This "Life Wins" sign sums up the confidence marchers have in the ultimate triumph of their cause. / Credit: Jeffrey BrunoWashington D.C., Jan 25, 2025 / 17:12 pm (CNA).On Friday, Jan. 24, the 52nd annual March for Life took place in Washington D.C., with tens of thousands of pro-lifers gathering to march in defense of the unborn.The theme of the pro-life movement's largest annual event was "Life: Why We March," which organizers said was meant to highlight the pro-life movement's core message to protect unborn children and support their mothers. Various speakers were featured at the March's rally stage, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune,, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former professional surfer Bethany Hamilton.Here are some of the best photos from the march.Pardoned by President Trump and released from jail just hours before, Joan Andrews Bell (center) arrived at the March for Life...
This "Life Wins" sign sums up the confidence marchers have in the ultimate triumph of their cause. / Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Washington D.C., Jan 25, 2025 / 17:12 pm (CNA).
On Friday, Jan. 24, the 52nd annual March for Life took place in Washington D.C., with tens of thousands of pro-lifers gathering to march in defense of the unborn.
The theme of the pro-life movement's largest annual event was "Life: Why We March," which organizers said was meant to highlight the pro-life movement's core message to protect unborn children and support their mothers.
Various speakers were featured at the March's rally stage, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune,, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former professional surfer Bethany Hamilton.
Here are some of the best photos from the march.
Pardoned by President Trump and released from jail just hours before, Joan Andrews Bell (center) arrived at the March for Life rally with her husband Chris and son Emiliano Bell. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno"God will not be mocked" and "Defund Planned Parenthood" signs were held by these pro-life marchers. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno"Life Is Our Revolution" reads a sign held by this youthful participant in the 2025 March for Life. Credit: Jeffrey BrunoPro-life activist Anna Lulis holds the sign "Check your born privilege.". Credit: Jeffrey BrunoThe lead banner for the 2025 March for Life was held by students from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno"A fetus was the first to rejoice at the news of Jesus" sign seen at the 2025 March for Life. Credit: Jeffrey BrunoTens of thousands of pro-life advocates marched through the streets of Washington, D.C. during the 52nd annual March for Life. Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Pope Francis presides over vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, accompanied by masters of ceremonies, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNACNA Newsroom, Jan 25, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).Pope Francis posed Jesus' profound question "Do you believe this?" to Christians worldwide during an ecumenical vespers service Saturday evening, as momentum builds for Catholics and Orthodox to consider celebrating Easter on the same date in this historic anniversary year.Speaking at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at the conclusion of the 58th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the pontiff reflected on Christ's encounter with Martha following the death of Lazarus, emphasizing that hope "rises from the ashes of death.""This tender encounter between Jesus and Martha teaches us that even in times of deep desolation, we are not alone and we can continue to hope," the pope said during his homily, which...
Pope Francis presides over vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, accompanied by masters of ceremonies, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Jan 25, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis posed Jesus' profound question "Do you believe this?" to Christians worldwide during an ecumenical vespers service Saturday evening, as momentum builds for Catholics and Orthodox to consider celebrating Easter on the same date in this historic anniversary year.
Speaking at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at the conclusion of the 58th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the pontiff reflected on Christ's encounter with Martha following the death of Lazarus, emphasizing that hope "rises from the ashes of death."
"This tender encounter between Jesus and Martha teaches us that even in times of deep desolation, we are not alone and we can continue to hope," the pope said during his homily, which centered on the week's theme "Do you believe this?" from John 11:26.
A statue of St. Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome looks over the celebration concluding the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
The celebration on Jan. 25 marked the solemn conclusion of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which the pope linked to the ongoing Jubilee Year.
"This message of hope is at the heart of the Jubilee we have begun," Francis said, citing the Apostle Paul's words to the Romans that "hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Rom 5:5).
Earlier on Saturday, the pope urged journalists at the Jubilee of the World of Communications to tell "stories of hope", echoing the strong appeal to hope in the papal message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications.
At the vesper service, the pope noted that this whole Jubilee Year's focus is on hope and "providentially" coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
He emphasized that the council's profession of faith "transcends all the divisions that have riven the Body of Christ over the centuries."
Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, addresses Pope Francis during vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, addressed the Holy Father before the apostolic blessing. He recalled the pope's historic 2014 visit to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), where Francis had affirmed that "the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any requirements except the profession of common faith" for achieving full unity.
This hope for unity has gained momentum in recent months. Last November, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople confirmed ongoing conversations between Church representatives about establishing a common Easter date, potentially beginning in 2025.
Catholics and representatives of various Christian churches attend the ecumenical vespers service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
"In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we can live the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea as a call to persevere on the path toward unity," the pope said on Saturday, renewing his appeal that Christians might take "a decisive step forward towards unity around a common date for Easter."
Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, addresses Pope Francis during vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Highlighting the "providential" timing, Francis noted that Easter will fall on the same date in both the Gregorian and Julian calendars this year. "Let us rediscover the common roots of the faith," the pontiff urged. "Let us preserve unity!"
Representatives from various Christian Churches and ecclesial communities present in Rome participated in the evening celebration, including Metropolitan Polycarp representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Archbishop Ian Ernest of the Anglican Communion, who is concluding his service.
Servant of God Akash Bashir. / Credit: Courtesy of Aid to the Church in NeedLima Newsroom, Jan 25, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).During this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a group of believers from different Christian denominations made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Akash Bashir, the young Pakistani Salesian who sacrificed his life in 2015 to prevent a terrorist attack at his church.In Pakistan, a traditionally Islamic nation, everyone considers Servant of God Akash Bashir a martyr, according to the Vatican news agency Fides. His figure has become one "that unites Christians of all confessions." Muslims also venerate him."His sacrifice, giving his life to protect the innocent people praying in St. John Church in Lahore, transcends the boundaries of the Church and stands as a bridge for interreligious dialogue with the Muslim community," Fides noted.As part of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity activities, an ecumenical prayer service took place at his burial place...
Servant of God Akash Bashir. / Credit: Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need
Lima Newsroom, Jan 25, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
During this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a group of believers from different Christian denominations made a pilgrimage to the tomb of Akash Bashir, the young Pakistani Salesian who sacrificed his life in 2015 to prevent a terrorist attack at his church.
In Pakistan, a traditionally Islamic nation, everyone considers Servant of God Akash Bashir a martyr, according to the Vatican news agency Fides. His figure has become one "that unites Christians of all confessions." Muslims also venerate him.
"His sacrifice, giving his life to protect the innocent people praying in St. John Church in Lahore, transcends the boundaries of the Church and stands as a bridge for interreligious dialogue with the Muslim community," Fides noted.
As part of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity activities, an ecumenical prayer service took place at his burial place in which the participants "entrusted the lives of Christians in Pakistan to the intercession of this young man."
Among them were a Catholic priest, Father Lazar Aslam, and two Protestant pastors, I.B. Rocky and Samuel Ashan Khokhar. The latter recalled that fateful day of March 15, 2015, when Bashir saved many lives by bravely confronting a terrorist who intended to blow himself up inside the church.
"I was in charge of receiving the bodies, placing them in the morgue and making a list of those who had tragically lost their lives. I remember in particular writing the name of Akash Bashir on one of the body bags," Khokhar said.
"It was a moving moment when I saw the boy's face. Although lifeless, I was struck by his beauty, I was deeply touched by the smile and serenity that emanated from Akash's face. He radiated a luminous and sacred presence that recalled the first Christian martyrs," the pastor related.
Aslam highlighted the "powerful symbol of unity and interreligious communion" that the legacy of the young Pakistani represents. "His figure attracts people of different faiths and even non-Christians who come to visit and pray at his tomb," he said.
"It was a deeply spiritual experience, which created a deep sense of unity, recognizing each other as children of God and sharing humanity. With his sacrifice, Akash Bashir continues to inspire the Pakistani faithful to be in solidarity, to protect their faith, and to embody in daily life the values of love, peace, and dialogue with every person," the priest said.
Who was Akash Bashir?
Bashir was born in Pakistan on June 22, 1994, to a poor family. He studied at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Lahore, leading a simple family life and giving an important place to sports and prayer.
On March 15, 2015, the 20-year-old discovered that a person who wanted to enter the church was carrying explosives under his clothes. He tried to stop him from going inside but could not convince the terrorist to back off.
Bashir then locked his arms tightly around the terrorist and said: "I will die, but I will not let you enter the church." The attacker set off the explosives, killing himself, Bashir, and two others. With his heroic act he prevented hundreds of people from perishing during the Mass.
Today, more than 800 Catholic baptisms are celebrated annually at St. John's Church in Lahore, and many young people have joined the active life of the parishes. Moreover, for religious minorities, Bashir is "a blessing."
In 2024, the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification and canonization of Bashir concluded, and he could become Pakistan's first martyr.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Westminster Lord Mayor Robert Rigby speaks to guests at the Companions Café in London on Jan. 16, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City CouncilLondon, England, Jan 25, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A leading Catholic religious order and charity is feeding hundreds of homeless people in London. The Companions of the Order of Malta open their Companions Café twice a week as they seek to put into practice their mission: "to practice our faith and to practice charity."One of the ways they strive to do this is by working with the homeless and poor. The Companions Café is located in a prestigious part of central London at St. James' Catholic Church, Spanish Place.The Order of Malta is an established lay religious order that has been operating in the Catholic Church since 1113, caring for people in need throughout the world. A volunteer helps at the Companions Café in London. Jan. 16, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City CouncilThe café, which serves about 150 pe...
Westminster Lord Mayor Robert Rigby speaks to guests at the Companions Café in London on Jan. 16, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City Council
London, England, Jan 25, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A leading Catholic religious order and charity is feeding hundreds of homeless people in London. The Companions of the Order of Malta open their Companions Café twice a week as they seek to put into practice their mission: "to practice our faith and to practice charity."
One of the ways they strive to do this is by working with the homeless and poor. The Companions Café is located in a prestigious part of central London at St. James' Catholic Church, Spanish Place.
The Order of Malta is an established lay religious order that has been operating in the Catholic Church since 1113, caring for people in need throughout the world.
A volunteer helps at the Companions Café in London. Jan. 16, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City Council
The café, which serves about 150 people a week, is currently more popular than ever, especially since the COVID lockdowns created an "epidemic of loneliness."
Kate MacKenzie, London coordinator for the Companions of the Order of Malta, told CNA: "Of course the food is important, but the Companions Café is about so much more — it is about sociability and people being together, especially after lockdown when they literally lost their voice from no social interaction."
MacKenzie explained that the philosophy of the café, which has opened twice a week at St. James' for the past decade, is a distinct one, based on the principles of Catholic social teaching: homeless people are treated as guests and, as important as the food is, free clothes, toiletries, and the companionship of others is of paramount importance. It is an opportunity to regain dignity, sit with friends, and listen to music while eating or read a book.
MacKenzie, a former nurse manager, gave the pre-service pep talk to over 30 volunteers who work throughout the evening — from kitchen staff to those on the door to volunteers who collect and stock donations of warm clothes.
MacKenzie has known some of the guests for many years; others appeared after COVID and two years of isolation, during which she said some quite literally lost some of their ability to communicate. Others became newly homeless: a person may have been working in a pub and living in upstairs accommodation only to become homeless when the pub shut.
Prayer of the Companions of Malta at the Companions Café, in London. Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City Council
MacKenzie described the shelter's role as "providing dignity and companionship over dinner," adding: "The majority of people who come here are homeless; many are in difficult circumstances like small or cramped rooms with leaks and no cooking or washing facilities. We point people to other services."
During the evening, MacKenzie sat at a baby grand piano and played a selection of songs, such as Debussy, Abba, and the Sinatra anthem "My Way." All this took placeas the grateful diners tucked into Polish potato and beef stew, with vegan sausage as a vegetarian option. Peaches and cream followed, along with refills of tea and coffee in the distinctive mugs branded with the Maltese cross.
The Companions Café is supported by the Catholic lord mayor of Westminster, Councillor Robert Rigby, who described the café as "an amazing project."
Rigby, who visited the cafe to help serve meals and talk to guests on Jan. 16, said through his press secretary: "There are amazing groups of volunteers helping our communities, and the Companions Café is a great example of that — giving dinner, dignity, and the chance to be treated as guests to a group of people who live in incredibly hard circumstances."
Westminster Lord Mayor Robert Rigby and Companions Café London coordinator Kate Mackenzie at the Companions Café on Jan 16, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of Westminster City Council
Responding to Rigby's visit, the Companions said: "We were delighted to welcome the lord mayor of Westminster to visit and help at the Companions Café. The homeless guests were delighted to meet with him and spend time chatting about their worries and concerns."
Ryan Bethea (left) and Father Carlos Martins (right), co-hosts of "The Exorcist Files" podcast. / Credit: The Exorcist FilesCNA Newsroom, Jan 24, 2025 / 19:40 pm (CNA).Authorities investigating a sharply disputed incident at a talk given at an Illinois Catholic church by Father Carlos Martins have filed a misdemeanor battery charge against the well-known exorcist, relic expert, and podcaster, who denies the allegation.A criminal complaint filed Thursday by the Will County state attorney general accuses Martins of "knowingly without legal justification by any means made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with I.K., a minor, in that said defendant placed the hair of I.K. in his mouth."Martins' lawyer, Marcella Burke, called the charge "egregious and unfounded." The charge carries a penalty of a $100 fine."The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not 'floss' with a student's hair or 'growl' among other completely false and repulsive accusatio...
Ryan Bethea (left) and Father Carlos Martins (right), co-hosts of "The Exorcist Files" podcast. / Credit: The Exorcist Files
CNA Newsroom, Jan 24, 2025 / 19:40 pm (CNA).
Authorities investigating a sharply disputed incident at a talk given at an Illinois Catholic church by Father Carlos Martins have filed a misdemeanor battery charge against the well-known exorcist, relic expert, and podcaster, who denies the allegation.
A criminal complaint filed Thursday by the Will County state attorney general accuses Martins of "knowingly without legal justification by any means made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with I.K., a minor, in that said defendant placed the hair of I.K. in his mouth."
Martins' lawyer, Marcella Burke, called the charge "egregious and unfounded." The charge carries a penalty of a $100 fine.
"The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not 'floss' with a student's hair or 'growl' among other completely false and repulsive accusations," Burke said in a statement to Stella Maris Media, referring to media reports about the incident.
The allegations amount to "a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church," Burke said. "We are confident in the legal process and look forward to our client being fully exonerated. We will continue to vigorously defend his rights and reputation."
The charge stems from an incident that allegedly took place on Nov. 21, 2024, while Martins, a priest of the Companions of the Cross order known for hosting the?"Exorcist Files" podcast, was meeting with students and school staff at St. Paul Catholic Church in Joliet.
Martins was visiting the area as part of his national?touring exhibit of a relic of the arm of St. Jude the Apostle.
In a statement given shortly after the incident to CNA, Burke said Martins simply touched a girl's hair in front of more than 200 other students while making a joke about his own baldness.
Burke said the interaction took place "in a classroom setting with teachers, clergy, parish staff, and volunteers present."
"As he always does, Father Martins began his interaction with the attendees in 'chit-chat' dialogue. He is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter," Burke said in the statement.
"During his conversation with the older students, he made a comment to a student about her long hair, remarking, 'You and I have almost the same hairstyle,' a comment met with giggles. He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would 'floss my teeth with it.' Again, his comment was meant for a teenage audience and was met with laughter.
"He then asked the student, 'Have you ever flossed with your hair?'" the statement continued. "Laughing, she shook her head, no. He then said, 'Well, you have the perfect length for it,' as he lifted up a lock from her shoulders to show her its length. She giggled along with the others."
When the girl returned home and recounted the story, however, her father "became upset by what he heard and called the police," Burke said in her November statement.
Soon after the incident, the event at the parish was canceled. Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks also canceled stops of the relic tour at two other parishes in the area, and Martins' order issued a statement saying that it had temporarily suspended the priest pending an investigation.
On Friday, the Companions of the Cross posted an update on its website, saying Martins "remains entitled to due process, as is any accused."
"The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention," the statement reads. "We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation."
null / Credit: Migi Fabara/EWTN NewsWashington D.C., Jan 24, 2025 / 19:20 pm (CNA).Tens of thousands of pro-life people of various ages and backgrounds held handmade signs as they walked from the National Mall to the Supreme Court building on Friday, packing the streets of Washington, D.C., for the 52nd annual March for Life.Pro-life advocates gather for the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Migi Farara/EWTNAfter several years of disappointment at the ballot box since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, many participants and speakers expressed optimism after the historic rejection of pro-abortion ballot measures in three states last November as well as the possibilities of additional pro-life actions over the next four years under the administration of newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump. Powerful testimonies for lifeThe speakers who took the stage before the march, including activists, politicians, and individuals s...
null / Credit: Migi Fabara/EWTN News
Washington D.C., Jan 24, 2025 / 19:20 pm (CNA).
Tens of thousands of pro-life people of various ages and backgrounds held handmade signs as they walked from the National Mall to the Supreme Court building on Friday, packing the streets of Washington, D.C., for the 52nd annual March for Life.
Pro-life advocates gather for the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Migi Farara/EWTN
After several years of disappointment at the ballot box since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, many participants and speakers expressed optimism after the historic rejection of pro-abortion ballot measures in three states last November as well as the possibilities of additional pro-life actions over the next four years under the administration of newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump.
Powerful testimonies for life
The speakers who took the stage before the march, including activists, politicians, and individuals sharing personal stories, emphasized the inherent value of human life from conception, often citing their faith as a foundation for their pro-life stance.
All advocated for protecting the unborn, supporting women and families facing unplanned pregnancies, and highlighted the importance of providing resources and support.
Most notable among the politicians who addressed the crowds were Trump, who appeared via a prerecorded video message, and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump vowed to end the "weaponization" of law enforcement against pro-life Americans and highlighted his recent pardoning of 23 imprisoned pro-life activists. Vance, in his speech, called for a culture that celebrates life at all stages and proclaimed that the success of a nation is measured by the well-being of families.
Vice President JD Vance addresses pro-life advocates at the rally before the March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: EWTN screenshot
"Let me say very simply: I want more babies in the United States of America," Vance said to loud cheers.
"I want more happy children in our country. And I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them. And it is the task of our government to make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are here at the March for Life."
Other politicians such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis emphasized the importance of courage in defending the unborn, touting his state's victory against a pro-abortion ballot initiative.
Other speakers stressed the importance of individual action and the need to change hearts and minds on the issue of abortion. Lila Rose emphasized the importance of personal conversations to persuade others to understand the value of life and called for the defunding of Planned Parenthood in favor of pro-life pregnancy resource centers that help women and families. Professional surfer and pro-life Christian mother Bethany Hamilton highlighted the need to support women and help them see the true value of life.
Marching for the unborn
Once the march got underway, students from Wheaton College carried the March for Life banner and led the crowd of thousands of pro-lifers down the march route on Constitution Avenue toward the Supreme Court building.
American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property play hymns at March for Life, Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Tyler Arnold/CNA
Members of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) — a Catholic nonprofit group — played Catholic hymns, such as "Ave Maria" and "Hail Holy Queen," along with patriotic songs.
Members of Students for Liberty protest chemical abortions at March for Life, Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Tyler Arnold/CNA
Members of Students for Life of America (SFLA) displayed a large banner near the front of the pack warning that "Chemical Abortion Pills Kill" unborn children and another that urges lawmakers to "Defund Planned Parenthood."
"Chemical abortion has started to become the No. 1 [means of obtaining an] … abortion," Alicia Foreman, the SFLA regional coordinator for the Carolinas, told CNA.
Foreman warned that chemical abortion pills hurt women and are dangerous to the environment. She said they are "so easy to obtain" and "easy for sex traffickers to use" and for "rapists" to obtain to kill the unborn children of their victims.
SFLA has urged state governments and the federal government to ban chemical abortion pills and for Trump to halt the delivery of the pills through the mail by enforcing the Comstock Act. However, Trump has committed to keeping abortion pills available.
"We have more work to do," Foreman said. "We've got to keep pushing."
Kansas City, Kansas, Archbishop Joseph Naumann joins students at the March for Life on Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Migi Fabara/EWTN News
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who offered a prayer at the beginning of the rally, told CNA in the midst of the March that he believes this year "there is a renewed hope."
"This is probably my 35th, 36th march," he said, adding that he continues to attend each year "because it's the most important human rights issue of our time."
"A society that permits the killing of its children, that society has no future," he continued. "We have to change our policies on this, and we have to win these state referendums."
The archbishop emphasized that even though Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the pro-life movement still has work to do.
"I think there's a renewed hope with the change of administration, with the freeing of the pro-life prisoners that were in jail," Naumann observed as a crowd of students passed by.
"We have our work cut out for us, we've seen that," the prelate said. "I'm from Kansas, and we were the first state to have a ballot initiative after the Dobbs decision. Unfortunately, we lost it, but at some point we're going to come back and we're going to win that."
A Catholic University of America student marching with his fellow Cardinals told CNA he was marching for babies who face a grim statistical likelihood of being aborted.
"I march for many reasons," CUA freshman Jackson Russell told CNA. "But the biggest one is that I'm autistic, and abortion attacks autistic people the most." Russell, who is studying political science, attended the march with a large group of students from the university.
Pointing to research that has found that mothers who discover that their unborn child has autism are "more likely to get an abortion," Russell told CNA: "My people are being attacked, that's why I'm out here."
"I march for many reasons," CUA freshman Jackson Russell told CNA. "But the biggest one is that I'm autistic, and abortion attacks autistic people the most." Credit: Migi Farara/EWTN News
Benedictine College students who traveled from Atchison, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life were jubilant, shouting pro-life slogans and carrying a large red-and-black banner through the streets.
Elizabeth Peterson, a junior year honors student at Benedictine, told CNA: "I'm marching because I think that babies have as much right to life as anyone else does, and that includes unborn children."
"Unless there is equal justice for everyone," she said, "there is really equal justice for none."
Peterson, who has attended the March for Life five times, said she was "so proud" to have traveled to the march this year with Benedictine, which she described as "a very pro-life school, [and] very Catholic."
"Everyone just feels really happy this year," she said. "I don't know what it is, but everyone just feels really excited."
Peterson also said it was "cool to see the vice president speak," adding: "I think just the mindset has shifted a little bit."
Elizabeth Peterson, a junior year honors student at Benedictine, told CNA: "I'm marching because I think that babies have as much right to life as anyone else does, and that includes unborn children." Credit: Migi Fabara/EWTN
Members of the secular pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) held signs in front of the United States Supreme Court — the finishing point of the March for Life — urging Congress to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
The FACE Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, increased penalties for people who are convicted of obstructing access to abortion clinics or pro-life pregnancy centers — but has almost exclusively been used to convict peaceful pro-life demonstrators over the past four years.
Last night, Trump pardoned 23 pro-life activists who were convicted by President Joe Biden's Department of Justice, including PAAU Director of Activism Lauren Handy, a Catholic who had been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for her role in a protest.
Members of the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising urge repeal of the FACE Act, Jan. 24, 2025. Credit: Credit: Tyler Arnold/CNA.
"I am just so thankful that my friends are out [of prison] and that Trump pardoned them," Avie Sark, a content creator for PAAU, told CNA. "Our friends were put in prison because of the FACE Act."
Sark said the FACE Act is "used to criminalize and prosecute peaceful pro-life protesters," but that "after the death of Roe, hundreds of pregnancy centers [were attacked and] … little to nothing was done about it."
PAAU member Elise Ketch told CNA the FACE Act seeks to prevent protests in which pro-life activists are "putting our bodies between the oppressor — which is the abortionist — and the oppressed — which is the baby."
"I want to bring back rescue, which is the protests where we [hold a] sit-in at clinics," Ketch said.
Tyler Arnold, Madalaine Elhabbal, and Francesca Pollio Fenton contributed to this story.
Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane during an in-flight press conference on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAVatican City, Jan 24, 2025 / 09:15 am (CNA).In his message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications on Friday, Pope Francis encouraged journalists to build communion in the world through sharing stories of goodness and hope."I dream of a communication that does not peddle illusions or fears but is able to give reasons for hope," the pope said. "I encourage you to discover and make known the many stories of goodness hidden in the folds of the news, imitating those gold-prospectors who tirelessly sift the sand in search of a tiny nugget. It is good to seek out such seeds of hope and make them known."The Church celebrates the World Day of Social Communications every year on Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists and writers.In 2025, ...
Pope Francis speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane during an in-flight press conference on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, on his return from his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Jan 24, 2025 / 09:15 am (CNA).
In his message for the 59th World Day of Social Communications on Friday, Pope Francis encouraged journalists to build communion in the world through sharing stories of goodness and hope.
"I dream of a communication that does not peddle illusions or fears but is able to give reasons for hope," the pope said. "I encourage you to discover and make known the many stories of goodness hidden in the folds of the news, imitating those gold-prospectors who tirelessly sift the sand in search of a tiny nugget. It is good to seek out such seeds of hope and make them known."
The Church celebrates the World Day of Social Communications every year on Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists and writers.
In 2025, the World Day of Social Communications is also taking place during three days of events in Rome for a Jubilee of the World of Communications, part of the yearlong Church-wide Jubilee of Hope.
In his message, Pope Francis urged those who work in media and communications to "tell stories steeped in hope," especially during these "troubled times," and pointed to the special graces available during the 2025 Jubilee of Hope as a support to this work.
The pontiff said a good communicator "ensures that those who listen, read, or watch can be involved, can draw close, can get in touch with the best part of themselves and enter with these attitudes into the stories told."
By sharing stories of goodness and hope, media professionals help the world to be a little less closed off and a little less indifferent to others, he noted.
"May you always find those glimmers of goodness that inspire us to hope. This kind of communication can help to build communion, to make us feel less alone, to rediscover the importance of walking together," he said.
Francis also had advice for journalists' prayer lives.
"In the face of the astonishing achievements of technology, I encourage you to care for your heart, your interior life," he said.
Some practical ways to do that, he advised, are to "be meek and never forget the faces of other people; speak to the hearts of the women and men whom you serve in carrying out your work."
"To do this, though, we must be healed of our 'diseases' of self-promotion and self-absorption, and avoid the risk of shouting over others in order to make our voices heard," he warned.
Department of Health and Human Services at the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building. / Credit: Mark Van Scyoc/ShutterstockCNA Staff, Jan 24, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).Here is a roundup of recent abortion- and pro-life-related news:U.S. government reproductive rights website shut down A federal government website promoting abortion has been taken down following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.Reproductiverights.gov, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, went offline around the time of the inauguration on Jan. 20. Based on archived pages, the site was available just days before Trump's inauguration. The website formerly detailed information about accessing abortion and birth control via insurance providers. Pro-life physicians support challenge to FDA abortion pill safeguards A coalition of pro-life physicians shared its support of a recent decision granting three states access to challenge the FDA's chemical abortion policie...
Department of Health and Human Services at the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building. / Credit: Mark Van Scyoc/Shutterstock
CNA Staff, Jan 24, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).
Here is a roundup of recent abortion- and pro-life-related news:
U.S. government reproductive rights website shut down
A federal government website promoting abortion has been taken down following the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Reproductiverights.gov, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, went offline around the time of the inauguration on Jan. 20. Based on archived pages, the site was available just days before Trump's inauguration.
The website formerly detailed information about accessing abortion and birth control via insurance providers.
Pro-life physicians support challenge to FDA abortion pill safeguards
A coalition of pro-life physicians shared its support of a recent decision granting three states access to challenge the FDA's chemical abortion policies.
A federal judge in Texas ruled on Jan. 17 that three other states — Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri — can join a case challenging online prescriptions of the abortion pill mifepristone.
Dr. Christina Francis, board-certified OB-GYN and CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), criticized the FDA's lack of safeguards in a statement shared with CNA.
"For years the FDA has failed to provide basic protections for women and girls to lessen the serious health risks of abortion drugs," Francis said. "The physicians of AAPLOG believe that women deserve better care than this. Reinstating the original safeguards, including requiring in-person medical care, is a step towards protecting women from these dangerous drugs."
Virginia Senate backs abortion
The Virginia Senate passed a constitutional amendment Tuesday to establish a right to abortion in the Virginia Constitution.
The Senate vote followed the House of Delegates, which passed its own version of the resolution. This is among the beginning steps of a long legislative process to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot in Virginia. The legislation must pass in both the House and Senate twice in two years, with an intervening election before the two sessions. Following this, the referendum can be put on the ballot for voters to decide.
Both the Virginia Senate and House have a slim Democratic majority, while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is a staunch Republican.
Republicans warned that the amendment could undermine current abortion-related laws in Virginia, including Virginia's parental consent laws for minors seeking abortions. Abortion is currently legal in Virginia for the first and second trimesters of pregnancy as well as in the third trimester if the mother's life or health is at serious risk, as verified by three physicians.
The Virginia Senate also passed a resolution to repeal a now-defunct law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Texas defendant pleads guilty after vandalizing pregnancy clinic
A Texan man who vandalized two pregnancy resource clinics in May 2022 recently pleaded guilty to a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Ethan Skorick, 23, vandalized two Texas pregnancy resource centers with spray paint shortly after the leak of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. The two clinics, the Loreto House and Woman to Woman, serve pregnant women in need in Denton, Texas. According to court documents, Skorick defaced the clinics with graffitied phrases including "NOT A CLINIC," "FORCED BIRTH IS MURDER," and "PRO BIRTH [does not equal] PRO LIFE."
Skorick pleaded guilty to a violation of the FACE Act, which has been used in the past to allegedly target pro-life activists for blocking clinic entrances. The FACE Act prohibits "violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services."
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a Jan. 16 statement that the DOJ "will enforce the FACE Act to protect all providers of reproductive health services and their patients."
Birth rate in South Korea rises for first time in 9 years
South Korea has the world's lowest recorded fertility rates, but the birth rate in that country has risen for the first time in nine years.
The number of newborns from January 2024 to November 2024 rose 3% from a year earlier, according to monthly government data. South Korea's government last year encouraged young people to get married and have children. The now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a "national demographic crisis" and put forth a plan to create a new ministry to address low birth rates.
Indian Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad of the Syro-Malabar Church, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis during the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAVatican City, Jan 24, 2025 / 07:10 am (CNA).Pope Francis has appointed his personal travel agent and new cardinal, George Jacob Koovakad, to lead the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, following the death last year of Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.Ayuso, a Spanish-born prelate and respected expert in Islam, died on Nov. 25, 2024, after a long illness. He was 72.The 51-year-old Koovakad, originally from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in December.Since late 2021, the Vatican diplomat has been the coordinator for papal travels, working in the section for general affairs of the Secretariat of State to arrange Francis' trips. He also has a doctorate in ca...
Indian Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad of the Syro-Malabar Church, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis during the consistory at St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Jan 24, 2025 / 07:10 am (CNA).
Pope Francis has appointed his personal travel agent and new cardinal, George Jacob Koovakad, to lead the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, following the death last year of Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot.
Ayuso, a Spanish-born prelate and respected expert in Islam, died on Nov. 25, 2024, after a long illness. He was 72.
The 51-year-old Koovakad, originally from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in December.
Since late 2021, the Vatican diplomat has been the coordinator for papal travels, working in the section for general affairs of the Secretariat of State to arrange Francis' trips. He also has a doctorate in canon law.
Koovakad, who was in the diplomatic service of the Holy See for 14 years, is part of the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the Catholic faith's Eastern-rite Churches. He was the first Syro-Malabar priest to be elevated to cardinal directly from the priesthood, according to a spokesperson for the Church.
The Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue was created during the Second Vatican Council, as the Church took a new, formal approach to dialogue with other religions, as expressed in the document Nostra Aetate.
Koovakad helped organize several of Pope Francis' religious dialogue-focused trips, including to Kazakhstan and Bahrain in 2022, to Mongolia in 2023, and to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore in September 2024.
Demonstrators participate in the March For Life Washington, D.C. on Jan. 19, 2024. / Credit: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty ImagesWashington D.C., Jan 23, 2025 / 19:55 pm (CNA).The 52nd annual March for Life will be taking place in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 24. Thousands of pro-lifers will be coming together in our nation's capitol to march in defense of the unborn.Follow along here for live updates on the march. All times are in U.S. Eastern Standard Time:
Demonstrators participate in the March For Life Washington, D.C. on Jan. 19, 2024. / Credit: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Washington D.C., Jan 23, 2025 / 19:55 pm (CNA).
The 52nd annual March for Life will be taking place in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 24. Thousands of pro-lifers will be coming together in our nation's capitol to march in defense of the unborn.
Follow along here for live updates on the march. All times are in U.S. Eastern Standard Time:
This "Life Wins" sign sums up the confidence marchers have in the ultimate triumph of their cause. / Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
