A bomb fell meters from their homes in Caracas, but they survived: 'It's a miracle'

Elena Berti (left) was sleeping alone in her house when a projectile landed in her yard. Berti's daughter, Patricia Salazar, is at right. | Credit: EWTN Noticias/ScreenshotJan 6, 2026 / 16:20 pm (CNA).What does large-scale bombing sound like? What does it feel like to be in the middle of a series of explosions? After Jan. 3, everyone in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is able to answer these questions.Around 2 a.m. local time on Jan. 3, as the U.S. military carried out Operation Absolute Resolve to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, terrifying explosions interrupted the sleep of millions. A family from east Caracas, the Bertis, along with their neighbors experienced the chaos firsthand.Survival was 'a miracle'It's one thing to be awakened by the relatively distant sound of planes and bombs, and quite another to be jolted awake by the devastating roar of a projectile landing less than 20 meters (65 feet) from your room.Elena Berti, 78, was sl...

Facing impending death, renowned cartoonist announces intent to convert

Cartoonist Scott Adams announced his intention to convert to Christianity in January 2026. | Credit: Art of Charm, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsJan 6, 2026 / 17:38 pm (CNA).Scott Adams, the 68-year-old cartoonist who created the decades-long "Dilbert" comic strip, announced he is converting to Christianity amid his deteriorating health caused by terminal cancer.Adams, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2025, had previously been critical of organized religion and expressed skepticism about traditional faiths in blog posts and two fiction books titled "God's Debris" and its sequel, "The Religion War."On the Jan. 1 episode of his podcast "Real Coffee with Scott Adams," the cartoonist expressed a change of heart following numerous conversations with Christian friends."I've not been a believer, but I also have respect for any Christian who goes another way to try to convert me," Adams said. "Because how would I believe [that] you believe your own religion if you're not...

Trump urges Republican 'flexibility' on taxpayer-funded abortions

President Donald Trump talks to Republicans about their stance on the Hyde Amendment on Jan. 6, 2026. | Credit: Mandel NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesJan 6, 2026 / 18:10 pm (CNA).President Donald Trump is asking congressional Republicans to be more flexible on taxpayer funding for abortions as lawmakers continue to negotiate an extension to health care subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.Some federal subsidies that lowered premiums for those enrolled in the Affordable Care Act expired in December. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that the average increase to premiums for people who lost the subsidies will be about 114%, from $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026. The exact costs will be different, depending on specific plans.Trump has encouraged his party to work on extending those subsidies and is asking them to be "flexible" on a provision that could affect tax-funded abortion. Democrats have proposed ending the restrictions of the Hyde Amendment...

U.S., Vatican diplomatic counterparts discuss situation in Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. | Credit: U.S. Department of State Flickr, public domain; Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN NewsJan 6, 2026 / 18:30 pm (CNA).The U.S. State Department announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin about the situation in Venezuela.During the Jan. 6 call, the State Department indicated that "the two leaders discussed pressing challenges, including efforts to improve the humanitarian situation, particularly in Venezuela, as well as the promotion of peace and religious freedom globally."Both leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation between the United States and the Holy See in addressing shared priorities around the world," the State Department added.At the time of this publication, the Vatican had not provided details about the call. Parolin served as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela from 2009 to 2013.On Sunday, Jan. ...

Arthur Brooks at SEEK26: 'Your job isn't to win arguments, it's to win a soul'

Arthur Brooks gives a keynote address at SEEK 2026 on Jan. 4, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNAJan 6, 2026 / 12:29 pm (CNA).New York Times bestselling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks encouraged attendees at SEEK 2026 to resist the temptation as missionaries to "fight fire with fire."In his Jan. 4 keynote speech in Columbus, Ohio, Brooks said the world "is not just a cold world" but "a world that attacks you." In this context, he said, it can be challenging not to fight back.However, he said, "your job isn't to win arguments, it's to win a soul."Brooks teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School and has written multiple books on finding happiness and meaning in life, including "From Strength to Strength" and "Build the Life You Want," which he coauthored with Oprah Winfrey. He also writes a column for The Free Press.Some 26,000 attendees have gathered through Jan. 5 in Columbus, Denver, and Fort Worth, Texas, for the SEEK ...

St. John Neumann, promoter of Catholic education in the U.S., is celebrated today

The National Shrine of St. John Neumann at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia. | Credit: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsJan 5, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).Every Jan. 5 the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Neumann, Redemptorist missionary, fourth bishop of the city of Philadelphia, and organizer of the first Catholic education network in the U.S.John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, in 1811. He attended school in Budweis and years later, in 1831, entered the seminary in that same city. Upon completing his preparation for the priesthood, he presented himself to his diocese but suffered an unexpected setback. The local bishop had fallen ill and priestly ordinations in his diocese were suspended until further notice.Neumann, eager to serve the Lord, wrote letters to the bishops of the neighboring dioceses, but none of them wanted to accept him. Despite the obstacles, the saint was not discouraged.To earn his living, he went...

Nearly 2 million people to march in Poland for Three Kings Procession

Thousands of participants with paper crowns gather on Castle Square in Warsaw during the Three Kings Procession on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025.Credit: Pawel Kula/Fundacja Orszak Trzech KróliJan 5, 2026 / 05:00 am (CNA).Nearly 2 million people will parade through streets Tuesday in one of Europe's largest Catholic public celebrations, as the Three Kings Procession marks Epiphany across 941 cities and towns nationwide.The annual event, known as Orszak Trzech Króli (Three Kings Procession), draws participants who dress as biblical characters, wear paper crowns, and sing Christmas carols while following figures representing the Magi to nativity scenes set up in public squares. EWTN Poland will broadcast the main Warsaw procession live in English for the first time, beginning at 11 a.m. local time.Last year, an estimated 2 million people participated in the processions across 905 locations in Poland and abroad, according to Vatican News. This year's event expands to ...

A look ahead: 2026 U.S. midterms hinge on key races in Maine, North Carolina

Republicans presently control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but their majorities in both legislative chambers are narrow. | Credit: roibu/ShutterstockJan 5, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).Key elections in November 2026 could reshape the balance of power in the U.S. government, potentially upending the current Republican trifecta in Washington and offering a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term in office.Thirty-three seats in the U.S. Senate are up for election, while two states will hold special elections. All 435 districts of the U.S. House of Representatives, meanwhile, are holding elections.Republicans presently control the White House and both chambers of Congress, but their majorities in both legislative chambers are narrow; Democrats need only a net gain of four seats to flip the Senate and a net of three districts to take control of the House.As is often the case, many of the races are seen as foregone conclusions, with Republican and Democratic can...

Arthur Brooks at SEEK 2026: 'Your job isn't to win arguments, it's to win a soul'

Arthur Brooks gives a keynote address at SEEK 2026 on Jan. 4, 2026. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNAJan 4, 2026 / 23:20 pm (CNA).New York Times bestselling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks encouraged attendees at SEEK 2026 to resist the temptation as missionaries to "fight fire with fire."In his Jan. 4 keynote speech in Columbus, Ohio, Brooks said the world "is not just a cold world," but "a world that attacks you." In this context, he said, it can be challenging not to fight back.However, he said, "your job isn't to win arguments, it's to win a soul."Brooks teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School of Business and has written multiple books on finding happiness and meaning in life, including From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want, which he co-authored with Oprah Winfrey. He also writes a column in The Atlantic called "How to Build a Life."Some 26,000 attendees have gathered through Jan. 5 in Columbus, Denver and Fort Worth, Texas for the SEEK 2026 confe...

'Two pennies and a bunt': Catholic athletes explore faith at SEEK

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams delivers against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on May 2, 2023. | Credit: Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images.Jan 4, 2026 / 18:00 pm (CNA).Catholic college athletes attending the SEEK 2026 conference in Columbus, Ohio, considered how holiness is built: Not through spotlight moments, but through quiet sacrifice, daily fidelity, and offering what little they have to God.Some 26,000 attendees have gathered through Jan. 5 in Columbus, Denver, and Fort Worth, Texas for the conference organized by  FOCUS, a Catholic group that sends missionaries to college campuses and parishes to invite students and young adults to a relationship with Jesus Christ.The message about holiness anchored a Varsity Catholic event, a branch of FOCUS ministry for college athletes. The session featured Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams and recently retired Atlanta Braves pitcher J.J. Niekro, who shared personal s...