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Madrid, Spain, Jan 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Franciscan friar Paolo Benanti, an expert in artificial intelligence (AI), warned of its ethical risks during a colloquium organized by the Paul VI Foundation in Madrid, pointing out that "the people who control this type of technology control reality."

The Italian priest, president of the Italian government's Commission for Artificial Intelligence, emphasized that "the reality we are facing is different from that of 10 or 15 years ago and it's a reality defined by software."

"This starting point has an impact on the way in which we exercise the three classic rights connected with the ownership of a thing: use, abuse, and usufruct," he explained. (The Cambridge Dictionary defines usufruct as "the legal right to use someone else's property temporarily and to keep any profit made from it.")

This is especially true regarding usufruct, because "the values ??that you produce with the use of these devices are not yours but go to the cloud," Benanti noted.

"So who are those who do not have the usufruct of things? The slaves," he explained. 

Therefore, he encouraged reflection on what it means to live in a reality defined by software. "We have to have an ethical approach to technology" and in particular to those linked to artificial intelligence, he said, "because they are the ones that shape the reality of our world, and the people who control this type of technology control reality."

"We have to recognize that we live in a different reality. Software is not secondary but questions what reality is, what property is, what are the rights we have," the Franciscan said.

Centralization and decentralization of power

Secondly, the Franciscan explained how the development of computer technology after the Second World War has produced different processes related to power, democracy, and privacy.

In the 1970s, decentralizing processes took place in the United States and Europe that led to the creation years later of personal computers that "allowed everyone to have access to very simple things."

In the 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the idea was that a more liberalized market "would lead to greater well-being and promote the liberal democracy model in countries with other models. However, this policy "made China richer, but not more democratic," the AI expert continued.

Thus, Western democratic values ??entered into crisis when it was realized that "you can be rich and have well-being without being democratic," he observed.

In the so-called Arab Spring of 2011, the use of mobile phones showed the "the power of personal computers." But soon after, this power began to be suspected: "Mobile phones were no longer the allies of democracy but the worst ally of fake news, polarization, post-truth, and all that kind of thing," Benanti noted.

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, "we were able to adapt our lives thanks to the power of our personal computers" through the use of video calls or the development of applications for bank payments among other useful tools to substitute for doing things in person. 

"We realized that, silently, from 2012 to 2020, the smartphone had subsumed reality and now things that happened in reality were happening directly on the phone," he recalled.

The risk to democracy in the computer age

During the second decade of the 21st century, "we have artificial intelligence inside the smartphone" and, according to Benanti, classical liberal democracy is turning into "a computer-based democracy."

In it, "we are using artificial intelligence to take away a person's ability to use the computer on his own and take it to a centralized place that we call a data center" in such a way that a new ethical challenge appears: "Now all the processes are centralized in the cloud again."

The expert emphasized that these "clouds" or data centers "belong to five companies" that own "all the data," which represents not just a personal challenge but also a challenge "for democratic processes."

Regarding these challenges, the priest explained how artificial intelligence can also pose a threat to people's freedom through its ability to make predictions about behavior.

"The suggestion you may be interested in is not only predicting what you can buy, but it is also producing the things you are going to buy," he summarized.

This possibility poses "a real problem" because the existence of this type of system in our pockets "is capable of forcing and shaping the freedom of public spaces."

These kinds of questions about the weaknesses, opportunities, strengths, and threats of artificial intelligence constitute the reason why "we should have governance over these kinds of innovations." 

Regarding the future, Benanti predicted artificial intelligence will have a major impact on access to information, medicine, and the labor market. Regarding the latter, he noted: "If we do not regulate the impact that artificial intelligence can have on the labor market, we could destroy society as we now know it."

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, Jan 16, 2025 / 17:15 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of recent abortion- and pro-life-related news.

Virginia pro-abortion ballot proposal advances 

Virginia Democrats advanced a proposal to enshrine abortion as a right in the state constitution earlier this week. The amendment would ensure a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom," protecting abortion in the first two trimesters as well as in the third trimester with some restrictions. 

Abortions are currently legal in Virginia through the second trimester. Abortions in the second trimester are allowed when the mother's life is at risk, with the certification of three doctors. The proposed amendment would bring this number down to one doctor. 

The measure passed narrowly in the House of Delegates 51-48. Virginia Republicans criticized the measure, calling it "extreme" and expressing concern that the amendment could supersede a current Virginia law requiring parental consent for abortions for minors. Democrats argued that the government shouldn't be making decisions about women's health care. 

If approved again by the state House and Senate next year, the amendment would be on the ballot. The state follows the trend of many states voting on abortion laws following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Idaho could raise voting threshold for ballot initiatives

Idaho Republicans introduced a bill Wednesday to raise Idaho's voting threshold for statewide ballot initiatives. The bill would change current Idaho law, which requires 50% of the vote plus one to pass an initiative or referendum. The bill would increase the threshold to 60%, which state Rep. Bruce Skaug, who introduced the bill, argued would fix Idaho's "broken" system and prevent out-of-state money from having as much sway in the state. In Idaho, residents can place and vote on laws on the ballot without the Idaho Legislature's involvement.

The measure could affect future abortion amendments, which continued to crop up throughout the United States in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturn. In Florida, a pro-abortion constitutional measure failed to pass in the 2024 election, largely due to the high threshold of 60% for passing a constitutional amendment.

OneLife LA event moved to cathedral 

Amid the ongoing wildfire emergency, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' annual Catholic pro-life event OneLife LA is set to be held indoors at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels due to poor air quality and the need for law enforcement elsewhere in the city. The walking portion of the event has been canceled.

Instead, the event, beginning at 1 p.m. local time on Jan. 18, will be held in the cathedral's plaza, with a speaker and performance program followed by the annual Requiem Mass for the Unborn in the cathedral. The event will also address the impacts of the recent L.A. fires and reflections on the impact of the emergency. The theme for the annual event is "Let Us Stand Up Together in Hope."  

OneLife LA typically draws thousands to downtown Los Angeles, where it begins with a prayer service followed by a walk to the Los Angeles State Historic Park, where attendees listen to speakers and musical performances. It is held near the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision as a West Coast parallel to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., which is set to be held Jan. 24.

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CNA Staff, Jan 16, 2025 / 12:10 pm (CNA).

Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) revealed in landmark survey results released this week that "dioceses, eparchies, and religious communities of men" have reported $5,025,346,893 in payouts related to minor abuse allegations since 2004.

Those payments include "settlements paid to victims, other payments to victims, support for offenders, [and] attorneys' fees" as well as other costs, CARA said.

Though that massive sum has been paid out over the last two decades, the vast majority of the alleged abuse occurred much earlier, with 80% of the alleged crimes taking place in the 1980s or decades prior.

The findings come from two decades' worth of annual surveys by CARA. The yearly survey collects "information about the allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons that had been reported to the dioceses and eparchies each year."

The original survey was first commissioned in 2004 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The survey has polled about 200 dioceses and eparchies and approximately 220 religious communities of men over the course of the 20 years. Respondents in the survey were asked to categorize abuse allegations as "credible" or "unsubstantiated/obviously false" as well as "unable to be proven."

Since 2004 respondents have labeled 16,276 allegations as "credible." The majority of credible allegations were reported by dioceses and eparchies.

The survey noted that the number of credible allegations jumped by 46% in its second decade, which CARA said was attributable in part to "the greater number of large lawsuits and state investigations as well as the enactment by some state governments of temporary relaxations of statutes of limitations on crimes and lawsuits."

The findings indicate that alleged abuse dropped sharply in the U.S. Church over the course of the 20th century into the 21st. "More than 9 in 10 of all credible allegations" were said to have occurred or began in 1989 or earlier, CARA said. Just 3% of the allegations were said to have taken place since 2000.

Eighty percent of alleged abuse victims were male, more than half were ages 10 to 14, and 20% were aged 9 or younger.

All told, the allegations involve a total of 4,490 alleged perpetrators, 95% of whom are priests and 4% of whom are religious brothers. An additional 1% of alleged abusers are deacons. 

A full 86% of all alleged perpetrators were identified as "deceased, already removed from ministry, already laicized, or missing" in the survey.

Dioceses spend hundreds of millions on abuse prevention efforts

While dioceses paid out billions of dollars in responding to alleged abuse victims, Church officials have also outlayed huge sums to prevent further abuse over the past 20 years.

Respondents to CARA's survey have reported a total of $727,994,390 in expenditures for child abuse prevention and safety, an average of about $36,000,000 annually.

Those expenditures include "safe environment coordinator and victim assistance coordinator salaries, tracking and other administrative expenses, training programs for adults and children, and background checks."

The amount of money spent on abuse prevention has increased in recent years. In the first decade of the survey, dioceses reported $259,771,061 in safe environment expenditures; that figure jumped 80% in the second decade that the survey was taken, to $468,223,329. 

In announcing the findings, CARA said the U.S. Church's "effort to address the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and religious brothers and to implement safeguards to prevent future abuse is unprecedented by any nongovernmental organization and is the largest effort of its kind."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops first promulgated norms for addressing the sexual abuse of minors in the Church in 2002.

In its "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the bishops' body acknowledged that clergy sex abuse, as well as "the ways in which these crimes and sins were addressed," have caused "enormous pain, anger, and confusion for victims, their families, and the entire Church."

"As bishops, we have acknowledged our mistakes and our roles in that suffering, and we apologize and take responsibility again for too often failing victims and the Catholic people in the past," the bishops wrote.

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CNA Staff, Jan 15, 2025 / 17:10 pm (CNA).

This year, the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., is taking place on Jan. 24. Ahead of the march, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) is inviting the faithful to take part in its "9 Days for Life" initiative.

"9 Days for Life" is an annual nine-day novena for the protection of human life. Each day's prayer intention is accompanied by a reflection and suggested actions that participants can take to help build a culture of life.

This year the novena starts on Thursday, Jan. 16, and ends on Friday, Jan. 24, the day of the March for Life.

The nine intentions include: may the tragic practice of abortion end; may each person suffering from participating in abortion find forgiveness, hope, and healing in Christ; may every pregnant mother receive compassionate care and support as she nurtures the life in her womb; may every father of a preborn child lovingly support the mother of his child in welcoming new life; may every pregnant mother choosing adoption receive grace and support in embracing this loving option; may all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord's boundless mercy; may all preborn children be protected in law and welcomed in love; may civic leaders work for the protection of all human life, in every stage and circumstance; and may all who defend life find strength and renewal in the Holy Spirit.

Each day of the novena also includes resources, such as videos or articles, that teach participants, for example, how to talk to someone considering abortion, how to support a mother in an unexpected pregnancy, and how to build a culture of life.

This year, the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, Jan. 22, falls during the novena. This date is also the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

Participants can choose to receive the daily prayers either through email or text message and it is available in both English and Spanish.

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Rome Newsroom, Jan 15, 2025 / 11:20 am (CNA).

Nigeria was the country with the most Christians killed and kidnapped in 2024, according to the latest report from advocacy group Open Doors.

The World Watch List, released Jan. 15, found that 3,100 Christians were killed and 2,830 Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria in 2024, far more than other countries in the same year.

The report also said the country with the most Christians arrested in 2024 was India, at 2,176, and Rwanda experienced the most attacks on Christian churches or buildings with 4,000.

The Open Doors watch list confirmed that Christian persecution continued to grow "in absolute terms" among the about 100 countries the group monitored in 2024, with 13 countries classified at "extreme levels" of Christian persecution.

The group estimates over 380 million Christians worldwide experienced at least a "high level" of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.

North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan are the report's top five countries for Christian persecution in 2024. Nigeria ranks No. 7 on the watch list. Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Saudi Arabia, and Myanmar round out the top 13 countries, all classified as having "extreme" levels of anti-Christian persecution.

With the release of the World Watch List 2025, Open Doors Italy Director Cristian Nani said, "380 million Christians in the world do not enjoy the basic human right to believe what they want. How many more killed, displaced, abused, and imprisoned Christians do we need to count before we put religious freedom at the center of public debate?"

"In 32 years of research, we record a steady increase in anti-Christian persecution in absolute terms," Nani added. "2024 is again a record year of intolerance: 1 in 7 Christians suffer discrimination or persecution because of their faith: It is crucial to get back to talking about religious freedom in the public debate."

Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries, compiles its annual World Watch List through information from local networks, national researchers, external experts, and an ad hoc team of analysts. 

To formulate its ranking, the advocacy group analyzes the pressure on a Christian's life in five areas: private, family, community, church, and public life. Violence is added as a separate element in the analysis.

Nigeria has been grappling with Muslim extremist violence since 2009, perpetrated by groups such as Boko Haram, which reportedly persecute Christians, sometimes kidnapping them for ransom and, in some cases, killing them.

While a 2025 report from the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need said the abduction of Catholic clergy and religious in Nigeria decreased from 28 in 2023 to 12 in 2024, it is still one of the most dangerous countries in which to be a priest or religious.

The latest religious to be kidnapped in Nigeria, Sisters Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, who were abducted on Jan. 7 from the Archdiocese of Onitsha, have been released and are "in good health," according to the leadership of their congregation, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ (IHM).

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 15, 2025 / 13:15 pm (CNA).

The Cuban government announced the release of 553 prisoners through the mediation of Pope Francis "in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025."

"President [Miguel] Díaz-Canel sent a letter to the supreme pontiff in which, in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 declared by His Holiness and which has just begun, he communicated the decision to benefit by granting freedom to 553 people sanctioned in due process for various crimes established by law … [These people] will receive their respective benefits gradually," the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement dated Jan. 14.

Cuba's statement refers to Pope Francis' call to release prisoners during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, which began on Dec. 24, 2024, at the Vatican.

In the bull Spes Non Confundit, with which he convoked the jubilee year, the pope proposed that "governments undertake initiatives aimed at restoring hope, forms of amnesty or pardon meant to help individuals regain confidence in themselves and in society."

The Cuban Foreign Ministry's statement notes that "as part of the close and smooth relations with the Vatican state, the Cuban government has maintained communication with Pope Francis and his representatives and, as in the past, has informed His Holiness about processes of review and release of persons deprived of liberty," which has led, according to the statement, to the release of "more than 10,000 people sentenced to deprivation of liberty" between 2023 and 2024.

The statement also recalls a meeting in June 2023 between Díaz-Canel and Pope Francis, preceded by another with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in August 2022.

ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, contacted Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, to request a statement on the Cuban government's announcement but had not received a response by the time of publication of this article.

Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, ACI Prensa correspondent in Europe, contributed to this article.

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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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 15, 2025 / 14:15 pm (CNA).

Israel and Hamas forces have agreed to a ceasefire deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and facilitate a hostage exchange, according to several news reports on Wednesday afternoon.  

Brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt after 15 months of war, the agreement could be implemented as early as Sunday, according to CNN. It is awaiting approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet, which released a statement saying that although "several unresolved points in the framework remain," it plans to finalize the deal Wednesday night. 

Under the first 42-day phase of the deal, Hamas forces are expected to release 33 women, children, elderly, and wounded Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children, according to AP News.

Five Israeli female soldiers are among those to be released and will be exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners each. Among these, AP reported, 30 are Palestinian militants serving life sentences. Additional soldiers and other male hostages are expected to be released in the second phase of the deal. 

The Israeli government believes there to be 98 hostages, including several American citizens, remaining in Gaza and estimates about 60 of them are still alive. 

In addition to a pause in fighting and hostage exchange, the agreement also includes provisions for a major influx of humanitarian aid from Egypt and Jordan into the Gaza Strip and mandates a limited withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region. 

President-elect Donald Trump took to social media at 12:01 p.m. ET to announce the deal, writing: "WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!" 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN senior correspondent Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday shortly before the deal was announced that he expects the total ceasefire, hostage exchange, and humanitarian aid surge to occur in the first six days of the agreement. 

"The ceasefire itself hopefully will concentrate minds and get people to agree on what's necessary to get that day after, post-conflict plan in place," he added.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 15, 2025 / 14:45 pm (CNA).

A Texas Catholic shelter network defended itself at the state Supreme Court this week against allegations that the nonprofit unlawfully harbors "aliens" who entered the country illegally.

Annunciation House, which has operated along the southern U.S. border for nearly 50 years, asked the Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 13 to block Attorney General Ken Paxton's effort to shut down the organization over the alleged violations. The shelter network contends it has never violated state law and accuses the attorney general's office of curtailing its religious mission of caring for those in need.

Several justices on the nine-member court appeared skeptical of the attorney general's claims and expressed religious liberty concerns. Paxton is Republican, as are all nine of the justices.

Lawyers debate 'harboring' allegation 

Ryan Baasch, who represented the attorney general's office, told the justices that Annunciation House "is not immunized because of its religion" and that the nonprofit cannot claim religious liberty protections if it violates Texas laws that prohibit alien harboring.

"Annunciation House's purpose is to shelter illegally present aliens," Baasch contended. "That distinguishes them from a service provider that serves all indiscriminately."

Baasch alleged that Annunciation House "takes active measures to hamper law enforcement," but when pressed to provide specifics, he simply cited examples of when the Catholic network refused entry to police "because they didn't have a warrant."

Although one of the justices noted that the Fourth Amendment protects against warrantless searches in most cases, Baasch said the shelters "are essentially open to the public at large" and asserted they do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

"They don't have a right to demand a warrant when they let any alien in indiscriminately, including illegally present ones," Baasch claimed. "Those are criminals under the federal code. If you enter illegally, that's a crime under the federal code. They let them in indiscriminately. They don't let law enforcement in."

Amy Warr, who represented Annunciation House, accused the attorney general's office of using "rhetoric" that is inconsistent with the facts in the case. She said that most of the people who are helped by Annunciation House are brought by law enforcement and that police can enter if they present a warrant.

"We are not concealing anyone [or] hiding anyone from detection from law enforcement," Warr told the justices.

"Everyone in El Paso, including law enforcement, knows that we are there and [knows] what we do … as part of our mission, that we house undocumented people and, principally, documented people — people brought to us by federal law enforcement authorities," Warr said.

Warr argued that "most of the people we house are documented," adding: "Most of the people who we house are brought to us by [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] after they have processed them and they need a place to stay."

Justices consider religious liberty concerns

The justices pressed Baasch on their religious liberty concerns early into his testimony and asked him questions about whether caring for migrants constitutes protected religious activity.

"Do you disagree that this is religious activity?" Justice Debra Lehrmann, who was appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry, asked Baasch.

"It may be," Baasch responded. "And then there's going to be a question of whether the activity at issue here substantially burdens the religious activity."

Justice Jeff Boyd, another Perry appointee, chimed in to question how it could not be a substantial burden, adding: "I think you want to shut it down."

Baasch contended that the attorney general's office needs to shut down Annunciation House's operations because otherwise "there's absolutely no deterrent effect." 

"If organizations know that they can engage in this activity and that the worst that's going to happen is they get [told to stop], nothing stops them from engaging in the activity in the first instance," Baasch said.

Baasch asserted that there is not a substantial religious liberty burden because Annunciation House could live out their faith without providing assistance to migrants who are in the country illegally. 

"If it's an exercise of their religion to be serving the needy [and] clothing the poor … well they can do that for [United States] citizens [and] they can do that for legally present aliens," Baasch said. "All the alien harboring ban says is that you can't do that for illegally present aliens. So I think the burden would be very minor if anything at all."

Warr, who called Annunciation House "an established ministry of the Catholic Church," said all of the legal procedures initiated by the attorney general's office have violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

"The whole scheme is invalid facially under the First Amendment," she said.

Elizabeth Kiernan, a lawyer for First Liberty Institute, also provided arguments to the court. First Liberty Institute, which advocates religious freedom, filed a brief with the court against a forced closure of Annunciation House.

Kiernan said the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act "protects this religious charity against outright closure." 

When asked about Baasch's claim that Annunciation House could serve those in need without focusing on migrants, she compared the nonprofit's focus on one subset to the Church having "different monastic orders devoted to different subsets of the poor, serving different charities."

"Annunciation House answered the Gospel of Matthew's call to care for the least of these in the service of Christ," Kiernan said. "The Catholic Church has claimed Annunciation House as one of its own and Annunciation House's founder testified that its acts of charity are motivated by its Catholic faith."

In July, a district court threw out the attorney general's lawsuit against Annunciation House. This led the attorney general's office to appeal the case to the Texas Supreme Court.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Vatican City State has toughened sanctions for those who try to illegally enter its territory in areas where free access is not allowed.

In a decree issued last month by the Holy See, the monetary sanctions and prison sentences for those who violate the strict security regulations of Vatican City have been considerably increased.

The document, signed by Cardinal Fernando Vérguez Alzaga, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, provides for monetary fines ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 euros (about $10,200 to $25,700) and prison sentences ranging from one to four years. 

These fines will apply especially to those who enter by means of violence, threats, or deception, bypassing border controls or security systems. In addition, those who enter with expired permits or do not meet the established requirements will receive administrative sanctions ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 euros (about $2,060 to $5,145).

The decree emphasizes that the penalties can be increased if the crime is committed with firearms, corrosive substances, by a person in disguise, or by several people together. Likewise, if illegal access is made in a vehicle, the penalty can increase by up to two-thirds.

The document also stipulates that unauthorized overflight of Vatican airspace, including through the use of drones, may be punished with prison sentences from six months to three years in addition to a fine that could reach 25,000 euros (about $26,000).

Anyone convicted of illegal entry will be banned from entering Vatican territory for a period of up to 15 years. If this sanction is breached, the offender may be punished with a prison sentence of one to five years.

In addition, the Vatican's promoter of justice may summon any person who has committed an offense to appear before the court the day after receiving the complaint or immediately after questioning him.

Vatican City is the smallest state in the world and currently has a population of just over 800 inhabitants. The city-state covers 0.17 square miles. If it were perfectly square, the Vatican would be less than a half mile by a half mile.

The Vatican City State includes areas with free access, such as St. Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums, which require prior security checks.

However, there are other entrances flanked by high walls, such as Porta Santa Ana, Piazza del Sant'Uffizio, or Porta Perugino, reserved for authorized personnel or visitors with special permits.

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 Africa, Jan 15, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The two members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, (IHM) who were abducted on Jan. 7 from the Archdiocese of Onitsha in Nigeria have regained their freedom, the leadership of the sisters' congregation in the West African nation has said.

In a statement that ACI Africa obtained on Tuesday, IHM secretary-general in Nigeria Sister Maria Sobenna Ikeotuonye said the two sisters were "released unconditionally" and that they are "in good health."

"I bring to your notice in joy that our dear Sisters Vincentia Maria Nwankwo and Grace Mariette Okoli, who were kidnapped in the evening of Tuesday 7th January, 2025, have been released unconditionally and in good health," Ikeotuonye said in the statement dated Jan. 13. 

Ikeotuonye went on to acknowledge with appreciation those who accompanied IHM members in prayer during the weeklong tribulation following the abduction that took place in Anambra state in the southeastern region of Nigeria. 

"We thank God and thank you all for your prayers and support all through these rough and uncertain days," Ikeotuonye said. "May God forever be blessed through Mary our mother."

Sisters Vincentia Maria and Mariette were kidnapped along Ufuma road while returning from their vocational association's meeting at Ogboji in Anambra State.

In a statement following the abduction of the two women, Ikeotuonye appealed for spiritual solidarity, saying: "We solicit your fervent prayers and supplications to God that they may be released as soon as possible and come back to us safe and sound."

"We commend our Sisters Vincentia Maria and Grace Mariette to the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary for their speedy release from the hands of their kidnappers," she stated in her statement dated Jan. 8, a day after the abduction incident. 

Nigeria has been grappling with Muslim extremist violence since 2009, perpetrated by groups such as Boko Haram, which reportedly persecute Christians, sometimes kidnapping them for ransom and, in some cases, killing them.

A 2025 report by the pontifical charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need International brought some hopeful news showing that fewer clergy and religious were kidnapped in 2024 compared with the previous year, 2023, and that in 2024, none of the abducted clergy and religious were killed.

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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