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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 21, 2025 / 17:56 pm (CNA).

Protections for religious freedom in the U.S. have grown in recent years with multiple states adopting laws to strengthen the constitutional right to freely exercise one's religion.

As of 2025, 30 states have adopted a version of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) or similar legislative protection for religious freedom. 

The most recent states to adopt those protections for state-level laws were Georgia and Wyoming in 2025 and Iowa, Utah, and Nebraska in 2024. West Virginia and North Dakota adopted them in 2023 and South Dakota and Montana did the same in 2021.

RFRA was first adopted in 1993, when then-President Bill Clinton signed it into law to expand religious freedom protections. Under the law, the federal government cannot "substantially burden" the free exercise of religion unless there is a "compelling government interest" and it is carried out in the "least restrictive" means possible.

Congress passed the law in response to the 1990 Supreme Court decision in Employment Division v. Smith, which asserted that the First Amendment was not violated as long as a law was "neutral and generally applicable." The law was intended to provide a stronger safeguard for the free exercise of religion than what was provided by the highest court. 

Bipartisan consensus gone, but opposition weakening

When RFRA was adopted at the federal level in the 1990s, the protections had overwhelming bipartisan support. In the 2010s, that bipartisan consensus waned as most Democrats voiced opposition to the protections.

Tim Schultz, the president of the 1st Amendment Partnership, told CNA that in 2013, two states adopted RFRA with nearly unanimous support from Republicans and about two-thirds support from Democrats. However, the law became more divisive after the 2014 Supreme Court ruling in favor of exempting Hobby Lobby from a mandate to provide abortifacient drugs based on RFRA.

"That [bipartisan support] seems like a million years ago," Schultz said. "Now I would say Republican support is about the same as it was then. Democratic support is under 5%."

Although Schultz did not express optimism that bipartisan support could return any time soon, he credited some cultural shifts for the strong success in Republican-leaning states over the past four years.

From 2014 through 2020, he said business groups and LGBT groups "were working together very strongly … in opposition to religious freedom bills" because they saw them as threats to certain anti-discrimination laws related to workplace policies from religious employers.

However, post-2020, he said, "the politics of RFRA are far more favorable," and he noted there has been "far less opposition from business groups."

One reason for this change, according to Schultz, was the widely-published story of NCAA championship swimmer Lia Thomas, a biologically male swimmer who identified as a transgender woman and competed in women's sports. This led polling to "change on every issue related to LGBT," he noted.

Another reason, he argued, was the response to transgender-related policies by Target and the Bud Light ads, which led to "consumer anger at both of them." He noted the money lost by the corporations "made business groups say 'we are not going to have the same posture.'"

In spite of the partisanship that fuels the current debate, Schultz noted RFRA has been used to defend religious freedom on a wide range of issues, some of which have pleased conservatives and others that have pleased progressives.

Although RFRA has been used to defend religious freedom on issues related to contraception, abortion, gender, and sexuality, it has also been used to defend religious organizations that provide services for migrants. 

"[RFRA is] not politically predictable," Schultz said.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 21, 2025 / 18:26 pm (CNA).

Rodrigo Paz Pereira of the Christian Democratic Party is the president-elect of Bolivia after defeating former Bolivian President Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga Ramírez of the Free Alliance coalition in a close runoff election on Oct. 19.

Both were seen as candidates from the political right, although Paz Pereira is considered more centrist. The election marks the end of nearly two decades of the South American country's Movement Toward Socialism government, which brought Evo Morales to power as president in 2005 and to which outgoing President Luis Arce also belongs.

According to preliminary results, Paz Pereira obtained 54.61% of the vote, while his opponent obtained 45.39%. Quiroga acknowledged his defeat at a press conference.

'I want to thank our God'

In his first speech as president-elect, on the evening of Oct. 19, Paz Pereira stated: "I want to thank our God … because he is a blessed God who also gives boldness to make decisions that affect the homeland, that lead to moments like these."

"God, family, and homeland are the foundation of the vision we have regarding our commitment to all of Bolivia, to all Bolivians," he continued.

The president-elect said that "it is with love that the country works out its differences, not with hatred or divisions. It is with the ability to unite all together for the purpose of moving our country forward," encouraging people to avoid "any more 'dirty wars' [government repression] in Bolivia."

Paz Pereira said that "today, since the victory, we extend our hand to govern with all the men and women who care about the country."

"This is not an ideological problem, because we Bolivians know that ideology doesn't put food on the table. What puts food on the table is the right to work, what puts food on the table is strong institutions, what puts food on the table is the just and impartial application of the law, respect for private property, what puts food on the table is having certainty in your future, and that's what we want to work on," the president-elect stated.

Origins and political career

Born in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on Sept. 22, 1967, Paz Pereira is the son of former Bolivian President Jaime Paz Zamora, historical leader of the now-defunct Revolutionary Left Movement, and Spaniard Carmen Pereira. He was born in Spain during one of the many exiles his father was forced into as a result of his political career.

He is married to María Elena Urquidi Barbery, with whom he has four children: Catalina, Alicia, Paulino, and Elena.

Paz Pereira holds a bachelor's degree in international relations with a minor in economics from American University in Washington, D.C., where he also earned a master's degree in political administration.

He served as mayor of Tarija in southern Bolivia from 2015–2020 and as a senator from 2020–2025.

God's role in his life

Interviewed during the campaign on the Bolivian Christian channel XTO TV, Rodrigo Paz Pereira asserted that God plays a "central" role in his life. After stating that he is Catholic, he emphasized that "every time I see Christ crucified there, I always see the effort, the human sacrifice in that whole process."

"If God has given you anything, it's life. Use it, always be aware of it, care for it," he said, emphasizing that this perspective leads him to consider two aspects: "One is to love God above all things, who gives you this environment; around you and the other has to do with your neighbor, that teaching of respect, of loving your neighbor."

"If you set about looking at all the possible rules or commandments, it's complicated, but if you comply with these two, I believe you have a good relationship within your family.You try to fulfill your relationship with your neighbors, because [in this perspective] your daughter is your neighbor, your wife is your neighbor, that is, they are part of the environment around you. And if you understand this first [relationship], you also understand the larger environment, the green environment, and from [that conceptualization] many proposals within my platform have emerged."

In a statement to the Spanish news agency EFE, Paz Pereira also emphasized that in his native Santiago de Compostela, "I became very devoted to fatherly St. James, who in Bolivia has a very close relationship with rural areas and those who live there." 

Bolivian bishops: 'May better days come'

In a statement titled "A New Stage for Bolivia," the Bolivian Bishops' Conference noted that the country's "challenges are great, and we trust that the newly elected government will know how to face them, prioritizing the well-being of all Bolivians."

Among these challenges, the Bolivian bishops listed "attention to families living in poverty, improving access to health care and medicines, education, preferential attention to the most vulnerable sectors, as well as fuel supplies and economic recovery."

Highlighting the "peaceful exercise of democracy" on Sunday, Oct. 19, the bishops noted that "this participation expresses everyone's hope: that better days may come for Bolivia."

The bishops' conference "called on all political and social actors" to calmly accept "the results of the electoral process, respecting the sovereign decision of the Bolivian people, and working together for the good of the country."

"To those who have been elected, we remind you that your term in office must be exercised with ethics, transparency, and a spirit of service, always putting the common good before personal or partisan interests. Do not betray the trust the people have placed in you," the bishops stated.

They also asked all Bolivians to commit "to building a different tomorrow, keeping alive hope and commitment to building better days for Bolivia, mutually respecting each other and reaffirming dialogue as a path to reencountering one another and development, to move our economy forward."

"We entrust the present and future of our beloved Bolivia to the protection of God, Lord of life and history, and to the intercession of our Mother, the Virgin Mary. We ask our Creator to shower his blessings upon our homeland and upon the elected officials, and to inspire all Bolivians to work together for justice, reconciliation, and the progress of the nation," the bishops 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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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 21, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A controversial ad campaign posted in the New York City subway system has sparked criticism and vandalism over the past few weeks. The print ads are selling an AI companion necklace called "Friend" that promises to be "someone who listens, responds, and supports."

The device first launched in 2024, retailing at $129. It is designed to listen to conversations, process the information, and send responses to the user's phone via a connected app. While users can tap the disc's button to prompt an immediate response, the product will also send unprompted texts. The device's microphones don't offer an off switch, so it is constantly listening and sending messages based on conversations it picks up.

CNA did not receive a response to a question from Friend.com about the success of its subway ad campaign and how many people are currently using the devices, but Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP, director of the Daughters of St. Paul's Pauline Media Studies who also studies AI, told CNA that "people are turning to AI for companionship because they find human relationships too complicated." 

But "without that complicatedness, we cannot grow to become the best that we can be. We remain stagnant or selfish, which is a miserable existence," she said.

Creating 'Friend' amid loneliness epidemic 

Avi Schiffmann, the 22-year-old who started Friend.com, was a Harvard student before leaving school to focus on a number of projects. At 18, he created a website that tracked early COVID-19 data from Chinese health department sources. In 2022, he built another website that matched Ukrainian refugees with hosts around the world to help them find places to stay. He then founded Friend and now serves as the company's CEO. 

Schiffmann and his company first turned heads when an eerie video announcing the new gadget was released in July 2024. The advertisement featured four different individuals interacting with their "friends." One woman takes a hike with her pendant, while another watches a movie with hers. A man gets a text from his "friend" while playing video games with his human friends. He first appears to be sad and lonely around his friends, until his AI "friend" texts him, which appears to put him at ease.

The marketing video ends with a young man and woman spending time together as the woman discusses how she has only ever brought "her" to where they are hanging out, referencing her AI gadget. 

"It's so strange because it's awkward to have an AI in between a human friendship," Usselmann said about the video ad. 

Hundreds took to the comments section of the YouTube video to respond — mostly negatively — to both the Friend.com ads and the technology. Commentators called out the company for capitalizing on loneliness and depression. One user even called the video "the most dystopian advertisement" he had ever seen, and others wrote the video felt like a "horror film."

"While its creators might have good intentions to bring more people the joys of companionship, they are misguided in trying to achieve this through a digital simulacrum," Father Michael Baggot, LC, professor of bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, told CNA.

The device "suffers from a misnomer, since authentic friendship involves an interpersonal relationship of mutual support," said Baggot, who studies AI chatbots and works on the development of the Catholic AI platform Magisterium AI. 

"The product risks both worsening the loneliness epidemic by isolating users from others and undermining genuine solitude by intruding on quiet moments with constant notifications and surveillance. Friend commodities connection and may exploit human emotional vulnerabilities for profit," he said, adding: "It might encourage users to avoid the challenging task of building real relationships with people and encourage them to settle for the easily controllable substitute." 

Usselmann agreed. "Only by reaching out in genuine compassion and care can another person who feels lonely realize that they matter to someone else," she said. "We need to get to know our neighbors and not remain so self-centered in our apartments, neighborhoods, communities, or places of work."

AI device ad campaign causes stir

In a post to social media platform X on Sept. 25, Schiffmann announced the launch of the subway ad campaign. The post has more than 25 million views and nearly 1,000 comments criticizing the pendant and campaign — and some commending them.

Dozens of the ads have since been torn up and written on. People have posted images to social media of the vandalized ads with messages about the surveillance dangers and the general threats of chatbots. One urged the company to "stop profiting off of loneliness," while another had "AI is not your friend" written on it.

One person added to the definition of "friend," writing it is also a "living being." It also had the message: "Don't use AI to cure your loneliness. Reach out into the world!"

Usselmann said the particular issue with the campaign and device is "the tech world assuming certain words and giving them different connotations." 

"A 'friend' is someone with whom you have a bond based on mutual affection," she said. "A machine does not have real affection because it cannot love. It does not have a spiritual soul from which intellect, moral agency, and love stem."

She continued: "And from a Christian understanding, a friend is someone who exhibits sacrificial love, who supports through the ups and downs of life, and who offers spiritual encouragement and forgiveness. An AI 'friend' can do none of those things."

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Rome, Italy, Oct 21, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The murder of a 21-year-old Italian man after trying to break up a fight has prompted two southern Italian archbishops to sound the alarm against the rise of Mafia-style killings among young people.  

At a prayer service Oct. 18 for Paolo Taormina, who was killed one week ago outside the family-owned bar where he worked, Archbishop Gualtiero Isacchi of Monreale, Italy, told the faithful present that their presence was "a sign of resistance and a desire for change."

"The violent, typically Mafia-like logic of oppression, which some shamefully and unconsciously praise on social media, aims to erase human conscience and dignity, to extinguish hope, and to condemn the person to the resignation of 'nothing will ever change,'" Isacchi said, according to SIR, the news agency of the Italian bishops' conference.

Archbishop Corrado Lorefice of Palermo also attended the prayer service, which was held at St. Philip Neri Church, located in the Zen neighborhood, the same area where Taormina was murdered. 

Invoking the memory of Blessed Pino Puglisi, a parish priest who was killed by the Mafia in 1993, Lorefice urged the people of Monreale and Palermo to "take on the challenge" of protecting youth from the influence of the Mafia and gang-related organizations.

"We must shout to young people that criminal organizations do not want their happiness, and we must remember that the center of the city is wherever the person is," the archbishop said.  

Taormina's murder is the latest in a series of gangland-style shootings related to a perceived rise in youth violence and organized crime in Monreale and Palermo.

In April, three young men — Massimo Pirozzo, Salvatore Turdo, and Andrea Miceli — were shot and killed after four men — one of whom was 19 years old — shot at a crowd after an argument broke out. Two others were seriously injured in the shooting, which was dubbed "The Monreale Massacre." 

Taormina's alleged killer, 28-year-old Gaetano Maranzano, was the son of one of the area's known drug kingpins and was caught with other firearms after he was arrested at his home.  

At the prayer service, Isacchi said that some may view their gathering to pray for an end to violence as "useless" or perhaps look at it "with an air of sufficiency and superiority." 

Nevertheless, "we choose to listen to the faint inner voice that whispers to us: 'God is there, lying on the ground next to Paolo, Massimo, Andrea, Salvo, to all our sons and friends, victims of senseless armed violence,'" he said. "It is a voice that calls us, asking us to do our part to stop the violence and restore dignity to every person and every environment."

Father Giovanni Giannalia, pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, told SIR that while many singled out the troubled Zen neighborhood as "trivial" and "violent," there are still "many people willing to do good, and doing it here is more tiring than elsewhere."  

"Youth violence is worrying: three deaths in Monreale, one in Palermo. The situation is out of control, it's an emergency," Giannalia said, adding that everyone, especially priests, who "encounter evil" must fight against it. 

The warnings from Church leaders highlighted concerns regarding escalating violence among young people, particularly in Sicily, where the local Mafia, known as "Cosa Nostra," has taken to recruiting young people. 

According to a February report by the "Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime," a demographic analysis conducted after raids against the Mafia organization found that of 181 individuals arrested, 40 were under the age of 35 and 10 were under the age of 25.  

Following Taormina's murder, Isacchi and Lorefice issued a joint statement Oct. 14 saying they had hoped that "The Monreale Massacre" would mark a turning point in the region that would end the wave of youth violence.  

"Today, we renew the same hope. We believe that change is possible," the bishops wrote. "May Paolo's life become a sign of the transformation of our cities: a seed of rebirth."

"Let us entrust ourselves to Our Lady of Sorrows," the archbishops added. "Only she knows how to enter the pierced heart of a mother who holds her murdered son in her arms, but also into the heart of the mother of a son who is a killer. May the mother of Jesus teach us the way of rebirth, love for the little ones, the poor, the children, and for those who have no voice; the way of nonviolence and peace." 

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 21, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Malaga, Spain-born artist Raúl Berzosa has painted portraits of popes for the Vatican, and his works have graced the covers of booklets at Vatican ceremonies and even the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum. However, as he himself confessed on X, none had ever hung on the façade of St. Peter's Basilica.

That honor came this week with the portrait of St. Peter To Rot, which Berzosa painted for the saint's canonization ceremony on Oct. 19. The Vatican commissioned the Catholic artist to paint the official portrait, which has been displayed since Oct. 17 on the façade of St. Peter's Basilica. Berzosa considers the work to be a fruit of grace and the culmination of a life dedicated to reflecting the light of faith in art.

Peter To Rot, who was born in Papua New Guinea, served as a catechist and died a martyr for the faith in 1945. He was canonized on Oct. 19 along with six others. 

In 1995, during his trip to Papua New Guinea, St. John Paul II described To Rot's life as "a beacon shining bright, a signal fire leading you to hold aloft the noble ideals which inspired him: faith in God, love of family, service of neighbor, and unswerving courage in the face of trials and sacrifice."

Berzosa, 46, renowned worldwide for his realistic style and religious themes, explained to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that with his work depicting the Papuan saint, he sought to convey the inner light of which the Polish pope spoke.

"If the portrait manages to convey some of Peter To Rot's bright inner light and helps others strengthen their faith, then the work will have fulfilled its true function," the Spanish painter said.

"I hope that the faithful see in his gaze not only a martyr but a man full of peace, love for his family, and fidelity to the Gospel," he added.

For Berzosa, To Rot's essential witness lies in the conviction that holiness "can be lived out in everyday life, even in the midst of suffering, as in his case."

The artist said he wanted the lighting effects in the portrait "to emerge from within the face itself, something serene that engages the viewer and seeks to convey hope." Berzosa also noted that the "light blue and green brushstrokes" create a warm atmosphere, with the color and the overall composition seeking to accompany "this luminous message."

The challenges of painting the first Papuan saint

"The main challenge was to approach Peter To Rot's image itself with respect and accuracy. To achieve this, I had some black and white photographs as well as a color portrait based on one of the photographs. All of this helped me create my painting," he said.

In Berzosa's portrait, To Rot is dressed in the traditional attire of local catechists: a white shirt and a type of blue wrap.

"When the Japanese threatened the catechists and prohibited any apostolic activity, the vast majority — out of fear — hid the cross. Peter To Rot was the only catechist who continued to proudly display the white cross that identified him as a catechist," Berzosa noted.

"In one hand he holds a Bible and in the other [open hand he shows] two rings, a reference to his defense of marriage. A cross hangs from his neck," the artist explained. To Rot wanted to die wearing that cross, which would later be key to identifying his mortal remains. Behind the figure of the saint, the countryside of his native land at the time can be seen.

For the most accurate depiction, the painter researched photographs, traditional clothing, and other local references. 

"Throughout this work, I was assisted by Father Tomás Agustín Ravaioli, vice postulator of the cause," Berzosa explained.

Portraying a martyr

The artist noted that the lives of martyrs, although often short, are "full of meaning, dedicated out of love and fidelity to the Lord." He said he always seeks to convey the serenity of these witnesses to the Gospel in the most decisive moment of their lives.

"I try to understand that mixture of strength and peace of someone who gives his life for Christ," he said.

"When I paint portraits of martyrs, there is a special respect for the person portrayed. Their witness transcends cultures and eras," he noted.

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, Oct 21, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Instagram updated restrictions on teen accounts to be guided by PG-13 movie ratings to prevent teenage users from accessing mature and inappropriate content.

In 2024, Instagram introduced Teen Accounts to place teens automatically in built-in protections on the app. Last week, the social media platform announced additional updates to the accounts to only show teenagers content "similar to what they'd see in a PG-13 movie."

Teens under 18 will be automatically placed into the updated setting and will not be allowed to opt out without a parent's permission. The new restrictions ban users from searching inappropriate words and from following or messaging accounts with mature content.

Father Michael Baggot, LC, professor of bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, said "any change to help empower parents, protect their children, and restrict age-inappropriate content from them is a positive step forward."

"However, I am concerned because there is quite a difference between static content like a movie that can be thoroughly reviewed by a committee and very dynamic conduct that is performed in social media," Baggot said in an Oct. 20 interview on "EWTN News Nightly." 

Social media platforms include forms of cyberbullying, online predators, and artificial intelligence (AI) companions. "Those kinds of dynamic relationships are not necessarily regulated fully with a mere label," Baggot said.

The updates follow feedback from thousands of parents worldwide who shared their suggestions with Instagram. After hearing from parents, Instagram also added an additional setting that offers even stricter guidelines if parents want more extensive limitations. 

"Parents have a unique responsibility in constantly monitoring and discussing with their children and with other vulnerable people the type of interactions they're having," Baggot said. "But I think we can't put an undue burden on parents."

Baggot suggested additional laws that hold companies accountable for "exploitative behavior or design techniques," because they can "become addictive and really mislead guidance and mislead people."

AI in social media 

Since Instagram recently introduced AI chatbots to the app, it also added preventions on messages sent from AI. The social media platform reported that "AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie."

AI on Instagram must be handled with "great vigilance and critical discernment," Baggot said. AI platforms "can be tools of research and assistance, but they can also really promote toxic relationships when left unregulated."

Measures to restrict AI and online content are opportunities for parents and users "to step back and look critically at the digitally-mediated relationships that we constantly have" and to "look at the potentially dangerous and harmful content or relationships that can take place there."

"There should be healthy detachment from these platforms," Baggot said. "We need healthy friendships. We need strong families. We need supportive communities. Anytime we see a form of social media-related interaction replacing, distracting, or discouraging in-personal contact, that should be an … alarm that something needs to change and that we need to return to the richness of interpersonal exchange and not retreat to an alternative digital world."

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CNA Staff, Oct 21, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Catholics across the United States are encouraged to participate in the national Respect Life Novena beginning Oct. 22 in an effort to unite in prayer for the protection of the unborn and all those affected by abortion.

The Respect Life Novena is offered annually by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and consists of nine days of prayers, Scripture readings, and suggested acts of reparation.

Some of the prayer intentions in this year's novena include ones for the protection of life from conception to natural death, for those who have undergone an abortion to experience God's healing and mercy, for those with disabilities to be treated with dignity, and for an end to the death penalty, among others.

This year, the Respect Life Novena will be available on the free version of the Hallow app and a different U.S. bishop will lead the faithful in prayer each day. The bishops taking part include Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio; Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon; Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia; Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, New York; Bishop Chad Zielinski of New Ulm, Minnesota; Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Virginia; Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois; Bishop Elias Zaidan, the Maronite eparch of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles; and Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah, Georgia. 

Archbishop Samuel Aquila of the Archdiocese of Denver is urging all Catholic Coloradoans to take part in the novena — especially as Colorado continues to expand access to abortion.

On Oct. 25, the fourth day of the novena, Aquila will be leading a Eucharistic procession around Denver's Planned Parenthood facility — the largest abortion provider in the state. 

"The Respect Life Office is filled with joy and anticipation for the upcoming Eucharistic procession with Archbishop Aquila," said Jennifer Torres, community engagement coordinator for Respect Life Denver, a ministry of Catholic Charities, in an interview with the Denver Catholic. "This sacred time offers our community a beautiful opportunity to come together in witness and worship, united in our shared mission to be light in a darkened world."

"As we walk with Christ truly present in the Eucharist, we are reminded that he calls us to be faithful, to carry hope, and to boldly proclaim the dignity of every human life," she added. "We believe that a deepened devotion to the Eucharist has the power to transform hearts and ultimately renew a culture that too often chooses death over life. We invite all to come as they are, [to] rest and pray with us."

Earlier this year, the Colorado Legislature passed a measure that mandates taxpayer funding for elective abortions. As part of the new law, an earlier provision in the state constitution that prohibited public funds for abortion has now been repealed; the new law requires abortion coverage for Medicaid patients and Child Health Plan Plus program recipients using state money.  

"The allocation of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to subsidize the deliberate ending of innocent life and harm of women is a tragedy for Colorado," the Colorado Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops, wrote April 24. 

The Respect Life Novena can be found here.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 20, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Monday highlighted the life testimony of the saints canonized Sunday, Oct. 19, as "luminous signs of hope" for today's Catholics.

"The men and women we proclaimed saints yesterday are luminous signs of hope for all of us, because they offered their lives for love of Christ and their brothers and sisters," the pontiff said in his address to the pilgrims, representatives of the clergy, and civil authorities who had traveled to Rome to participate in the canonization of the seven new saints.

Leo XIV expressed his hope that the canonization of Venezuela's first two saints, Carmen Rendiles and José Gregorio Hernández, would be "a strong incentive for all Venezuelans to come together and recognize themselves as children and brothers and sisters of the same homeland, reflecting on the present and the future in the light of the virtues that these saints lived in a heroic manner."

Pointing to the faith of both saints, the pope emphasized that "God was present in their lives and transformed them, turning the simple existence of a normal person, like any one of us, into a lamp that illuminated everyone with a new light in their daily lives."

The Holy Father emphasized that these two saints, whose lives can illuminate the present, were "people very similar to ourselves, who lived confronting problems that are not unfamiliar to us and which we ourselves can face as they did, following their example."

The Holy Father also indicated that "if God is our eternal reward, our work and our struggles cannot end in goals that are not only unworthy and degrading but also ephemeral."

He also invited his listeners to recognize that "those who live alongside me — like me, like them — are called to the same holiness; I must therefore see them, above all, as brothers and sisters to be respected and loved, sharing the journey of life, supporting each other in difficulties and building the kingdom of God together with joy."

St. Ignatius Maloyan, a pastor after the heart of Christ

Regarding the Armenian Catholic archbishop St. Ignatius Maloyan, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that he was "a pastor after Christ's own heart, and in times of heavy difficulties, he did not abandon his flock; rather he encouraged them in order to strengthen their faith."

He also noted that "when he was asked to renounce his faith in exchange for freedom, he did not hesitate to choose his Lord, even to the point of shedding his own blood for God."

The Holy Father therefore prayed for the intercession of this saint "to renew the fervor of believers and bring fruits of reconciliation and peace for all."

St. Peter To Rot, defender of truths of the faith

For Leo XIV, St. Peter To Rot, the first native Papuan saint, offers "an inspiring example of steadfastness and fortitude in preaching the truths of the Gospel when confronted by difficulties and challenges, even threats to our lives."

The pope prayed that the example of this saint from Papua New Guinea "would encourage us to defend the truths of the faith, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, and to rely always on God in our trials."

Murdered at the age of 33 in 1945 for defending the sanctity of marriage, he demonstrated, according to the pontiff, "extraordinary courage by risking his life to carry out his apostolate in secret, because his pastoral work was prohibited by the occupying forces during the Second World War."

St. Maria Troncatti, an example of charity

Regarding the new Salesian saint who dedicated her life to serving the Indigenous peoples of Ecuador, Pope Leo noted that "she cared for the bodies and hearts of those she assisted with the love and strength she drew from faith and prayer."

"Her truly tireless work," the pontiff continued, "is an example for us of a charity that does not give up in the face of difficulties but rather transforms them into opportunities for free and total self-giving."

St. Vicenta Maria Poloni: Perseverance in service to the weak

Pope Leo XIV highlighted St. Vicenta Maria Poloni, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, for her compassion toward the sick and marginalized.

Her example, the Holy Father explained, "encourages us to persist in daily service to the most fragile: It is precisely there that holiness of life flourishes!" he exclaimed.

St. Bartolo Longo and love of Mary in the rosary

Finally, he emphasized that the Italian St. Bartolo Longo "devoted all his energy to works of corporal and spiritual mercy, promoting faith in Christ and affection for Mary through charity toward orphans, the poor, the desperate."

"Grateful to its founder, may the Shrine of Pompeii preserve and spread the fervor of St. Bartolo, apostle of the rosary. I wholeheartedly recommend this prayer to everyone, to priests, religious, families, and young people," the pontiff encouraged.

With this prayer, the Holy Father said, "we assimilate the Gospel and learn to practice it."

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, Oct 20, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has recognized an Australian bishop's synodal plan to restructure the governance of his diocese. 

The Vatican's General Secretariat of the Synod has officially recognized a pastoral plan laid out by Bishop Michael Kennedy of Maitland-Newcastle that will see the diocese adopting a governance structure that "will operate in synodal mode."

In an Oct. 14 response to the pastoral letter on social media, the Vatican synodal office posted the letter. The social media post said the bishop invites the faithful to "embrace this vision more fully," fostering a Church that listens, learns, and acts together in the service of the Gospel.

What's in the plan? 

According to Kennedy's missive, titled "Letter on Synodality and the New Diocesan Governance Framework for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle," changes will be implemented on four levels. 

First, a diocesan pastoral council will be formed to lead the diocese's synodal process through the revitalization of its pastoral planning cycle, which the letter said had been paused due to the death of Bishop Bill Wright in 2021. "The pastoral planning cycle allows significant synodal engagement in the future direction of the diocese," he said. 

"This will be a significant milestone in our synodal journey," Kennedy added, "but not its conclusion — the synodal journey is ever ongoing." 

The pastoral planning cycle will also be implemented on a parish level, "adapted to the circumstances of each community," Kennedy said, noting: "It is intended that the 2025 revised statuses for parish pastoral and finance councils will assist." 

The diocesan curia will be restructured to reflect synodal "structures of participation." Namely, Kennedy emphasized that "the governance of the bishops' role has to be constitutional, follow the laws and customs of our Church, and be consultative (synodal); hearing those who need to be heard before decisions are made, which in some instances also requires receiving consent before acting." The letter does not clarify what instances would constitute such procedures. 

Lastly, the plan stipulates the formation of "new advisory groups that will adopt synodal working methods." The groups will include three civil councils and four canonical councils. Among the civil councils will be the bishop's senior leadership group, a governance council, and a safeguarding council. Canonical councils include a council of priests, pastoral council, college of consultors, and a finance council. 

The advisory groups will provide advice to the bishop and diocesan trustees "for critical discernment" in their respective areas of expertise, Kennedy's letter said.

A call to action

"In the coming months, we will invite expressions of interest from those who feel called to contribute their insight, skills, and experience as members of these advisory boards and councils," Kennedy wrote.

"Whether your background is in pastoral life, education, social services, finance, governance, community leadership, or good plain commonsense problem-solving and decision-making," he continued, "your perspective can help us faithfully serve our communities into the future." 

The Maitland-Newcastle bishop concluded the letter noting more information about the nature and scope of the advisory groups will be posted to the diocese's website in the near future. 

"I thank you for your ongoing commitment to the life and mission of our diocese," he wrote. "Together, guided by the Holy Spirit, we will continue our journey as a local Church, faithful to the Lord" and focused on synodal listening, communion in faith and love, and mission to spread the Gospel.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 20, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday condemned usury, a practice that is sometimes an extremely grave sin that speaks to the corruption of the heart of those who see others only as "objects of exploitation."

Usury can be defined as charging too much interest on a loan, a practice that has existed since ancient times. Traditionally, the Catholic Church taught that the sin of usury was the act of demanding any benefit or profit for the sole purpose of lending. This understanding has evolved over time, and the Church no longer condemns the general practice of lending with interest, as long as it is moderate.

On Oct. 18, the Holy Father received the National Anti-Usury Council of Italy in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. For 30 years, the council has been dedicated to "combating a problem that has a devastating impact on the lives of so many people and families," according to the Vatican Press Office.

In his address, the pontiff stated that "the phenomenon of usury points to the corruption of the human heart. It is a painful and ancient story, already attested to in the Bible. The prophets, in fact, denounced usury, along with exploitation and every form of injustice toward the poor."

"How far God is from the attitude that crushes people to the point of enslaving them! It is a grave sin, at times very grave, because it cannot be reduced to a mere accounting issue; usury can bring crisis to families, it can wear down the mind and heart to the point of leading people to think of suicide as the only way out," the pope said.

Although there are forms of usury that appear to be helpful to those in financial difficulties, in the end it reveals itself "for what it is. The consequences are paid especially by fragile people, such as those who are victims of gambling" or like those facing "difficult moments, such as for instance extraordinary medical treatment or unexpected expenses beyond their means or those of their families. What first presents itself as a helping hand in reality becomes, in the long run, a torment."

Leo XIV continued, saying "usurious financial systems can bring entire peoples to their knees. Similarly, we cannot overlook 'those whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their brethren in the human family' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2269): their responsibilities are grave and they fuel structures of iniquitous sin."

After urging respect for the dignity of all, especially the weakest and most vulnerable, the Holy Father urged: "Either we regain our moral and spiritual dignity or we fall into a cesspool."

Jesus, Zacchaeus, and a path to conversion of usurers

Pope Leo then referred to the Gospel passage (Luke 19:1-10) in which Jesus meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho, who "was accustomed to abuse, oppression, and bullying. It was normal for someone like him to take advantage of his position to exploit people and earn money by robbing the weakest."

"And so Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus: He calls him and tells him that he wants to stay at his house. And then the unthinkable happens: Jesus' generosity completely takes the man aback and puts him with his back against the wall. Coming to his senses, Zacchaeus realizes that he has done wrong and decides to repay 'with interest'!" Leo continued.

"No one asked him for so much, not even the Mosaic law. But the fact is that his encounter with Christ transformed his heart, and then everything changed. Only generosity is so effective that it reveals to us the meaning of our humanity," the pope emphasized.

The pontiff pointed out that "when the pursuit of profit prevails, others are no longer people, they no longer have a face, they are just objects to be exploited; and so we end up losing ourselves and our souls. The conversion of those who engage in usury is just as important as closeness to those who suffer from usury."

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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