Catholic News

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 16, 2025 / 11:21 am (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news that you might have missed this week:

Berlin pharmacist ordered to give up practice after refusing to sell 'morning-after' pill

Berlin pharmacist Andreas Kersten was forced to end his practice this month after he refused to sell the so-called "morning-after" pill for reasons of conscience, according to CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner.

Kersten was forced to withdraw his license as a pharmacist after the higher administrative court of Berlin-Brandenburg acquitted him of misconduct in June 2024 but ruled that pharmacists who cannot reconcile the sale of the morning-after pill must give up their profession.

"It is regrettable that pharmacists are denied the right to freedom of conscience when they adopt a pro-life attitude," Kersten said. "I cannot reconcile the so-called 'morning after pill' with my conscience, because it could possibly end a human life. Therefore, I feel forced to give up my license as a pharmacist."

Two new Catholic churches open in China

Catholics in the People's Republic of China celebrated the opening of two new Catholic churches this past week, according to Fides News Service.

Catholics in the city of Xiaogan in the Chinese province of Hubei celebrated the opening of the Church of Christ the King on May 10. The new church, which has a 108-foot-high bell tower, includes a rectory and parish center.

Also, in the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Catholics in the rural parish of Guzhai consecrated a new church dedicated to Our Lady of China. 

Catholic Church in Nigeria desecrated, bishop directs reparation

All priests across the Diocese of Kafanchan in Nigeria have been instructed to celebrate a Mass of reparation on Friday after a local parish was broken into and consecrated hosts in the tabernacle were stolen, according to a Tuesday report from ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa.

"Such a wound to the mystical body of Christ calls for a united response of reparation and fervent intercession," said Father Jacob Shanet, the chancellor of the Kafanchan Diocese. "This should be offered with the intention of making amends for this sacrilege and imploring the mercy of God upon those responsible," he added.

Abductors demand ransom for Catholic priest kidnapped in Cameroon

Abductors are demanding a ransom for the release of Father Valentin Mbaïbarem, who was kidnapped on May 7 from Cameroon's Archdiocese of Garoua, the chancellor of the Cameroonian metropolitan see told ACI Africa.

Father Emmanuel Bonkou revealed that Mbaïbarem's captors are demanding 25 million FCFA (about $42,700) for his release. "We call upon everyone to unite in prayer for his release as search efforts are ongoing," he said. 

A total of six persons were kidnapped at the same time as Mbaïbarem. "Four of the six hostages regained their freedom some days later," Bonkou said. "Unfortunately, one of the hostages, a teacher named Diguerse Mathias, was killed by abductors after being unable to continue the forced walk due to exhaustion."

Rebuilding Mosul's churches: A testament to Christian roots

In Iraq's Nineveh Plain, the Christian community of Mosul continues its slow but determined comeback, reported ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner. Nearly a decade after ISIS' destruction, the faithful celebrated the restoration of the altar of the historic Al-Tahira Cathedral — which was visited by Pope Francis in 2021. 

Chaldean Archbishop Mikha Pola Maqdassi and Syriac Catholic priest Father Emmanuel Kallo stressed that rebuilding churches is more than preserving stone, it is about rekindling Christian identity and hope. Despite the limited return of Christian families to Mosul, church leaders insist their mission is to keep the light of faith burning, inviting all displaced Christians to reconnect with their ancestral city and heritage.

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ACI MENA, May 15, 2025 / 17:33 pm (CNA).

In a surprising announcement made this week from Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States would fully lift its sanctions on Syria. The announcement sparked applause in the hall where Trump was speaking, echoed in the hearts of Syrians watching from afar with joy and hope.

The announcement was followed by a landmark meeting between Syria's Transitional President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Trump in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who joined via video conference.

Syrian currency strengthens

The first signs of impact were immediate, according to ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner. The Syrian pound immediately saw a notable improvement — rising by nearly 30% against the U.S. dollar. This financial shift, if sustained, could help curb inflation and ease the burden of securing daily necessities, especially food, in a country where many families struggle to afford three meals a day.

Revival of 'free professions' and small businesses

For decades, many Syrian Christians have relied on "free professions," trade, and small industries as their primary sources of income. (Free professions involve work in which the individual works independently, such as a self-employed person, or working automously within a firm or company.)

Yet their efforts to build a stable life have often faced historical setbacks — from Ottoman-era restrictions to the nationalization policies of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later the Assad regime's tight economic controls that led to escalating international sanctions starting in 1979, when Syria was designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

The lifting of sanctions now offers a significant economic opening, particularly if it is accompanied by internal economic reforms. Such a shift could reduce unemployment among Christians, boost purchasing power, and slow the migration trend that has deeply impacted Christian communities. Historically, economic hardship and compulsory military service — now reportedly abolished — have been major factors driving Christians to leave. Improved living conditions could also help strengthen national security and rebuild confidence in the country's stability.

Toward reconstruction and investment

The widespread destruction caused by years of conflict has turned Syria into a potential hub for international investment. However, sanctions and monopolistic control by Assad-linked networks have long deterred investors.

Now, with the sanctions lifted, Syria is expected to witness significant economic revival, bolstered by the entry of major Arab and international companies. There is also speculation that this U.S. move may encourage the European Union to follow suit, which could further revitalize critical sectors such as electricity, water, energy, and public services.

On the ecclesial level, church communities are expected to become more active, particularly in the areas of health care and education — fields where Christians have long played a leading role. This could translate into meaningful advancements in these sectors, benefiting the wider Syrian society.

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

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Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 18:03 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday lamented that today's youth must deal with "relativism," "emotional instability," and "superficiality," although he called for transforming these challenges of the contemporary age into "springboards."

The pontiff received the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, on May 15 at the Vatican. He reminded them of the importance of experiencing teaching as a "ministry and mission" to help young people give their best according to God's plan.

In his address, he listed the obstacles facing the younger generations: "Think of the isolation caused by rampant relational models increasingly marked by superficiality, individualism, and emotional instability; the spread of patterns of thought weakened by relativism; and the prevalence of rhythms and lifestyles in which there is not enough room for listening, reflection, and dialogue, at school, in the family, and sometimes among peers themselves, with consequent loneliness."

These "demanding challenges," he noted, must become "springboards" to "develop tools and adopt new languages to continue to touch the hearts of pupils, helping them and spurring them on to face every obstacle with courage in order to give the best of themselves in life, according to God's plan."

At the meeting, which took place against the backdrop of two special anniversaries: the third centenary of the promulgation of the bull In Apostolicae Dignitatis Solio, with which Benedict XIII approved the order and its rule (Jan. 26, 1725), and the 75th anniversary of Pius XII's proclamation of St. John Baptist de La Salle as patron saint of educators (1950). 

"Young people of our time, like those of every age, are a volcano of life, energy, sentiments, and ideas. It can be seen from the wonderful things they are able to do, in so many fields. However, they also need help in order for this great wealth to grow in harmony and to overcome what, albeit in a different way to the past, can still hinder their healthy development," he stated.

The American pontiff praised their presence, which continues to bring "the freshness of a rich and vast educational entity," and focused in his address on the ministry and missionary dimension of teaching.

He thus quoted St. John Baptist de La Salle, who responded to the plea of ??a layman, Adrian Nyel, who was struggling to keep his schools for the poor going.

"Your founder recognized in his request for help a sign of God; he accepted the challenge and set to work. Thus, beyond his own intentions and expectations, he brought to life a new teaching system: that of the Christian Schools, free and open to everyone," the pope stated.

The pontiff also highlighted in his speech La Salle's ability to respond creatively to the many difficulties of his time, also "venturing onto new and often unexplored paths," and appreciated that this French saint and educator launched the "pedagogical revolution" of teaching directed at the entire class rather than individual students.

Another innovative element introduced by La Salle was "the adoption of French as the language of instruction; Sunday lessons, in which even young people forced to work on weekdays were able to participate; and the involvement of families in the school curriculum."

This entire legacy, he emphasized, should serve as a model for today's educators.

Under this premise, teacher training should be based on that principle so dear to La Salle: "teaching lived as ministry and mission, as [a form of consecrated life] in the Church." 

Leo XIV also recalled the principle of "evangelizing by educating and educating by evangelizing," ultimately emphasizing the importance of "synergy" among all the "formative components."

Finally, he urged that "fruitful paths of holiness" be fostered and promoted among young people.

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, May 15, 2025 / 18:23 pm (CNA).

U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom are Catholic, will attend the inaugural Mass for Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, on Saturday, May 18.

The Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Rome time and will be celebrated in St. Peter's Square to mark the beginning of Leo's pontificate.

Vance, a convert to the faith, congratulated the Holy Father on his elevation to the papacy in a post on X following the new pope's election, saying "millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church."

Shortly after his papacy was announced, prior posts on X from Leo that criticized Trump and Vance over the administration's deportation and migration policies resurfaced on an account that has since been deleted.

In a May 9 interview with Hugh Hewitt, Vance addressed that issue, saying he tries not to "play the politicization of the pope game," adding: "I'm sure he's going to say a lot of things that I love [and] I'm sure he'll say some things that I disagree with, but I'll continue to pray for him and the Church despite it all and through it all, and that'll be the way that I handle it."

"The Church is about saving souls and about spreading the Gospel," he added. "And yeah, it's going to touch public policy from time to time as all human institutions do, but that's not really what it's about. And I think it's much healthier for the American media, and certainly for Catholics, to not take such a, you know, politics in the age of social media attitude towards the papacy."

Rubio also addressed the subject during a news conference on Thursday, making similar comments, saying: "I don't view the papacy as a political office" and "I view it as a spiritual one."

"The Church has strong social doctrine teachings, and I think there is not incompatibility," Rubio said.

"We, too, are compassionate towards migrants," he continued. "I would argue there's nothing compassionate about mass migration. There's nothing compassionate about open borders that allows people to be trafficked here. [It's not compassionate] to the American people [either], … flooding our country with individuals that are criminals and prey on our communities." 

Vance was last at the Vatican on April 20 and met Pope Francis the day prior to the pontiff's death. During the meeting, the two exchanged Easter greetings and the pope gave Vance gifts for himself, his children, and his wife.

President Donald Trump was last at the Vatican for Francis' April 26 funeral. In 2013, when Pope Francis was elevated to the papacy, the United States delegation to his inaugural Mass was also led by the vice president at the time, former president Joe Biden, who is also Catholic.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 15, 2025 / 18:43 pm (CNA).

Senate Democrats this week blocked the confirmation of Brian Burch, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, stalling the nomination process ahead of Pope Leo XIV's installation Mass this Sunday.

Burch, co-founder of the political advocacy group CatholicVote, must now garner 60 votes in the Senate, a three-fifths majority, after Democratic senators invoked the filibuster on more than 50 low-level nominations. A filibuster is a Senate tactic allowing senators to delay or block votes by extending debate, requiring 60 votes to invoke cloture and proceed to a final vote.

"I never thought I'd see the day when Democrats would be willing to block the nominee for ambassador to the Holy See simply to score political points with their far-left radicals, but it seems they're still searching for rock bottom," Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Catholic, said in a statement to CNA.

"Now, with only two days until Pope Leo XIV's inauguration, the United States will not have a diplomatic presence in the Vatican to the detriment of Catholic Americans across the nation," he continued. "The Democrats' political games are shameful, and the Senate should immediately vote on Brian Burch's nomination to ensure the U.S. has a diplomatic presence at the Vatican as the new Roman Curia is installed."

Schmitt slammed his Democrat colleagues on the Senate floor for blocking the nomination that had previously advanced along bipartisan lines by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, describing the Democrats' blocking of Burch's confirmation as "obstructionist."

Later, in a livestream on social media platform X on Tuesday evening, Schmitt noted the Senate is currently working to confirm Trump's lower-profile nominees while it awaits the passage of its reconciliation bill. However, in an unprecedented turn of events, Democratic senators placed "blanket holds" on a swath of nominations, invoking the filibuster to require 60 votes to confirm them.

The move will force the Senate to vote on and approve each nomination individually. It is unclear whether Burch's nomination will happen before Sunday.

"Typically speaking, the idea that you would need to file cloture, meaning 60 votes for everything you do, is very unusual," Schmitt said during the livestream, adding: "In fact, this obstructionism we've not seen since the Ford administration."

Illustrating the unprecedented nature of invoking the filibuster for nominations, Schmitt pointed out that the Senate confirmed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with a simple majority of 52 votes. "Filibuster wasn't used for everything," he said, and "certainly not for ambassador positions that are not controversial, that are favorably voted out of the Foreign Relations Committee." 

Schmitt reflected that the obstruction of Burch's nomination "speaks to how broken the Democrats are," adding: "I just didn't think it would play out in the way it did on the Senate floor today, that that would take them to the point of saying, 'We're not going to let the ambassador to the Vatican be at the installation of the pope,' but that's where we're at." 

CNA reached out to the office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.

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CNA Staff, May 15, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

CREDO will launch worldwide on May 28 and is on track to stream Castletown Media's newest project, "Leo XIV: A Pontiff's Path" later this year.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 15, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

The global number of internally displaced people worldwide skyrocketed to a record high of 83.4 million in 2024, according to a report released Tuesday.

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Vatican City, May 15, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

The papal apartment, which is a series of rooms wrapping around the Vatican's Sixtus V Courtyard, was the traditional home of pontiffs for over a century.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 15, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Camp IdRaHaJe filed the federal lawsuit against Colorado's Department of Early Childhood on Monday, May 12.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 15, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

Today, on the 134th anniversary of the release of Rerum Novarum, CNA takes a look at the significance of this historic encyclical.

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