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CNA Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Sign language is currently one of the most popular families of languages in the world, with National Geographic estimating more than 300 forms of sign language used by more than 70 million people worldwide.

Yet most people, and even most users of sign language, may be unaware of the notable role that Catholics played in the earliest years of modern sign language, including the founding of the world's first free school for deaf people.

That school, the National Institute for Deaf Youth of Paris, was founded in 1760 by Father Charles-Michel de l'Épée. The institute says on its website that the priest was inspired to develop a system of sign language after meeting two deaf twins. He would go on to launch a small school on the rue des Moulins in Paris that would in time become the national institution. 

Jordan Eickman, a professor of Deaf studies at California State University, Northridge, told CNA the Catholic contribution to Deaf history and Deaf education is "significant."

"Catholic priests and nuns founded or ran several of the earliest schools and later on, others founded around the world," he said. "Some taught using sign language, others taught using the oral method."

With a life of "relative ease" due to a generous inheritance, l'Épée did not seek compensation for his efforts. He organized "public exercises" for his students, generating a considerable amount of interest in Deaf education. 

Though sign languages had existed in various forms for centuries, l'Épée's contribution to Deaf history is notable for his development of what he called a "universal language" by "constructing natural signs into a method."

In the decades after the priest's death in 1789, the institute expanded, being led by l'Épée's fellow priest Father Roch-Ambroise Cucurron Sicard. The revolutionary National Assembly would go on to recognize l'Épée as a "benefactor of humanity." 

Though the Church can boast of a notable history in early Deaf education, Eickman said Catholic leaders can still do more to make the faith accessible to those who are deaf.

The Church "can increase its accessibility to Deaf people worldwide by providing direct access through local sign languages," he said. 

This will "prevent language deprivation within Deaf education and provide Deaf people access to religious knowledge and ministry."

At the parish level this is "best done through a Deaf priest fluent in the local signed language," the professor said. 

"Protestant denominations have a far higher number of Deaf priests and lay leaders compared to the Catholic Church and any other religion," he noted. "Increasing the number of Deaf priests is one way to provide accessibility and more effective ministry."

Some leaders have already taken steps to shore up gaps in that ministry. In Maryland earlier this year, for instance, hundreds of Deaf Catholics gathered for the first-ever Eucharistic Congress for the Catholic Deaf community. The event was organized by Father Mike Depcik, one of just a few Deaf priests in the world. 

In Washington, D.C., meanwhile, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has begun offering specialized guided tours for deaf and blind visitors, giving immersive and sensory experiences to make the sacred site more accessible.

Writing in 1776 and reflecting on the apparent rise in deaf children throughout France, l'Épée said that number appeared to be growing "because until [the present day], children who were born deprived of the faculties of hearing and speaking were kept away from the world, because their intrusion had always been very difficult and somewhat impossible."

Though being deaf was for centuries considered "only a dreadful situation" and a "misfortune without remedy," l'Épée attributed such beliefs to "prejudice." 

"This is not a question of [folly]," the priest wrote; rather, "it is a matter of doing everything we can to make ourselves useful to [those who are deaf] of today and tomorrow."

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 29, 2025 / 14:59 pm (CNA).

Speaking to a group of catechumens from France, Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday explained that baptism "gives us life" to renounce a "culture of death," which is so prevalent in today's society.

During the July 29 meeting at the Vatican with the catechumens, chaplains, and catechists of France, which also included the bishop of Nice, Jean-Philippe Nault, the Holy Father emphasized that baptism "makes us full members of the great family of God."

He added that this sacrament "introduces us into communion with Christ and gives us life," committing those who receive it "to renounce a culture of death," which he said includes "indifference, contempt for others, drug use, the pursuit of an easy life, sexuality turned into entertainment and the objectification of the human person, injustice, etc."

"Baptism makes us witnesses of Christ," the pontiff emphasized, pointing to a "very powerful" sign of the sacrament: The priest or deacon presents to the godparents the candle lit from the paschal candle. "It is the light of Christ, dead and risen, that we commit to keeping alive, nourishing this light by listening to the word of God and by regular participation in the Eucharist."

Pope Leo XIV noted that to live happily and in peace, "we are called to place our hope in Jesus Christ." After stating that the baptized are "the salt of the earth and the world," he emphasized that the Church also needs their "beautiful witness of faith to grow further and be close to every person in need."

"The catechumenate," Pope Leo XIV continued, "is a journey of faith that does not end with baptism but continues throughout life, with moments of joy and moments of difficulty."

'It's essential to experience God in prayer and in the sacraments'

He also urged the catechumens to bear witness to Christ and become missionary disciples: "Don't limit yourselves to theoretical knowledge, but live your faith in a concrete way, experiencing God's love in your daily lives. The journey of faith can be long and sometimes difficult, but don't be discouraged, because God is always present to sustain you."

"It's essential to experience God in prayer, in the practice of the sacraments — especially in rediscovering the sacrament of reconciliation — and in community life, in order to grow in faith and love," he noted.

At the end of his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged those who will soon be regenerated as children of God to "remain connected to the Lord Jesus." 

"We are not born Christians; we become Christians when we are touched by the grace of God," he said.

This "touch" is expressed "through our thoughtful choice and our personal journey. Without these true demands, we will bear the label of Christian, but we will be Christians out of convenience, habit, or comfort," he explained.

Instead, "we become authentic Christians when we allow ourselves to be personally touched in our daily lives by the Word and witness of Jesus," he said.

"In the midst of your tribulations, moments of loneliness and spiritual dryness, of misunderstandings, of weariness, may your hearts be established in him who is 'the way, the truth, and the life,' the source of all peace, joy, and love," the pope concluded.

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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CNA Staff, Jul 29, 2025 / 15:29 pm (CNA).

Eighty years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, several Catholic cardinals and archbishops will visit Japan for a pilgrimage of peace this August.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago; Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C.; Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle; and Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be part of the pilgrimage coordinated by the Partnership for a World Without Nuclear Weapons (PWNW).

Throughout the five-day visit, the clergy, along with a delegation of pilgrims, will celebrate Mass, participate in dialogue on Catholic ethics and nuclear weapons, and visit historical sites and museums. The delegation will include staff and students from several U.S. universities.

The pilgrimage will begin by bringing together Catholic bishops from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. alongside "hibakusha," or atomic bomb survivors, for a panel discussion at the World Peace Memorial Cathedral in Hiroshima on Aug. 5. On Aug. 10, the pilgrimage will conclude with an ecumenical dialogue and academic symposium at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki.

The pilgrimage — a joint effort between Japanese and U.S. bishops as well as various Catholic universities — centers on the theme of the Catholic Church's jubilee year: "Pilgrims of Hope."

"We are pilgrims of peace and hope, crossing continents and histories to remember the past and transform the future," Wester said in a press release. "This journey to Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not only a remembrance but a recommitment to the Gospel call for nonviolence and the abolition of nuclear weapons." 

Archbishop Peter Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki and Bishop Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama of Hiroshima worked with the Santa Fe and Seattle archdioceses to sponsor the pilgrimage. The archdioceses of Chicago and Washington are also supporting the pilgrimage, along with the U.S.-based Catholic universities of Georgetown University, Loyola University Chicago, and University of Notre Dame, as well as the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in North America and the Japanese universities of Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University and Sophia University, Tokyo.

Views on nuclear warfare

Views on nuclear weapons are still mixed in the U.S., though approval for the bombings has dropped since 1945. A 2025 Pew Research Survey found that 35% of Americans say the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified, while 31% say that they were not; another 33% say they are unsure. But the bishops and cardinals who are heading to the pilgrimage in August are outspoken against nuclear warfare.

Cupich —  a leading Catholic voice on disarmament — recently wrote a column in the Chicago Catholic reflecting on the bombings where he noted that "the Church has a special responsibility in helping people resist ideas of retribution, hatred, ethnocentrism, and nationalism and in clearly presenting to the world an ethic of solidarity which gives priority to peace-building."

"Politicians and the military have their roles in building peace, but so do all citizens," Cupich wrote. "The entire population must be engaged in discussing and agreeing on the limits to warfare with a commitment that acts of intentionally killing innocents is unthinkable and never to be regarded as a regrettable but useful way to shorten a war."

An estimated 150,000 to 250,000 people died in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many of the deaths were instantaneous, while others died years later due to the radiation. 

Etienne of Seattle, who will be attending the pilgrimage for the second time, has worked with other leaders to promote the PWNW and its mission. The partnership is united around one purpose: "to protect all life and the environment" from nuclear harm. 

Wester, who will be making the pilgrimage for the third time, is also a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament. Wester, whose Archdiocese of Santa Fe is home to the nuclear weapons facilities of Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, penned a pastoral letter in 2022 advocating for nuclear disarmament.

Wester also commemorated the anniversary of the testing of the first nuclear bomb in his home state of New Mexico. On July 16 — the anniversary of the detonation of the first nuclear bomb at the Trinity Test Site in the Jornada del Muerto desert — Catholic churches rang their bells at 5:29 a.m., the exact time of the first atomic explosion, as a call to prayer for peace.

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National Catholic Register, Jul 29, 2025 / 15:59 pm (CNA).

Canon law professor Edward Peters is the third faculty member at Detroit's seminary to announce that he has been fired by Archbishop Edward Weisenburger in recent days.

Peters, 68, had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2005.

"My Sacred Heart Major Seminary teaching contract was terminated by Abp. Weisenburger this week. I have retained counsel," Peters wrote in a social media post Friday night.

"Except to offer my prayers for those affected by this news and to ask for theirs in return, I have no further comment at this time," Peters said.

A representative of the Archdiocese of Detroit declined to comment Monday, telling the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, by email on Monday that "the Archdiocese of Detroit does not comment on archdiocesan or seminary personnel matters."

Peters is an adviser to the Apostolic Signatura, which is the Holy See's highest administrative tribunal. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to that position in May 2010, "becoming the first layman so appointed since the reconstitution of Signatura over 100 years ago," according to an online biography.

Peters earned a doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in 1991.

He published an English translation of the 1917 Code of Canon Law in 2001 and a textual history of the 1983 Code of Canon Law in 2005.

Two theologians — Ralph Martin, 82, and Eduardo Echeverria, 74 — were fired from Detroit's seminary on July 23, they told the Register last week.

Martin told the Register the firing was "a shock" and that he didn't get a full explanation for it.

"When I asked him for an explanation, he said he didn't think it would be helpful to give any specifics but mentioned something about having concerns about my theological perspectives," Martin said in a written statement, as the Register reported last week.

One thing all three now-former faculty members have in common is that they criticized Pope Francis publicly during the late pope's pontificate.

In Peters' case, he chided Pope Francis in his canon law blog, called "In Light of the Law."

In April 2016, he described what he called "writing flaws" in Pope Francis' encyclical Amoris Laetitia, keying in on Francis' interest in allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics "in certain cases" to have "the help of the sacraments," including the Eucharist.

Peters wrote that the encyclical makes what he called "a serious misuse of a conciliar teaching" of Vatican II when it conflates the periodic abstinence from sexual intercourse that a married couple may make with what he called "the angst" that "public adulterers experience when they cease engaging in illicit sexual intercourse."

In August 2018, Peters criticized Pope Francis' statements condemning the death penalty, referring to what he called "serious magisterial issues that I think Francis' novel formulation has engendered" and saying he had "grave concerns" about Pope Francis' "alteration" of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on that issue.

Weisenburger, who was installed March 18 as archbishop of Detroit after serving as bishop of Tucson, Arizona, for a little more than seven years, is an admirer of Pope Francis, as he made clear during a press conference on April 21, the day Pope Francis died. The archbishop called Francis "the perfect man at the right time" and suggested he was "a saint," as the Register reported last week.

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 29, 2025 / 16:29 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday participated in the Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, encouraging them to create encounters "between hearts" regardless of the number of followers they have.

The Holy Father arrived at the Vatican basilica at the end of the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

More than a thousand Catholics from different countries participated in the event, which also coincided with the Jubilee of Youth, filling the basilica with young and enthusiastic faces.

In his address — delivered in Italian, English, and Spanish — Pope Leo XIV shared three missions or challenges when it comes to evangelizing online:

1. Proclaim peace to the world.

For Pope Leo, peace "needs to be sought, proclaimed, and shared everywhere; both in places where we see the tragedy of war and in the empty hearts of those who have lost any meaning of life and the desire for introspection and the spiritual life."

Leo emphasized that "today more than ever, we need missionary disciples who convey the gift of the risen Lord to the world" and who give voice to the hope that the living Jesus gives us "to the ends of the earth" and to "the farthest reaches, where there is no hope." 

2. Seek the "suffering flesh of Christ" in those one encounters.

The Holy Father asked Catholic influencers to always seek "the suffering flesh of Christ" in every brother or sister they encounter online.

In the context of a new culture shaped by technology, he appealed to the responsibility of digital missionaries to ensure that culture "remains human."

"Nothing that comes from man and his creativity should be used to undermine the dignity of others. Our mission — your mission — is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism and to do so together. This is the beauty of the 'internet' for all of us," the pope stated.

Faced with cultural changes throughout history, the pope emphasized that "the Church has never remained passive; she has always sought to illuminate every age with the light and hope of Christ by discerning good from evil and what was good from what needed to be changed, transformed, and purified."

Given the challenge of artificial intelligence, the Holy Father emphasized that we must reflect on the authenticity of our witness, "on our ability to listen and speak, and on our capacity to understand and to be understood.  We have a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking, to develop a language, of our time, that gives voice to love," he noted.

"It is not simply a matter of generating content but of creating an encounter of hearts. This will entail seeking out those who suffer, those who need to know the Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet, and find meaning in their lives," the pontiff added.

To achieve this, he advised "accepting our own poverty, letting go of all pretense and recognizing our own inherent need for the Gospel. And this process is a communal endeavor."

3. Go and mend the nets.

Just as Jesus called his first apostles while they were mending their fishing nets, Pope Leo XIV said that "he also asks this of us."

The pope noted that "he asks the same of us today. Indeed, he asks us to weave other nets: networks of relationships, of love, of gratuitous sharing where friendship is profound and authentic."

"Networks where we can mend what has been broken, heal from loneliness, not focus on the number of followers but experience the greatness of infinite love in every encounter," he counseled.

In short, the pontiff encouraged the missionaries and influencers to create "networks that give space to others more than to ourselves, where no 'bubble' can silence the voices of the weakest; networks that liberate and save; networks that help us rediscover the beauty of looking into each other's eyes; networks of truth. In this way, every story of shared goodness will be a knot in a single, immense network: the network of networks, the network of God."

He also invited them to be "agents of communion" and to avoid individualism. Finally, he thanked them for their commitment and for the help they offer to those suffering, and "for your journey along the virtual highways."

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, Jul 29, 2025 / 16:59 pm (CNA).

A coalition of Protestant denominations filed a lawsuit on July 28 to challenge a policy from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration that makes it easier for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to arrest suspects at churches and other sensitive locations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in January rescinded the previous administration's guidelines that had prevented ICE agents from conducting immigration arrests at churches and other sensitive locations unless there is approval from a supervisor or there is an urgent need to take enforcement action, such as an imminent threat.

The lawsuit brought by the Protestant coalition argues that the change in policy violates the First Amendment's right to the free exercise of religion and two federal laws: the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Churches suing the administration over the policy include several synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America along with Quaker churches, Baptist churches, and community churches. The nonprofit Democracy Forward is serving as co-counsel in the lawsuit.

"Raids in churches and sacred spaces violate decades of norms in both Democratic and Republican administrations, core constitutional protections, and basic human decency," Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman said in a statement.

"Faith communities should not have to choose between their spiritual commitments and the safety of their congregants," Perryman said. "Democracy Forward is honored to be alongside these religious leaders in court. We will not give up until this unlawful and dangerous policy is struck down."

Under the current rules, the formerly "sensitive" locations — such as churches, other houses of worship, schools, hospitals, shelters, and playgrounds — do not receive the special protections they had under the previous administration.

Yet a memo from DHS at the time instructed ICE agents to still maintain discretion and "balance a variety of interests" including the degree to which enforcement actions should be taken in one of those locations. It tells agents to use "a healthy dose of common sense."

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin countered the lawsuit's narrative in a statement provided to CNA, saying that any enforcement in houses of worship would be "extremely rare."

"Our officers use discretion," she said. "Officers would need secondary supervisor approval before any action can be taken in locations such as a church or a school."

The lawsuit contends it is not enough that the discretion is "guided only by 'common sense'" and said the policy "does not require any internal process before agents may carry out enforcement at these locations" and "does not require that exigent circumstances exist before agents enter."

Effects of the DHS policy change

The lawsuit alleges that the policy change causes people to "reasonably fear attending houses of worship" and that some churches represented in the lawsuit "have seen both attendance and financial giving plummet." It states that this impugns the free exercise of religion and argues that the new policy is not the least restrictive way to further the government's interest of immigration enforcement.

"Congregations whose faith compels them to worship with open doors and open arms have suddenly had to lock those doors and train their staff how to respond to immigration raids," the lawsuit contests. "In many places of faith across the United States, the open joy and spiritual restoration of communal worship has been replaced by isolation, concealment, and fear."

Similar concerns have also been raised by Catholic dioceses. For example, the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, issued a Sunday Mass dispensation for those fearing deportation. Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez said people are missing Mass amid such fears.

The lawsuit further states that the administration's policy change has also "led to a growing number of immigration enforcement actions at or near these formerly protected areas."

Although there are no allegations of targeted raids in churches, the lawsuit cites examples of immigration arrests on or near church properties.

It references two arrests in the San Bernardino Diocese: one in which men were chased into a church parking lot and another in which a man was doing landscaping work. It also references two arrests near churches in Los Angeles and the arrest of a man near a church in Oregon.

"The present threat of surveillance, interrogation, or arrest at their houses of worship means, among other things, fewer congregants participating in communal worship; a diminished ability to provide or participate in religious ministries; and interference with their ability to fulfill their religious mandates, including their obligations to welcome all comers to worship and not to put any person in harm's way," the lawsuit states.

McLaughlin, however, disputed these claims, saying that the policy change "gives our law enforcement the ability to do their jobs."

"We are protecting our schools [and] places of worship by preventing criminal aliens and gang members from exploiting these locations and taking safe haven there because these criminals knew law enforcement couldn't go inside under the Biden administration," she said.

Other religious groups have brought similar lawsuits against the DHS following the policy shift.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 29, 2025 / 17:29 pm (CNA).

Holy Name Medical Center, the only independent Catholic health system in New Jersey, announced it has received a $75 million gift, the largest-ever donation to a U.S.-based Catholic health system. 

"This transformational gift is not just about its remarkable size; it's about the profound impact it will have on Holy Name's ability to tackle some of the most critical health care challenges facing our community in the decades to come," the hospital's president and CEO, Michael Maron, said in a press release on Monday in which he announced the sizable donation from the Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation.

Holy Name Medical Center, located in Teaneck, New Jersey, hosted a special event to celebrate the gift and honor the legacy of the late Dr. Doug Noble, an accomplished neuroradiologist who passed away in 2019. His mother, Joan Noble, made the donation to the hospital on its 100th anniversary in honor of her son.

"My son was a very special person. Not only to me, as his mother, but also to the people in his world of medicine. Doug was an intelligent, dynamic individual sharing so much — energetically and with integrity and love," Noble said at the event. "It became clear to me in order to make Doug's legacy endure beyond any one individual's or organization's memory, including my own, I needed to give the gift that was Doug's to a place that would appreciate it — and him; one that would turn his compassionate vision into reality in a way that he would endorse."

"It was a challenging journey," she added, "but through Father Roy Regaspi and prayer, I was blessed to be introduced to the people and mission of Holy Name. It is here at Holy Name where I found Doug's legacy would live on."

"In deciding where to bestow the funds of the Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation, the fact that Holy Name is a faith-based Catholic health organization entered strongly into Joan Noble's decision," Cathleen Davey, president of the Holy Name Foundation, told CNA. "Mrs. Noble told us she had prayed on the question for some time and that her prayers were answered with Holy Name."

"Doug was a person of faith, and we learned that his desire to emulate Jesus as a healer was something very close to his heart," Davey said. "Where could these funds promote the kind of medical competence and compassionate care that Doug himself delivered? Where could young physicians be trained as Doug himself taught — not only in the knowledge and skills of doctoring but in the concept of servant leadership?"

"So in getting to know Holy Name, it became apparent to Mrs. Noble that ours was the kind of health system Doug would have appreciated and endorsed," Davey continued.

The historic gift will be used to expand the hospital's specialized care units, according to Maron, including the hospital's Level III neonatal intensive care unit as well as a new neuroendovascular institute.

The funds will also help launch the hospital's graduate medical education program to help counter ongoing physician shortages.

"The potential impact is limitless — enhancing patient care, fueling medical innovation, attracting the best physician talent, and allowing us to continuously grow and adapt in line with our core values of compassion and healing," Maron said.

New Jersey Democrat state Sen. Paul Sarlo, who is Catholic, also attended the event.

"Congratulations to Holy Name and God bless the Noble Family Foundation for this donation," Sarlo said at the event, adding: "This does not happen in a vacuum. This family doesn't make this contribution to any institution. It made it to Holy Name because when you walk into this place you feel like you belong. You are rooted in that Catholic mission. This gift is a compliment to each and every individual in this hospital. The work you do, day in and day out, ensures folks receive the care they need with gifts like this."

U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou and state Sens. Joseph Lagana and Gordon Johnson were also present.

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Vatican City, Jul 29, 2025 / 13:52 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle urged Catholic content creators gathered in Rome for the first-ever Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers to "be discerning" in how they use their platforms, warning against the spiritual dangers of misinformation and manipulation online. 

"You are not only influencers, you are also missionaries," Tagle said during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on July 29, addressing more than 1,700 Catholic creators from 75 countries who came to the Vatican for the two-day event coinciding with the Jubilee of Youth.

"Dear digital missionaries and Catholic influencers: Jesus loves you. Do not doubt him. Accept him as the greatest influence on your life. And through you, may the person of Jesus influence many people, human and digital spaces, so that God's truth, justice, love, and peace may flow to the ends of the earth," he said.

Organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Dicastery for Communication, the jubilee marked a historic first for the Catholic Church: a large-scale Vatican initiative aimed at those proclaiming the Gospel in the digital age.

Clergy and laypeople alike, many of them young and active on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, gathered to reflect on evangelization in the digital sphere. Pilgrims could be seen taking selfies under the dome of St. Peter's and exchanging social media handles in the colonnade. 

"I've been meeting a lot of people who have content I follow and people who follow me," 24-year-old American Sophie Chamblee from Indiana told CNA.

Chamblee has more than 59,000 followers for her Instagram page, Playground Saints, where she shares cartoon stickers of the saints and posts humorous videos about imaginary conversations between the saints in heaven.

"Everybody here is after the same thing … so we all understand each other in ways that other people can't," she said.

In his homily, Tagle, pro-prefect for the Section for First Evangelization, shared a personal warning about the risks of digital manipulation: a deepfake video of him advertising arthritis medication recently circulated online.

"To influence consumers so that monetary profit may increase, some manufacturers resort to false advertising, even using famous personalities," he said. "I discovered videos generated by I don't know who, of me advertising medicine for arthritis."

Tagle, who was considered a papabile in the 2013 and 2025 conclaves, drew criticism ahead of the most recent papal election when a viral video showed him singing karaoke to John Lennon's "Imagine." His comments during the homily reflected on the moral complexities of navigating digital fame.

"I pose this question: Will we let the water and blood of Jesus poured for love of us to be the true fluid of influence that will wash away all iniquity, falsehood, injustice, prejudice, manipulation, and violence?" Tagle asked the congregation.

"Let the love of God in Jesus and the Holy Spirit prevent various poisonous influences from flowing into human hearts."

Tagle also cautioned against mistaking technological connection for true Christian witness.

"God did not send to us a text message or an email, or a file document. Rather, God sent his Son," he said.

"Love cannot be generated by an algorithm. Only a divine person with a human heart can love divinely and humanly, effecting profound and enduring change," he added. 

As the Mass concluded, the pilgrims received a surprise visit from Pope Leo XIV, who entered St. Peter's to a sea of raised smartphones. Switching seamlessly between Italian, English, and Spanish, the pope emphasized the importance of authenticity and human dignity in digital evangelization.

"Science and technology influence the way we live in the world, even affecting how we understand ourselves and how we relate to God, how we relate to one another," the pope said.  

"But nothing that comes from man and his creativity should be used to undermine the dignity of others. Our mission — your mission — is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism, and to do so together. This is the beauty of the 'network' for all of us." 

With artificial intelligence playing an increasingly dominant role in global communication, Pope Leo challenged influencers to examine their witness.

"This is a challenge that we must face: reflecting on the authenticity of our witness, on our ability to listen and speak, and on our capacity to understand and to be understood," he said. "We have a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking, to develop a language, of our time, that gives voice to love." 

"It is not simply a matter of generating content but of creating an encounter of hearts," the pope said.

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ACI MENA, Jul 29, 2025 / 14:23 pm (CNA).

For the first time in its history, the Church is celebrating a jubilee dedicated to digital missionaries, recognizing the vital role they play in spreading the Gospel in today's digital world.

Among them are Catholics influencers from the Middle East, from lands where evangelization first began, shaped by persecution yet marked by deep resilience, and carrying with them a witness born from both suffering and unshakable hope.

A Chaldean voice for Christ online

Among the participants is Father Simon Esaki, a Chaldean Catholic priest from California with Iraqi roots. He currently serves as pastor of St. Michael Chaldean Catholic Church in El Cajon. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, he began focusing on digital evangelization during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"I was on social media before that, but during that time is when I really started to focus on spreading the Gospel using social media because of the closure of many churches. People were not going to church, and so I felt the need to go where the people were, which is on social media. I saw that people were using it a lot, and so I decided to start making videos to share the Gospel and to encourage people about their faith, to teach them, and to help them love Jesus more."

For Esaki, this work is part of his vocation: "I see my social media work as an extension of my priestly mission, because my priestly mission is to help people know and love Jesus more. I do that at my church, but I also do that on social media."

He said he was moved to take part in the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries because of the source of the invitation itself.

"I was drawn to participate in this jubilee because it's a very special thing to receive an invitation from a dicastery of the Catholic Church itself, and so I really felt called to come here because of that. I think it's a very special and beautiful thing that the Church has initiated this… It's the Church gathering her children who are in the mission field, this very special mission field of the digital world, and it's the Church encouraging us, giving us tools, and uniting us to fulfill this great and beautiful mission."

Reflecting on the impact of the jubilee, Esaki added: "I think that one of the fruits of this digital jubilee is that we are all being united in Christ in a very special way, because there's a real unity that comes with being physically connected to one another. Yes, we are all digitally connected over these years, but this is a real special physical unity, which is the goal of our life in Christ. It's to be united to him. And that's what I hope is the ultimate fruit of this: that we are able to unite with one another, and we are able to help others be more united to Jesus Christ in his Church."

Twins amplify the voice of Eastern Christians

Also taking part in the jubilee are Charbel and Giovanni Lteif, Maronite Catholic twin brothers who manage some of the most prominent Christian social media accounts in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Through their platform, which has over 615,000 followers on Instagram, they aim to amplify the voice and presence of Eastern Christian communities in the digital space. 

Giovanni told ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, that he hopes their participation in this jubilee can offer encouragement to those just beginning their digital mission. He emphasized the need for the Eastern Christian world to be more visible and engaged.

Charbel highlighted the value of learning from the experiences of other brothers and sisters in Christ and deepening his understanding of how the Church views the digital world. 

Together, the twins also carried an ecumenical message, underscoring the importance of unity between Catholics and Orthodox, especially in regions where Christians face persecution. They also issued a heartfelt call for prayer for peace across the Middle East and North Africa.

From the peripheries of Lebanon to Rome

Another participant from Lebanon is Michel Hayek, founder of Yasou3ouna, a popular platform dedicated to prayer and spiritual reflections. With over 85,000 followers on Instagram and 290,000 on Facebook, Yasou3ouna has become a space where thousands turn daily for comfort, encouragement, and faith. 

"I chose to take part in the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries because I believe the Christian message must reach everyone, and today's digital platforms have become the new pulpit for bearing witness and proclaiming the faith," he said. "I feel a spiritual responsibility to use these tools in service of God's word, spreading hope and love in a world often overwhelmed by noise and superficiality."

This experience, Hayek said, also deepened his awareness of what it means to be a Christian from the Middle East. "I carry a rich spiritual heritage rooted in the land of Christ, a land that, despite pain and trials, has witnessed the Resurrection. It teaches us to remain steadfast and hopeful in the face of suffering."

As a Lebanese influencer from Akkar, a marginalized region in northern Lebanon often overlooked and heavily affected by poverty and instability, Hayek sees his mission as giving voice to a Church that remains alive against the odds.

"I offer a testimony of a Church that is still vibrant, despite all the political and economic challenges. I bring a spirit of openness and dialogue, and a sincere commitment to peace and love. Through the content I share, I try to express the Eastern Christian faith in a modern, accessible way, one that speaks to hearts across the world."

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

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Vatican City, Jul 29, 2025 / 10:47 am (CNA).

The Vatican's doctrinal office has expressed reservations about an alleged Marian apparition site in southern Italy, permitting only private devotion and warning that claims that a deceased woman has communicated messages through a guardian angel "require further study."

Sant'Onofrio is a mountain in the southern Italian region of Molise, close to the town of Agnone. Since 2009, a resident  of the area, Michelino Marcovecchio, has claimed to receive visions of the Virgin Mary and messages from her.

He has also claimed to hear the voice of his deceased mother-in-law, Livia Casciano, through his guardian angel.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) gave the alleged supernatural experiences at Mount Sant'Onofrio a judgment of "prae oculis habeatur" ("let it be held before the eyes"), meaning there are "important positive signs" but "some aspects of confusion or potential risk are also perceived," and "doctrinal clarification might be necessary."

The DDF said "private worship is permitted," including personal visits in pairs or small groups to the cross or Stations of the Cross erected on Mount Sant'Onofrio.

Acts of public worship, however, are not allowed, including pilgrimages, pastoral events, and the celebration of Mass in places linked to the alleged spiritual experiences. Information about the phenomenon and its alleged messages may also not be disseminated without approval from Church authorities.

In a letter to Bishop Camillo Cibotti of Isernia-Venafro and Trivento, DDF prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández wrote that there is value to the content of some of the messages received by Marcovecchio and "signs of the action of the Holy Spirit in the midst of this alleged supernatural phenomenon."

However, he added, "some aspects of confusion or potential risks are also perceived that require the diocesan bishop to engage in a careful discernment and dialogue with the recipients of a given spiritual experience.

The cardinal also drew attention to two aspects of the alleged manifestations requiring particular care on the part of the bishop. 

First, some members of the local clergy had failed to observe the previous bishop's decision to prohibit any form of public or private worship related to the alleged apparitions and even appeared to urge disobedience.

The second potential issue was the "unusual fact that some souls of the deceased are said to manifest themselves to the alleged visionary through the work of his guardian angel."

Fernández said the alleged apparitions experienced on Mount Sant'Onofrio follow the Church's teaching on the relationship between the living and the dead but "in a manner that shows its originality with respect to spiritual tradition and which would therefore require further study."

The prefect invited the bishop to ensure those who follow and promote the spiritual experiences at Mount Sant'Onofrio keep in mind "that the line between lawful and risky practices is rather thin."

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