Catholic News

At the Vatican on Monday of Holy Week — known in some places as "Authority Monday" — Pope Leo XIV recalled Jesus' cleansing of the Temple in Matthew 23:21-27, saying that through the paschal mystery, the Lord shows "that even the most difficult and challenging circumstances can be transformed from within by the power of love."

'The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate source of hope'

"The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate source of hope for all who believe in Christ and await the promise of eternal life," the pontiff said during an audience with the Illinois Municipal League, an association of municipalities that advocates for the interests of local governments in Illinois, the pope's home state.

Acknowledging that suffering cannot be avoided or eliminated, the Holy Father affirmed that one can "find a redemptive meaning" in it that restores lost dignity and "opens the door to a new life."

The Holy Father also recalled that "the victory of the risen Lord over death" reveals that the heart of authentic authority is service: "His service and obedience to the will of the Father have led to a sure hope and lasting peace for all humanity."

"Thus," the pontiff added, "the victory born of Christ's gift of self stands as both a beacon and a challenge for all of us today."

He invited members of the state association "to be attentive to the needs of the weakest and most vulnerable in order to assist them toward integral human development."

He cited as an example the Venerable Giorgio La Pira, who served as mayor of Florence, Italy, encouraging the group "to reduce and alleviate the suffering and hardships of their citizens in every possible way, through every measure that love suggests and the law provides."

"The dignity of every individual must be recognized and upheld, because their municipalities are not anonymous places but rather possess faces and stories that must be cherished as valuable treasures," he said.

Listening to the poor and to immigrants

The pope asked the group to listen to the poor, to immigrants, "and to all the least among you" in order "to promote the common good for the benefit of all."

In this way, he emphasized, "each of your municipalities can become a place of genuine encounter among all citizens, providing opportunities for every individual to flourish."

Pope Leo XIV also recalled that "those who exercise authority are also servants of God" and entrusted the association members to the intercession of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who for many years assisted the most vulnerable in Chicago "with great love and dedication."

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

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Many U.S. dioceses are expecting heavy increases in people joining the Catholic Church at Easter 2026, including some with record highs, a survey by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, found.

"Something's happening," said John Helsey, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, which is expecting a 57% increase in unbaptized people becoming Catholics at Easter — from 635 in 2025 to nearly 1,000 in 2026.

In most places, this year's increases aren't a one-off but follow significant increases in recent years.

One example is the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, which had record highs attending liturgies several weeks ago that were meant to welcome would-be converts who have been preparing to enter the Church in recent months and to formalize their status.

Newark is expecting a 30% jump in converts in 2026 (at 1,701) over 2025 (at 1,305). The 2026 figure is 60% higher than the 1,064 converts in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, the number of converts in 2025 (447) was the highest since at least 2014, and the number in 2026 (603) is 35% higher than in 2025.

The Register recently contacted all 175 Latin-rite territorial dioceses in the United States, seeking numbers of people planning to join the Catholic Church at Easter 2026.

Seventy-one, or 40% of U.S. dioceses, responded. In some cases, the Register used published sources to supplement the data it used in its analysis. In all cases, the Register attempted to make apples-to-apples comparisons, with the caveat that 2026 numbers aren't set yet.

Just five of the 71 dioceses expected a drop in converts this year, most of them slight. The remaining 66 are expecting increases — in many cases, significant ones.

This year's expected increases in converts in the United States include regions where the Church has been growing rapidly in recent decades, such as Florida, where the Diocese of St. Petersburg is expecting an 84% jump, and Texas, where the Diocese of Austin is expecting a 53% jump.

But it also includes highly secularized New England, where the Archdiocese of Boston has 55% more catechumens (unbaptized) this year than last year. The Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, reported a 54% increase (including already-baptized and unbaptized); the Diocese of Providence has 76% more converts; and the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, is recording a 112% spike.

In Pennsylvania, the dioceses of Harrisburg (77%) and Altoona-Johnstown (84%) are seeing big increases. Across the country, the Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado, is expecting a 105% increase.

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which is expecting a 60% increase in converts in 2026 over last year, a priest who oversees conversion programs said people seeking to join the Catholic Church tend to come to Mass and have an active prayer life before they ever attend formal sessions with catechists and that they tend to accept Church teachings earlier in the process than their predecessors did.

"I have noticed over the last several years that there is a greater commitment to conversion, a greater commitment to the Church, when they arrive," said Father Dennis Gill, director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Other factors

As for why it's happening, diocesan officials offered various theories.

Immigration, particularly from the surge during the Biden administration, is a factor in some places. Some suggest the election in May 2025 of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, who describes Church teachings with a native accent unfiltered by translation, might also be a draw for some non-Catholics. Some diocesan officials shared a new emphasis on outreach to non-Catholics.

Bishop Frank Dewane, who leads the Diocese of Venice, Florida, which is expecting a 94% increase in converts, noted that some places outside the United States are also seeing big increases this year, including England and France.

He told the Register the Church is enjoying what he called "a golden age of Catholic resources," including podcasts and other online sources that get information about the Church to people who would ordinarily never set foot in it and yet come to find Catholicism unexpectedly attractive.

"Our modern culture has not borne good fruits, and I think people see that. They recognize that. They know that," Dewane said.

But ultimately, he and other Church officials the Register spoke with attributed the bountiful harvest to God.

"It's the Holy Spirit," Dewane emphasized. "Yes, we follow promptings, also. But I think it's the work of the Holy Spirit right now in society and in the Church."

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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JOS, Nigeria — At least 11 people are feared dead and several others injured following a deadly attack by suspected gunmen in Gari Ya Waye community Angwan Rukuba, served by Nigeria's Catholic Archdiocese of Jos.

The attack occurred on the night of March 29, Palm Sunday, at about 7:50 p.m. local time.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the area and opened fire on unsuspecting civilians before fleeing the scene. Security personnel, including the Nigerian Army, reportedly arrived at around 8:45 p.m. to restore order and secure the affected community.

Casualty figures from other affected areas remain unclear, as some victims were evacuated during the attack while others were taken to nearby mortuaries.

In response, the Plateau state government imposed a 48-hour curfew across Jos North, effective from midnight on March 29 through April 1, in a bid to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on March 30, Archbishop Matthew Ishaya Audu of the Archdiocese of Jos underscored the importance of relying on verified information amid conflicting reports.

"I think the details are not there. If I make a statement, I should do so with conviction and provide a clearer position," he said.

Making reference to early reports about the number of deaths, the archbishop warned against relying on unverified figures circulating, particularly on social media.

"It's true that yesterday … unarmed men, that's what they say, attacked one place, and the reports are saying about 11 people were killed, but we don't know the details," Audu explained.

He noted that the curfew imposed by the Plateau state government has limited movement and made independent verification difficult.

"Since the morning, I have not been able to even come out. I cannot even say to my own JDPC that they can brief me better," he said, referring to the Church's Justice, Development, and Peace Commission.

Audu expressed concern about misinformation, warning that inaccurate reports could worsen tensions. "Sometimes these people, with social media, just write anything," he said.

He also cautioned that while the curfew is intended to restore order, it could create vulnerabilities if not carefully managed.

"There is heavy restriction… not even movement of anybody, except maybe the police. They don't even want to see you walking. As a result, if they don't [manage the curfew well], other people can take advantage… and then more killing will take place, and more innocent people will die," he warned.

The archbishop urged security agencies to remain vigilant and ensure residents are protected during the movement restrictions.

The timing of the attack — coinciding with the beginning of Holy Week — has heightened anxiety among residents.

However, Audu refrained from attributing the violence to religious motives despite circulating rumors.

"There were talks… that after fasting, they are going to attack us, the Christians ... I don't know what it is," he said.

Remaining cautions, he added: "Please, I don't want to add more problems to what we already have."

Amid the uncertainty, the Church leader called on residents — especially Christians observing Holy Week — to turn to prayer. "Let them pray… That is what we need now."

Drawing on the spiritual significance of the season, he added: "The cross is only a way to the Resurrection. We believe all the challenges of life, including what we are facing now, will become a thing of the past."

Audu continued: "If we let ourselves hope and believe, just like God raised Jesus from the dead, he will raise us above our challenges."

He also joined his prayers with those for peace across Nigeria.

"We pray that God will restore peace to our country," he said.

The Angwan Rukuba incident adds to ongoing security concerns in Plateau state, a region that has experienced recurrent episodes of communal and ethno-religious violence. Authorities are yet to release a comprehensive official account of the situation as investigations continue.

Gov. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang condemned the attack, describing it as "barbaric and unprovoked," and assured the public that security agencies are actively pursuing those responsible.

Following a visit to the affected community on Monday, the governor expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

"Today, I visited Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area with a heavy heart following the heinous attack on innocent citizens," he said. "I stood with grieving families, listened to their pain, and shared in their loss. No words can truly capture the depth of sorrow in moments like this, but I want every affected family to know you are not alone. Your pain is my pain, and the pain of Plateau state."

He pledged justice for the victims, stating: "I assure you that those responsible for this evil act will not go unpunished. My administration will pursue justice relentlessly until the perpetrators are brought to book."

Mutfwang also outlined measures to support victims and their families.

"We will also ensure that the lives lost are honored with dignity through a befitting burial. Furthermore, the Plateau state government will take full responsibility for the medical treatment of all those currently receiving care as a result of this attack," he said.

Calling for unity, he urged citizens and community leaders to collaborate with authorities.

"I call on all citizens — our traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders — to work with us. Security is a shared responsibility, and together, we must rise above division and confront this challenge with unity and resolve," he said.

The governor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to peace and stability in the state, adding: "Let me reaffirm: My administration remains fully committed to restoring peace, strengthening security, and rebuilding trust across Plateau state."

Residents have been advised to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information to support ongoing investigations into the attack.

Abah Anthony John contributed to this story.

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

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The Mexican Bishops' Conference encouraged the country's faithful "to live Holy Week with profound faith," emphasizing that this time reminds us that "evil does not have the last word."

In a March 28 video message, the Mexican bishops said that "Holy Week invites us to contemplate the mystery of God's love, which is given for us in Jesus Christ."

"During these days, we remember his passion, his death, and his resurrection; yet this is not merely about recalling an event from the past — it's about opening our hearts so that Christ may once again transform our lives and the history of our people," they said.

"The Church in Mexico walks with its people; it walks with those who suffer, with those who seek hope, with those who cry out for peace, and with those who cry out for justice," the bishops assured.

The Mexican prelates told the faithful that Holy Week "calls us to pause, to examine our lives with sincerity, and to return to God." They noted that Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that "this spiritual journey begins by learning once again to listen: to listen to God who speaks to us in his word, to listen to the hearts of our brothers and sisters, to listen to the cry of the poor, of the victims, of those who cannot find their loved ones, or of those who live in despair."

"God continues to walk with us, even amid trials," they reminded, noting that "in the face of this reality, the cross of Christ is raised up as a sign of love and hope."

They further encouraged the faithful to renounce speaking "hurtful words" and to sow "words that build communion."

"In a world where insults, accusations, and polarization easily multiply, we, the disciples of Christ, are called to speak with truth, with respect, and with charity. The cross of Christ does not divide; it reconciles," they emphasized.

"Holy Week reminds us of a profound truth: Evil does not have the final word. The suffering of the cross does not end in the darkness of the tomb," they pointed out, for "God always opens a new path of life."

"That is why Easter is humanity's great hope. The risen Christ shows us that life is stronger than death, that love is stronger than hatred, and that hope is stronger than fear," they emphasized.

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

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Pope Leo XIV on Monday appointed Italian Archbishop Paolo Rudelli the new head of the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State — one of the most influential positions in the Roman Curia. The so-called "sostituto" ("substitute") is commonly considered the third most powerful position in the Vatican, after the Holy Father and the secretary of state.

The pontiff also named Archbishop Petar Rajic the new prefect of the Papal Household, the body of the Roman Curia responsible for organizing the pope's schedule, audiences, and ceremonies — a position considered one of the highest levels of trust.

Rajic, who is Canadian and Croatian, has been serving as apostolic nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino. His appointment places him in a key role for managing the day-to-day public activities of the pope.

The new "sostituto," 55-year-old Rudelli, has been apostolic nuncio to Colombia since 2023. He replaces Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a Venezuelan who has been in the role since 2018 and who will replace Rajic as the pope's envoy to Italy and San Marino.

In a farewell speech delivered on March 30 at the Apostolic Palace, Peña Parra recalled some of the most significant moments of his tenure in the Secretariat of State, including the Vatican trial over the department's investment in a London property, which subjected Peña Parra and his colleagues "to unprecedented media and judicial scrutiny, requiring rigor, transparency, and a sense of responsibility on our part."

The appointment to the No. 2 position in the Secretariat of State is the biggest change to Vatican leadership made by Pope Leo since his election on May 8, 2025.

The "sostituto" is responsible for key functions in the internal coordination of the Holy See, especially at the operational level in the day-to-day management of the Secretariat of State and in the direct oversight of the pope's documents, speeches, and activities.

These duties are accompanied by the task of publishing and disseminating official communications regarding the activity of the pope and the Holy See as well as organizing apostolic journeys.

Rudelli: From northern Italy to South America

The Italian archbishop, born in 1970 in the province of Bergamo in northern Italy, has extensive experience in the Holy See's diplomatic service, which has brought him to posts in Europe, Africa, and South America.

He entered the Vatican's diplomatic service in the early 2000s. Between 2001 and 2003 he worked at the apostolic nunciature in Ecuador and, later, from 2003 to 2006, at the pontifical representation in Poland.

From 2006 to 2014 he served as secretary and later counselor of the nunciature in the first section of the Secretariat of State, gaining direct experience at the heart of Vatican governance.

He was later named permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

In 2019 he was ordained archbishop in St. Peter's Basilica by Pope Francis, who in January 2020 sent him as apostolic nuncio to Zimbabwe. In 2023, he was transferred to Colombia.

Rajic: Posts in Muslim-majority countries

Rajic was born in Toronto on June 12, 1959, into a family of Bosnian-Croatian origin. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1987, and was incardinated in the Diocese of Trebinje, connected to his parents' roots, after having studied at the seminary in Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1993 and served in various posts, including Iran and Lithuania. He also worked in the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State.

On Dec. 2, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rajic apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar as well as apostolic delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.

His episcopal consecration took place on Jan. 23, 2010, in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, a choice rich in symbolism in a city still marked by divisions between Muslim and Christian communities, coinciding with his mission to countries with Muslim majorities.

Two months later, his diplomatic mission was expanded to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. On June 15, 2015, Pope Francis appointed the archbishop nuncio to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.

During his diplomatic service in Angola, Rajic played a significant role in achieving the framework agreement between the Holy See and the African country in 2019, particularly regarding broadcasts of the Catholic station Radio Ecclesia.

That same year he was transferred to the apostolic nunciature in Lithuania and, on Aug. 6, 2019, he was also entrusted with being the papal representative to Estonia and Latvia.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. They have been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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In a notable development, a joint statement was issued Monday by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land announcing an agreement had been reached with the Israeli authorities regarding arrangements for Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The March 30 announcement came after hours of tension and controversy over restrictions on access to the holy sites, which affected Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, custos of the Holy Land.

Israeli police prevented Pizzaballa and lelpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as they made their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.

A temporary settlement under the weight of war

The statement said that, in coordination with the Israeli police, access had been guaranteed for Church representatives to celebrate Masses and religious rites in a way that preserves the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's long-standing Easter traditions, while restrictions on public gatherings remain in force for the time being. It also stated that the churches will livestream prayers and celebrations to the faithful.

The statement thanked Israeli President Isaac Herzog for his "swift and valuable" intervention and also praised supportive international positions and outreach to the Church. It stressed that faith is a fundamental human value shared by all religions and that safeguarding freedom of worship is a basic shared duty.

The Church also affirmed that it would continue its dialogue with the authorities, expressing hope that the restrictions will be lifted and that the church will once again be fully reopened to all worshippers.

Netanyahu justifies the measures, then reverses course

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to contain the crisis through a post on X, saying he had instructed officials to allow Pizzaballa immediate entry into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre so that he could celebrate the prayers.

Netanyahu justified the earlier measures by citing security threats, accusing Iran of targeting religious sites in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles in recent days and saying the temporary restrictions had been imposed "to protect worshippers of all faiths."

At the same time, however, he acknowledged that preventing the patriarch from celebrating Mass had created a problem that required his direct intervention to correct.

Sharp European criticism

Despite the announcement of the settlement, international reactions did not subside, with Europe voicing clear criticism of the Israeli measures. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that preventing the patriarch from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday was "a violation of freedom of worship" and of the historic arrangements governing the holy sites. She stressed that this freedom must be fully guaranteed, without exception, for all religions.

In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the step as "an offense to the faithful," while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the Israeli ambassador had been summoned over the incident.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condemnation of the decision, saying it comes amid "a troubling increase in violations" affecting the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites and affirming his full support for Pizzaballa and for Christians in the Holy Land.

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NAIROBI, Kenya — In addition to theological reflections on marriage and the sacraments, the final report addressing the pastoral challenge of polygamy in Africa, which members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) issued on March 24, draws attention to a wide range of social, cultural, and pastoral realities shaping the practice across the continent.

While reaffirming the Christian ideal of monogamous marriage, the 25-page report compiled by the SECAM commission — made up of selected theologians and professionals from relevant ecclesiastical disciplines — emphasizes that understanding the persistence of polygamy requires careful analysis of social change, legal frameworks, gender relations, and pastoral strategies within African societies.

The report is a direct response to the mandate that the multiyear XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops — known as the Synod on Synodality — gave Catholic bishops in Africa: "to promote theological and pastoral discernment on the issue of polygamy."

Polygamy in a changing African social landscape

In the report, the SECAM commission members note that polygamy cannot be understood solely through the lens of traditional culture. African societies have undergone profound transformation in recent decades.

"The traditional environment has crumbled," they said, leading to a climate in which many long-standing institutions and values are increasingly questioned. This transformation has also affected the dynamics of marriage and family life.

Sociological studies cited in the report identify infertility as one of the principal motivations behind contemporary polygamy, though the report emphasizes that the reasons are complex.

Despite modernization and evangelization, it notes that the practice of polygamy has not disappeared. Instead, "it remains alive and well" and, in some contexts, has even regained popularity.

One notable development the SECAM commission members highlight in the report is the changing role of women in African societies. They observe that women increasingly occupy key economic roles, particularly within the informal sector.

Legal frameworks across Africa

In the report, commission members also highlight the legal status of polygamy across the continent.

They note that roughly 30 African countries have legal frameworks that permit polygamy — either through civil law, customary law, or religious legislation. The list includes countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Morocco, and South Africa.

However, the report points out that legal recognition of polygamy does not necessarily indicate broad societal consensus. In many countries, women's movements have increasingly challenged these laws.

"More and more women are speaking out against legislation in favor of polygamy, which is considered unfair and disrespectful of gender equality," the report says.

This tension between cultural tradition, legal frameworks, and evolving social values forms a significant part of the pastoral context in which the Catholic bishops in Africa must address the issue of polygamy, the SECAM commission says in the report.

The question of women's dignity

A central theme in the report is the dignity of women within both cultural and ecclesial contexts.

Pastoral responses to polygamy must explicitly seek "to enhance the dignity of women," the report says. The report acknowledges that women sometimes choose polygamous arrangements for practical or cultural reasons — however, it raises theological questions about whether such choices correspond to God's plan for human relationships.

From a biblical perspective, polygamy "does not promote the development of women as intended by God," according to the report. Therefore, pastoral strategies that help Christian communities reflect critically on cultural assumptions about gender roles and marriage are important.

Economic vulnerability and the practice of polygamy

The report also links polygamy to economic vulnerability, particularly among widows.

One example the SECAM commission members highlight is the traditional practice of levirate marriage, in which a widow marries a relative of her deceased husband in order to secure protection and support for herself and her children.

While acknowledging the social security function of this practice, the report questions whether it can also lead to forms of exploitation and whether such arrangements risk reducing women to objects of exchange within family structures.

For this reason, the commission members highlight the importance of pastoral care directed specifically toward widows. Ensuring their "material and moral security" can help prevent situations in which women feel compelled to enter polygamous relationships for survival, the report states.

Hidden or 'veiled' forms of polygamy

Another issue raised in the report is what the SECAM commission members call "veiled polygamy."

This term refers to situations in which individuals maintain multiple sexual relationships outside formal marriage, resulting in families in which children are born to parents who are not married to one another.

Although such situations do not present the same doctrinal challenges as formal polygamy, the commission members say they consider this harmful both to society and to the Church.

One difficulty, they note, is that social stigma often falls disproportionately on women raising children outside marriage. The absence of fathers also raises concerns about the well-being of children.

In response, the report calls for stronger pastoral formation within Christian communities so that believers can accompany families facing these realities with maturity and responsibility.

Preparing couples for Christian marriage

The commission members in the report repeatedly emphasize that prevention is as important as pastoral accompaniment.

Many cases of polygamy among baptized Christians arise from cultural expectations about fertility. In many African contexts, the inability to bear children can place intense pressure on a marriage, the report notes.

Therefore, the report calls for rigorous marriage preparation programs that help couples understand the Christian meaning of marriage. While the desire for children is recognized as a legitimate cultural value, the reports stresses that biological fertility is not essential to the sacramental reality of marriage.

Christian marriage, the SECAM commission members state, must be understood primarily as a covenant of love and fidelity rather than simply a means of producing offspring.

A broader question of inculturation

Throughout the report, commission members frame the issue of polygamy as part of a broader challenge of inculturation — the process of expressing Christian faith within diverse cultural contexts.

They acknowledge that the Church's engagement with African cultures has evolved significantly since the missionary era.

While earlier pastoral approaches often treated polygamy primarily as a moral problem to be eliminated, today the Church must combine fidelity to the Gospel with attentive listening to cultural realities.

In their concluding reflections, SECAM commission members call for continued dialogue among Catholic bishops in Africa, theologians, and pastoral workers to evaluate existing pastoral models and, where necessary, "propose other paths, with the aim of offering to all the possibility of an encounter with Christ and his Gospel."

In this way, the issue of polygamy is not simply a disciplinary question but part of the broader task of shaping an authentically African expression of Christian family life.

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

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Criminals are posing as representatives of Catholic Charities in order to target and steal money from immigrants in the United States, making off with sometimes tens of thousands of dollars after promising immigration services to desperate migrants.

The scams have appeared in multiple states, with advocates scrambling to protect immigrants from being robbed by thieves posing as Catholic service providers.

Cecilia Baxter, an attorney with Hogar Immigrant Services at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, told EWTN News that the crimes have been running at least as far back as the summer of 2025.

"Scammers are using the name, images, and likeness of Catholic Charities USA — or just the name Catholic Charities in general — to scam immigrants by promising them services and then not following through," she said.

Baxter noted that immigration law is "super complex" and that those in the country without authorization are "always looking for relief," specifically legal status.

A lot of people who do have legal status, meanwhile, "are just uncertain about immigration law."

Oftentimes, she said, the victim will see an advertisement on social media promising services from an immigration attorney who allegedly works for Catholic Charities. Most Catholic charity affiliates offer various immigration-related services, including legal assistance.

"Some [victims] are told they might qualify for a visa, for instance," Baxter said. "They'll reach out. They'll get fake contracts, they'll send money, and then they never hear back."

In some cases the stolen money could amount to several hundred dollars. In other cases the amount stolen has run as high as around $20,000, Baxter said.

"These people are desperate," the attorney said. "They're reaching out to a lot of sources, such as family, and sometimes digging themselves into deep holes of debt."

'I don't think it's getting better'

Reports of the scams are not limited to Virginia. 

Daniel Altenau, a spokesman for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, said the diocese is "hearing more and more cases of immigrants falling victim to scams using Catholic Charities logos/materials."

Consuelo Kwee, the director of immigration services at the Raleigh charity, told EWTN News that the crisis is "nationwide."

She said she has heard from victims in Missouri, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and other states. The scams have been active for at least a year, she confirmed.

Kwee said that many of the scams begin on social media sites such as Facebook. "They are using our name, our logo, even the name of one of our staff members and our director," she said.

"The scammer will reach out via WhatsApp or text; usually WhatsApp," she said. "They lure in the client by telling them that everything is going to be free. Then they start asking for money, and they're very persistent."

Some scammers use both Catholic Charities forms and official government immigration forms to ply the victims, she said.

"We are desperate," she admitted. "We see people falling for this so much." She said in one case a man contacted her weeping after having lost $40,000 over the course of a year while trying to bring his family to the United States.

"It's horrible," she said. "Horrible."

Advocates have taken steps to try and head off the scams. Baxter noted that the Arlington Diocese's Catholic charity has released a flyer warning about the fraud scheme, urging immigrants to avoid providing any information to suspicious contacts online.

The flyer, in both English and Spanish, instructs would-be victims to contact Catholic Charities to report the scam and to inform banks and credit card companies in the event that any financial information was shared. Baxter said victims can also speak to local bar agencies.

Kwee said the Raleigh Diocese has taken similar steps, including a digital alert warning immigrants of the potential for scams.

Baxter admitted that the situation is "really murky."

"I thought it was getting better," she said. But the agency has recorded multiple scam reports in recent weeks. "I don't think it's getting better. It seems to be just as bad if not worse."

She said the scammers have become adept at posing as Catholic Charities officials.

"We've seen some of the documents that [victims] have received," she said. "At first glance, if you have an untrained eye, you can see how people fall for it. They're using the watermarks of Catholic Charities USA. They have the right words."

"Or they'll say the consultation is free but the fees for filing must be paid," she said. "They're very manipulative."

Baxter noted that it's a "scary time" for immigrants in the country illegally. Heavy immigration crackdown by the Trump administration has seen hundreds of thousands of deportations in 2025 and 2026.

The fraught environment means that immigrants in the country illegally are more afraid than usual of going to law enforcement even when they are scammed out of thousands of dollars, she said.

"They're really afraid," she said. "They're really scared."

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In a conference marking the 80th anniversary of Soviet Russia's suppression of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, John Paul II's official biographer argued that Orthodox-Catholic relations could see a revival.

While previous popes had carried experiential "baggage" with respect to the Orthodox church into their pontificates, Weigel said Pope Leo XIV "gets it in terms of what is actually going on" and predicted renewed promise for Orthodox-Catholic relations under his pontificate.

While he acknowledged Leo has only been pope for less than 11 months, Weigel said: "This is a deliberate man. I believe that he will work deliberately to try to reformulate this, but we're going to have to give him time."

Weigel's remarks came during a panel at an event organized by the Center of Ukrainian Studies at The Catholic University of America, the Ukrainian University, and the St. Gabriel Institute titled "The Pseudo-Sobor 80 Years Later: The Persecution Continues."

Weigel said in his own interactions with the Holy Father, he has suggested that the approach to dialogue with Orthodox churches should not center on theological primacy as heavily as in the past.

Rather, he said, it should focus on the fact that Orthodoxy "does not have a credible 21st-century church," with a fully formed approach to church-state relations, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine war.

"It needs to get one," he said. "And the people who actually have a fully developed social aspect are the Catholics, and that should be where the focus should be," Weigel said.

"It would be a matter of Rome saying, 'Look, it took us 200 years at least to figure out the post-Constantinian period to understand religious freedom within our own theological framework as a fundamental human right … Maybe we can help you with this. Maybe we can learn something from you," he said.

Weigel said the dialogue will need to happen outside of formal settings and that with Leo, he believes "there will be over time an opening" to such discussions.

Under this approach, he said, Rome can move on from previously unsuccessful efforts to engage with the Orthodox church.

The panel discussion comes amid the 80th anniversary of the 1946 Pseudo-Sobor on March 8–10.

After Ukraine came under Soviet control during World War II, the Stalin regime began a campaign against the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), arresting its leader, Metropolitan Josyf Slipyj, in April 1945 along with other bishops in the Slovak territory, panelist Katerina Budz recounted.

With their bishops imprisoned and faced with their own arrest if they refused to comply, priests and lay members of the UGCC were summoned by a Soviet initiative group to participate in the 1946 Pseudo-Sobor, in which a vote was cast to officially sever ties with the Vatican and "reunify" with the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Imagine," Budz said, "your bishop is imprisoned, and unless you agree to join the initiative group, most likely you will be too. After your arrest, the church will be closed, your parishioners will have no pastoral care, and your wife and children will no longer be able to count you as a family provider."

"It was in this particularly challenging environment that the Greek Catholic clergy had to make life-changing decisions," she said, noting the clergy also faced backlash from the nationalist underground forces and from their parishioners.

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BRUSSELS — The European Commission has appointed former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness as its new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU, ending a vacancy of more than a year that had raised concerns among lawmakers and Church leaders.

The position focuses on promoting FoRB in the EU's external relations, including engagement with third countries, international organizations, and civil society.

McGuinness brings senior institutional experience to the role. During her time in the European Parliament, she led dialogue with churches, religious organizations, and philosophical groups under Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides a formal framework for engagement between EU institutions and faith communities.

The European Parliament's Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief welcomed the appointment, with co-chairs Mirjam Lexmann and Bert-Jan Ruissen saying it was "high time" the post was filled after remaining vacant for over a year.

Ruissen pointed to ongoing global challenges, including serious violence and persecution faced by Christians in Nigeria and surrounding countries, the situation of religious minorities in Syria, and anti-conversion laws in Pakistan and India.

Lexmann emphasized the envoy's importance in today's turbulent world: "In the rough sea that characterises today's geopolitical reality, the protection of freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental human right, must remain our compass. It is precisely in moments of global uncertainty and conflict that the European Union must stand firm in defending human dignity, religious freedom, and the values on which the European project was founded."

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed the appointment. COMECE President, Italian Bishop Mariano Crociata, noted that the bishops' conferences have worked closely with McGuinness in the past.

Crociata underlined that the role is a key component of the EU's external action and is essential for advancing the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

COMECE reiterated its call for the position to be supported by a strong mandate and adequate resources, especially amid rising global discrimination and persecution of religious communities.

The special envoy post was created in 2016 following calls from the European Parliament to strengthen the EU's response to global religious persecution, including attacks by ISIS against Christians and other religious minorities.

The first holder was Slovak politician Ján Figel, who served from 2016 to 2019. He was actively involved in international advocacy efforts on behalf of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row after being falsely accused of blasphemy. She was acquitted in 2018 and now lives in Canada.

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