Catholic News

Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, OFM Conv, archbishop of Tehran, shared a message reflecting on his experience celebrating Easter in Rome amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In his April 6 message published in Agenzia Fides, Mathieu emphasized that "in the communion of saints and in the grace of the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, we are truly united, even when we cannot be so visibly. ... I celebrated the Easter Vigil carrying you all in my heart: far from my flock, but precisely for this reason, in a mysterious way, close to each one of you."

Cambodia welcomes 375 new Catholics

The minority Catholic population in Cambodia has reported a surge in the number of baptisms this Easter, according to Fides News Agency.

Apostolic Prefect of Battambang Father Enrique Figaredo said 92 people were baptized in his province, while 152 catechumens were baptized in the capital city of Phnom Penh and 131 were welcomed into the Church in Kampong Cham.

"The new baptisms of young people and adults that we celebrated this year are a sign of great hope. They show that young Cambodians hear God's call and want to follow it. For our Church, they are a true source of strength and life," Figaredo said.

Filipino bishop condemns Easter ritual involving dove and balloon

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan in the Philippines reprimanded a local parish for the way it used a live dove in an Easter ritual involving a balloon, according to a Licas News report Wednesday.

The report said the bird was tied to the balloon during the ritual, causing distress to the animal, which was eventually killed.

"I was not aware that there was a subsequent practice of tying the pigeon to balloons, with its wings restrained. Had I known, I would have objected, because this is not only cruel to the animal but also harmful to the environment, especially to marine life that may ingest deflated balloons," David said after the incident drew controversy among the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

Christians in southern Lebanon at odds with state and Hezbollah operatives

Lebanon's Christian community is reacting with growing fury after an Israeli strike killed Pierre Maouad, a Lebanese Forces official; his wife, Flavia; and their neighbor, Roula, on Easter Sunday, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News reported Tuesday.

The deaths quickly fueled accusations that Hezbollah operatives had been using civilians as cover in Christian areas, especially after conflicting accounts emerged about whether the targeted apartment had been occupied. The episode has deepened mistrust toward both Hezbollah and state institutions, with many residents dismissing the Lebanese Army's explanation of events and demanding accountability.

In several neighborhoods, the fear has translated into stricter local vigilance, new security measures, and louder calls for self-protection, as many Christians insist they are being forced to bear the cost of a war not of their making.

South Korean archdiocese launches Carlo Acutis-inspired AI initiative

The Archdiocese of Seoul has announced it will soon launch AI-integrated information services inspired by St. Carlo Acutis.

The first phase of the initiative will launch in May and will integrate data across services provided by the archdiocese, including catechism, pastoral programs, and volunteer work, with its other information systems, UCA News reported Wednesday.

The second phase will focus on the archdiocese's administrative systems from 2029–2031. The report said the initiative will also promote World Youth Day 2027, which is set to take place in Seoul.

3 Asian Church leaders appointed by pope to communications dicastery

Three prominent Asian prelates have been tapped by Pope Leo XIV to serve on the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication.

The Vatican announced Thursday the appointments of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the Dicastery for Evangelization; Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Damão, India, and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences; and Bishop Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit, president of the Office of Social Communications of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

The Dicastery for Communication oversees the various media outlets of the Holy See, including the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican News website, Vatican Radio, Vatican Television Center, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican.va website, and the Holy Father's X account @pontifex.

French church targeted by vandals on Holy Thursday

Vandals attacked a Catholic Church in the French city of Rosny-sous-Bois just outside of Paris, causing serious damage on Holy Thursday.

The unknown perpetrators drove a car into the Church of Saint-Laurent and vandalized the church's interior with an axe, according to an UOJ report Tuesday. The gates and doors of the church were destroyed, and the sacristy was vandalized, the report said, noting that nothing was stolen.

Religious sisters remain in Yemen amid ongoing conflict

A group of 10 sisters from the Missionaries of Charity are continuing to minister to communities in Yemen despite war and instability in the gulf region.

"The most concrete example of mission in a war-torn area is that of the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the priest who lives with them," Bishop Paolo Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, said in an interview, according to Licas News, noting the sisters provide companionship to the small community of Catholics. "I am impressed by their joy, by their joy at being in Yemen and being able to be close to the suffering people."

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Catholic organizations are still providing shelter, food, and aid as Israel continues airstrikes throughout Lebanon and Israeli and Hezbollah forces engage in firefights throughout the south.

The military carried out its deadliest attack of the war on April 8, killing more than 300 people throughout southern and eastern Lebanon and inside Beirut and its surrounding suburbs.

Although Iranian officials continue to assert that Lebanon was included in the U.S.-Iran two-week ceasefire agreement, American and Israeli officials contend this was never promised.

Many people in Lebanon initially believed their country was included in the ceasefire.

Cedric Choukeir, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) country representative for Lebanon, told EWTN News that Wednesday, April 8, was "a little bit of an emotional roller coaster because people woke up to the news of a ceasefire" and many people were "hopeful" until they heard reports that neither the U.S. nor Israel recognized Lebanon as part of the agreement.

"When the strikes happened, it was very sudden," said Choukeir, who works in the capital city of Beirut. "Everything happened within 10 minutes. The strikes were across the country."

Most of the strikes occurred within a 10-minute window in the early afternoon. Choukeir said Israel provided no warning before the attack and the strikes included locations that are not covered in evacuation orders as well as villages that had not previously been hit.

He said "people were just going about their daily business in areas they considered themselves to be safe in," adding that some of the strikes were in "heavily populated" areas in and around Beirut.

"No one felt safe in Beirut and anyone who could leave, left," Choukeir said.

He said "we had a few people in the office" during the strikes, and "it's traumatizing for most of us because it's hard to tell what's going on; you definitely hear the airstrikes happening."

"You feel the vibrations, the shaking, the impact of the explosions," Choukeir said, adding that "the level of chaos is similar to what we experienced a little bit in the Beirut blast [in 2020] and the [Israeli] pager attack in 2024."

He said everyone in Beirut heard the "sound of ambulances nonstop for several hours after the strikes" and "hospitals were filled up, everyone was coming for blood donations."

Every one of his team members at CRS in Beirut knows someone who was impacted by the strikes, including people who suffered injuries, he said.

Jesuit Father Daniel Corrou, Middle East and North Africa regional director for Jesuit Refugee Service, similarly told EWTN News that initially, "there was a sense of relief here" amid news of a ceasefire.

Corrou also serves as a parish priest at St. Joseph in Beirut and has opened up his church as a shelter, primarily for migrant workers and ethnic minorities.

Many people, he said, believed "there's an end in sight." People were "moving from shelters, and the roads going to the south were full again; the people were moving back down to that area," he said.

When the strikes happened, Corrou said, "it was everywhere all at once" and people promptly turned their cars back around, away from the south, and "it was sheer chaos on the streets."

Since the attacks, he said the number of people he has seen camping on the streets doubled, but he is unsure whether these are new people or people who were in shelters before the attack. Government-run and privately-run shelters, he noted, are completely full.

"We have seen an uptick in the number of people trying to get in [for shelter at our church]," Corrou said. "We're at capacity. We're completely saturated here."

Fighting continues as peace talks begin

Choukeir said it's difficult to know how recent attacks will impact the number of displaced people in Lebanon: "It's changing on a daily basis ... people are leaving some neighborhoods in the suburbs and going up to Beirut, while some are moving further north."

"Definitely no one's going back home, I think," he said. "People are reluctant to go back."

Israel's destruction of bridges that cross the Litani River has also caused problems for those who remain in the south to leave at this point, according to Choukeir. He said there are about 150,000 people remaining there despite evacuation orders. Many are in Tyre, but this includes at least three Christian villages that are difficult to reach: Debel, Rmeish, and Ain Ebel.

Choukeir said only one bridge still functions and just one lane is operational, but "the moment that bridge is cut, there are very few options."

"The supplies that people have there aren't going to last for weeks and weeks," he warned. "Some of the items are going to run out in days."

Corrou noted that several hospitals were struck in Israel's most recent attack and more than 40 health care workers have been killed during the conflict so far. He noted that Catholics have been delivering aid throughout the south, but some difficulties include recent news of a Vatican convoy being turned around after getting caught in a ground fight between Israel and Hezbollah.

He echoed messages coming from Pope Leo XIV about the conflict that "war is always a human failure" and "real peace will never come from violent conflict." Ultimately, peace for Lebanon will have to come from the "difficult, messy work of dialogue [and] diplomacy," the pope said.

As the Lebanese and Israeli governments signal talks aimed at peace, Choukeir said he thinks "everybody's tired of conflict, pain, suffering, [and] destruction," and "everyone would welcome any kind of cessation to hostilities" and a just, long-lasting peace.

"We pray it would allow people to return home and live in dignity and safety with the hope that their children can have a bright and prosperous future," he said. "But I haven't felt optimism yet. I think the road from … where we are to that hopeful future isn't clear to people."

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President Donald Trump was elected in 2024 with support from a majority of Catholic voters, but a poll shows his support from Catholics dipping below 50% amid the U.S. war against Iran.

The poll, conducted March 20–23 jointly by Republican pollster Shaw & Co. Research and Democratic pollster Beacon Research, found that 48% of Catholic voters approve of the job Trump is doing as president and 52% disapprove.

It found that 23% of Catholics strongly approve of the job he is doing, 25% somewhat approve, 12% somewhat disapprove, and 40% strongly disapprove. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3%.

Pope Leo XIV and Catholic bishops in the United States and globally have encouraged Trump to pursue peace and diplomacy, as opposed to war, in Iran. With peace negotiations underway, the Holy Father echoed his call for more diplomacy in an April 10 post on X.

"God does not bless any conflict," Leo said. "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples."

God does not bless any conflict.

Pope Leo XIV

In the 2024 election, Trump won the Catholic vote by a 12-point margin, securing 55% of the voting bloc's support, compared with former Vice President Kamala Harris' 43%. In 2020, Trump won 49% of the Catholic vote, compared with former President Joe Biden's 50%.

This poll comes as Trump's support is dwindling with the broader American public as well. The poll found that only 41% of all voters approve of the president, and 59% disapprove.

Iran war disapproval

The poll found that most Catholics disapprove of Trump's actions in Iran and the use of military force against the country but still favor some American influence in the region.

According to the poll, only 40% of Catholics approve of the way Trump has handled the conflict with Iran, and 60% disapprove. It found that 45% of Catholics support military force against Iran and 55% oppose military force. Similarly, 45% of Catholics believe military action against Iran is going well, and 55% believe it is not going well.

The poll found that 39% of Catholics believe attacks on Iran will make the country safer, 38% believe it will make the country less safe, and 23% believe it will not make much of a difference.

Alternatively, 71% of Catholics believe ending Iran's nuclear program is important, and 29% said it is not important. It found 61% said it is important to bring about changes in Iran's government, and 39% said it is not important.

The poll also found that 71% of Catholics believe it is important to protect the flow of oil from the region, and 29% believe it is not important. It found that 73% of Catholics believe it is important to reduce Iran's support for terrorism, and 27% believe it is not important.

According to the poll, 74% of Catholics are concerned about Iran potentially getting a nuclear weapon, and 26% are not concerned.

2024 coalition 'in tatters'

John White, professor emeritus of politics at The Catholic University of America, told EWTN News that he believes Trump's 2024 coalition "is now in tatters [and] Catholics are no exception."

"The Iran War is unpopular with the American public and Catholics reflect that," he said. "What may carry more resonance with Catholic voters are the strong and blunt statements about the war from Pope Leo. It is not unreasonable to assume that there is a higher level of cognitive dissonance among Catholics who support Trump but are hearing the words of the pope. For some, that may result in their shifting opinions."

Susan Hanssen, history professor at the University of Dallas — a Catholic institution — had a similar view about why Catholic support has dipped, telling EWTN News "a reversal of positions seems to be underway within the Catholic community.

"During Trump's campaign, Trump's supporters expressed hopes for a fundamental realignment of America's foreign policy, particularly withdrawing from 'forever wars,' while many of Trump's Catholic critics expressed concern during his campaign that he would disengage America from its support for Ukraine or [for] Israel," she said. "Support for Trump's strong stance on Iran seems to be coming now … from Catholics who were wary of Trump earlier."

Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, has departed the U.S. for his trip to Pakistan, where he plans to directly negotiate with Iranian leaders for a long-term peace while both sides hold off on military strikes during a two-week ceasefire.

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On April 10, Pope Leo XIV received French President Emmanuel Macron for the first time since the beginning of his pontificate. Accompanying Macron was his wife, Brigitte.

Following the closed-door meeting at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace that lasted an hour, the French president said he was "very happy" to have met with the Holy Father, adding that both share "a common conviction: In the face of the world's divisions, action for peace is a duty and a requirement."

"France will always work toward dialogue, justice, and fraternity among peoples," Macron wrote on X.

The Élysée Palace saw this meeting as an opportunity to "recognize the essential role of the Holy See and the Holy Father's personal commitment to peace, dialogue, and solidarity among peoples, as well as to demonstrate France's willingness to work jointly with the Holy See toward this end."

During the traditional exchange of gifts, Macron presented Pope Leo XIV with a French national basketball team jersey signed by the players, a book on the reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following the 2019 fire, and a map of the Mississippi region created by French missionaries in 1617.

The pontiff presented the French president with a decorative ceramic tile symbolizing abundance, along with his message for this year's World Day of Peace.

According to the Vatican, Macron subsequently met with the Holy See's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations.

During the meeting at the Secretariat of State, they addressed various international issues, particularly conflicts around the world.

Both Macron and Vatican officials expressed the hope that peaceful coexistence might be restored through dialogue and negotiation.

The day before, on April 9, Macron visited the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome, an organization characterized by its promotion of international ecumenical prayer gatherings for peace.

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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Pope Leo XIV on Friday appointed Father Andrea Ciucci chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The Italian priest has served as the academy's secretariat coordinator since 2016.

Originally from Milan, the 59-year-old Ciucci has a doctorate in the philosophy of religion from the Pontifical University of Sant'Anselmo in Rome. After serving as a parish vicar in Milan, he worked at the former Pontifical Council for the Family from 2012–2016.

He is also the general secretary of the RenAIssance Foundation, a Vatican institution that promotes an ethical perspective on artificial intelligence.

Ciucci is a professor at the Pontifical Theological Institute John Paul II in Rome and he is a public speaker and writer on the topic of new technologies and their influence on young people and families.

Last month, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Renzo Pegoraro, received the title of "bishop" from Pope Leo for his role.

Pegoraro was chancellor of the academy from 2011 until his appointment as president in May 2025.

According to the academy's statutes, the chancellor "may represent the Pontifical Academy for Life on behalf of the president and collaborates with him in the direction and administration of the academy's activities."

The Pontifical Academy for Life was founded in February 1994 by St. John Paul II. It is one of several academic and cultural institutions at the Vatican that bring together experts in their fields to discuss issues of relevance to the Church and the world.

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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation this week that strengthens parents' ability to have their children briefly excused from public school during the school day to receive religious instruction.

The Republican governor approved Senate Bill 248, known as the Alabama Released Time Credit Act, on April 8. The new law takes effect July 1.

The measure allows parents to choose for their child to participate in a released-time program sponsored by a church or local community-based religious organization. Instruction must take place off school grounds, be privately funded, and require no use of taxpayer money. Schools are not responsible for transportation or liable for students during the released time.

Students may earn elective credit for participating, provided they complete any missed schoolwork and meet state education guidelines. School boards can deny a request only if there is an objective substantial risk of physical harm to the student.

The bill passed the state Senate 32-0 and the state House 88-4 after revisions.

Supporters say it protects parental rights and religious liberty without burdening public schools.

Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Greg Chafuen praised the law in a statement: "The government shouldn't stop families from raising their children in their family's faith. SB 248 respects parents' educational decisions, allowing public school children to be briefly excused from school to receive free, off-campus religious instruction taught by private charitable organizations."

"As the U.S. Supreme Court has explained, respecting parents' decisions for their child to participate in released-time programs 'follows the best of our traditions,'" he wrote.

Chafuen commended the Alabama Legislature as well as Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and Ivey "for their commitment to ensuring that parents remain in the driver's seat when it comes to their children's education."

The legislation updates a 2019 law and adds clearer guidelines and protections requested by school superintendents.

Critics have raised concerns about church-state separation and potential logistical challenges for schools.

Released-time programs have historically been used more frequently by Protestant and evangelical groups, though Catholic parishes could organize similar off-campus faith formation sessions under the new rules.

At least a dozen other states have similar laws allowing students to leave campus for voluntary religious instruction.

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The Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków, Poland — one of the foremost pilgrimage centers in the Catholic world — is preparing to welcome thousands of the faithful for Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12.

According to official information released by the shrine, the celebrations will be marked by liturgical observances and moments of prayer in response to the request of St. Faustina Kowalska, who conveyed the words of Jesus: "I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the feast of mercy."

Mass and vigil celebration

Under this year's theme, "God, the Merciful Father... To You We Entrust the Destiny of the World," the organizers invite the faithful to the commencement of celebrations on Saturday, April 11, with a vigil Mass in the basilica to be celebrated by the archbishop emeritus of Kraków, Marek Jedraszewski.

After the Mass, a prayer vigil will take place, continuing through the early morning hours. At midnight, another Mass will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Janusz Mastalski of Kraków. Afterward, the faithful will continue to participate in the vigil until 5 a.m.

On Divine Mercy Sunday, the Mass will be celebrated at the outdoor altar by the archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, who also serves as the honorary patron of the event.

During this celebration, the so-called "Bell of Hope" destined for the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania, will be blessed.

One of the most significant moments will be the solemn hour of mercy, a practice deeply connected to this devotion, which will be observed in the basilica at 3 p.m., coinciding with the hour of Christ's death.

A shrine marked by history and faith

The shrine's current basilica was built from 1999 to 2002 and was consecrated on Aug. 17, 2002, by St. John Paul II, who at that site entrusted the entire world to divine mercy.

The basilica is noted for its symbolism: Its shape evokes an ark, a sign of salvation for those who place their trust in God. Inside, a tabernacle shaped like a globe representing humanity in need of mercy is situated alongside the image of the merciful Jesus.

It also houses depictions of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II — great apostles of this devotion — as well as one of the largest stained-glass windows in Kraków, which symbolizes the light of divine mercy radiating upon the world.

Mass schedule

The shrine has scheduled multiple Eucharistic celebrations throughout the day:

6 a.m. (basilica), celebrated by Father Tomasz Szopa

8 a.m. (basilica), celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Damian Muskus

10 a.m. (outdoor altar), principal Mass with Cardinal Rys

12:30 p.m. (basilica), celebrated by Father Robert Wozniak

4 p.m. (outdoor altar), celebrated by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served as secretary to St. John Paul II for over 40 years.

6 p.m. (basilica), with the participation of young people

7 p.m. (convent chapel)

Broadcasts and global participation

All celebrations will be broadcast on television and digital platforms. The main Mass will be aired on TVP1, while the hour of mercy can be followed on EWTN.

Additionally, the shrine will offer online broadcasts via its official website and YouTube channel, enabling the participation of the faithful from around the world.

The shrine has implemented various logistical measures to accommodate the crowds expected to attend the celebration.

Confessions will be available throughout the night and on Sunday, including in several languages, and Communion will be distributed between Masses.

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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The Vatican on Friday said the narrative in some media outlets about a meeting at the Pentagon between senior U.S. defense officials and the pope's then-representative to the U.S. "does not correspond to the truth."

According to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, his meeting with Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby in January was part of the former nuncio's "regular mission and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest," Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement April 10.

"The narrative presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all," Bruni added.

Bruni's statement followed an April 6 report by The Free Press claiming Pierre, then the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., received "a bitter lecture" in a January meeting with defense officials, reportedly because of a speech in which Pope Leo XIV criticized "a diplomacy based on force."

According to The Free Press, the pope's message was interpreted as a criticism of U.S. policy by Pentagon officials, who told Pierre: "America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side."

The U.S. Department of Defense, in a post on X on April 9, said that a "substantive, respectful, and professional" meeting took place on Jan. 22, but "recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted."

"During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics. Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue," the department said. It also shared photos from the meeting.

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The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, also commented on the Pentagon meeting on X on April 9. Burch said he had spoken to the former nuncio who "emphatically denied the media's portrayal of his meeting with Colby."

Pierre, Burch wrote, "described the meeting as 'frank, but very cordial' and a 'normal encounter.' He confirmed that the reporting 'does not reflect what happened' and was 'just invented to make a story.'"

Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported April 10 that one senior Vatican official had described the conversation as having moments of tension, with some U.S. officials being "aggressive" and "bullying," though "there was no question of anybody threatening anyone."

Pope Leo accepted Pierre's resignation as nuncio in March for reaching the age limit and appointed Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as his new representative to the U.S.

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The bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday as part of their synodal meetings in Rome to elect a new patriarch. The encounter comes after Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako resigned as patriarch last month, prompting the bishops to gather in the Italian capital.

The electoral synod represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Chaldean Catholic Church, as the bishops are expected to choose a new shepherd to lead Chaldean Catholics amid complex internal and national challenges. The meetings also reflect a broader dimension that goes beyond the local framework, highlighting a close relationship with the Holy See.

Leo's hope for the next patriarch

The Holy Father addressed the bishops on April 10, praying that the Holy Spirit would guide them in their election of a patriarch. He expressed the hope that the patriarch would be a father in faith and a sign of unity; a person of the beatitudes who lives daily holiness based on fidelity, mercy, and purity of heart; and a shepherd close to his people, steadfast in prayer, capable of facing difficulties with hope, and working with the bishops in a spirit of unity.

The pope described the Chaldeans as guardians of a living and noble memory, and of a faith transmitted through the centuries with courage and fidelity. He added that their history is glorious but also marked by harsh experiences: wars, persecutions, and trials that affected their communities and scattered many believers around the world.

Leo further stated that it is precisely in these wounds that the witness of faith shines, because a Church that bears the scars of history shows how wounds, in the risen Lord, can become signs of hope and new life. He affirmed his closeness to them in their trials, calling for communion with Christians of other denominations.

He urged the bishops to remain vigilant and transparent in managing Church property, to exercise moderation and responsibility in the use of media, and to be cautious in public statements so that every word contributes to building ecclesial communion rather than harm it. He also emphasized the importance of forming priests, supporting consecrated persons, and accompanying laypeople. He highlighted the importance of believers remaining in their homelands and respecting the freedom of Christians in the Middle East.

He also described those present as signs of hope in a world full of violence, noting that they are called to be peacemakers, since only dialogue creates true peace. He said they have a great mission: to proclaim the risen Christ and keep hope alive.

Sako bids farewell to his Church

Leo accepted the resignation of Sako on March 10, one day after the patriarch requested to step down to "dedicate himself quietly to prayer, writing, and simple service."

In a farewell letter April 9, Sako expressed his deep gratitude to all those who supported him during his 13 years as patriarch, noting his profound emotion at the messages of solidarity he received from Church figures and believers of different backgrounds. He affirmed his commitment to pray for the Church and the bishops gathered in Rome, calling for the election of a patriarch who embodies unity and serves the people with love.

Sako also emphasized his neutrality in the electoral process, considering his absence from the synod an expression of respect for the bishops' freedom. He also reviewed key aspects of his ministry, through which he sought to balance tradition and renewal, affirming that ecclesial tradition must remain alive and engaged with the times.

Sako noted his influence since the Second Vatican Council, his participation in Catholic Church synods, and his role in the Middle East Council of Churches. These experiences, he said, shaped his efforts to develop Church discourse in liturgy and teaching in a modern and accessible language. He highlighted his efforts to strengthen Christian-Muslim dialogue, unify Church positions, defend the presence of Christians in Iraq, and advocate for a state based on citizenship and equality. He said he considers his resignation not an end but the beginning of a new phase of quiet service.

After the election and announcement of a new patriarch, a holy Mass, an expression of ecclesial communion, will be celebrated by the new leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Pope Leo XIV or his representative. The newly elected patriarch will also announce, in consultation with the synod fathers, the date of his enthronement at the patriarchal seat in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.

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A New Jersey congressman sharply criticized the Vatican for giving a platform to one of Beijing's top transplant officials at a 2017 international conference on organ trafficking.

During an April 9 event hosted by the Hudson Institute highlighting new evidence of forced organ harvesting in China, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, called out the Vatican for hosting China's leading transplant official at the Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism in 2017.

Smith was a panelist at the Hudson Institute event with Ethan Gutmann, the author of a new book, "The Xinjiang Procedure," which presents evidence of forced organ harvesting targeting Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim communities on an industrial scale in China.

Gutmann testified during the panel about his findings while on an undercover mission where he secretly interviewed former detainees of Chinese concentration camps, whose testimonies included accounts of gang rape, water torture, and forced organ harvesting.

"I've argued with [the Vatican]," Smith said. "If you're bringing in people who are doing terrible evil, you're giving them a platform."

Participants at the 2017 Vatican conference, organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, signed a statement agreeing to unite in fighting the crime of organ trafficking, submitting 11 proposals for implementation by health care and law enforcement professionals around the world.

China's participation in the conference was the source of controversy at the time, as the advocacy group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting said in a statement that there was "no evidence that past practices of forced organ harvesting have ended" in China.

The group further criticized the Vatican's decision to invite Huang Jiefu, Beijing's top official on transplants, saying that it would compromise the conference's image and objectives, when there was not sufficient evidence that China was changing its ways.

Human rights advocate and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Nina Shea, who also spoke at the April 9 event, echoed Smith's censure of the Vatican for hosting Jiefu.

She told EWTN News the Vatican's first point of leverage to help prevent organ harvesting is to "start by doing no harm."

"What they did was host the public face of the organ transplant sector of China at their conference in Rome," she said, describing Jiefu as a "longtime member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party."

Shea said the Vatican conference helped "open doors" for Jiefu with the World Health Organization (WHO), after which she said he proposed a "task force for best practices on organ transplants."

"That's part of his propaganda," she said. "The Vatican thought that was a great idea and introduced him to WHO, and when he proposed it, they said, 'Yes, at the Vatican's urging we'll create a task force and you're on it.'"

"So, they appointed this Chinese Communist Party Central Committee member, who is the vice minister of health and the public face of their organ transplant sector, to this task force," she said.

"Needless to say, the task force has done nothing," she said.

"I think Pope Leo should pronounce against forced organ harvesting. It's a great human rights issue," she said. "It hasn't been addressed on the world stage, and the pope has the platform to do that and the moral authority to do it."

Legislative efforts in the U.S.

On a policy level, Smith emphasized the need to "seriously criminalize" forced organ harvesting to combat the practice on an international level. He also lamented that the Senate failed to pass the Stop Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 after it passed in the House with nearly unanimously.

The congressman warned that the latest attempt to pass legislation with the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 could face the same fate if the Senate fails to lend its support.

The current legislation, he noted, would require the president to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in forced organ harvesting and authorize the State Department to revoke passports of individuals found complicit in the practice.

"This would have a chilling effect on [organ] brokers," Smith said.

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