Catholic News

The Holy See has officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, according to an announcement from the diocese.

"The next step in the process is the celebration of the beatification, in which Fulton Sheen would be declared Blessed," Tylka said. "Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century. I have long admired his lifelong commitment to serve the Church as a priest, rooted in his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist."

"As he journeyed through the different stages of his life, his ability to share the Gospel and truly relate to people drew countless souls into an encounter with Jesus — one that transformed not only his life, but more importantly, the lives of those he touched."

"In his later years, particularly through his work for the Missions, Archbishop Sheen helped us recognize that the Church is meant for all people. He reminded us that as members of the Church, we are called to serve everyone, especially those most in need and those longing to hear and experience the Gospel, wherever they may be in the world," he said.

Tylka thanked the Holy See, his brother bishops, clergy, and laypeople for the collaboration and prayers that led to Sheen's beatification, which will be "a special blessing for the Church in the United States, where he was a powerful evangelist on radio, television, and in personal appearances."

The Diocese of Peoria is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to determine the details for the upcoming beatification.

Fulton Sheen

Peter John Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois, on May 8, 1895, and was called "Fulton" in honor of his mother's maiden name. Sheen was ordained a priest of the Peoria Diocese on Sept. 20, 1919. On June 11, 1951, he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and remained in the position until 1966. He was then named the bishop of Rochester, New York, until his retirement in 1969 at the age of 74.

Tylka has previously called Sheen a "trailblazer" due to his Emmy-winning television show "Life Is Worth Living." The show aired on television from 1952 until 1957, discussing morality and Catholicism.

Sheen "reached millions of people because of [the show]," Tylka said. "He was so far ahead of his time in that reality that we take for granted today."

Sheen died due to heart disease on Dec. 9, 1979, the feast of St. Juan Diego.

Road to beatification

Although Sheen is to be beatified, the process leading to the milestone has been marked by many challenges and delays.

The televangelist's cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.

On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved a reported miracle attributed to his intercession. Parents of a stillborn baby, James Fulton, prayed through the intercession of Sheen and their son miraculously recovered.

On June 17, 2014, the seven-member theological commission that advises the congregation unanimously agreed with the medical team's finding.

In September 2014, Sheen's cause was suspended due to an ownership dispute of his remains. The suspension was announced "with sadness" in a statement by then-bishop of Peoria Daniel R. Jenky, president of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation.

Explaining how the Holy See "expected that the remains of Venerable Sheen would be moved to Peoria where official inspection would be made and first-class relics be taken," the statement said that the Archdiocese of New York had denied Jenky's request to move the body to Peoria.

Finally in March 2019, a New York appeals court unanimously ruled that the earthly remains of Sheen could be moved to St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. The following June, his body was transferred to St. Mary's Cathedral after three years of litigation, helping to clear the way for the archbishop's sainthood cause to go forward.

Pope Francis approved of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Sheen on July 5, 2019. Sheen was set to be beatified on Dec. 21, 2019, but the beatification experienced a delay.

Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester reportedly requested the delay of Sheen's beatification due to concerns that he could be named in the final report of an ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.

The situation was later cleared up and it was reported the delay was not related to the 2007 allegation that Sheen witnessed and covered up an act of clerical sexual abuse. The Diocese of Peoria issued an announcement that said "it has been demonstrated definitively that [Sheen] was an exemplary model of Christian conduct and a model of leadership in the Church. At no time has his life of virtue ever been called into question."

The diocese said the beatification would be delayed so that more time can be given to examine Sheen's life. It further called the delay "unfortunate," because "there continue to be many miracles reported through Sheen's intercession."

Despite the delays, proponents of the beatification continued to work to advance the cause. In May 2025 Tylka reiterated his intention to advocate for the beatification process with Pope Leo XIV.

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Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow and prayerful closeness for victims of recent violent attacks in Nigeria on Sunday, calling on authorities to ensure the protection of every citizen.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 8, the pope said: "It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria leading to a heavy loss of life. I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism."

According to reports cited by the Vatican agency Fides, armed groups had carried out a series of attacks in recent days in several Nigerian states, including Kaduna and Niger. The assaults included killings, kidnappings, the burning of police stations, attacks on churches and diocesan structures, and the vandalism of a Catholic clinic, forcing many residents to flee. Among those kidnapped was Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Karku. The Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction and entrusted the captives "to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their safe return."

Earlier, in his reflection before the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV focused on the Gospel passage in which Jesus called his disciples "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," linking it to the theme of authentic Christian joy.

"Indeed, it is genuine joy that gives flavor to life and brings to light something that was not there before," the pope said. "This joy springs from a way of life, a way of inhabiting the earth and of living together that must be desired and chosen. It is the life that shines in Jesus, the new flavor of his words and deeds."

After encountering Christ, he explained, "those who would distance themselves from all this seem bland and dull," referring to Jesus' poverty of spirit, meekness and simplicity of heart, and hunger and thirst for justice that unlock mercy and peace as forces of transformation and reconciliation.

Acknowledging human frailty, Pope Leo XIV said: "Indeed, it is painful to lose flavor and give up joy; yet it is possible to have this wound in one's heart." Yet Jesus, he noted, warned believers not to surrender to discouragement, reminding them that God never discards anyone. "Every wound, even the deepest, will be healed by welcoming the word of the Beatitudes and setting us back on the path of the Gospel."

The pope emphasized that concrete acts of charity and attention to others rekindled joy, while remaining rooted in the Eucharist. The "true flavor," he said, was found "every Sunday in the Bread that is broken, which is a life given and a silent love."

After the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV also recalled the beatification of Father Salvatore Valera Parra in Huércal-Overa, Spain, praising him as "a parish priest completely devoted to his people, humble and generous in pastoral charity." His example, the pope said, could inspire today's priests "to be faithful in living each day with simplicity and asceticism."

Marking the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope noted that the Church also celebrated the World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking. "I thank the religious and all those who are committed to combating and eliminating current forms of slavery," he said. "Together with them, I say: Peace begins with dignity!"

Pope Leo XIV also assured prayers for communities affected by floods and landslides in Portugal, Morocco, Spain — especially Grazalema in Andalusia — and southern Italy, particularly Niscemi in Sicily, encouraging them to remain united and supportive under the protection of the Virgin Mary.

Concluding his remarks, the pope urged continued prayer for peace: "History teaches us that strategies of economic and military power do not give humanity a future. The future lies in respect and fraternity among peoples."

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

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The Ukrainian bishop of Kyiv said he discussed faith and the plight of the Ukrainian people with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Feb. 4 meeting at the State Department.

"It was a very good meeting, because first of all, I met him as with a brother of faith," Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, SDB, of Kyiv–Zhytomyr told EWTN News in an exclusive interview during his visit to the U.S. "I am not a politician," he said. "The only thing I want to do is give witness of faith."

The meeting comes ahead of the four-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in what was an escalation of a conflict that began in 2014.

Kryvytskyi said that Rubio told him he prays for the Ukrainian people every night.

"We also saw that we had something in common," Kryvytskyi said, noting that Rubio's family members from Cuba "know what communism is." He said: "We all went through that difficult period, and we don't want to go back to it."

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kryvytskyi said Ukrainians are experiencing electricity blackouts that "are longer than they were before." In Kyiv, he noted that a lot of buildings lack electricity and heating. "Outside, it is very cold, people are freezing to death in their apartments," he said.

The bishop described the Catholic Church in Ukraine as being actively engaged on the humanitarian front. "We're doing everything possible to turn our churches into an oasis, where people can come and just find the most essential things, even to charge a phone, to have a warm cup of coffee, or just to stay warm." A lot of people come to Ukrainian churches for food as well, he said, because many do not have electricity to cook.

"At the same time," he said, "we're here to answer your questions: people that have asked us 'How long is this going to take?' and we answer that it is through God that we find the strength and hope to go through this." For many, he said, it has served as an opportunity to learn to pray for the first time.

In his own prayer life, Kryvytskyi said the war has transformed the way Scripture impacts him. "For example, reading the Psalms on a daily basis, I understood that many times they speak about war [and] it's like they took on a different color."

"I found myself the same as the author who wrote the Psalms, and with the same understanding," he said, adding that he also has begun praying the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet on a more frequent basis.

"For the faithful to keep their faith during this time of trial is not easy," he said. "Today, if you look at it from a certain aspect, maybe we're stronger than we were four years ago."

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Santa Fe, New Mexico, Archbishop John C. Wester said while nations may regulate their borders, Catholic teaching requires that all policies and rhetoric uphold the inherent dignity of migrants and avoid using Scripture as a political weapon.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had put forth a biblical defense of President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts Feb. 3 after a reporter asked him to respond to Pope Leo XIV's criticism of mass deportations. The pontiff cited Matthew 25:35, in which Jesus Christ speaks about those who will inherit the kingdom of God, saying "[when I was] a stranger and you welcomed me."

In response, Johnson, a Southern Baptist, said immigration is not "frowned upon" in the Bible but instead welcomed, and "we're going to welcome the sojourner and love our neighbor as ourself." However, Johnson said that biblical command to welcome the stranger falls on "individuals" instead of "civil authorities," which Wester said is contrary to Christian ethics.

Johnson said civil authorities maintain a divine right to establish immigration laws that maintain order. He called national borders and walls "biblical." He said God "allowed us to set up our civil societies and have separate nations."

"When someone comes into your country, comes into your nation, they do not have the right to change its laws or to change a society," he said. "They're expected to assimilate."

The speaker cited Romans 13, in which St. Paul instructs Christians to be "subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God."

Johnson said there was not proper order under former President Joe Biden and criticized him for the number of unlawful border crossings, which he said included "many dangerous people." He said borders are "good and right," not because "we hate the people on the outside" but because "we love the people on the inside."

"We should love our neighbor as ourself as individuals," he said. "But the civil authority and the government has to maintain the law, and that is biblical and it's right and it's just."

Archbishop calls comments 'deeply concerning'

In a Feb. 6 statement, Wester — whose archdiocese is near the southern U.S. border — said "it is deeply concerning when theological language and sacred texts are used to diminish the fundamental dignity of human beings created in the image of God."

Wester said Catholic teaching acknowledges the right of governments to manage their borders but that the right "is never absolute" and policies must "reflect the inherent dignity of every person, and must be ordered toward justice, mercy, and the common good."

The archbishop said those with power have "a greater duty … to protect the vulnerable" and "not to treat them as political fodder."

"To suggest that compassion, dignity, and respect for the stranger are merely personal virtues rather than obligations of society betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of Christian ethics," the archbishop said.

"The Gospel is not a collection of sound bites for political advantage; it is the call to love our neighbors as ourselves, to defend the defenseless, and to remember that every human being bears the imprint of God," he continued. "Reducing Scripture to a political tool undermines its transformative power and our shared humanity."

Wester said the national right to regulate borders "must be balanced with the call to show compassion, protect human dignity, and seek just and humane solutions" and that "strong policies and humane treatment are not mutually exclusive."

"In fact, justice demands both," the archbishop said. "Let us pray for our leaders that they may be guided by wisdom, informed by truth, and moved by the love and mercy of Christ, who came not to condemn but to call us into communion with all people."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that prosperous nations have an obligation, "to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner." The immigrant has an obligation "to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws, and to assist in carrying civic burdens."

"Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions," it adds.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted 216-5 in November to adopt a special message that expresses opposition to "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people." A November 2025 poll from EWTN News and RealClear Opinion Research found that 54% of Catholics support "broad scale" deportations, while only 30% oppose it and 17% neither support nor oppose it.

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The Holy See has officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification, according to an announcement from the diocese.

"The next step in the process is the celebration of the beatification, in which Fulton Sheen would be declared Blessed," Tylka said. "Archbishop Fulton Sheen was one of the greatest voices of evangelization in the Church and the world in the 20th century. I have long admired his lifelong commitment to serve the Church as a priest, rooted in his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist."

"As he journeyed through the different stages of his life, his ability to share the Gospel and truly relate to people drew countless souls into an encounter with Jesus — one that transformed not only his life, but more importantly, the lives of those he touched."

"In his later years, particularly through his work for the Missions, Archbishop Sheen helped us recognize that the Church is meant for all people. He reminded us that as members of the Church, we are called to serve everyone, especially those most in need and those longing to hear and experience the Gospel, wherever they may be in the world," he said.

Tylka thanked the Holy See, his brother bishops, clergy, and laypeople for the collaboration and prayers that led to Sheen's beatification, which will be "a special blessing for the Church in the United States, where he was a powerful evangelist on radio, television, and in personal appearances."

The Diocese of Peoria is working with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to determine the details for the upcoming beatification.

Fulton Sheen

Peter John Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois, on May 8, 1895, and was called "Fulton" in honor of his mother's maiden name. Sheen was ordained a priest of the Peoria Diocese on Sept. 20, 1919. On June 11, 1951, he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and remained in the position until 1966. He was then named the bishop of Rochester, New York, until his retirement in 1969 at the age of 74.

Tylka has previously called Sheen a "trailblazer" due to his Emmy-winning television show "Life Is Worth Living." The show aired on television from 1952 until 1957, discussing morality and Catholicism.

Sheen "reached millions of people because of [the show]," Tylka said. "He was so far ahead of his time in that reality that we take for granted today."

Sheen died due to heart disease on Dec. 9, 1979, the feast of St. Juan Diego.

Road to beatification

Although Sheen is to be beatified, the process leading to the milestone has been marked by many challenges and delays.

The televangelist's cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.

On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved a reported miracle attributed to his intercession. Parents of a stillborn baby, James Fulton, prayed through the intercession of Sheen and their son miraculously recovered.

On June 17, 2014, the seven-member theological commission that advises the congregation unanimously agreed with the medical team's finding.

In September 2014, Sheen's cause was suspended due to an ownership dispute of his remains. The suspension was announced "with sadness" in a statement by then-bishop of Peoria Daniel R. Jenky, president of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation.

Explaining how the Holy See "expected that the remains of Venerable Sheen would be moved to Peoria where official inspection would be made and first-class relics be taken," the statement said that the Archdiocese of New York had denied Jenky's request to move the body to Peoria.

Finally in March 2019, a New York appeals court unanimously ruled that the earthly remains of Sheen could be moved to St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria. The following June, his body was transferred to St. Mary's Cathedral after three years of litigation, helping to clear the way for the archbishop's sainthood cause to go forward.

Pope Francis approved of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Sheen on July 5, 2019. Sheen was set to be beatified on Dec. 21, 2019, but the beatification experienced a delay.

Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester reportedly requested the delay of Sheen's beatification due to concerns that he could be named in the final report of an ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.

The situation was later cleared up and it was reported the delay was not related to the 2007 allegation that Sheen witnessed and covered up an act of clerical sexual abuse. The Diocese of Peoria issued an announcement that said "it has been demonstrated definitively that [Sheen] was an exemplary model of Christian conduct and a model of leadership in the Church. At no time has his life of virtue ever been called into question."

The diocese said the beatification would be delayed so that more time can be given to examine Sheen's life. It further called the delay "unfortunate," because "there continue to be many miracles reported through Sheen's intercession."

Despite the delays, proponents of the beatification continued to work to advance the cause. In May 2025 Tylka reiterated his intention to advocate for the beatification process with Pope Leo XIV.

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Pope Leo XIV could return to Chiclayo — the diocese where he served as bishop — during an upcoming visit to Peru, expected to take place between November and the first week of December, a possibility that the president of the Peruvian Bishops' Conference described as "the most certain stop" on the highly anticipated itinerary.

"The main place he will visit after Lima is Chiclayo. That's definite, 100%," said Bishop Carlos García during a press conference presenting the results of the recent ad limina apostolorum visit of the Peruvian bishops to the Vatican, which took place Jan. 26–31.

Although he clarified that the papal visit is still in the planning stages and has a probability of approximately 80%, he emphasized the pontiff's strong desire to return to the country. "How much he would like to be in Peru already! Because he loves Peru. He's eager. His face lit up when we talked to him about it," García recounted.

García, the president of the country's bishops' conference, explained that the possible visit is scheduled for "between November and the first week of December," although he emphasized that the final decision depends on the Holy See organizing it and diplomatic aspects inherent to a state visit.

"It's a whole structure that's set in motion... it has to go through a dicastery that prepares the visit... now it's up to those in charge to process and organize it," he said.

In this regard, García announced that the Church in Peru will begin logistical preparations in March. "Starting in March, we must have the organizing committee for the event established," he indicated, noting that the work will begin even while awaiting official confirmation.

Chiclayo, a special place

The eventual return of Pope Leo XIV to Chiclayo would have strong symbolic value, since he served as bishop there before being elected pope.

When asked by the media about other possible cities, García indicated that the rest of the itinerary would depend on the time available and logistical factors. "The other locations will depend on how many days he has available to visit us... it could be the [Amazon region]... Cusco... but it doesn't depend entirely on the Holy Father but rather on the time and geographical possibilities," he explained.

However, the bishop reiterated that Chiclayo stands out as a priority destination. "The most definite place I can tell you right now is Chiclayo," he affirmed.

'Peru is in the pope's heart'

During the ad limina visit, the bishops held various meetings with the pontiff, including an official meeting and times for fellowship, such as a lunch where — according to the prelate — they talked about shared memories and experiences in the country.

"He arrived in an atmosphere of such fraternity that we felt like we were in Peru while being in Rome, and the pope felt like he was in Peru while being in Rome," he recounted.

García underscored the pope's deep spiritual connection with the country. "Peru is in the pope's heart." He added that Leo XIV keeps an image of the Lord of Miracles with him, which he uses during his daily prayers before Mass.

A visit marked by hope

The head of the Peruvian Bishops' Conference noted that the pope's desire to return to Peru stems from his closeness to the people and his interest in strengthening faith and hope amid the current social and political challenges.

"He wants to come to Peru because he loves Peru... there is a sense of gratitude towards Peru... and also a desire to strengthen us in hope and renew the love he has always shown us," he said.

Meanwhile, the bishops returned from Rome, as he stated, "with hearts full of gratitude, renewed in faith and strengthened in our pastoral mission," after a visit he described as "a true time of grace, blessing, and discernment."

Finally, he invited the entire country to prepare spiritually for the possible papal visit. "We are not going to prepare for this or that specific location; we are going to prepare for a visit to Peru," he explained.

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

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Jimmy Lai, the human rights advocate and outspoken Catholic who has faced what supporters say has been years of politicized prosecution and conviction in Hong Kong, was sentenced on Feb. 9 to 20 years in prison over what Chinese officials claim were national security violations.

The sentencing comes after Lai's December conviction under China's wide-reaching security law, which capped a years-long legal process during which he was found guilty on multiple other charges including fraud and unlawful assembly.

Lai, who was known for years as the publisher of the outspoken pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, was first arrested in 2020 after alleged violations of Chinese national security policy.

The government has charged him multiple times since then, holding him without bail and sentencing him to lengthy prison stretches, including a 69-month sentence in December 2022 for a fraud conviction.

Lai's plight has drawn support from around the world, including from high-ranking national leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, who has advocated for Lai's release and who reportedly spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the issue in October 2025.

Lai has also drawn support from lawmakers, activists, religious leaders and civil rights leaders around the world. In 2025 he was named an honorary recipient of the Bradley Prize. That award is meant to honor individuals who in part espouse "the ideals of the Western tradition."

Catholic faith a central part of Lai's life

Though known for his decades of pro-democracy activism, Lai is also an outspoken Catholic whose faith has continued to sustain him during his imprisonment.

Having converted to Catholicism in 1997, Lai — along with his wife Teresa — raised his son Sebastien and daughter Claire in what Claire described as "a very loving Catholic family."

Claire told EWTN News in December 2025 that Lai's incarceration "has just deepened his faith." He has regularly read the Gospel when permitted by his prison guards, she said, and he "wants to be remembered [as] a faithful servant of Our Lord."

In February 2024 the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., installed a drawing of the Crucifixion made by Lai. Father Robert Sirico, the founder of the Acton Institute and a supporter and friend of Lai's, told EWTN News at the time that Lai sees his imprisonment as a way of joining in Christ's passion on the cross.

In November 2023 a group of 10 Catholic bishops and archbishops called on the Hong Kong government to release Lai, arguing that his "persecution ... has gone on long enough."

"There is no place for such cruelty and oppression in a territory that claims to uphold the rule of law and respect the right to freedom of expression," the prelates said.

Long known for its greater respect for civil rights and freedom of speech relative to the Chinese mainland, the special administrative region of Hong Kong in recent years has seen a crackdown from the Chinese Communist Party government, which has tightened its hold on the region including with the strict national security law.

In 2022 Father Vincent Woo, a priest of the Diocese of Hong Kong, told EWTN News that religious leaders in the region face "tremendous consequences" if they criticize the government, with many priests or bishops consequently refusing to speak out publicly against the Communist Party.

At a 2025 hearing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, advocates warned of "severe violations of religious freedom" by the Chinese Communist Party, with the government having reportedly "forcibly eradicated religious elements that are not in line with the CCP's agenda."

Claire Lai admitted in January that her father's "physical body is breaking down" in his protracted confinement, and he has been denied regular access to the Eucharist, she said. 

But, she told EWTN News Nightly, he continues to "read the Gospel every morning" and spends his time "praying and drawing the Crucifixion and the Blessed Mother."

His faith "is what protects his mind and soul," she said.

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Pope Leo XIV will not travel to the United States in 2026, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said Sunday, denying circulating reports that the pontiff might make an apostolic trip to his native country.

A U.S. visit had been anticipated by some American Catholics ahead of the country's 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, 2026.

At the same time, papal travel elsewhere is taking shape. Local church authorities in Africa have said Leo will visit several countries on the continent — with Angola and Equatorial Guinea among the destinations publicly confirmed by local authorities, and Cameroon also widely anticipated as part of the itinerary — with timing broadly described as after Easter.

In South America, Peruvian bishops have said the pope will visit the country — where he previously served as a bishop — later this year, with local church leaders pointing to a timeframe in November or early December.

A visit to Spain is also expected this summer, with Spanish church authorities indicating stops including Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Popes have visited the United States multiple times, beginning with Pope Paul VI's October 1965 trip, which included a visit to the United Nations.

St. John Paul II traveled to the U.S. on several occasions, first visiting in October 1979 with stops in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago, and Washington, where he met then-President Jimmy Carter. Among his later visits, he returned in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and made his final U.S. trip to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1999.

Pope Benedict XVI also visited the United States, traveling in April 2008. During that trip, he marked his 81st birthday on April 16 at the White House with President George W. Bush, and he later visited New York, including a time of prayer at Ground Zero in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The most recent pope to visit the United States was Pope Francis, who traveled there from Sept. 22–27, 2015. During the visit, he went to Washington, D.C., where he canonized Junípero Serra and addressed the U.S. Congress. He then traveled to New York, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, before concluding the trip in Philadelphia, where he presided over events marking the close of the Eighth World Meeting of Families.

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Nellie Organ — affectionately known as "Little Nellie" — was a 4-year-old child from Cork, Ireland, whose piety and closeness to God led in part to the lowering of the age at which children could receive their first holy Communion.

In 1910, a decree was promulgated by the Sacred Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments under Pope Pius X on the subject. Quam Singulari states: "The age of discretion, both for confession and for holy Communion, is the time when a child begins to reason, that is about the seventh year, more or less. From that time on begins the obligation of fulfilling the precept of both confession and Communion."

One of the pope's intentions of the decree was to encourage frequent, even daily, Communion among all the faithful, starting from a young age. It was a transformative moment for the Catholic Church.

According to John Donovan from the Little Nellie of Holy God Foundation, a factor that helped convince Pope Pius about this was the story of Little Nellie, whose virtue and intense relationship with God, up until her death at the age of 4 1/2, astonished the Good Shepherd sisters who cared for her as well as the priests and the local bishop of Cork.

An unwavering desire to receive 'Holy God'

From an early age, Little Nellie exhibited signs of a deep spirituality to her parents. Her experiences included visions of Jesus and Mary as well as intense reverie in the presence of the Eucharist.

Although the little girl was not named in the decree, her faith and longing for the Eucharist resonated deeply within the Church and were mentioned by Pope Pius on several occasions.

Little Nellie captured the hearts of many with her unwavering devotion to Christ and her story spread widely, illustrating that children could possess a genuine faith and desire for Communion irrespective of their age.

Pope Pius X's decree emphasized that a basic understanding and reverence were sufficient for children to receive Communion, rejecting the notion that advanced theological knowledge was necessary.

Donovan told EWTN News: "Nellie's story is very much a story of the Eucharist. The essence, I guess, of why we are here years later talking about her and why she has been known for all of that time is that Nellie received the Blessed Sacrament at the very young age of just 4 years old. And that is something that was unheard of at the time."

"Nelly had a tough time. She died of tuberculosis, which she had contracted from her mother, Mary, who died not too long previously," Donovan explained. "She died in an orphanage in the Good Shepherd convent in Sunday's Well in Cork. She was placed there, along with her sister Mary, and there were also two brothers who were sent to other religious institutions because, at that time, her father William was in the army. While there, she was frail from the start. But the one thing she never asked at all, or questioned at all, was Jesus, or as she preferred to refer to him, 'Holy God.'"

For Nellie, the Child of Prague statue was an image of Holy God. Donovan explained: "She related to Jesus and had a personal relationship with Jesus as 'Holy God.' From the age of 3 onwards, she was asking and beseeching to be allowed to receive holy Communion. Even at that young age, she was offering up all of this suffering. She said, 'You know, Jesus, my suffering is nothing to what you suffered on the cross for me.'"

Development of Communion guidelines

Before Pius X's decree, the Catholic Church had adopted increasingly strict guidelines regarding first Communion — primarily influenced by two significant factors: In the wake of the Protestant Reformation, the Church sought to underscore the sacredness of the Eucharist, resulting in a more cautious approach. Church leaders preferred that individuals receive Communion less frequently but with greater worthiness.

Additionally, Jansenism affected the age at which children could receive Communion. Children were often required to demonstrate an adult-like understanding and moral seriousness, pushing the age of first Communion to 10 to 12 years.

Donovan told EWTN News: "Little Nellie's spirituality was cradled in her mother's bed, and because her mother was [sick] for a lot of that time, Nellie was in the bed with her, and it was there she learned the rosary and her prayers, and she prayed to Holy God from a very young age."

Remarkably, Nellie could sense when Christ was not in the tabernacle. And if someone had visited her after receiving Communion, she could sense the presence of Christ. Knowing the person had recently been to Communion, often kissing them to be close to her Holy God.

The young girl became a symbol of innocence and spiritual intuition, reinforcing the idea that holiness transcends age and education. The long-term effects of Quam Singulari reshaped Catholic life worldwide, making first Communion a regular part of early childhood and fostering a more pastoral approach to religious education.

Such was her deep understanding and desire for the Eucharist that it repeatedly impressed the Good Shepherd religious sisters. During a convent retreat, a Jesuit priest from Dublin named Father Bury met Nellie and spoke with her extensively to gauge her understanding and devotion. 

"He was impressed immensely, and she gave deep answers to questions in terms of her understanding of the Real Presence. And so he heard her first confession," Donovan said.

Bury wrote to the bishop of Cork, Thomas O'Callaghan, stating that Nellie was endowed to an extraordinary degree with ardent love of God and the desire to be united to him in holy Communion. As a result, episcopal consent was given for Nellie to receive her first Communion on Dec. 6, 1907. Her joy at receiving "Holy God" was immense.

Not too long after Nellie's death, accounts of her life began to appear, including one by Dean Scanlan, published in Roma, an Italian journal.

Donovan explained: "It is recorded that Pope Pius X was at his desk one day, and this account of little Nellie's life came in front of him. He read it with great interest, and he is recorded as saying to Cardinal Merry del Val: 'There, there it is, that is the sign for which I have been waiting.'"

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A young man from Manchester, England, who "committed himself totally to God" could one day be included among the ranks of Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as calls continue for him to be named a saint.

Pedro Ballester died on Jan. 13, 2018, at the age of 21 of bone cancer after a life of prayer, sacrifice, and virtue. Vatican representatives are now in the process of interviewing his family and friends to gauge whether a cause should be formally opened for the former university student.

Father Joseph Evans, chaplain of Greygarth Hall, Manchester, who accompanied Ballester during the last year of his life, told EWTN News: "People like Pedro and Carlo Acutis, they didn't keep their options open. They committed themselves totally to God. They found happiness in deep self-giving and deep suffering."

Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian, died in 2006 and was canonized a saint in 2025.

Evans told EWTN News that "young people are attracted to self-giving and self-sacrifice and practice because of our soft, consumerist world."

A gift for friendship and commitment to God

Ballester was born into a Catholic family and his Spanish parents are married members of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church founded in Spain by St. Josemaría Escrivá in 1928. Ballester himself joined Opus Dei in 2013 as a "numerary" member — meaning he made a commitment to celibacy for life and living out the charism of Opus Dei in the world.

After winning a place at Imperial College in London to study chemical engineering, Ballester experienced intense back pain during his first semester, after which he was diagnosed with advanced cancer of the pelvis.

During his illness, he would often go to Christie's Hospital in Manchester for cancer treatment where his holiness and kindness were noted by many. He befriended his fellow patients and the nurses, showing a deep interest in their lives outside the hospital.

"He made really good friends with them," Evans told EWTN News. "He was genuinely interested in you. He really inspired people in a very, very natural way. He got through to people and spoke to them about God."

On one occasion, Ballester wrote a card to Pope Francis, signed by his fellow cancer patients, and delivered it in person to the pontiff in Rome in November 2015. His father, also named Pedro, recounted how his son told Pope Francis: "I just wanted to let you know that I got cancer, and I offer all the sufferings for you and for the Church."

From that point on, the young man's suffering worsened and he regularly experienced acute pain leading up to his death.

Paying tribute to the way Ballester responded to his disease, Evans said: "He was uniting himself to the suffering of Christ. The pain he was going through was a much bigger share in the passion of Christ, offering that suffering to Christ for souls, for salvation. Above all, he would say the best form of prayer was offering up our suffering."

Opus Dei, which is promoting Ballester's cause for sainthood, is hoping the impressive young adult will follow in the footsteps of Carlo Acutis and Pier Georgio Frassati, who was famous for serving the poor in Milan.

Speaking to EWTN News about the impact of such young people, Jack Valero from Opus Dei said: "There seems to be a whole collection of people, [a] new generation of Catholics who are going to lead the way. God is saying that, now in the 21st century, 'I'm going to give you a whole load of people that are going to be models for the young.'"

He added: "[Pedro] could be somebody who can teach us to be happy with whatever our circumstances are, and that to be close to God is to be happy."

Valero also described Ballester as a "special" person who was "a really friendly guy throughout his life, and he continued to be a very friendly guy in his sickness."

Pinpointing Ballester's "ability to make friends" as a strong evangelistic tool, he said: "He realized that he didn't have much long to live. So he asked people: 'Are you going to Mass? Are you OK with God? Are you being good to people?' This ability to make friends was directed to bring them close to God."

Accounts of Ballester's impact on people have spread around the world to places such as Mexico, Spain, and Kenya, while a prayer card asking for his intercession has now been translated into 28 languages.

Additionally, a documentary called "A Friend in Heaven" has been released that highlights the impact of Ballester's short life, describing him as a "student with a gift of friendship and a love for God."

Looking to the future, Evans urged caution while the Church "makes its mind up" about Ballester becoming a saint, but he told EWTN News: "He loved chatting with people. He was very generous. There's a tremendous spontaneous phenomenon of devotion to him in all sorts of places throughout the world."

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