both populations, Israeli and Palestinian, that seems to have no end."

He said this hatred is demonstrated not only in violence but "also in language … I believe that the violence we are witnessing is also the result of years of violent and dehumanizing language." 

Pizzaballa explained that if others are dehumanized through language, "creating a culture, a way of thinking, the transition to actual physical violence is only a matter of time, and unfortunately, we are witnessing it."

"This war must end as soon as possible. We know it makes no sense to continue it. It's time to stop ... But we know that the end of the war we long for, despite what the news reports say, will not be the end of the conflict, it will not mark the end of the hostility, of the pain this hostility will cause," he noted.

The patriarch therefore encouraged believers and all those involved in culture to "work hard" to create "a different narrative."

"We have left the narrative to the radicals, to the extremists on both sides," he said.

"Instead, we must have the courage of a different language, one that opens horizons, that opens new paths," he encouraged. "This is what I hope for, and I believe it is possible … we need your help."

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, Sep 9, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).

The Order of St. Augustine announced that Father Joseph Lawrence Farrell, OSA, was elected as its new prior general, becoming the 98th in the more than 750-year history of the Augustinian family to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.

The election took place Tuesday afternoon in Rome during the 188th general chapter at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum, with the participation of 73 voting capitular friars.

Until today, Farrell served as the order's vicar general and assistant general for North America. He received the seal of approval from Father Alejandro Moral Antón, OSA, who concluded his second term as prior general.

Father Robert P. Hagan, OSA, prior provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, commented that this decision was made "after much prayer and reflection, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

"We are grateful for our brother's humility, experience, and willingness to serve in this critical leadership position for our order. At this moment, we thank God for this dedicated and committed servant and leader, and we offer prayers for wisdom, strength, and grace as he exercises this important responsibility on behalf of our order and the Church," he noted.

Remarks from new prior general

Days before the election, during the beginning of the general chapter, the then-vicar general addressed his Augustinian brothers with words that take on new significance today.

"The 188th general chapter of the order is a new chapter in our common history. We know that stories are part of our human tradition. The beauty of our history as Augustinians is that it continues to unfold. There is no final chapter. There is no epilogue to read at the end and then close the book. We can continue with our story, always adding new chapters," he said.

He also emphasized that the Augustinian path involves a return to the heart, quoting St. Augustine: "Return to your heart and from there to God. You are returning to God, as you see, from the closest possible place, if you have returned to your heart" (Sermon 311, 13).

The new prior general recalled that the mission of the Augustinians is to serve one's neighbor with charity: "Isn't that exactly what it means to be an Augustinian? Being in relationship impels us to transcend ourselves and to share... When these gifts are offered for the common good, the call to be human is truly fulfilled."

Farrell's career

Father Joseph Farrell was born on July 11, 1963, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and belongs to the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.

He professed his first vows in 1987 and was ordained a priest in 1991. He studied business administration at Villanova University and later theology at Washington Theological Union. He subsequently earned his doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, with a thesis on the Augustinian spirituality of responsibility in the sermons of St. Augustine.

He has served as a parish priest, university chaplain, and professor at various institutions in addition to holding positions of formation and governance within the order. In 2013, he was elected vicar general, a position he held until his election as prior general.

Over the years, he has collaborated with the international commissions for Augustinian education, initial and vocational formation, spirituality, and the apostolate.

The Order of St. Augustine, present in more than 50 countries, prayed that the new prior general may receive "wisdom, strength, and grace" in his service to the Church and the world.

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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