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ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 16, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).

The last major event of the Jubilee of Hope was dedicated to prisoners around the world, some of whom during the past weekend were able to experience freedom and fulfill a dream: to go see Pope Leo XIV.

Víctor Aguado, director of prison ministry in Valencia, Spain, accompanied a group of prisoners to the Eternal City, many of whom had spent more than 12 years behind bars. Thanks to special permission, they were able to travel and become living witnesses that "hope breaks down walls and that dignity cannot be taken away."

In a conversation with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Aguado recounted the details of the "intense, emotional, and spiritual" trip that will forever mark the lives of the men and women who have been incarcerated. 

The group was composed of a total of 13 people from Valencia, including prisoners, volunteers, and the chaplain. Six of them were inmates in the second and third degree of the prison system — regimens that combine incarceration with controlled outings — so they had to obtain a series of permits from the Treatment Board, the General Secretariat, and the Oversight Institutions. "It was a long bureaucratic process, but we didn't have any problems," Aguado explained.

He explained that they selected the prisoners they have known for a long time. Those in the third degree of the prison system enjoy a semi-release regimen and live in halfway houses, while those in the second degree usually go to workshops and cooperate with everything the prison ministry proposes. "They are people of faith who attend Mass, and we knew that, given their situation and attitude, they needed this and wouldn't turn it down," he commented.

"They wanted to be very well prepared, free of burdens, and participate in Sunday Mass completely cleansed and at peace with themselves," said Aguado, who also highlighted their passing through the Holy Door as one of the most emotional moments of the jubilee. "With the pilgrimage, the prisoners assumed a new responsibility and a new path, a new life, and the feeling that now they have to do things right."

He also highlighted their excitement at seeing the pope, since for them "he is the representation of the Lord on earth." The Sunday Mass with the Holy Father, Aguado explained, was "very simple, and although it was in Italian, it was perfectly understandable."

"Hope goes beyond, it breaks down walls wherever it may be, and the dignity of people cannot be taken away, and that is what they conveyed during the three days we were in Rome. These were very intensely personal experiences, and we could feel their joy; everyone had a look of peace," he noted.

For Aguado — who has been working with prisoners for 14 years — the fact that this event closed the Jubilee of Hope is no mere coincidence. "The world of prisons is not visible, and in some way we must begin to consider that people who have been judged eventually get out and have to reintegrate into normal life, and that depends on society."

"We know that the Lord forgives everything, so who are we to not forgive these people and keep on stigmatizing them? They are called ex-convicts, but they are nothing more than persons, with all their dignity and freedom," he affirmed.

Although he assured that the Lord "is always with them and walks with them," he emphasized the urgency of recognizing the prisoners as living members of the Church and appealed to the responsibility of every Christian: "Sometimes we take the works of mercy for granted, but we don't always put them into practice. The Lord challenges us: 'I was in prison,' and the question remains the same: 'Did you come to see me?'"

There are many lives that need to be rescued

The Italian priest Father Raffaele Grimaldi, who left his chaplaincy at the Secondigliano prison in Naples — where he served the inmates for 23 years — to coordinate the 230 priests who minister to the nearly 62,000 detainees throughout Italy, also participated in this historic jubilee.

Speaking to ACI Prensa, he noted that the event "is a strong reminder that the Church wants to bring God's love and mercy to prisons, who goes in search of those who are lost."

According to Grimaldi, this jubilee "has brought to light the most difficult situations we are experiencing in our prisons and the plight of the prisoners" including overcrowding, lack of resources, suicides, neglect, and "above all, the lack of acceptance from society."

The priest brought some prisoners from different Italian prisons before Pope Leo XIV, especially young people and one man sentenced to life in prison. "It was a moment of great joy for them," he commented.

"Every prisoner needs to constantly hear a word of mercy: from people who do not judge, who do not point fingers, who do not condemn, but who embrace," he stated.

He also emphasized that this jubilee has not been an isolated event, since throughout the year there has been spiritual preparation in the correctional facilities, where "proclaiming hope is a powerful message that resonates deeply in the hearts of all."

Grimaldi admitted that these individuals have "made mistakes" and are serving a sentence for them; however, he urged people to "reach out to them so that they can take up their lives again and change," with justice accompanied by mercy, "so that justice itself does not become vengeance."

During his years of service in the prisons, he said he has encountered many people who have traveled on a beautiful spiritual journey, "like a young Albanian man who received the sacrament of baptism on Dec. 12."

"This makes us understand that in our prisons there are many lives that need to be rescued and helped, because if these opportunities don't exist, the prisoner dies inside, and we also kill the hope that is in their heart."

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, Dec 16, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Catholic human rights and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai was found guilty following his lengthy national security trial. Lai, 78, will be sentenced at a later date but faces up to life in prison.

The Dec. 15 verdict "is important, and it's not important," Bill McGurn, Wall Street Journal columnist and godfather of Lai, told "EWTN News Nightly."

"It's important because it's part of the Hong Kong process, and everyone knew he would always be convicted. So it's important because we have to get it out of the way," McGurn said. "Jimmy cannot be released until he was convicted, and that's why we had to wait all these years for the trial and then his conviction."

"On the other hand, it was always this charade … the world sees it for what it is. And so in Jimmy Lai's world, it's not really a big milestone because it's phony. Everything about it is phony," McGurn said.

'The real work begins now'

While the verdict was guilty, it is still "a step forward because we finally can get to the deal-making now," McGurn said. "Jimmy's future will be determined by three men: Xi Jinping of China, President Trump of the United States, and Keir Starmer of Britain." 

Trump "is essential to the deal," McGurn said. "The problem is, Jimmy is a British citizen, and the British aren't really pushing his release. Keir Starmer, the prime minister, he needs a little prod to get it done."

Trump "has pushed for Jimmy's release. He's brought it up. His people are working on it now, but he needs help," McGurn said. 

In August, Trump vowed to do "everything" he can to "save" Lai, promising to "see what we can do" to help him. A White House official told EWTN News in October that Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about his imprisonment. 

Following the announcement of the verdict, Trump told reporters he feels "so badly" about it. He added: "I spoke to President Xi about it and I asked to consider his release. He's not well. He's an older man and he's not well, so I did put that request out. We'll see what happens."

Ultimately the verdict is "a milestone, but it's a phony one," McGurn said. "The real work begins now where the U.S. gets ready to pressure the Chinese. President Trump is visiting there next year in April, and Prime Minister Starmer is visiting in January. You would think he'd want to let it be known it's not open season on British citizens … but so far, they seem pretty reluctant to do that."

Lai's 'faith-filled family' 

McGurn said he has been cut off from Lai for the past three years.

"They don't let my letters go through anymore. But I used to hear from him pretty regularly and am still in touch with some of the family," McGurn said.

Lai's family has also called on the U.S. to help aid his release. "We stand by his innocence and condemn this miscarriage of justice," Lai's daughter Claire said. She asked the U.S. "continue to exert pressure for my father to be returned to our family so that he can recover in peace."

"They are an extraordinary family," McGurn said in the interview. Lai's wife, Teresa Lai, "is a rock. If Jimmy didn't have Teresa to lean on, he knows it, he wouldn't be strong. I mean, he has his faith, but she strengthens it. That's what they have in common," McGurn said.

"The children have all been very eloquent in making appeals for their father's freedom and so forth. So this is an extraordinary faith-filled family."

Owen Jensen contributed to this story.

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Rome, Italy, Dec 16, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

About 400 people participated in a Jubilee of Tourism pilgrimage in Rome on Monday evening, celebrating the unique role the industry plays in supporting the faith and religious experience of millions of pilgrims and tourists.

Isabella Ruggiero, president of the Associazioni Guide Turistiche Abilitate (Associations of Qualified Tourist Guides), who helped organize the jubilee dedicated to tourism workers, said the Dec. 15 pilgrimage was a way to bring together the professional community that daily supports visitors to Italy and the Vatican.

"This special jubilee is dedicated not only to tourist guides but to all those who work in the world of tourism: guides, tour leaders, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, accommodation providers," Ruggiero told CNA.

"Every pilgrimage and every single trip is the result of the work of dozens of people who help organize and carry out the trip and the pilgrimage at every stage, and who generally remain 'behind the scenes': from booking transportation, to cleaning the accommodation where people stay, from conceptual work, to the humblest tasks — all are necessary," she said.

Italian Bishop Antonio Staglianò, president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and rector of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto, opened the pilgrimage with a Mass celebration at San Salvatore in Lauro, one of Rome's 13 Jubilee of Hope churches located near the popular tourist destination Piazza Navona.

The pilgrimage also included a candlelit procession over the Bridge of the Angels, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, in front of Castel Sant'Angelo, and crossing the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on the evening the Vatican unveiled its Nativity display in the square.

Roman tour guide Elizabeth Lev said the evening pilgrimage was a "great moment of reconciliation" and a chance to renew her own joy and hope of guiding pilgrims in the Eternal City, especially as the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope draws closer to its conclusion.

"The Jubilee of Tourism was an opportunity for us to become pilgrims, to pass through the Holy Door [at St. Peter's Basilica] for prayer, instead of profession, and to give thanks for the many gifts of the year," she told CNA.

"We have spent so much time arranging other people's events that we only realized, 'in extremis,' that we didn't have one for ourselves," she said. "As luck would have it, the Vatican Christmas tree was lit as we entered the square so the last steps were accompanied by the joyful lights and sounds of Christmas hymns."

"It was one of the most moving days of my life," she added.

According to Ruggiero, more than 3,000 licensed tour guides of different nationalities currently operate in Rome.

"The role of the guide is to bring people of every social background and culture closer to beauty, art, and history, and to teach respect for our shared heritage," the tourism association president said. "In the case of pilgrims, [it is] to highlight the spiritual and religious dimensions above all others."

While religious tourism in Rome has "consistently remained high" with approximately 10 million pilgrims and visitors each year, Ruggiero said these numbers significantly increase during the Church's jubilee years.

"In the Holy Year 2000, Rome welcomed approximately 25 million pilgrims," she said. "Estimates for the current jubilee indicate that around 30 million pilgrims are expected to have visited the city by the end of the year."

The 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope will conclude with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on the Jan. 6 solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 16, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, archbishop of Luxembourg, celebrated in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Dec. 13 the Mass of beatification for 50 young martyrs who were murdered by the Nazis out of hatred for the Catholic faith during World War II.

In an apostolic letter he sent to the French capital, Pope Leo XIV established that the feast day of the 50 new blessed martyrs, belonging to about 30 French dioceses, will be May 5, 2026.

"Raymond Cayré, priest; Gérard-Martin Cendrier, of the Order of Friars Minor; Roger Vallé, seminarian; Jean Mestre, layman; and 46 companions were beatified in Paris. They were killed in hatred of the faith in 1944-45 during the Nazi occupation," Pope Leo XIV said after the Angelus on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday).

"Let us praise the Lord for these martyrs, courageous witnesses to the Gospel, persecuted and killed for remaining close to their people and faithful to the Church!" the Holy Father said, recalling that on Dec. 13, 124 martyrs were also beatified in Spain.

Light in the midst of the 'dark century of terrible carnage'

"The first half of the 20th century will go down in European history as the dark century of terrible carnage. To the victims of the two world wars, the soldiers, are added the victims of the Nazi dictatorship. But in this darkness, there are points of light, and even now we can identify names and faces associated with some of these points of light," Hollerich said in his homily, as reported by the Archdiocese of Paris.

"They had an immense love for God, for Christ. This love compelled them to serve their brothers and sisters who had been sent to forced labor in Germany. Indeed, there can be no love of God without love of one's neighbor," the Jesuit cardinal continued, referring to the more than 1 million French people sent to Nazi factories and labor camps.

The new blesseds, the archbishop continued, were "these young Catholics — priests, religious, seminarians, Catholic Action activists, and Scouts — all answered the call of Cardinal [Emmanuel Célestin] Suhard [then-archbishop of Paris] and Father Jean Rodhain."

"Most of them were between 20 and 35 years old, and, along with so many other anonymous apostles, they understood the spiritual and moral distress of 1.5 million young French workers deported to Germany, now without any religious guidance, since German priests were forbidden to minister to them," Hollerich noted.

"They were truly 'Martyrs of the Apostolate.' Their lives and their work in the service of their brothers and sisters were a trial crowned by the sacrifice of martyrdom," he emphasized.

With their service of love and mercy, the cardinal continued, these martyrs "in the hell of the concentration camps, succeeded in creating oases of paradise, where love managed to restore courage, heal the wounds of the heart, overcome indifference, and convey serenity and peace."

One of them, the young Scout Joël Anglès d'Auriac, who was beheaded at the age of 22 on Dec. 6, 1944, after going to confession, receiving Communion, and praying the rosary, told the prison chaplain: "I am completely at peace ... for I am going to Jesus Christ."

Another young man, Jean Mestre, decided against requesting an exemption from the Nazi's Compulsory Labor Service for the war effort in Germany and told his mother of his decision in this way: "I love you with all my heart, but I love Jesus Christ even more than you, and I feel that he is calling me to be his witness to my fellow workers who are going through difficult times. Forgive me if I am hurting you."

A message for young people today

Hollerich said that all these martyrs remind us that "whatever our vocation, our profession, or our responsibilities, we are committed, as disciples of Christ, to serving our brothers and sisters wherever God, in his providence, has placed us."

"The Nazis, on the other hand, despised religious freedom. While forced to respect it in Germany, they revealed their true nature in the occupied territories. The love of our martyrs for Christ and for the people they helped made them martyrs for religious freedom," he continued.

"Perhaps this point will be an important testimony for us regarding the future of the Church in Europe. Faith is never a private matter; it must find expression in concrete service to our sisters and brothers," the Jesuit cardinal emphasized.

"Following in the footsteps of our martyrs, let us strive to be faithful disciples of Christ, the Prince of Peace, and let us ask those whom we celebrate today to obtain for us the grace to live our faith," he said.

Prayer for the canonization of the new blesseds

At the conclusion of the Mass, those present were given a prayer card with a prayer approved by the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, to ask the Lord for the intercession of the new blesseds and for their canonization:

Lord our God,

You granted to the blessed martyrs of the Catholic apostolate

To be inspired by the ardent desire to accompany and serve their brothers

who were conscripted for Compulsory Labor Service in Germany.

Rather than saving their lives, they answered your call

and chose to imitate Christ, who became a servant,

even to the point of following him in the sacrifice of the Cross.

Deign, O Lord, to glorify our blessed martyrs

and grant me, through their intercession,

the grace [state the grace requested] that I implore with confidence,

through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Note: People who receive graces through the intercession of the blessed martyrs are invited to write to the postulator of their cause, Father Bernard Ardura, at Viale Giotto, 27, 00153 Rome – Italy.

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

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Vatican City, Dec 16, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).

The first episode of a new travel show, hosted by Catholic actor and director David Henrie, premiered at the Vatican's movie theater on Monday evening.

"Seeking Beauty," which will debut on EWTN's free streaming platform EWTN+ on Jan. 19, 2026, is a series documenting Henrie's exploration of the beauty of art and culture in six Italian cities.

Henrie and executive producer Edmundo Reyes, with other crew members, were present for the airing of Episode 1 inside Vatican City on Dec. 15. The premiere was followed by a Q-and-A with Henrie, Reyes, and Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, moderated by Andreas Thonhauser, chief global officer of EWTN.

"It's a blessing to be able to play the show at the Vatican, which is where we [filmed] our first episode," Henrie told EWTN News. "You can't help but feel grateful, and feel like [it's] a full-circle moment."

In the first episode, Henrie speaks to a range of experts — including art historian Elizabeth Lev and artist Kelly Medford — to learn more about the Vatican Gardens, the Swiss Guard, St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's Square.

Reyes called it "such a special moment" to show the first episode of "Seeking Beauty" at the Vatican.

"We can't wait for people to see it," he told EWTN News at the event. "I think it's going to be a great, great evangelization tool."

Reyes, who had the original idea for the show, recalled visiting Spain with his family four years ago and how it was there he realized how many stories about art and faith have not been shared with a wider audience.

"God put in my heart this desire … Let's create a travel show that will be more than a travel show, that would help people encounter God through beauty," he said.

"What David has done is very special, because it's not about going to places but retraining us or inviting us to contemplate and to look at beauty differently," Reyes said during the Q-and-A. It's about "God speaking to us through beauty, and not so much about, 'Hey, here's a cool place to visit and to put on your bucket list.'"

The series is produced by EWTN Studios in partnership with Digital Continent and in association with Novo Inspire and Sacred Arthouse.

"Each episode is very unique … There's so much there that can touch people in different ways," Gagnon said.

In Season 1, Henrie will also visit Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Subiaco, a place connected to St. Benedict. Season 2 of "Seeking Beauty" recently wrapped filming in Spain.

"I'm not an expert. You're just seeing it through my eyes," Henrie told EWTN News. 

"The thing that will make this accessible is that you're not sitting down for a history lesson; it's a travel show," he said. "When my wife and I watch travel shows, we have a glass of wine, we hang out, we relax, we watch something. It's easy consumption, but there's some medicine under all the sugar."

Paola Flynn, Vatican correspondent for EWTN Noticias, contributed to this report.

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EWTN News, Dec 16, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).

A drastic cut in EU funding has plunged the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) into financial crisis, according to the association, sparking accusations of "ideological discrimination" against the Brussels-based group.

FAFCE announced that the European Commission excluded all six of its recent project applications from funding, reportedly penalizing the Catholic group's proposals for lacking sufficient "gender diversity" and "safeguards against discrimination," according to documents reviewed by CNA.

Responding on social media, Hungarian Member of the European Parliament Kinga Gál, vice president of the Patriots for Europe group, condemned the European Commission's decision as "the highest form of discrimination."

She argued that the move targets the Catholic association "simply for defending family as the fundamental unit of society. In Brussels, that is now treated as unacceptable."

"Strong families make strong communities. Strong communities make strong nations. We cannot allow Brussels to erase this core value in the name of gender ideology," the European Member of Parliament wrote.

'European values'

Founded in 1997 and based in Brussels, FAFCE is considered to be the only family nongovernmental organization (NGO) at the EU level that explicitly includes "Catholic" in its official name.

FAFCE represents 33 member organizations from 21 countries and bases its work on Catholic social teaching.

The cut in funding falls under two major EU programs: Erasmus+ and CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values), which support civil society, education, and organizations that promote EU values.

The commission's evaluation feedback cited "limited information on gender inequalities" in FAFCE's proposals, claiming this deficit "may limit the depth of gender analysis."

The evaluation also stated that "the approach may contravene EU equality provisions" and noted "limited safeguards against discrimination or victimization," though the commission did not provide specific evidence for these assertions.

The rejected projects focused on child protection and youth welfare, including initiatives to prevent children's access to pornography and combat loneliness among young people.

Two members of the European Parliament have tabled written questions to the European Commission regarding the funding decisions: Paolo Borchia and Gál, seeking assurance of equal treatment for all NGOs applying for EU grants.

CNA reached out to the European Commission for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Financial impact

The funding freeze has created severe financial strain for FAFCE. In a fundraising newsletter, FAFCE President Vincenzo Bassi stated that the organization needs 150,000 euros (approximately $157,000) to continue its current projects. Without this funding, FAFCE will be forced to dismiss employees and reduce its presence at the European Union level in 2026.

"I consider this as ideological discrimination," Bassi wrote. "How can a federation of associations whose primary mission is the promotion of the family be excluded from EU-funded projects such as CERV or Erasmus+?"

Bassi emphasized that FAFCE has "consistently promoted dialogue and upheld the dignity of each person" and argued that "the richness of European civil society is its pluralism, a principle enshrined in art. 2 of the Treaty on the European Union."

"No organization should ever be penalized for defending a legitimate position in the public square," he stated.

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CNA Staff, Dec 16, 2025 / 12:15 pm (CNA).

The Michigan government this week released its fifth report on diocesan abuse in the state, detailing dozens of allegations against more than 50 priests in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. 

The report from the attorney general's office, released on Dec. 15, comes after four other reports detailing abuse allegations in the dioceses of Lansing, Kalamazoo, Gaylord, and Marquette.  

As with the other reports, the allegations detailed in the Grand Rapids investigation go back decades. The Dec. 15 report encompasses abuse allegations against "priests or deacons who are current or former clergy for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, that occurred in the diocese from Jan. 1, 1950, to the present," the review says. 

The alleged abuse reports were pulled from a variety of sources, including a government tip line, police investigations, and abuse reports disclosed by the diocese itself. 

The majority of the priests identified in the report — 37 out of 51 — are "known or presumed to be dead," the report says, while none of the remaining 14 are in active ministry in the Grand Rapids Diocese. 

Nearly all of the potential criminal violations in the report occurred "before 2002," it says. 

Most of the alleged abuse was reported to have occurred against "either boys or girls under the age of 16," though the state said some alleged abuse occurred against adults. 

In a video message after the release of the report, Grand Rapids Bishop David Walkowiak offered his "deepest and most sincere apologies" to the victims of clergy abuse there. 

The prelate commended "the courage that victim-survivors have to tell their stories," calling it a "testament to their strength and resilience." 

"Priests are ordained to serve in the person of Christ himself, which makes the sexual abuse of minors incomprehensible and particularly harmful," he acknowledged.

The bishop said the report partly inflates the number of victims by detailing "consensual relationships between priests and adults," which he pointed out are "immoral [but] not in violation of Michigan law."

Walkowiak said the diocese has "cooperated fully" with the attorney general's office during the investigation. He noted that the diocese has implemented "numerous safeguards" to protect children — including zero-tolerance protocols — and has "diligently upheld these practices for more than 20 years." 

State Attorney General Dana Nessel, meanwhile, said in a press statement on Dec. 15 that abuse survivors "deserve to be heard."

"[B]y releasing these reports, we hope to honor the courage of victims and ensure their experiences are no longer hidden," she said. 

Reports on the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Saginaw are still forthcoming from the state and are expected to be released at a later date. 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 15, 2025 / 16:36 pm (CNA).

The Virgin Mary's role as comforter to all was specially highlighted during a pilgrimage through the streets of Washington, D.C., Saturday morning. 

"Our Lady of Guadalupe is the mother of all. She envelops each one of us with the same tenderness and the same love, no matter our country of origin or language," Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjívar said during his homily at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 

The words from the bishop, who was born in El Salvador, came after the Archdiocese of Washington's annual "Walk with Mary" procession that began at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, a Hispanic Catholic parish. Participants also prayed a rosary upon arriving at the basilica, which holds 2,500 people and was filled to capacity, according to the archdiocese. 

The archdiocese billed this year's celebration of the pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day as "highlight[ing] a call to accompany and pray for migrants and refugees, reflecting the Church's mission of compassion, solidarity, hope, and peace." 

"For more than a decade, thousands of pilgrims from diverse cultures and backgrounds have walked side by side, lifting their voices in prayer and songs of praise," the archdiocese said. "Along the way, participants celebrate the archdiocese's rich cultural diversity and unity in Jesus Christ, while reflecting on the appearance of the young mestiza Virgin of Guadalupe to the peasant St. Juan Diego on a hilltop near Mexico City in 1531."

The Mass, which included a reenactment of the story of Mary's apparition to St. Juan Diego, was celebrated by Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; and Auxiliary Bishops Menjívar, Juan Esposito, and Roy Campbell.

Menjívar interspersed his homily, which was mostly in Spanish, with reflections in English on the Virgin Mary and the Church's role in accompanying poor and marginalized communities, particularly migrants.

"Let me say this in English because I believe it is very important for us to understand Mary reflects what the Church is called to be," Menjívar said. "In the apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te ["I Have Loved You"] Pope Leo affirms the Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children. Where walls are built, she builds bridges."

The Virgin Mary, he said, regards "every rejected migrant" as "Christ himself, who knocks at the door of the community." 

Reflecting on the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Menjívar noted that Mary "did not manifest herself to a powerful or well-educated person." 

"She appeared to Juan Diego, a simple, poor, Indigenous man, marginalized by the systems of his time," the bishop said. "With this, God proclaims another truth. He takes the side of the little ones, the despised, the ones who do not count." 

"So the good news," he concluded, "is this: For God, we do count, and a lot, because we are his sons and daughters."

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Vatican City, Dec 15, 2025 / 17:06 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Monday thanked Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz Soto for donating a pro-life Nativity scene to the Vatican, named "Gaudium" ("Joy"), which features a pregnant Virgin Mary.

"I thank the Costa Rican artist who, along with the message of peace of Christmas, also wanted to make an appeal for protecting life from conception," the pope said during the audience he granted Dec. 15 to the delegations that prepared this year's Christmas tree and Nativity scenes that will adorn the Vatican during the Christmas season.

The artwork from the Central American country has been on display since Dec. 15 in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, the large hall where the pope is now holding his Wednesday general audiences so pilgrims don't have to endure the cold temperatures of the Roman winter in St. Peter's Square.

In his address, the Holy Father alluded to its composition, mentioning the 28,000 colorful ribbons that symbolize lives saved thanks to the support provided by Catholic organizations to pregnant women in vulnerable situations.

"The scene depicts a life saved from abortion thanks to prayer and the support provided by Catholic organizations to many mothers in difficult circumstances," Pope Leo XIV noted.

The decorations in St. Peter's Square — which were unveiled Monday afternoon — have an Italian touch. The chosen tree comes from Val d'Ultimo, one of the most picturesque and lesser-known valleys of South Tyrol in Italy. 

Meanwhile, the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square comes from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, one of the oldest in Italy: Its origins date back to the third century, when Nuceria Alfaterna — the ancient Roman city in the Sarno Valley — already had an organized Christian community.

"I thank you for this artistic work that incorporates characteristic elements of your territory," the pope said, noting that this traditional Nativity scene includes a reproduction of the sixth-century baptistery of St. Mary Major Basilica, one of the best-preserved in the country.

The pope emphasized that this work will be a reminder for pilgrims from all over the world that "God draws near to humanity, entering into our history in the vulnerability of a child."

"In the poverty of the cave in Bethlehem, we contemplate a mystery of humility and love," the pope reflected. He also highlighted the figure of the Virgin Mary "as a model of adoring silence," who treasures in her heart all that she has experienced, while the shepherds glorify God and share what they have seen and heard. In this regard, he emphasized the "need to seek moments of silence and prayer in our lives."

Regarding the Christmas tree, the pontiff said the large fir tree "is a sign of life and a reminder of the hope that does not fade even in the cold of winter."

The lights that adorn it, he added, symbolize "Christ, the light of the world," who comes to "dispel the darkness and guide our path." In addition to the large fir tree, the forests of South Tyrol have also donated other smaller trees to the Vatican, intended for offices, public spaces, and various areas of Vatican City.

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, Dec 15, 2025 / 17:36 pm (CNA).

United Airlines reached a settlement with a flight attendant who alleged that the airline fired him for endorsing Catholic teachings on marriage and gender identity.

The former employee, Ruben Sanchez, of Anchorage, Alaska, alleged that United Airlines investigated his social media history after someone reported a private in-flight conversation he had with another Catholic flight attendant.

"Sanchez and his colleague discussed their working conditions and everyday life. As they were both Catholic, their discussion turned to Catholic theology and then, with United's 'Pride Month' activities set to start on June 1, Catholic teachings on marriage and sexuality," Sanchez's complaint states.

The Catholic Church makes a distinction between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity. Same-sex attraction itself is not considered morally wrong, and homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2358), with unjust discrimination avoided. The Church teaches that God's design for sexuality is entwined with marriage and family life and is characterized by the exclusive, indissoluble covenant of marriage.

The complaint said a passenger report led United Airlines to look into posts on Sanchez's X account, some of which were more than a decade old. He said the airline took issue with 35 of the more than 140,000 posts on the social media platform before firing him.

Sanchez filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against United Airlines and the union he belonged to — the Association of Flight Attendants — for refusing to represent him.

He received legal assistance from X, which helped broker the settlement.

"We are pleased that X was able to help Ruben Sanchez amicably resolve his dispute with United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants," X's Global Government Affairs Team posted on X.

"X stands firm in its commitment to defend free speech on its platform," the post added.

Most of the details about the settlement have not been publicly released, except that both parties will pay their own costs and attorneys' fees and the complaint cannot be refiled.

CNA reached out to both X and United Airlines for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

United Airlines has been accused of discrimination against Christian employees in other cases.

The company is battling a separate lawsuit from two other former employees — Lacey Smith and Marli Brown — who accuse the airline of firing them for criticizing the company's support for the Equality Act, based on religious concerns.

The Equality Act, which has not been passed into law, would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under federal civil rights laws. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is against the proposed law, which they warn would jeopardize religious liberty and force Catholic hospitals to "perform and promote life-altering gender 'transitions.'"

Smith and Brown are represented by First Liberty Institute. A federal district court sided with the airline, and the case is being considered in an appellate court, which heard oral arguments in August.

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