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CNA Staff, Apr 28, 2025 / 15:26 pm (CNA).

The second season of the hit online EWTN series "James the Less" will be released on Tuesday, April 29. 

The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job. James is an atheist. However, a help wanted sign on the church bulletin board catches his eye and entices him to interview for the position: handyman. He accepts the position at St. James the Less Church and starts to encounter Catholicism. Soon, James finds his ideals challenged by the no-nonsense pastor Father Lambert Burns and through his romantic pursuit of parishioner Anne-Marie.

Director of Studio Operations for EWTN Stephen Beaumont told CNA that the idea for the series came from his desire to "create a series of short videos about a character growing in virtue."

"The idea for the title came from a Mass I attended at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, probably in 2019.  I was in Rome on business and decided to attend a daily Mass at St. Peter's. At St. Peter's, there are always pilgrimage groups having Masses at the many side altars, and I ended up participating in a Mass with a group from a parish in England called St. James the Less," he explained. "That name interested me, because you usually hear 'St. James the Lesser' or 'St. James the Younger.' Also, it reminded me of a saints book I got for my first Communion, which listed the apostle as St. James the Less. I thought it would work well as the title."

Season 2 will consist of five episodes and viewers "will learn more about Anne-Marie and why she gets upset every time she sees the medallion. There will also be some new characters introduced, and most of all, you will see development of the relationship between James and Anne-Marie," Beaumont shared. 

James is played by Catholic artist and missionary Tanner Kalina. He has been a part of ministries such as FOCUS, Ascension Presents, NET, and others. He also hosts a podcast with several of his friends called "Saints Alive."

While playing James, it has inspired Kalina "to look at the faith with fresh eyes," he told CNA in an interview.  

"He's reminded me of how attractive our faith is and how we need to do a better job of owning it," he said. "There's so many people out there in James' shoes who are aching for what we have as Catholics."

"It's been a great joy and a testament to the goodness and creativity of God. He's so good," Kalina added. "After I left Hollywood a number of years ago for ministry, I didn't know if I'd ever have the chance to act again. When this fell in my lap, it felt like God was saying, 'I see you. I know you. I love you. Enjoy!'"

Kalina shared that in Season 2 viewers will also see "what happens after James opens his heart ever so slightly to our Eucharistic Lord."

When asked what he hopes people are taking away from the series, Kalina said: "I honestly just hope people are enjoying it. It's just good ol' wholesome fun, which is hard to find nowadays without an agenda attached."

"Primarily it is a romantic comedy, and a fish-out-of-water story, so most of all, we hope that people will find it entertaining," Beaumont added. "There are some teaching moments along the way, but these moments flow naturally from the characters and the situations."

The series will not be broadcast on television. Watch exclusively on EWTN's YouTube channel:

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Vatican City, Apr 28, 2025 / 07:25 am (CNA).

Pope Francis passed away Easter Monday, April 21. The 88-year-old pontiff led the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years. His burial at St. Mary Major took place Saturday, April 26.

Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the papal transition:

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Dublin, Ireland, Apr 28, 2025 / 10:39 am (CNA).

Among the tens of thousands of mourners paying their respects before the coffin of Pope Francis last week was Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian World Cup-winning goalkeeper. A visibly emotional Buffon was accompanied by Gabriele Gravina, president of Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) (Italian Football Federation), as well as the Lazio squad and coaching staff. (Società Sportiva Lazio is an Italian professional sports club based in Rome.)

Pope Francis was a lifelong soccer fan and his passing was felt perhaps most acutely among fans of the San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires, a team he followed since childhood. During their match on Saturday, the club paid tribute to their most famous fan. San Lorenzo players wore a patch on their shirts with an image of Pope Francis smiling and wearing his papal robes, accompanied by the phrase "Together for Eternity."

"The pope leaves an unbreakable legacy," San Lorenzo Club president Marcelo Moretti told Reuters. "For all San Lorenzo fans, he was a source of great pride. It is a very sad day." Moretti had recently met Pope Francis and gained his assent for the club's new stadium to be named after him.  

The late pope's membership number at San Lorenzo was 88235, and the club's faithful have pointed out the uncanny symbolism of the number given to Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he became a member and Francis' age and time of death.

"He died at 88 years old, at 2:35 a.m. (Buenos Aires time) and was member 88235," observed a San Lorenzo fan on X.

When San Lorenzo eventually won the coveted Copa Libertadores in 2014, the team had a replica of the trophy to present to a jubilant Pope Francis in Rome.

During his pontificate, Pope Francis welcomed many professional soccer players to the Vatican, including Argentine World Cup winner Diego Maradona, who credited the pope with reintroducing him to his faith. He also welcomed Lionel Messi and spoke openly of his admiration for Pelé. 

Following Francis' death on Easter Monday, there were a number of notable expressions of sympathy and respect from football stadiums across the world.

In Milan, the derby between Internazionale and AC Milan was marked by a minute of respect when both teams lined up to applause and the stadium's public address system played Ennio Morricone's theme "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" — a film about early Jesuit missionaries to Latin America.

In Scotland, a match between soon-to-be crowned champions Glasgow Celtic and Dundee United was preceeded by an immaculately observed minute of silence by both sets of fans. Both clubs trace their origins back to their respective cities' Catholic communities. 

Dundee United F.C. was originally founded as Dundee Hibernian in 1909, having a strong connection to the Irish Catholic community in Dundee. The club was formed to provide opportunities for young Irish Catholic immigrants.

Glasgow Celtic, British soccer's first winners of the European Cup in 1967 were formed by an Irish Catholic priest Brother Walfrid. The Catholic faith is indelibly associated with the club, and this was underscored by their official visit to meet Pope Francis in November 2023. The club was in Rome for a champions league match.

In his official welcome, Pope Francis pointed to Celtic's origins among poor Irish immigrants to Glasgow, touching on themes that resonated throughout his papacy. Flagging the importance of the identity of the club on and off the field he said: "The valued legacy of your club places a heavy responsibility on your shoulders to be good role models especially for young people."

The world of soccer has shown respect for the papacy throughout the years, especially in times of mourning. In April 2005, a game between Polish clubs Lech Poznan and MKS Pogon Szczecin came to an unscheduled halt after 38 minutes when supporters began to chant for the match to be stopped and one fan ran on to the field to instruct the referee to stop the game. Players gathered to pray in the center circle and 15,000 supporters sang the national anthem. People cried. A television channel had mistakenly reported the death of Pope John Paul II and news had spread among supporters. 

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CNA Newsroom, Apr 27, 2025 / 21:48 pm (CNA).

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia, is calling for prayer after a deadly car-ramming attack claimed at least 11 lives during a Filipino heritage celebration in the Canadian city.

"I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic events that took place yesterday during the Lapu-Lapu Day celebration in Vancouver," Archbishop Miller said in his April 27 statement. "What should have been a joyful gathering to honour Filipino heritage has been overshadowed by sorrow and shock."

A man drove an SUV into crowds attending the Filipino community's Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 20 others.

Vancouver Police said they arrested a 30-year-old suspect at the scene after the incident, which occurred around 8:14 p.m. local time.

Interim Police Chief Steve Rai told journalists the attack is not believed to be terrorism-related, noting the unnamed suspect was known to "police and healthcare professionals related to mental health."

The street festival celebrated Datu Lapu-Lapu, a national hero of the the Philippines.

"The Filipino community is a vibrant and faith-filled part of our archdiocese," said Archbishop Miller. "In moments like this, your spirit of hope, resilience, and deep trust in God's providence shines even amid darkness."

The archbishop encouraged prayer for those affected by the violence.

"I encourage all of us to come together in prayer, asking the Lord to pour out his mercy upon those affected and to grant strength to all who are carrying heavy hearts," he said. "May our Blessed Mother intercede for us, bringing comfort and healing to Vancouver."

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed solidarity on X with the victims' families on April 27, saying, "Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are now living every family's nightmare. I know that I join all Canadians in mourning with you."

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Vatican City, Apr 27, 2025 / 09:15 am (CNA).

Pope Francis passed away Easter Monday, April 21. The 88-year-old pontiff led the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years. His burial at St. Mary Major took place Saturday, April 26.

Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the papal transition:

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Vatican City, Apr 27, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin presided over the solemn Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday held in St. Peter's Square, highlighting the need for the Church to follow in Pope Francis' footsteps as "instruments of mercy for humanity" in the world today. 

"Only mercy heals and creates a new world, putting out the fires of distrust, hatred, and violence: This is the great teaching of Pope Francis," Parolin said in his Sunday homily.

"Pope Francis was a shining witness of a Church that bends down with tenderness toward those who are wounded and heals with the balm of mercy," he added. 

Approximately 200,000 people participated in the outdoor Mass offered for the late pontiff on the second day of the Church's "Novendiales" mourning period, the Holy See Press Office reported. 

"Brothers and sisters, precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday we remember our beloved Pope Francis with affection," Parolin said. "It is precisely the Father's mercy, which is greater than our limitations and calculations, that characterized the magisterium of Pope Francis and his intense apostolic activity."

Insisting that people's affections for the late pope "must not remain a mere emotion of the moment," Parolin said "the Church must welcome his legacy" by "opening ourselves to God's mercy and also being merciful to one another." 

Tens of thousands of young pilgrims who took part in Jubilee of Teenagers festivities from April 25–27 were also present at the Divine Mercy Mass dedicated to the late pontiff, including several European scouts groups, such as Italy's Scouts D'Europa, and American parish groups, including youth from the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia.

Addressing the throngs of teenagers present in the square — many of whom were shielding themselves from the hot morning sun under colorful hats and umbrellas — Parolin encouraged them to be close to Jesus Christ and to show his "merciful face" to all those they encounter in life.

"I address a special greeting to you, with the desire to make you feel the embrace of the Church and the affection of Pope Francis, who would have liked to meet you, to look into your eyes, and to pass among you to greet you," Parolin said to applause from those gathered in the square. 

"[Jesus] comes to meet you where you are, to give you the courage to live, to share your experiences, your thoughts, your gifts, and your dreams," he said to young people. "He comes to you in the face of those near or far, a brother and sister to love." 

The Mass celebration for the second Sunday of Easter concluded with the singing of the midday Regina Coeli prayer before an image of the icon of "Salus Populi Romani" ("Health of the Roman People") placed next to the main altar erected in St. Peter's Square.

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Vatican City, Apr 27, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The unexpected death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, postponed the much-anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who captivated a generation of young Catholics with his love of the Eucharist and passion for technology.

Now, as the Church prepares for a conclave to elect a new pope, tens of thousands of young pilgrims who traveled to Rome for the canonization remain in the Eternal City, holding vigil for the departed pope.

Acutis' journey to sainthood has unfolded alongside the lives of the last three popes, each of whom has marked a different chapter in the teenager's short life and legacy.

Carlo went on pilgrimage to see John Paul II, offered up his suffering from cancer for Benedict XVI, and was later beatified during the pontificate of Pope Francis. Now, it will be up to the next pope to canonize the Church's first millennial saint.

A childhood inspired by John Paul II

Born in 1991 during the pontificate of John Paul II, Carlo Acutis grew up at a time when the Polish pontiff was inspiring millions with his travels and teaching. It was Carlo's Polish nanny, herself devoted to the pope, who helped cultivate Carlo's early faith.

In October 2000, the Acutis family traveled to Rome to attend a landmark moment of the Great Jubilee: Pope John Paul II's act of entrustment of the new millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Standing in St. Peter's Square, the then-9-year-old Carlo witnessed a crowd united in prayer, gathered beneath Bernini's colonnade and in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fátima.

"The Church today, through the voice of the successor of Peter, in union with so many pastors assembled here from every corner of the world, seeks refuge in your motherly protection and trustingly begs your intercession as she faces the challenges which lie hidden in the future," John Paul II prayed to Our Lady.

Offering his suffering for Benedict XVI

When white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel in April 2005, 13-year-old Carlo Acutis watched closely as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI. According to his mother, Carlo was "fascinated" by Benedict XVI.

The following year, Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. Before he died of cancer in October 2006, he offered up his suffering for Benedict XVI saying: "I offer all the suffering I will have to endure to the Lord for the pope and for the Church, in order not to go through purgatory and to go straight to heaven."

Beatification under Pope Francis

Pope Francis declared Carlo Acutis' heroic virtue in 2018 and recognized the two miracles attributed to Carlo's intercession that made possible his beatification and canonization. 

Francis frequently cited Carlo as a model for youth in the digital age. In Christus Vivit, his apostolic exhortation to young people, Francis wrote that Carlo's life stood as a witness against the temptation of "self-absorption, isolation, and empty pleasure" in the digital world.

"His witness indicates to today's young people that true happiness is found by putting God in first place and serving him in our brothers and sisters, especially the least," Pope Francis said the day after Carlo's beatification in 2020.

Pope Francis had been scheduled to preside over Carlo's canonization on April 27 during a jubilee event expected to draw 80,000 teenagers to Rome. Instead, that Mass will now be offered as one of the Novendiales — the nine days of mourning that follow the death of a pope — as part of a revised schedule for the Jubilee of Teenagers.

A saint for the next pope

Carlo Acutis' canonization will now be one of the first major acts awaiting the next pope. The timing and location of the canonization Mass will be left to the discretion of Francis' successor, who will likely recognize the moment as an opportunity to speak to the Church's future and to its youth as the canonization of the Catholic Church's first millennial saint.

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CNA Staff, Apr 27, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Judy Henderson spent 36 years in prison for a crime she did not commit, leaving her 3-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter behind while she was behind bars. Despite the hardship, Henderson never lost hope. Written above the sink in her cell was the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, which served as her daily reminder that God had plans for her future.

She didn't wait around for that future to unfold, however; instead, she got to work helping other incarcerated mothers and still serves in this capacity today. Currently an administrative assistant for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Henderson continues to assist mothers and families in need.

She has also written a book called "When the Light Finds Us: From a Life Sentence to a Life Transformed," released on April 15, in which she shares her inspiring story from wrongful conviction to redemption.

Raised in a Christian household, Henderson was the oldest of eight. She grew up, got married, and had her daughter, Angel, and then her son, Chip, nine years later. Her marriage, which was physically and emotionally abusive, ended after 12 years.

Henderson, along with her children, then moved back to her hometown of Springfield, Missouri, to be closer to her parents and for a fresh start. However, within months of the move Henderson was charmed by a new man. 

"He was very suave and debonair and wore a three-piece suit and had been in the ministry and a real estate broker and just everything that you would think a woman would want," she told CNA in an interview. 

Henderson shared that even her parents loved him because they "thought he was a good Christian." 

One day he showed up at Henderson's home with suitcases and told her he was moving in. Henderson was taken aback and told him she wasn't going to live with a man she wasn't married to, especially with her children living with her.

When questioned as to why he felt the need to move in, Henderson recalled him telling her: "'I think you need me. I want to love you and take care of you and the children and for us to be a happy family.'"

"As a battered woman, our thinking and the way we view things aren't from a healthy lens," she explained. "And so I was already kind of like Pavlov's dogs, conditioned, and to be a 'yes,' 'yes sir,' 'I want to take care of you' kind of woman. Never thinking that there was any side to him that was not just good. And I did not see any of the signs. I didn't even know what to look for because back then we didn't have the battered women syndrome. We didn't know the definition of the different stages that battered women go through."

Soon after, Henderson began to see his bad side, which included dealing cocaine. Manipulated by her boyfriend, the two planned to rob a jeweler in Springfield, Missouri. However, the robbery turned deadly when the jeweler refused to hand over the valuables. Henderson's boyfriend fired his gun several times, killing the jeweler and leaving Henderson injured.

Both were charged with murder, but only Henderson was sentenced to life without parole for 50 years for capital murder. A major issue in her trial, which was later deemed unconstitutional, was that both Henderson and her boyfriend shared the same attorney. 

"The only reason he had him [the attorney] along with me is to make sure the strategy did not include him or nothing [was] being said bad about him or me taking the stand against him. It was another manipulating tool that he wanted to control," Henderson said.

Henderson entered prison and admitted that she "was very angry with God." 

The mother of two was able to see her daughter throughout the years; however, her ex-husband did not allow Henderson to see her son from the age of 5 until 16, causing her more anger.

"There's two things you can do with anger — you can get bitter or you can get better. And I chose better because nobody cared that I was angry in prison. Everybody was angry in prison," she shared.

So Henderson started to deal with her anger and "started fighting those emotions that Satan loves for us to feel."

"I stood on the fact that I was going home because God's promises are always 'yes' and 'amen,' and he promised in Jeremiah 29:11, 'I know the plans I have for you,' 'a future,' and my future was not prison. That's not what God gave me."

While in prison, Henderson became a certified paralegal and mentor for others who were incarcerated. She also worked toward legislative reform and led efforts to ensure that battered women could use their histories of abuse as legal defense. Her work in this area led to a landmark decision in Missouri that recognized battered women's syndrome as legal defense. 

She also pioneered the PATCH (Parents and Their Children) Program, which creates a safer, less traumatic experience for children visiting their incarcerated mothers. A trailer is used outside the prison and is decorated to look like a home with a TV, kitchen, and living room, and children never see handcuffs or guards, only volunteers who escort the children to their mothers. 

"I kept very, very busy being productive," she recalled. "I thought either you can do the time or the time can do you. And so I did the time. I got educated in every program they had to offer me."

One program that deeply touched Henderson and brought her back to Christ was Residents Encounter Christ, a Catholic ministry that offered "lifers" — those with a life sentence — a chance at a three-day retreat to encounter Christ, which Henderson said helped her to "understand what the love of God was really about."

On Dec. 20, 2017, Henderson received an unexpected visitor — then-Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri. At the sight of him she dropped to her knees crying. He approached her, took her by the shoulders, and said, "I want to apologize for the state of Missouri for not looking at your case sooner, and for you having to spend 36 years of your life locked away. I'm going to, on this day, commute your sentence to life with parole to time served," she recalled. 

"He opened the door and my daughter came running to me and my son and other family members and two of my attorneys … we were overjoyed, everybody crying."

Today Henderson works with Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and uses her skills and talents across departments to help veterans, women, children, and families in need.

"To see those women and those babies, and even the men, come in and be lifted up because of the work that we do is such a blessing and so inspiring for us to be able to be such great instruments for God," she said.

Henderson recalled how she always saw God's hand at work in her life and how "God does things in pieces, like a puzzle," bringing people and events into your life just at the right time "if you follow his lead and let him guide you."

"I was blessed enough to find my purpose and finding joy inside a dark, horrible, painful place. And so God is everywhere to shine his light … He shines a light for you to follow, and that's what I did and I was blessed to be able to listen to his voice and to do what I what he created me to do. This was my purpose."

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Rome Newsroom, Apr 27, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin presided over the solemn Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday held in St. Peter's Square, highlighting the need for the Church to follow in Pope Francis' footsteps as "instruments of mercy for humanity" in the world today. 

"Only mercy heals and creates a new world, putting out the fires of distrust, hatred and violence: this is the great teaching of Pope Francis," Parolin said in his Sunday homily.

"Pope Francis was a shining witness of a Church that bends down with tenderness towards those who are wounded and heals with the balm of mercy," he added. 

Approximately 200,000 people participated in the outdoor Mass offered for the late pontiff on the second day of the Church's "novendiales" mourning period, the Holy See Press Office reported. 

"Brothers and sisters, precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday we remember our beloved Pope Francis with affection," Parolin said."It is precisely the Father's mercy, which is greater than our limitations and calculations, that characterised the Magisterium of Pope Francis and his intense apostolic activity."

Insisting that people's affections for the late pope "must not remain a mere emotion of the moment," Parolin said "the Church must welcome his legacy" by "opening ourselves to God's mercy and also being merciful to one another." 

Tens of thousands of young pilgrims, who took part in Jubilee of Teenagers festivities from April 25-27, were also present at the Divine Mercy Mass dedicated to the late pontiff, including several European scouts groups, such as Italy's Scouts D'Europa, and American parish groups, including youth from the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, Virginia.  

Addressing the throngs of teenagers present in the square — many of whom were shielding themselves from the hot morning sun under colorful hats and umbrellas — Parolin encouraged them to be close to Jesus Christ and to show his "merciful face" to all those they encounter in life.

"I address a special greeting to you, with the desire to make you feel the embrace of the Church and the affection of Pope Francis, who would have liked to meet you, to look into your eyes, and to pass among you to greet you," Parolin said to applause from those gathered in the square. 

"[Jesus] comes to meet you where you are, to give you the courage to live, to share your  experiences, your thoughts, your gifts, and your dreams," he said to young people. "He comes to you in the face of those near or far, a brother and sister to love." 

The Mass celebration for the Second Sunday of Easter concluded with the singing of the midday Regina Coeli prayer before an image of the icon of Salus Populi Romani ("Health of the Roman People") placed next to the main altar erected in St. Peter's Square.

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Vatican City, Apr 27, 2025 / 07:30 am (CNA).

Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. The 88-year-old pontiff led the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years.

Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the papal transition:

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