In a message for the Church's Feb. 8 World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, the pope warns that conflict and inequality fuel exploitation.
As the Church marks the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, Pope Leo XIV renewed what he called the Church's "urgent call" to end a crime that "gravely wounds human dignity" and undermines authentic peace.
The annual day of prayer is observed on Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave whose life has become a universal symbol of the Church's commitment to combating human trafficking. Events in Rome this year span several days and culminate Sunday with the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.
"These words are more than a salutation; they offer a path toward a renewed humanity," the pope writes. "True peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person."
He warns that contemporary conflicts often erode this vision of peace, noting that "in situations of conflict, the loss of human life is too often dismissed by warmongers as 'collateral damage,' sacrificed in the pursuit of political or economic interests."
According to the pope, the same logic fuels human trafficking worldwide. "Geopolitical instability and armed conflicts create fertile ground for traffickers to exploit the most vulnerable, especially displaced persons, migrants, and refugees," he writes, adding that "within this broken paradigm, women and children are the most impacted by this heinous trade."
The pope also draws attention to newer forms of exploitation, including what he calls "cyber slavery," in which victims are coerced into criminal activities such as online fraud or drug smuggling.
"In such cases, the victim is coerced into assuming the role of perpetrator, exacerbating their spiritual wounds," he writes. "These forms of violence are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves."
Faced with these realities, Pope Leo XIV urges prayer and concrete awareness. "Prayer is the 'small flame' that we must guard amidst the storm, as it gives us the strength to resist indifference to injustice," he writes, while awareness helps uncover "the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighborhoods and in digital spaces."
The pope also expresses gratitude to those working on the front lines to assist victims of trafficking, including international Catholic networks such as Talitha Kum, and acknowledges survivors who now advocate for others.
In Rome, events marking the World Day include an online global pilgrimage of prayer, a youth formation day, and public awareness initiatives. The observances conclude Sunday, Feb. 8, with the Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square, followed by a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols in collaboration with the Santa Marta Group.
Entrusting the initiative to the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope calls Catholics to work for a peace that is more than the absence of war — a peace, he writes, that is "unarmed and disarming," rooted in full respect for the dignity of every person.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Addressing his new flock directly, Hicks said "I desire to follow the heart of Christ, to be a good shepherd. I come to walk with you, to serve you, and to proclaim Jesus Christ to you."
New York Catholics enjoyed an in-door moment of spiritual warmth, during an extreme cold spell in the region, with the installation mass of Archbishop Ronald Hicks on February 6.
While many in the pews felt sad about losing their beloved Cardinal Timothy Dolan, there was also excitement about welcoming their new shepherd.
One of the most moving moments of the ceremony happened at the beginning, when Archbishop Hicks stood outside the closed bronze doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Cardinal Dolan stood at the back silently when a loud knock was heard.
Archbishop Hicks just prior to entering St. Patrick's Cathedral. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno/EWTN News
The bronze doors were opened, with Cardinal Dolan welcoming Archbishop Hicks inside amidst a burst of sunlight and arctic air - on behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful for the Archdiocese of New York. Then the Reverand Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, vicar general of the Archdiocese of New York, presented Archbishop Hicks with a crucifix resting on a pillow, which he received and kissed.
After the clergy processed to the front, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, welcomed the 2200 people inside St. Patrick's Cathedral – including 68 bishops, 13 archbishops and 6 Cardinals. He thanked Cardinal Timothy Dolan for his years of service.
"Before turning your attention to the future, it is fitting to pose in gratitude Cardinal Timothy Dolan who has served this archdiocese with generosity, conviction and pastoral zeal. His voice has been a strong and joyful witness to the Gospel both here in New York and far beyond it. And on behalf of the Holy Father, I express sincere thanks for these years of faithful ministry and for the love he has shown to the people entrusted to his care," said Cardinal Pierre, to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan welcoming his successor, Archbishop Ronald Hicks. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno/EWTN News
"And by the way, do you know that it is his birthday?" he said.
In a memorable "New York" moment, the entire Cathedral spontaneously sang Happy Birthday to Cardinal Dolan, as he beamed and waved at the congregation.
Cardinal Pierre then welcomed Archbishop Hicks as the new shepherd for New York.
"His years as a bishop have already immersed him in the ordinary realities of pastoral governance where he has attended carefully to the life of the Church and has shown a steady commitment to the mission entrusted to him," he said.
"The See to which you have been called carries a great history and a living mission. New York is a place of remarkable diversity marked by deep faith and real challenges. You are entrusted to a people whose voices are many, and whose needs are real; the people whose hopes are rooted in the Gospel, Cardinal Pierre noted.
"As Pope Leo has reminded bishops: the gift they receive is never for themselves alone but always for service, service to the faith of the people, lived in communion with them. In such a setting, unity is not uniformity but a shared belonging to Christ and in Christ," he continued.
Cardinal Pierre then read the Apostolic Letter, an official papal document, which officially appoints Archbishop Hicks as the new Archbishop of New York. This letter signifies Archbishop Hicks' mandate and authority to lead the Archdiocese of New York. After an emotional moment, whereby Archbishop Hicks walked around the altar and showed the Apostolic Letter to his brother bishops and then down the central aisle to the congregation of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Archbishop Hicks then processed to the chair of Cardinal Dolan.
They embraced warmly, and then Cardinal Dolan motioned for Archbishop Hicks to take his chair, where he sat down to the sound of trumpets and applause.
During the installation mass, deference was given to Archbishop Hicks' years of service as a missionary priest in El Salvador. The readings were read in both English and Spanish, and the St. Patrick Cathedral's choir sang several songs in Spanish.
During Archbishop Hicks' homily, he spoke easily in both languages.
"I love music. And I love all types of music. If you know something about me, I always have a song playing in my head," said Archbishop Hicks.
He referenced several iconic songs about New York, making them his own and saying "I am in a New York state of mind" and "start spreading the news. I am starting today. I want to be a part of it. New York. New York," he said to applause.
Then Archbishop Hicks told the congregation that he loves Jesus, the Church and people.
"I also love the Eucharist: the true body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our source and our summit. The word Eucharist comes from a Greek word meaning to give thanks. So today, in the context of this Eucharist, my heart is filled with gratitude. And as I begin as the 11th bishop of the Archdiocese of NY, I want to start with gratitude," he said.
He thanked God, the Creator of life and giver of life eternal and Divine Mercy. He then thanked Cardinal Pierre for his years of service, and Cardinal Cupich for his example and mentorship during the past 11 years.
"To Cardinal Dolan, thank you for your magnanimous leadership here for 17 years. In a particular way, I want to thank you for your gracious support for me both personally and publicly," he said. "We had the opportunity to sing happy birthday to the Cardinal, and I just want to extend – ad moltos anos."
Archbishop Hicks thanked all the priests present.
"Please know this: I love being a priest. To you I say – thank you for your 'yes' - and I look forward to getting to know the wonderful presbyterate here in the Archdiocese of New York," he said.
Archbishop Hicks thanked his parents and referred to them as "the best". He also thanked family and friends, "You are one of the greatest gifts in my life. I love all of you."
He thanked members of different faith traditions who were present in the Cathedral to welcome him to New York. He told them that he looked forward to working with them in service of the common good.
Archbishop Hicks spoke about the Gospel passage of the installation Mass, Matthew 29:16-20.
"The Church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel to everyone: publicly and credibly, without fear in every culture and circumstance," Archbishop Hicks declared.
"This is a call to be a missionary Church, not a country club. A club exists to serve its members. The Church exists, on the other hand, to go out and serve all people: on fire, with faith, with hope and charity in the name of Jesus Christ. This is not a criticism. It is simply an invitation: to constantly renew who we are and to rediscover why the Church exists," he said.
Archbishop Hicks went on to explain that followers of Jesus need to feed the hungry, heal the ill in mind and body and those who feel rejected.
"Pope Leo XIV has been clear and consistent about this. He reminds us that the Church is missionary, not because of a program we run but because of who we are," he said. "The Church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel to everyone: publicly and credibly, without fear in every culture and circumstance."
Archbishop Hicks said that a missionary Church takes care of the poor and vulnerable. He also said that a missionary Church defends, respects and upholds life from conception to natural death. He said that such a Church protects children and promotes healing for survivors for those wounded by the Church.
"Brothers and sisters, I believe the world always has and always will need a missionary Church," he said." A Church that proclaims Jesus Christ clearly and without fear. A Church that forms missionary disciples not passive spectators. A Church that goes out to the peripheries."
Attendees moved by the ceremony
"It was a really beautiful mass. During the beginning, when Archbishop Hicks was outside knocking, you could hear what was going on outside. There were people singing songs in Spanish on 5th Avenue. When Archbishop Hicks walked inside, it made me feel like we were all a part of Palm Sunday in Jerusalem. To see the door open like that, it felt like it was a door of hope. It made me feel very special that we could all be inside to witness that," said Debby Kruszewski, from Mamaroneck, New York.
"I was moved by Archbishop Hicks' invitation for us to join him in the mission of the Church, and the joy with which he shared his love for Christ, the Church and us, his people," said Ann Lefever, from Larchmont, New York.
For his part, 12-year-old Timothy Amigone, also in attendance from New Rochelle, New York, said he was "impressed by the humility and simplicity of the new archbishop and how he seems like he can relate to the people he will serve."
Seattle and Boston archbishops place a wager ahead of the Super Bowl while also acknowledging the big game comes amid a difficult time for many across the nation.
It's become an annual tradition for the Catholic bishops from the two cities sending teams to the Super Bowl to make a friendly wager before the big game to benefit Catholic nonprofits in the teams' cities.
As the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks prepare to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle discussed this year's wager with EWTN News.
The two archbishops said the weekend will be fun for fans across the nation but acknowledged it comes amid a tense time in the United States with ongoing debates and division surrounding immigration.
"I think this is an important moment, obviously, of unity. This is a shared cultural moment, hopefully a moment for people to gather, be with friends and family, a joyful thing," Henning said. "But at the same time, we don't want to forget that there are other realities in our world and suffering; [we want to] be attentive to that as well."
"It's a situation that requires attentiveness and sensitivity," Etienne said. With the "tradition of a friendly wager between the bishops of the teams, Archbishop Henning and I just simply wanted to acknowledge that we do realize we got more important matters that we are being attentive to," he said.
"But at the same time, we recognize the great role that sports and relaxation play in the lives of our people, too."
The pair decided the wager this year would be a $500 donation to Catholic charities that have a particular focus on the care and support of immigrants.
Preparing for a 'joyful' game
Etienne discussed how putting aside differences and coming together is an advantage that sports and recreation can bring.
"Healthy competition is a part of so many aspects of human life, and it's good for people to have something to take their minds off of other matters in their world and in their lives to just relax. And hopefully, the outcome of the game will still allow everybody watching it and participating to still be relaxed and joyful at the performance of their teams," he said.
The 60th Super Bowl marks the second time the Seahawks and Patriots will compete in the championship game. In 2015, the Patriots defeated the Seahawks at the 49th Super Bowl. Despite the loss, Etienne said "there is definitely a better performance on the way this year" for Seattle's team.
Etienne said Seattle players see it as a "good omen" that in the 21st century, every time a new pope has been elected, the Seahawks made it to the next Super Bowl.
When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005, the Seahawks played in the Super Bowl in February 2006. Then Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, and the Seahawks played in the Super Bowl in 2014. In May 2025, Pope Leo XIV was elected and now Seattle's team is once again in the championship game.
While Henning has only been in Boston a little over a year after moving from New York, he said he is "absolutely a fan" of the New England Patriots and said they are "a great team."
"This is a team that unites New England and Boston. It's a team that is committed to young people in our communities. They give a great example of hard work, resilience, discipline, and the team is very generous in going out into our communities among our young people, helping them with their sports programs," Henning said.
"It's a great team, a great management, a great coach who's a wonderful witness of Catholic faith, Coach [Mike] Vrabel. So, I'm very much a fan of them in every way," Henning said.
The teams are schedule to compete on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Mike Hammer, chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, is conducting visits throughout the island, during which he has met with bishops, opposition figures, and local residents.
Mike Hammer, chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, is conducting visits throughout the island, during which he has met with bishops, opposition figures, and local residents.
The American diplomat has been documenting these visits and meetings on the U.S. Embassy in Cuba's X account.
The first meeting publicized was the one he held with the president of the Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Arturo González Amador, and Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García, archbishop of Havana.
The diplomat reported on Jan. 30 that the meeting was to "review the distribution of humanitarian aid that the U.S. government is sending through Caritas Cuba to those affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba."
"If everything goes well and the aid is reaching those most in need, the Trump administration is ready to send more assistance given the great needs of the average Cuban citizen," the embassy stated.
On Feb. 1, Hammer posted a video on X showing him with Father José Conrado in the municipality of Trinidad. Conrado is known for denouncing injustices in Cuba for many years.
"I had the pleasure of meeting Father Conrado again in Trinidad," Hammer wrote on X. "He inspires me every time I talk to him. And when I left the parish, a few communists, surely frustrated by how badly the revolution is going, shouted obscenities at me — but aren't they the ones who always insist on being treated with respect?"
In response, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs demanded that the "illegitimate Cuban regime" immediately cease "its repressive acts of sending individuals to interfere with the diplomatic work of Chargé d'Affaires Hammer and the members" of the embassy team.
"Our diplomats will continue to meet with the Cuban people, despite the regime's failed intimidation tactics," the U.S. government office stated.
The U.S. embassy noted on X that Hammer is meeting with "ordinary Cubans" who "contacted us by email."
"If you would like us to visit you, send us your phone number and we will contact you when we are in your province," the diplomatic mission in Havana said.
The representative also visited the provinces of Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey. In the latter, he met with Archbishop Wilfredo Pino. Although he did not disclose the content of the conversation, Hammer noted on Feb. 2 that, "like the U.S., the Church has an important role in supporting ordinary Cubans."
"The acts of repudiation organized by the regime will not prevent us from continuing to meet with Cubans concerned about the crisis facing the country," the embassy stated on X.
On Feb. 4, Hammer reported on his meeting with the bishop of Holguín, Emilio Aranguren, to whom he presented a miniature "replica of our 'Liberty Bell'" to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
During his visits, the diplomat also visited the homes of several citizens, including opposition figure Iván Hernández Carrillo and the family of Félix and Sayli Navarro, who were imprisoned because of the mass protests of July 2021.
"We continue to insist that they and all political prisoners be released," the U.S. Embassy stated.
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.
Pope Leo XIV and Sant'Egidio Community founder Andrea Riccardi discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace in the midst of various world conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV and the founder of the Sant'Egidio Community, Andrea Riccardi, met at the Vatican this week and discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace in the midst of various conflicts around the world.
According to a statement, the Feb. 5 meeting took place on the eve of the 58th anniversary of the ecclesial community, which was founded in Rome and has been committed for decades to peace, dialogue, and caring for the poorest.
In particular, the value of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue was emphasized as a fundamental resource, promoted by the so-called "spirit of Assisi": the movement of interreligious dialogue and communal prayer for world peace initiated by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 27, 1986, in that Italian city to reject the use of violence in the name of religion and to foster encounter, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence among peoples.
The Sant'Egidio Community is a lay Catholic movement founded in 1968 by Riccardi in Rome that focuses on prayer, solidarity with the poor (especially homeless people and the elderly), and peace, operating in more than 70 countries.
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.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Achonry and Elphin drew attention to the impact of abortion on population. Read more in this roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.
Here's a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news:
Irish bishop says abortion is driving down population
An Irish bishop has observed that the nation has lost the equivalent of 300 primary school classes of children to abortion in one year.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Achonry and Elphin drew attention to the impact of abortion on population, citing a recent figure that found that 10,852 unborn babies were aborted in Ireland in 2024, The Irish Catholic reported.
"The closure of primary schools across Ireland, and especially in rural communities, has surfaced as a major cause of concern in recent weeks," Doran said. "There are complex reasons for this, but the impact of abortion on population is becoming increasingly clear."
"Quite apart from the enormous human tragedy involved, this is the equivalent of 300 classes of primary school children," he said. "Abortion doesn't just kill babies. It deprives communities all over Ireland of thousands of happy, laughing children."
Doran anticipates "a dramatic reduction of young adults in every aspect of community life" if things continue on this path.
On Feb. 10, the senate will vote on a proposal to legalize abortion, which would be changed from Zimbabwe's long-held protections for life. If the bill passes, it will go to the president to be approved.
The Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe appealed to the senators, asking them to "uphold your constitutional responsibility to protect the right to life of unborn children."
The bishops also urged Christians to stand against the bill, saying it "strikes at the heart of the African and Christian moral heritage."
The bishops also are requiring parishes to read a statement at Mass in which the bishops "call upon all Christians to commit themselves to prayer for the protection of human life from the moment of conception."
Nebraska narrowly fails to advance bill protecting women from trafficking and forced abortions
A Nebraska bill to protect women from forced abortions and screen for coercion narrowly failed to advance.
Designed to strengthen Nebraska's informed-consent laws, the bill required abortion providers to screen for coercion, domestic violence, and human trafficking before performing an abortion. Introduced by state Sen. Tanya Storer and prioritized by state Sen. Dan Lonowski, the bill required that providers have resources such as confidential phone calls and national hotlines available.
Nate Grasz, executive director of Nebraska Family Alliance, said: "Sex trafficking and abortion are inextricably linked, and [the bill] would have given pregnant women a critical layer of protection."
"The Legislature had a clear choice: stand with women who are being exploited and abused or side with an abortion lobby spreading misinformation and profiting at the expense of women in danger," Grasz said in a statement.
Texas father sues California abortionist for providing illegal abortions
After his girlfriend aborted two of their children, a Texas man is suing the California doctor who allegedly provided the abortion pills, which are illegal in Texas.
Jerry Rodriguez filed the original lawsuit in July 2025 but updated it on Feb. 1 to include a new law that allows private citizens in Texas to sue providers of abortion pills.
Under the law, which went into effect at the end of December, a Texan can receive up to $100,000 from the defendant if he or she is directly related to the unborn child. If the plaintiff is not related to the child, he or she could receive 10% of the amount, while the remaining money would go to charity.
The defendant in this case is Dr. Remy Coeytaux, an abortionist from California.
The Rescue Resurrection group of activists was arrested after blocking access to a Planned Parenthood in Memphis, Tennessee. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Monica Migliorino Miller
Disorderly conduct charges against Memphis pro-lifers dropped
After being arrested for conducting a rescue at a Planned Parenthood facility in Memphis, Tennessee, charges against a group of activists have been dropped.
More than a dozen members of the Rescue Resurrection group were arrested after they blocked facility doors at an abortion clinic, Monica Migliorino Miller, a pro-life activist involved in the group, told EWTN News.
Memphis police officers eventually arrived, warning the group its members were trespassing, and arrested the 17 activists who remained blocking the door after the warning, according to Miller.
All charges were dropped for four of the activists, while the charges against two others were dismissed. For the remaining 13, the court dropped the disorderly conduct charge and the defendants gave a "no contest" plea on the trespass charge, receiving time served.
The U.S. government announced it will send a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba worth $6 million, which will be delivered directly to the population through the Catholic Church.
The U.S. government announced that it will send a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba worth $6 million, which will be delivered directly to the population through the Catholic Church.
On its website, the U.S. State Department informed on Feb. 5 that the decision was made "following the success of the partnership" with the Catholic Church in Cuba in distributing the first $3 million in aid.
The department explained that this second round of assistance "will be delivered through the same channel as the first $3 million, with prepackaged commodities transported from Miami and delivered by local parish representatives."
"This method has proven highly effective at ensuring that the failed Cuban regime cannot interfere with, or divert, assistance intended for the island's needy population," said the department, headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants.
As with the first delivery, "the regime must not make any effort to interfere with the provision of this lifesaving support. We remain vigilant in tracking any diversion or frustration of U.S. assistance efforts, and the regime will be accountable to the United States and its own people for any interference," the statement warned.
"Beyond this tranche of assistance, the United States stands ready to surge even greater direct support to the Cuban people. The corrupt regime must simply permit it," it added.
Following the announcement, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, wrote on X that it was "hypocritical to apply coercive measures" and "then announce soup and canned goods for a few."
The official was referring to the tariffs announced by the United States on countries that send oil to the island as a way to further pressure the communist regime that has governed Cuba since 1959.
On Jan. 14, Caritas Cuba — the charitable arm of the Church — received the first shipment of aid to assist those still suffering the consequences of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island on Oct. 29, 2025.
On the same day the first shipment arrived, the Cuban ministry of foreign affairs stated that there had been "no official communication" between the two governments to confirm the shipment.
U.S. bishops' role
"It was the Cuban Catholic Church that contacted the country's authorities with the information that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) intended to serve as the channel for sending material assistance to Cuba, which would be provided by the U.S. government," the ministry reported in a statement published in the official newspaper Granma.
For its part, Caritas Cuba stated that day that the material assistance "will be distributed by the Catholic Church" and that it worked together "with Catholic Relief Services in organizing this shipment. Technical support from Caritas Germany was also received in the process."
The chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Mike Hammer, also reported that he had met with the president of the Cuban Bishops' Conference, Bishop Arturo González Amador, and the archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García, to "review the progress of the distribution of humanitarian aid."
The fact that international humanitarian aid is not passing through the regime's controls marks an unprecedented event in Cuban history, since previous assistance had always required the participation and approval of the state.
On Oct. 31, 2025, before this U.S. initiative began, the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH, by its Spanish acronym) reported that the regime had "established 'checkpoints' at the exit of Las Tunas province and at the entrance to Granma province, to prevent the passage of people from the western and central parts of the island carrying food and other aid, especially from Christian churches," intended to support those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
"The OCDH demands that the Cuban government allow the flow of aid from civil society and refrain from attempting to control social initiatives," the organization stated.
Continued support for humanitarian channels
The Christian Liberation Movement (MCL, by its Spanish acronym) expressed its support for the U.S. humanitarian aid effort and said that providing assistance to the population through humanitarian channels is the way to "break the relationship of forced dependence that the dictatorship has imposed for decades as a mechanism of domination."
"For the first time in history, this aid disconnects the dictatorship's direct control over the people" and is truly humanitarian and not ideological, since "it doesn't involve slogans" or require political allegiance. "For the first time, a Cuban can receive aid without supporting the regime, without thanking the regime, without being politically dependent on the regime," the organization stated in a press release.
The MCL recalled that in July 2021 — after the protests that the government responded to with repression — it called on the international community to implement "11 concrete actions to isolate the Cuban regime, in solidarity with the freedom of the Cuban people."
"In point 10 of those actions, we requested the creation of a humanitarian channel that would allow aid to be sent directly to the Cuban people while isolating the regime," the MCL pointed out.
The Christian Liberation Movement noted that "this aid, distributed by the Church and supervised by the donors, not by the Cuban state, makes concrete an essential idea: international pressure must be directed at the oppressive power, and solidarity must reach — without political intermediaries — those who are suffering."
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.
The pontiff warned that profit, doping, and fanaticism can distort sport's deeper human purpose.
As the Winter Olympic Games open in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Pope Leo XIV has issued a wide-ranging letter on the value of sport, urging nations to embrace an "Olympic Truce" and warning against corruption, fanaticism, and a "dictatorship of performance" that can distort athletics' deeper purpose.
The letter, titled "Life in Abundance," was released by the Vatican on Feb. 6 on the occasion of the XXV Winter Olympic Games (Feb. 6–22) and the XIV Paralympic Games (March 6–15).
The pope describes sport as more than elite competition, calling it "a shared activity, open to all and salutary for both body and spirit, even becoming a universal expression of our humanity."
A call for an Olympic Truce
Reflecting on sport's role in peace-building, Leo recalls the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce — "an agreement to suspend hostilities before, during, and after the Olympic Games" — so that travel and competition could proceed safely.
By contrast, he warns that war "results from a radicalization of conflict and a refusal to cooperate with each other," such that "the adversary is considered a mortal enemy, to be isolated and, if possible, eliminated."
"In a world thirsting for peace," he writes, "I wholeheartedly encourage all nations to rediscover and respect this instrument of hope that is the Olympic Truce, a symbol and promise of a reconciled world."
The human person at the center
Turning to sport's formative value, the pope anchors his reflection in Christ's words: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). From a Christian perspective, he writes, "the human person must always remain the focal point of sport in all its expressions, even those aiming for competitive and professional excellence."
Leo traces the Church's positive engagement with physical culture through St. Paul's athletic imagery, medieval theology's rejection of gnostic and Manichean denials of the body, and the contributions of thinkers such as Hugh of Saint Victor and St. Thomas Aquinas. He also points to major educators including St. Philip Neri and St. John Bosco and notes how the Church's modern reflection on sport grows through the 20th century and after the Second Vatican Council.
"The Second Vatican Council," he writes, "placed its positive assessment of sport in the broader context of culture," encouraging leisure and exercise as part of balanced human development and stronger fraternal relations.
Tennis, teamwork, and the 'flow experience'
Using tennis as an example, the pope describes "a prolonged rally" as one of the sport's most enjoyable moments because "each player pushes the other to the limit of his or her skill level. The experience is exhilarating, and the two players challenge each other to improve."
He also emphasizes how sport can draw people out of egocentricity, especially in team settings. Quoting Pope Francis, Leo recalls the call to athletes: "Be team players … it is an opportunity to encounter and be with others, to help one another, to compete in mutual esteem and to grow in brotherhood."
When team sports are "not polluted by the worship of profit," he writes, young people "put themselves on the line" — "a tremendous educational opportunity."
Corruption, doping, and fanaticism
Leo warns that sporting values are threatened when "business becomes the primary or sole motivation," because decisions then cease to be rooted in "human dignity" and the true good of athletes and communities.
"When the objective is to maximize profit," he cautions, "what can be measured or quantified is overvalued to the detriment of the incalculable and important human dimensions: 'It only counts if it can be counted.'"
He also warns about the "dictatorship of performance," which "can lead to the use of performance-enhancing substances and other forms of dishonesty," and he underscores that "rejecting doping and all forms of corruption … is not merely a disciplinary issue but one that touches the very heart of sport."
The pope similarly cautions against fandom becoming fanaticism, noting it can become "a source of polarization that leads to verbal and physical violence," turning stadiums into places of confrontation rather than encounter.
Victory, defeat, and a 'quasi-religious' temptation
Leo says sport educates in a unique way through the relationship between winning and losing: "Losing… does not entail personal failure but can become a lesson in truth and humility."
At the same time, he warns that sport can take on a "quasi-religious dimension," where "stadiums are perceived as secular cathedrals, matches as collective liturgies and athletes as saviors." Such "sacralization," he writes, can reveal a real hunger for meaning and communion, but it risks hollowing out both sport and spirituality.
He also cautions against narcissism and the "cult of image and performance," which can "fragment" the person by "separating body from mind and spirit."
Saints, politics, and technology
Calling for models of integrated holiness, Leo writes: "We need to rediscover those who have combined passion for sports, sensitivity to social issues and holiness," pointing to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati as a young man who "perfectly combined faith, prayer, social commitment, and sport."
He warns, too, against politicizing international competitions: "Major sporting events are meant to be places of encounter and mutual admiration, not stages for the affirmation of political or ideological interests."
The pope also highlights contemporary challenges from transhumanism and artificial intelligence, cautioning that performance technologies can "transform the athlete into an optimized, controlled product, enhanced beyond natural limits."
A pastoral approach to sport
Finally, Leo urges local Churches to treat sport as a space for "discernment and accompaniment," calling for pastoral initiatives that offer "human and spiritual guidance" and help make sport "a welcoming space" for communion.
He concludes by returning to the theme of "life in abundance," writing: "This is not an accumulation of successes or performances but a fullness of life that integrates our bodies, relationships, and interior lives." Sport, he adds, can become "a school of life," teaching that "abundance does not come from victory at any cost but from sharing, from respecting others, and from the joy of walking together."
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.
"We talked about the importance of chastity, how it heals and strengthens and restores the person," said Courage International Executive Director Father Brian Gannon.
Pope Leo XIV met with members of Courage International on Feb. 6 in what the ministry called a "historic" and "momentous" event that took place in Vatican City.
The Connecticut-based ministry, which for nearly half a century has ministered to Catholics dealing with same-sex attraction, said in a press statement that leaders associated with the group, including Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano and group Executive Director Father Brian Gannon, met with the Holy Father in a private audience.
"The opportunity to share with the Holy Father the works of the apostolate, to provide pastoral accompaniment to persons who experience same-sex attraction but who strive to live chaste lives or to accompany family members who have a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ, was a momentous occasion," the group said.
Officially founded in 1980, Courage International marked 45 years in 2025 of helping individuals struggling with sexuality to "live a chaste life" in line with Church teaching. Originally founded in Manhattan, the group's headquarters is based in Bridgeport.
Pope Leo "is very, very supportive of everything that Courage is doing."
Father Brian Gannon
Executive Director, Courage International
Gannon, who came into the leadership role at the organization in 2024, told EWTN News on Feb. 6 that the meeting — the group's first with a pope — was an "extraordinary gift" from the Holy Father.
"The pope was very gracious, a very good listener," he said. "We talked about the importance of chastity, how it heals and strengthens and restores the person. The pope was obviously very encouraging."
The Holy Father in turn "talked about freedom, about what real freedom is —not the unbridled freedom that the world offers, but rather mastering our passions and being in complete surrender to the will of God."
Gannon said the meeting with Leo constitutes a "huge morale booster" for the group, which has chapters in over a dozen countries and numbers more than 200 chaplains, including through its family support ministry, EnCourage.
"All the members of Courage throughout the whole world will see that the pope extended an audience and listened and is very, very supportive of everything that Courage is doing," Gannon said, calling the encounter "a huge blessing."
The priest told EWTN News last year that the organization is a "needed ministry" that "helps people find peace."
Group members "come together, read through the goals, discuss their experiences and challenges during the week, and pray," he said. "Prayer is absolutely central to it."
On Feb. 6, Gannon said, the pope spoke to the group about "the woundedness of people," and how "Jesus Christ is always with you and you're never alone."
Gannon described the group's mission as helping people to develop self-control in service to Christ. He offered the example of someone who falls into water and is "thrashing about," unable to swim.
"The person who learns how to swim is really free, not the person who's thrashing about," he said. "You put the passions to good use for the pursuit of God."
Catholic convert Eva Vlaardingerbroek discussed immigration and the state of free speech in Europe on EWTN's "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo."
Catholic Dutch political commentator and activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek said "the rule of law is dead" in Europe and detailed the issues of censorship and immigration on the continent.
Vlaardingerbroek is an attorney and Catholic convert who has been outspoken about European immigration, national sovereignty, and free speech. Recently, the U.K. government banned her from entering the country due to her outspoken views.
"Out of the blue, I saw that I had received an email from the U.K. government," she told Raymond Arroyo on EWTN's "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo." It was "just a couple of sentences saying that my ETA, which is the travel authorization that Europeans need to travel to the U.K., had been revoked."
The reason they stated "was that I am 'not conducive to the public good,'" she said. Vlaardingerbroek said she believes the ban occurred because she criticized the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on social media three days before receiving the email.
The situation shows that "the rule of law is dead in Europe," Vlaardingerbroek said. "Because if you get a notification like that out of the blue, you have no ability, no means to defend yourself … I don't have a criminal record. I didn't commit a crime."
"I got converted to Catholicism in the United Kingdom, so I have a couple of really dear friends there. Now, I'm no longer able to go because I say the wrong things, apparently. That is the state of Europe right now … They either throw you in jail or they make sure that you can't enter the country. That's what happens in the United Kingdom if you go against the grain," she said.
European immigration
Vlaardingerbroek has also been outspoken about illegal immigration in Europe and said that mass immigration has destabilized Europe and led to spikes in violent crimes.
"Anyone with two eyes can see that it's true," she said. Everyone who lives here, apart from maybe people living in ivory towers or in areas where there are no immigrants, everyone who lives in the real world knows that it's true."
"I will continue speaking the truth about what I see happening to this beautiful continent of ours because it's being destroyed," she said. "We see churches burning down every week here in Europe, and that's not a coincidence. That didn't happen for hundreds of years, and suddenly now … they're burning down faster than I can count."
"You can break the law coming here. It's not being punished. In fact, it's rewarded because people get to stay, people get free housing, people get free health care, and they're able to just roam around even awaiting whether they are going to get their asylum approved or not."
"The governments and the legal system seem to be working hand in hand" and the "judges are complicit," Vlaardingerbroek said. In Europe, the migrants that commit crimes are not held accountable because judges believe "they are traumatized because they come from a war zone" or due to their "their mental state."
"Then what ends up happening is these immigrants who rape, kill, and assault the native population, they just don't get any real prison time, and they definitely do not get deported," she said.
"I think that this is a holdover from World War II," she continued. Institutions including the European Union have "given evil one face and one face only" and "they refuse to see the difference between a Nazi and a conservative Christian."
"To them, it's all the same, and that's the way that they treat us," she said. "I don't think they're afraid to acknowledge it. I think they honestly don't care. I mean, the churches that are being burned down in France that we see, that's a physical thing unfolding in front of our eyes."
The burning of churches "is powerful imagery that should wake people up to something else, something invisible, which is the agenda that is being carried out here to erode Christianity," Vlaardingerbroek said.
When the European Union discusses European culture, identity, and history, "they never mention Christianity," Vlaardingerbroek said.
"They actively removed it from their documents. They talk about the Enlightenment, but Christianity is never mentioned. They are actively eroding and erasing Christianity here in Europe because it threatens their agenda, because these people see [themselves] as God," she said.
U.S. immigration
As debates over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and law enforcement continue in the U.S, Vlaardingerbroek also discussed the status of immigration on this side of the pond.
"As a Catholic, of course, we can be charitable. Nobody's saying that we cannot allow some immigration or that we cannot help those in need. That is, of course, a Catholic ideal. That is a Catholic value … That's what our legal system reflects," she said.
"That doesn't mean, however, that when you come here illegally, which is what happens the majority of the time, and you break [the] laws, that we have to sit by and watch that happen."
ICE agents "are doing their job," Vlaardingerbroek said. "They are enforcing the law. I think it's a disgrace the way that they are being treated."
"I wish actually that here in Europe, we would have our version of ICE and that they would … send back home the people who come here illegally and who do not belong in these countries and who actively fight everything that we stand for, both in America and here in Europe," Vlaardingerbroek said.
