Catholic News

U.S. Catholic bishops condemned President Donald Trump's social media post that showed the faces of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama superimposed on cartoon apes.

Trump has since deleted the Feb. 5 Truth Social post, said he did not intend to post a depiction of the Obamas as apes, and condemned the racist part of the video. He refused to apologize for posting it.

In a statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on X, Bishop Daniel Garcia, chair of the Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, said he was "glad to see that the egregious post has been taken down" and reposted part of the USCCB's 2018 pastoral letter against racism.

"Every racist act — every such comment, every joke, every disparaging look as a reaction to the color of skin, ethnicity, or place of origin — is a failure to acknowledge another person as a brother or sister, created in the image of God," the 2018 statement said.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, issued a statement Feb. 9 calling on Trump to immediately issue an apology, regardless of whether it was intentional, saying the post showed that "such blatant racism is not merely a practice of the past."

"Either way he should apologize," he said. "Our shock is real. So is our outrage. Nothing less than an unequivocal apology — to the nation and to the persons demeaned — is acceptable. And it must come immediately."

Cupich said the trope of "portraying human beings as animals — less than human — is not new" and that it was commonly used to "demean immigrant groups." He said it "immunized the national conscience when we turned away shiploads of refugees, lynched thousands, and doomed generations to poverty."

"If the president intentionally approved the message containing viciously racist images, he should admit it. If he did not know of it originally, he should explain why he let his staff describe the public outcry over their transmission as fake outrage," Cupich said.

Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger issued a statement calling the depiction "a racist meme" and said it's "disturbing" if either Trump or a staff member views racist memes "as humorous or appropriate expressions of political discourse."

"They are deeply offensive and must be condemned in the strongest terms," he said. "I join my voice to the many calling for a public apology with full acceptance of responsibility, and I also bristle at claims from the White House that the rage many of us feel is 'fake.'"

"Beyond the necessary apology, I also believe that we all must examine our conscience, individually and collectively," he said. "We need to recognize and acknowledge how prevalent racism continues to be in our society and commit ourselves to vigilance in counteracting its harm."

Sister Josephine Garrett of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth posted on Instagram that the depiction is "an age-old racist trope" and said "what a time to be alive," in reference to the president posting it on social media.

Garrett, who is Black, said she is not Democrat or Republican and posted a photo of Barack and Michelle Obama, saying: "Since these faces will be degraded in the timelines today, I'm adding something to the timeline that honors the dignity of this couple and their family — and also, it's Black History Month."

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish-American Catholic fraternal organization, also issued a statement against Trump's social media post, saying: "We recognize this tactic because it was used against us as Irish Americans."

"The claim that this video was merely an 'internet meme' or that critics were engaging in 'fake outrage' is both morally bankrupt and historically ignorant," the statement said. "There is nothing lighthearted about reducing any people to apes. This imagery has been used for centuries as a tool of oppression, designed to dehumanize and justify subjugation. It is not humor; it is bigotry."

Trump's social media post

Late Thursday, Feb. 5, around 11:45 p.m. ET, Trump posted a video that was one minute and two seconds long.

The bulk of the video reiterated claims of election fraud in the 2020 election. At the 59-second mark, it depicts the Obamas as apes.

When reporters asked him about it, Trump said: "I just looked at the first part" about voter fraud and "I didn't see the whole thing." When asked whether he condemns the racist part of the video, he said "of course I do."

"I guess during the end of it, there was some picture that people don't like," he said. "I wouldn't like it either, but I didn't see it."

Trump refused to apologize for the post when asked, saying: "No; I didn't make a mistake." He said he looks at "thousands of things" and only "looked at the beginning of it [and that part] was fine."

The Obamas have not publicly commented on the video.

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Pope Leo XIV approved the new statutes of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, an organization founded 80 years ago to promote and coordinate Mariological and Marian studies worldwide.

According to the Vatican Press Office, the Holy Father approved the new statutes during an audience with Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State.

The updating of the statutes is intended to adapt the academy's organization to the development of its mission and to the current structure of the institutions of the Roman Curia.

The Pontifical International Marian Academy was founded in 1946 by the Order of Friars Minor together with the Franciscan Marian Commission, institutions entrusted to the direction of the priest who inspired them, Father Charles Balic, then-rector magnificus (highest official) of the Pontifical Antonianum University and holder of the chair of Mariology.

Since 1950, the Holy See has entrusted the Marian Academy with the organization of the International Mariological-Marian Congresses.

In 1959, Pope John XXIII, recognizing that the academy, through its activities, had contributed to the progress of Marian doctrine and piety, added the title of "Pontifical."

Originally dependent on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it now falls under the Dicastery for Culture and Education, following the reform implemented by Pope Francis with the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

The new statutes consist of a preamble and 22 articles. Article 4 specifies that the academy "has the task of promoting and supporting Mariological-Marian research at all levels and of coordinating its studies within the context of an ever-renewed evangelization, taking into account the language of different cultures and the Marian manifestations specific to each people," with a view to fostering "sound popular piety and avoiding any form of maximalism or minimalism."

The academy's ordinary members cannot exceed 90 in number and may include nonbelievers and representatives of other religions and other Christian communities.

The academy is headed by the president, appointed by the pope, assisted by the council, which in turn is composed of the secretary, the treasurer — these two appointed by the minister general of the Order of Friars Minor — the director of the office of promotion and development, and seven members elected from among the ordinary members.

The appointment of ordinary members requires authorization from the Secretariat of State. Upon reaching the age of 75, they become emeritus members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fulton Sheen

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

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

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

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

Road to beatification

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Archbishop calls comments 'deeply concerning'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fulton Sheen

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

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

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

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

Road to beatification

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chiclayo, a special place

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

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

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

'Peru is in the pope's heart'

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

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

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

A visit marked by hope

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catholic faith a central part of Lai's life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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