Pope Leo XIV visits the Poor Clares of Albano on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican MediaACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 19:07 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV made his first "getaway" from Castel Gandolfo to visit the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares of Albano, located within the Papal Villas.After celebrating Mass on Tuesday morning in the chapel of the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying during his vacation, Pope Leo headed to the nearby monastery, where he was warmly welcomed by the nuns.The pontiff paused in prayer in the monastery chapel, sharing a moment of silence and contemplation with the sisters, whom he later greeted one by one, emphasizing that "it is beautiful that the Church knows your life, because it is a valuable testimony."The encounter generated various images of tenderness, reflected in the joyful and grateful faces of the Sisters of St. Clare, whose mission is to pray for the pope, for the Church, and for all of Vatican...
Pope Leo XIV visits the Poor Clares of Albano on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 19:07 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV made his first "getaway" from Castel Gandolfo to visit the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares of Albano, located within the Papal Villas.
After celebrating Mass on Tuesday morning in the chapel of the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying during his vacation, Pope Leo headed to the nearby monastery, where he was warmly welcomed by the nuns.
The pontiff paused in prayer in the monastery chapel, sharing a moment of silence and contemplation with the sisters, whom he later greeted one by one, emphasizing that "it is beautiful that the Church knows your life, because it is a valuable testimony."
The encounter generated various images of tenderness, reflected in the joyful and grateful faces of the Sisters of St. Clare, whose mission is to pray for the pope, for the Church, and for all of Vatican City.
Smiles all around among the Sisters of St. Clare at the Pope Leo XIV's visit on July 15, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
The Monastery of the Poor Clares of Albano, founded in 1631 during the pontificate of Urban VIII, has maintained a special bond with the Holy See since its origins.
According to the official website of the Vatican City State, its foundation was due to the generosity of Princess Caterina Savelli and the Prince and Princess of Albano, who donated the monastery to Sister Francesca Farnese, founder of the Farnese Monastery in Viterbo and promoter of a reform of strict Poor Clare observance.
Throughout the centuries, the nuns have lived in this monastery a life of silence, prayer, and contemplation, faithful to the charism of St. Clare of Assisi. They have also received visits from pontiffs, especially during the summer months.
Leo XIV signed the sisters' book of guests of honor. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis visited the community for the first time in July 2013, where he emphasized the "incalculable value" the sisters attribute to prayer.
"I came here because I know you pray for me! I am so grateful for all you do for the Church: prayer, penance, caring for one another... Your vocation to the contemplative life is beautiful," Francis said.
During a visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the monastery in 2007, the pontiff emphasized that "the spiritual bond that exists between you and the successor of Peter is very close."
St. John Paul II, during a meeting with them in August 1979, affirmed that, of all the people "the pope loves dearly, you are certainly the most precious."
"The vicar of Christ has an extreme need for your spiritual help and counts above all on you, who, by divine vocation, have chosen the better part, which is silence, prayer, contemplation, the exclusive love of God."
Aware of this tradition, Pope Leo XIV chose to visit them as well. Before saying goodbye, he signed the monastery's book of honor and prayed the Lord's Prayer with the sisters.
Pope Leo XIV spends some time in prayer at the chapel. Credit: Vatican Media
As a sign of gratitude, Pope Leo gave the community a chalice and paten for the celebration of Mass, and the sisters, in turn, presented him with an icon of the face of Jesus.
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski serves on the Committee on Migration of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. / Credit: "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo"/EWTN News screenshotWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 15, 2025 / 12:53 pm (CNA).With the Trump administration having "effectively achieved control of the border," Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski is now urging the president and Congress to turn to expanding legal pathways for unlawfully present migrants who have committed no other crimes to obtain citizenship.In a statement and interview with archdiocesan media, Wenski argued that the U.S. "faces labor shortages in many industries, including health care, service, and agriculture. Removing immigrant workers will only exacerbate these shortages.""Rather than spending billions to deport people who are already contributing positively to our nation's well-being, it would be more financially sensible and more morally acceptable for Congress, working with the administration,...
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski serves on the Committee on Migration of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. / Credit: "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo"/EWTN News screenshot
With the Trump administration having "effectively achieved control of the border," Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski is now urging the president and Congress to turn to expanding legal pathways for unlawfully present migrants who have committed no other crimes to obtain citizenship.
In a statement and interview with archdiocesan media, Wenski argued that the U.S. "faces labor shortages in many industries, including health care, service, and agriculture. Removing immigrant workers will only exacerbate these shortages."
"Rather than spending billions to deport people who are already contributing positively to our nation's well-being, it would be more financially sensible and more morally acceptable for Congress, working with the administration, to expand legal pathways for noncriminal migrants to adjust to a permanent legal status," Wenski affirmed.
In an interview with La Voz Catolica, Wenski said that "what makes it cruel right now is the arbitrariness of this push to deport people who have already made a stake here — people who have put in sweat and effort to stay."
"If the United States government has allowed them to remain for 10 or 20 years, you can imagine many have children who are American citizens, own homes, or have established businesses," Wenski noted. "To simply tell them to 'go back home' — when there is no home back there, and their home is here — that's what makes it cruel."
Wenski also echoed Bishop Frank Dewane's concerns about the new detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz," which sits in Dewane's neighboring Diocese of Venice, Florida.
Miami's archbishop indicated that "from the moment this detention center opened, the archdiocese has requested access to provide religious services."
He said Deacon Edgardo Farías, director of the archdiocesan prison ministry, visited the site to inquire about when they could celebrate Mass but was told the mosquito situation was very bad and to come back later.
"We wish to ensure that chaplains and pastoral ministers can serve those in custody, to their benefit and that of the staff," Wenski indicated. "We also raise concerns about the isolation of the detention facility, which is far from medical care centers, and the precariousness of the temporary 'tent' structures."
In the interview, Wenski said if the Trump administration's deportations are enforcement of current laws, then "the laws must be changed" by Congress, which has the authority to "rewrite, adjust, or fix the law."
"The vast majority of those here without permanent status are honest, hardworking people who simply want a future of hope for their children and their families," Wenski added.
Andrew Arthur, a former immigration judge and current fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, told CNA that Wenski's call for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally is a form of "amnesty," which he noted "is one of those things the Trump administration said is off the table."
Former U.S. Immigration Judge Andrew Arthur. Credit: Center for Immigration Studies
Arthur, who is Catholic, said that current law already affords the types of accommodations for which the archbishop is advocating. For example, he said people can appeal a removal order on the basis that their deportation would cause "extremely unusual hardship" to members of their family who are American citizens.
He also argued that a pathway to citizenship would not address the labor shortage issues that Wenski raised. "There are both immigrant and non-immigrant visas that are available in order to accommodate those labor needs, but allowing individuals to remain in the United States unlawfully is unlikely to accommodate those labor needs," Arthur contended.
Arthur also noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement follows the Performance-Based National Detention Standards. In his experience as an immigration judge, he said immigration authorities have always "provided for pastoral care."
Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza, a priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse. / Credit: Courtesy of the Franklin Police DepartmentCNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 13:23 pm (CNA).A priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse.Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza was indicted last year on several counts of sexual battery and other crimes, some of which involved children and some adults. The priest was charged with eight crimes in February 2024 and two more in June of that year.The Diocese of Nashville said in the Nashville Catholic this week that Garcia had pleaded guilty to the February charges. Those crimes include "continuous sexual abuse of a child," aggravated sexual battery, and "sexual battery by an authority figure." In addition to the prison sentence, the priest will be listed in the state sex of...
Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza, a priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse. / Credit: Courtesy of the Franklin Police Department
CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 13:23 pm (CNA).
A priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse.
Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza was indicted last year on several counts of sexual battery and other crimes, some of which involved children and some adults. The priest was charged with eight crimes in February 2024 and two more in June of that year.
The Diocese of Nashville said in the Nashville Catholic this week that Garcia had pleaded guilty to the February charges. Those crimes include "continuous sexual abuse of a child," aggravated sexual battery, and "sexual battery by an authority figure."
In addition to the prison sentence, the priest will be listed in the state sex offender registry.
The diocese also indicated that he would be removed from the priesthood. Garcia "agreed not to contest laicization from the priesthood," the statement said.
The Nashville Diocese said last year that it first learned of accusations against Garcia in November 2023 when "a teen in the parish had made a report of improper touching" involving the priest.
The diocese made a report to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services; it also contracted with a former FBI agent to oversee the diocesan investigation into the claims.
The Vatican, meanwhile, was "informed and involved from the outset of this matter, directing the appropriate canonical processes," the diocese said this week.
The exterior of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. / Credit: John MaurerCNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).The Diocese of Green Bay can close down a historic parish in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the Vatican has ruled, bringing an end to efforts by a small group of parishioners to prevent the permanent shuttering of the church.The Apostolic Signatura, the highest court at the Holy See, ruled against parishioner efforts to save St. Boniface Church from closure. The ruling affirms Bishop David Ricken's 2023 order relegating the parish building to "profane but not sordid use.""Planning for the disposition of the church, contents, and property is underway," the diocese said in a statement announcing the Vatican's decision."Please continue to pray for the parish and community," the diocese added.The interior of St. Boniface Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Credit: John Maurer The order brings an end to a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to save St. Bonifa...
The exterior of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. / Credit: John Maurer
CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).
The Diocese of Green Bay can close down a historic parish in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the Vatican has ruled, bringing an end to efforts by a small group of parishioners to prevent the permanent shuttering of the church.
The Apostolic Signatura, the highest court at the Holy See, ruled against parishioner efforts to save St. Boniface Church from closure. The ruling affirms Bishop David Ricken's 2023 order relegating the parish building to "profane but not sordid use."
"Planning for the disposition of the church, contents, and property is underway," the diocese said in a statement announcing the Vatican's decision.
"Please continue to pray for the parish and community," the diocese added.
The interior of St. Boniface Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Credit: John Maurer
The order brings an end to a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to save St. Boniface from closure. The parish itself dates to the 1850s while the current building was constructed in 1886.
Parishioners raised around $2 million to help bankroll a restoration of the parish. And last year advocates launched a GoFundMe to fund $8,000 worth of attorney's fees for a canon lawyer to argue their case before the Holy See.
John Maurer, a Manitowoc resident who helped lead the effort, told CNA last year that advocates had exhausted several avenues of appeal before seeking the ruling from the signatura.
"We went to the Court of the Dicastery for the Clergy. They ruled in favor of Bishop Ricken's decree," he said at the time. "We then went to the Supreme Tribunal. They sided with the lower court."
Reached on Tuesday, Maurer told CNA that the decision to abandon the parish's "rich history and architectural grandeur" is "a huge mistake that will be regretted for decades to come."
"There has been a huge outpouring of support for St. Boniface as many do recognize its significance and the importance of protecting our Catholic patrimony [and] reverencing God," he said.
The only way to stop the church's demise, he said, would be for Ricken to "realize the gravity of this long-lasting decision and to bring it to a stop and instead give it to an oratory to take care of."
The parish church was originally built by German immigrants. Wisconsin welcomed tens of thousands of immigrants from Germany throughout the 19th century.
Declining attendance saw the church merged with other parishes in 2005, though it was still used for some special observances and occasions.
The last regularly scheduled Mass took place in the building in 2005, while the most recent Mass overall was held in 2013.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:58 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on July 15 in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where he is on vacation. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy, a form of military police. Reflecting in his homily on the day's Gospel (Matthew 11:20-24), the pontiff emphasized that there is a bond "stronger than blood" that unites every man and woman who is in Christ. In this regard, he explained that "we are truly brothers and sisters of Jesus when we do the will of God," that is, "when we live loving one another, as God has loved us.""Every relationship that God lives, in himself and for us," the pope continued, "thus becomes a gift: when his only Son becomes our brother, his Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites the Father and the Son, comes to dwel...
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:58 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on July 15 in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where he is on vacation. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy, a form of military police.
Reflecting in his homily on the day's Gospel (Matthew 11:20-24), the pontiff emphasized that there is a bond "stronger than blood" that unites every man and woman who is in Christ.
In this regard, he explained that "we are truly brothers and sisters of Jesus when we do the will of God," that is, "when we live loving one another, as God has loved us."
"Every relationship that God lives, in himself and for us," the pope continued, "thus becomes a gift: when his only Son becomes our brother, his Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites the Father and the Son, comes to dwell in our hearts."
The Holy Father thus noted that "God's love is so great that Jesus does not even keep for himself his mother, giving Mary as our mother at the hour of the cross."
From the chapel of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo explained that Mary becomes the mother of Jesus "because she listens to the word of God with love, welcomes it into her heart, and lives it faithfully."
The pope also emphasized her fidelity to the Word she received from God: "the Word of life that she welcomed, carried in her womb, and offered to the world."
Don't give in to temptation 'of thinking that evil can triumph'
He then noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the faithful Virgin, the "Virgo fidelis," as patroness of the Carabinieri, Italy's national military police force after which the chapel at Castel Gandolfo is named.
He also recalled when, in 1949, Pope Pius XII welcomed this "beautiful proposal" from the Carabinieri's general command.
"After the tragedy of the war, in a period of moral and material reconstruction, Mary's fidelity to God thus became a model of fidelity" of the Carabinieri "toward the homeland and the Italian people," he emphasized.
This virtue, for Pope Leo, "expresses the dedication, purity, and constancy of commitment to the common good, which the Carabinieri safeguard by guaranteeing public safety and defending the rights of all, especially those in danger."
The pontiff expressed his profound gratitude, especially for the "noble and demanding" service they provide to Italy and the Holy See.
After also recalling the Carabinieri motto, "Nei secoli fedele" ("Faithful throughout the centuries"), which expresses "the sense of duty and self-denial of each member of the armed forces, even to the point of self-sacrifice," he asked them not to give in "to the temptation of thinking that evil can triumph."
"Especially in this time of wars and violence, remain faithful to your oath: as servants of the state, respond to crime with the force of law and honesty. This is how the Carabinieri, the 'Benemerita' [well-deserving], will always deserve the esteem of the Italian people," he emphasized.
In conclusion, he remembered the police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty, such as Venerable Salvo D'Acquisto, whose beatification process is ongoing.
The Holy Father will remain at the papal summer complex, located about 18 miles from the center of Rome, until July 20 and will return again Aug. 15–17.
After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV visited the monastery of the Poor Clares in Albano, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Catholic apologist Alex Jurado, known as Voice of Reason on social media. / Credit: Courtesy of Alexandro JuradoCNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 15:28 pm (CNA).Alex Jurado, a popular Catholic apologist known for his social media ministry Voice of Reason, is denying allegations in a bombshell report that he sexually groomed an underage teenage girl when he was 21 years old.The Protestant website Protestia on Monday published a report alleging that "whistleblowers within the Catholic community" had revealed sexually explicit texts Jurado, now 28, allegedly sent to a girl possibly as young as 14 years old.The website shared screenshots of the alleged conversations between Jurado and the young girl. The site further alleged that Jurado had sent "sexually explicit messages" to several other women. Jurado sharply denied the allegations on Tuesday. The influencer said in a statement on his Instagram page that the claims were untrue and that he is "voluntarily cooperating in an investiga...
Catholic apologist Alex Jurado, known as Voice of Reason on social media. / Credit: Courtesy of Alexandro Jurado
CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 15:28 pm (CNA).
Alex Jurado, a popular Catholic apologist known for his social media ministry Voice of Reason, is denying allegations in a bombshell report that he sexually groomed an underage teenage girl when he was 21 years old.
The Protestant website Protestia on Monday published a report alleging that "whistleblowers within the Catholic community" had revealed sexually explicit texts Jurado, now 28, allegedly sent to a girl possibly as young as 14 years old.
The website shared screenshots of the alleged conversations between Jurado and the young girl. The site further alleged that Jurado had sent "sexually explicit messages" to several other women.
Jurado sharply denied the allegations on Tuesday. The influencer said in a statement on his Instagram page that the claims were untrue and that he is "voluntarily cooperating in an investigation that will allow the truth to come to light."
"??[T]he accusation that I was having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl is a complete fabrication," he said.
He added that he is "prepared to undergo legal action against those who have defamed me," describing the allegations as an "awful and vicious rumor."
In his statement, the content creator went on to apologize to all those who have "been hurt, shocked, and scandalized by these rumors."
Amid the controversy, several Catholic outlets, including Catholic Answers and Catholic Speakers, appeared to have removed pages featuring Jurado on their websites as of Tuesday afternoon.
Neither website immediately responded to requests for comment on the apparent removals. Jurado also did not respond to a query from CNA.
Jurado began his Voice of Reason social media ministry in 2023. The influencer has over half a million followers across his social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
His content is primarily apologetical, sharing and defending the faith and engaging with other non-Catholic points of view. As a Byzantine Catholic, he also promotes the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church.
Friar Francesco Patton, outgoing custos of the Holy Land. / Credit: Franciscan Custody of the Holy LandACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission.Patton, 61, is leaving the position entrusted to him in 2016. Friar Francesco Ielpo has now been appointed to the position, confirmed as the new custos of the Holy Land by Pope Leo XIV on June 24.In an interview published July 11 on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Italian Franciscan explained that, in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, "peace requires mutual acceptance between the two peoples who have been in conflict for decades, and the overcoming of ideological readings of history, geography, and even of the Bible....
Friar Francesco Patton, outgoing custos of the Holy Land. / Credit: Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land
ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission.
Patton, 61, is leaving the position entrusted to him in 2016. Friar Francesco Ielpo has now been appointed to the position, confirmed as the new custos of the Holy Land by Pope Leo XIV on June 24.
In an interview published July 11 on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Italian Franciscan explained that, in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, "peace requires mutual acceptance between the two peoples who have been in conflict for decades, and the overcoming of ideological readings of history, geography, and even of the Bible."
"It would be necessary to teach coexistence in schools instead of an ideology that only generates fear, anger, and resentment. Neither of the two peoples must leave, and both must be able to live together in peace," he added.
"If both were able to overcome mutual separateness, the next generations could finally grow up in peace, without fear and without anger," the Franciscan priest emphasized.
Being a Christian in the Holy Land
Patton shared that "I have always said, especially to young people, to cultivate their identity as Christians of the Holy Land. They must not focus on ethno-political identities but on a deeper identity: being custodians, with us, of the holy places."
"The holy places are an essential part of their identity. I have suggested to parish priests to bring the young people there, to tell the Gospel in the places of the Gospel. The holy places belong to them," the Franciscan continued.
The Italian priest emphasized that "being a Christian in the Holy Land is a vocation and a mission. If God lets you be born here, he is calling you to be light and salt, precisely because you are a minority and the context is difficult. And Jesus reminds us that salt which loses its flavor is useless."
"I was deeply moved by the faithfulness of the two friars who remained in the Orontes Valley when ISIS and Al-Qaeda were present. They stayed because they knew they were shepherds, and not hired hands, using the words from Chapter 10 of St. John. Their availability to give their lives was not hypothetical but concrete in a very risky context," he recalled.
"I was also struck by how important the holy places are to Christians who may only be able to visit once in their lives. In Brazil, I saw people who saved a little money each month for 10 or 15 years just to visit Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Holy Sepulchre. Or a Christian from Syria visiting the Sepulchre and bursting into tears from the emotion," the friar recounted.
After highlighting the great value of schools in the Holy Land, the outgoing custos said he was dismayed by "the growth of intolerance, extremism, and the ideological manipulation of religion for political purposes. That made, and still makes, me suffer."
The holy places: An antidote to religious rationalism
The Italian friar emphasized that holy places, being physical, "bring faith back into a concrete, existential realm. They are a great help in avoiding a disembodied, intellectualized Christianity. They are an antidote against religious rationalism and intellectualism."
"They also help us to understand the religiosity of the people," the friar explained. "Intellectuals love reasoning, but people love to touch. They love to kiss a stone, smell the perfume of myrrh, see the olive trees in Gethsemane, the grotto of Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb."
"Popular religiosity," he noted, "is much closer to the mystery of the Incarnation than that of professional theologians."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
A map of Nigeria. / Credit: SevenMaps/ShutterstockACI Africa, Jul 14, 2025 / 14:28 pm (CNA).Three seminarians were kidnapped and a security guard was killed in an armed attack on Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria on the night of July 10.In a statement issued July 11, Father Peter Egielewa, the director of communications of the Auchi Diocese, provided details about the attack. He said the 9 p.m. attack on the Catholic institution located in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo state, involved "several gunmen.""In the process, the Nigerian Civil Defense Security official, Mr. Christopher Aweneghieme, stationed at the seminary was killed, and three minor seminarians were abducted and led into the bush," Egielewa said.The other seminarians have been moved to what Egielewa described as "a safe area until security measures around the seminary are tightened.""Unfortunately, no communication has been had with the abductors y...
A map of Nigeria. / Credit: SevenMaps/Shutterstock
ACI Africa, Jul 14, 2025 / 14:28 pm (CNA).
Three seminarians were kidnapped and a security guard was killed in an armed attack on Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria on the night of July 10.
In a statement issued July 11, Father Peter Egielewa, the director of communications of the Auchi Diocese, provided details about the attack. He said the 9 p.m. attack on the Catholic institution located in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo state, involved "several gunmen."
"In the process, the Nigerian Civil Defense Security official, Mr. Christopher Aweneghieme, stationed at the seminary was killed, and three minor seminarians were abducted and led into the bush," Egielewa said.
The other seminarians have been moved to what Egielewa described as "a safe area until security measures around the seminary are tightened."
"Unfortunately, no communication has been had with the abductors yet," he said, adding that the leadership of the diocese "sympathizes with the family of the deceased security official and prays for the repose for his soul."
In his statement, Egielewa also appealed for "prayers for the quick release of our seminarians."
He said the bishop of the Auchi Diocese has denounced the attack and called on security agencies to "do more to secure the lives and properties of our people."
Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia directed all priests of the diocese to celebrate a Votive Mass of the Precious Blood of Jesus on Saturday, July 12, and in morning Masses on Monday, July 14.
According to Egielewa, the bishop has also directed all parish priests to "ensure the continuous recitation of the holy rosary and Sunday evening Benediction for divine protection for all faithful of the diocese, Edo state, and the country of Nigeria until further notice."
He appealed to all people of goodwill to "join the faithful of the diocese to pray for the repose of the soul of Aweneghieme and for the speedy release of the abducted seminarians unharmed."
Dunia, who has been at the helm of the Diocese of Auchi since February 2003, established Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in 2006 for the training of future priests. Over 500 minor seminarians have so far successfully graduated from the institution.
Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state.
Since then, the group, one of the largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups, as well as civilians.
The insecurity situation in the country has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia.
Pope Leo greets pilgrims during the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly on Sunday, June 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Jul 14, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).With less than a month to go before the Jubilee of Youth begins, the pope's diocese is making final preparations to welcome tens of thousands of young people from around the world who will participate in this event of great spiritual significance. "Young people will never experience this in their lives again. I'm sure of it. In practice, it will be like a World Youth Day," explained Father Alfredo Tedesco, director of youth ministry in Rome, the host diocese.The Italian priest was 18 when he participated in the Jubilee of 2000 with St. John Paul II: "For our generation, it was an indelible mark. For them, it can be a new beginning."The truly great challenge for the Diocese of Rome is accommodations. The parishes of Rome and 10 dioceses in the Lazio region, those closest to the Italian ca...
Pope Leo greets pilgrims during the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly on Sunday, June 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Jul 14, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).
With less than a month to go before the Jubilee of Youth begins, the pope's diocese is making final preparations to welcome tens of thousands of young people from around the world who will participate in this event of great spiritual significance.
"Young people will never experience this in their lives again. I'm sure of it. In practice, it will be like a World Youth Day," explained Father Alfredo Tedesco, director of youth ministry in Rome, the host diocese.
The Italian priest was 18 when he participated in the Jubilee of 2000 with St. John Paul II: "For our generation, it was an indelible mark. For them, it can be a new beginning."
The truly great challenge for the Diocese of Rome is accommodations. The parishes of Rome and 10 dioceses in the Lazio region, those closest to the Italian capital, "are already mobilized to welcome young pilgrims into their facilities," he explained. Furthermore, the religious institutes in Lazio closest to Rome "have also done their part."
However, adapting these places has been a complex task: "We have had to refurbish these places. We have had to add bathrooms and showers, ensure breakfast service, organize the arrival of groups, distribute pilgrim kits, and coordinate transportation."
In addition, the Italian Civil Protection Agency has also made 400 schools and state facilities available to meet this need, "especially gymnasiums with equipped restrooms," Tedesco added.
According to preliminary estimates from the diocese, some 120,000 young people will descend upon Rome for the entire week of the event from July 28 to Aug. 3. Many others will pass through the capital only to participate in some of the planned events.
'Registration is still open, and the number is growing'
One of the main highlights of the Jubilee of Youth will be the prayer vigil presided over by Pope Leo XIV at Tor Vergata, which will be preceded by several testimonies and musical concerts. This is a very large area located on the southeastern outskirts of Rome, known primarily as the site of the main universities in the Italian capital.
"Registration is still open, and the number is growing. Some even speak of a million people. But we don't know if that figure will be reached. The Dicastery for Evangelization, the main organizer of the event, has the official data," the Italian priest explained.
Since the young people will sleep at the same place as the event that night, the logistics for that event have been simplified for the Diocese of Rome: "We don't have to worry about having to accommodate them elsewhere for that night."
The Jubilee of Youth program, promoted by the Dicastery for Evangelization — the body responsible for the overall organization of the Holy Year of Hope — is in the last stages of finalizing various details.
However, according to the official jubilee website, several notable activities have already been confirmed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. local time, a welcome Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter's Square. In the following days, Rome will host numerous cultural, artistic, and spiritual initiatives throughout the capital under the title "Dialogues with the City."
On Friday, Aug. 1, a Penitential Day will be held at the Circus Maximus, where young people will be able to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
On Saturday, Aug. 2, all participants will travel to Tor Vergata. Finally, on Sunday, Aug. 3, the pope will celebrate Mass at 9:30 a.m. before bidding farewell to the young pilgrims who will begin their journey back to their home countries.
4,000 young volunteers to assist the pilgrims
With registration still open, the final number of participants is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, what is certain is that they will be joined by approximately 4,000 volunteers from parishes in Rome and the Lazio region, who will donate their time and skills to welcome the pilgrims in the best possible way.
Regarding their countries of origin, Tedesco said there is a notable European majority: "France, Spain, Poland, Germany… and many even from Eastern Europe, despite the war. This will also be a sign of peace."
There will also be a strong presence from the United States and Latin America. "Let's not forget that we now have an American pope," he pointed out. "This has also encouraged participation from the United States, where there is great veneration for the two young saints [Carlos Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati] who will be canonized in September," the priest explained.
Asian participation, although more limited, will be significant. "We will have a significant Korean delegation — 1,000, 2,000, maybe 3,000 young people — which is quite a lot, considering the distance. Furthermore, the next World Youth Day will be in Seoul, so they are very motivated," he noted.
Regarding Africa, the situation is more delicate: "Some countries haven't been able to send delegations due to visa or diplomatic issues or armed conflicts. There will be African representation, but not as numerous. The dicastery and the Holy See have made arrangements to facilitate some visas."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
St. Peter's Chapel and Native American Museum at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic SiteChicago, Ill., Jul 14, 2025 / 09:20 am (CNA).Shrines to various saints can be found in every part of the world, including every state in the U.S. Each one is dedicated to faith and prayer, but one shrine in the northeastern United States also has a distinct mission of connecting pilgrims with Native American culture and sharing the fascinating history of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized a saint.The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York, honors not only the life of St. Kateri, whose feast day is July 14, but also the life and history of the local Indigenous people to whom she belonged."We have cultivated strong ties to both the Catholic Mohawk community and the traditional Mohawk community," said Melissa ...
St. Peter's Chapel and Native American Museum at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site
Chicago, Ill., Jul 14, 2025 / 09:20 am (CNA).
Shrines to various saints can be found in every part of the world, including every state in the U.S. Each one is dedicated to faith and prayer, but one shrine in the northeastern United States also has a distinct mission of connecting pilgrims with Native American culture and sharing the fascinating history of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized a saint.
The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York, honors not only the life of St. Kateri, whose feast day is July 14, but also the life and history of the local Indigenous people to whom she belonged.
"We have cultivated strong ties to both the Catholic Mohawk community and the traditional Mohawk community," said Melissa Miscevic Bramble, director of operations at the Saint Kateri Shrine, in an interview with CNA. "We see it as our mission to educate about her Mohawk culture as well as her Catholic faith."
Who was St. Kateri?
Called the Lily of the Mohawks, Kateri Tekakwitha was the child of a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother but was orphaned at age 4 when the rest of her family died of smallpox. Her own early bout with the illness left lasting scars and poor vision.
She went to live with an anti-Christian uncle and aunt, but at age 11 she encountered Jesuit missionaries and recognized their teaching as the beliefs of her beloved mother. Desiring to become a Christian, she began to privately practice Christianity.
Beginning at about age 13, she experienced pressure from her family to marry, but she wanted to give her life to Jesus instead. A priest who knew her recorded her words: "I have deliberated enough. For a long time, my decision on what I will do has been made. I have consecrated myself entirely to Jesus, son of Mary, I have chosen him for husband, and he alone will take me for wife."
At last, she was baptized at about age 19, and her baptism made public her beliefs, which had been kept private up until then. The event was the catalyst for her ostracism from her village. Some members of her people believed that her beliefs were sorcery, and she was harassed, stoned, and threatened with torture in her home village.
Tekakwitha fled 200 miles to Kahnawake, a Jesuit mission village for Native Amerian converts to Christianity to live together in community. There, she found her mother's close friend, Anastasia Tegonhatsiongo, who was a clan matron of a Kahnawake longhouse. Anastasia and other Mohawk women took Kateri under their wings and taught her about Christianity, and she lived there happily for several years until her death at around age 23 or 24.
Although she never took formal vows, Tekakwitha is considered a consecrated virgin, and the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins took her as its patron. She is also the patron saint of traditional ecology, Indigenous peoples, and care for creation.
A shrine with a special mission
The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site has a unique mission of archaeological and historical research related to Kateri Tekakwitha and her people. Welcoming several thousand visitors per year, the shrine ministers not only to Christians but also to all Native American.
According to its website, the shrine and historic site "promotes healing, encourages environmental stewardship, and facilitates peace for all people by offering the natural, cultural, and spiritual resources at this sacred site." Describing itself as a sacred place of peace and healing with a Catholic identity, its ministry and site are intended to be ecumenical and welcome people of all faiths.
In keeping with this mission, the shrine's grounds include an archaeological site, the village of Caughnawaga, which is the only fully excavated Iroquois/Haudenosaunee village in the world. St. Kateri lived in this village, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can also visit the Kateri Spring, where Kateri Tekakwitha was baptized.
"The water from the Kateri Spring is considered holy water by the Catholic Church," Bramble said. "People are welcome to come take the waters, and we regularly get reports of healing. We've sent that water all over North America to folks who have requested it."
Besides the archaeological site, the main grounds of the shrine include St. Peter's Chapel, housed in a former Dutch barn built in 1782; museum exhibits of Native American culture and history; St. Maximilian Kolbe Pavilion; a candle chapel dedicated to St. Kateri; Grassmann Hall and the shrine office; a friary; a gift shop; an outdoor sanctuary; and maintenance facilities. The 150-acre property includes hiking trails that are open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset.
Peace Grove at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York. Credit: Photo courtesy of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine and Historic Site
Outside the candle chapel, which is always open for prayer, visitors can participate in a ministry of "Kateri crosses."
"St. Kateri was known for going into the forest, gathering sticks, binding them into crosses, and then spending hours in prayer in front of crosses she created," Bramble said. Sticks are gathered from the shrine grounds, and visitors are invited to make their own "Kateri crosses" and take them home to use as a prayer aid. Bramble shared that the shrine sends materials for Kateri crosses to those who aren't able to visit, including recently to a confirmation group.
The feast day weekend
The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine hosts special events for St. Kateri's July 14 feast day. The shrine usally welcomes several hundred visitors for these events, which include Masses and talks. (A listing of the schedule can be found here.)
This weekend's Masses included a traditional purification rite, a solemn blessing with a relic of St. Kateri, and music of the Akwesasne Mohawk Choir, which "incorporates American Indian spiritual practices in keeping with the Catholic Church," Bramble told CNA. "The Akwesasne Mohawk Choir is made up of descendants of St. Kateri's community who lived in the area historically."
"There is a reestablished traditional Mohawk community a few miles west of the shrine, and we feel very blessed that we've been able to cultivate a very cooperative and mutually respectful relationship with the folks there," Bramble said.
The Saint Kateri Shrine is also a great place for families. Events often include activities and crafts for children, there is an all-ages scavenger hunt available at the site, and the shrine's museum is "a phenomenal educational opportunity," she said.
Bringing together Native American archaeology and history with the story of St. Kateri, the shrine and its programs shed light on the saint's story and keep alive the traditions and history of her people.
This story was first published on July 13, 2023, and has been updated.
Pope Leo XIV visits the Poor Clares of Albano on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
