Vatican exhibits Raphael's legacy with the reopening of the Hall of Constantine

The "Hall of Constantine" is Raphael's masterpiece, depicting Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Jun 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).After a decade of painstaking restoration, the imposing Hall of Constantine in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, which houses Raphael's masterpiece depicting Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge, has been returned to its original splendor.This space, the largest of the well-known Raphael Rooms, was partially closed to the public in 2015 due to delicate conservation work that ultimately culminated in a result described as "exemplary" by Vatican Museums."In a way, we have rewritten the history of art," explained Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, during a June 26 presentation to the press held at the Vatican Museums. She was joined by Fabrizio Biferali, supervisor of the art department for the 15th and 16th centuries; Fabio Piacentini and Francesca Persegati fro...

Catholic ministry helps adult children of divorce find healing and love

Bethany and Daniel Meola, a married couple with a special heart for adult children of divorce, created the Life-Giving Wounds apostolate, currently celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Life-Giving WoundsMiami, Fla., Jun 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).Kendra Beigel was 14 years old when her family life took a turn for the worse. In her small-town Minnesota home, she was used to her parents arguing, but her family situation further disintegrated when her mother intervened in her father's alcohol issues and her parents went to court."It was like the whole town decided to take a side and get involved in our family business," recalled Beigel, who was raised Catholic. "I had to grow up quickly… Each stage of the initial separation and how it comes out of the blue, then the divorce and everything that it brings, and then the subsequent annulment; each brought its own hurts and difficulties and it never was easier."Now an adult, Beigel remembers thinkin...

20 bishops join interfaith letter against ICE funding boost in 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Credit: anonymous/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 30, 2025 / 15:47 pm (CNA).A coalition of 20 American Catholic bishops and religious leaders from other faiths has signed on to a letter urging lawmakers to vote against a proposed budget bill because of provisions to increase funding for immigration enforcement."From our various faith perspectives, the moral test of a nation is how it treats those most in need of support," the letter read. "In our view, this legislation will harm the poor and vulnerable in our nation, to the detriment of the common good."The letter's signatories included Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Phoenix Bishop John Dolan, Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne, St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, and Sacramento, California, Bishop Jaime Soto were also among those who signed.In addition to the bishops, other signatories to the letter included the lea...

PHOTOS: Rome celebrates its patron saints with a burst of colorful flowers  

The Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading to St. Peter's Square in Rome, was transformed this Sunday into a vibrant tapestry of color laid over the asphalt, June 29, 2025. / Credit: Hannah BrockhausRome Newsroom, Jun 29, 2025 / 12:50 pm (CNA).The Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading to St. Peter's Square, was transformed this Sunday into a vibrant tapestry of color laid over the asphalt, with dozens of floral artworks created by master artisans and volunteers from across Italy. These floral works, rich in religious symbolism, decorated the spiritual heart of Rome as part of a new edition of the Infiorata Storica (Historic Flower Festival). Murals made of flowers adorned The Via della Conciliazione, the grand avenue leading to St. Peter's Square, which was transformed on Sunday into a vibrant tapestry of color. June 29, 2025. Credit: Hannah BrockhausThis year's 12th edition centered on the theme of the Jubilee of Hope, expressed through floral ...

British politician criticizes priest for refusing communion over assisted dying vote

The British Parliament building in London. / Credit: Marinesea/ShutterstockCNA Newsroom, Jun 29, 2025 / 19:05 pm (CNA).A British politician has publicly criticized his parish priest for refusing to give him Holy Communion after he voted in favor of the UK's assisted dying bill. Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan took to Social Media on Sunday and reportedly complained to Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton, describing his treatment as "outrageous."Father Ian Vane, parish priest at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Dorking, Surrey, had warned Coghlan before the June 20 vote that supporting the controversial bill would constitute "obstinately persevering" in sin. He then reportedly named Coghlan, who represents Dorking and Horley in Surrey, from the pulpit two days later.Coghlan described the priest's actions as "completely inappropriate" and claimed it "undermines the legitimacy of religious institutions."The politician posted on social media that the incident raised "grave...

Thousands rally across the U.S. urging Congress to defund Planned Parenthood

Pro-life demonstrators take part in a rally calling for Planned Parenthood to be defunded in Denton, Texas, Saturday, June 28, 2025 / Credit: Carole Novielli/Live ActionCNA Newsroom, Jun 28, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).Thousands of pro-life advocates rallied at hundreds of locations across the United States on Saturday while taking part in a "single, coordinated day of demonstration" urging Congress to defund the abortion giant Planned Parenthood.The pro-life group Live Action spearheaded the nationwide "Defund Day" event. Group founder Lila Rose told CNA it was the "largest grassroots effort" yet to call for stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood, which received around $800 million in taxpayer dollars during its most recent fiscal year. "We're spearheading an effort with over 200 peaceful rallies across the country in all 48 states where there are Planned Parenthoods," she said. "This is a national call to defund the biggest abortion chain."Citing Planned Parenthood's hundr...

EWTN announces retirement of president and chief operating officer Doug Keck

Doug Keck hosts an episode of "EWTN Bookmark" on May 8, 2025. After a 29-year career at the network, EWTN announced June 26, 2025, that Keck will retire from his administrative duties as president and chief operating officer of EWTN. Keck will receive the honorary title of president emeritus and will continue to host "EWTN Bookmark" as well as co-host "Father Spitzer's Universe." / Credit: "EWTN Bookmark"/ScreenshotCNA Staff, Jun 26, 2025 / 19:11 pm (CNA).The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) announced June 26 that after a distinguished 29-year career at the network, Doug Keck will retire from his administrative duties as president and chief operating officer. He also will step down as a member of the EWTN board of governors.Keck joined EWTN in 1996 following a career in cable television, sports, and media in New York City. His tenure saw the network, founded in 1981 by Mother Angelica, evolve into an award-winning global powerhouse, becoming the largest Catholic media org...

U.S. bishops urge Senate to act with 'courage and creativity' to protect the poor

USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio speaks at the bishops' spring meeting, Thursday, June 13, 2024. / Credit: USCCBWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 27, 2025 / 13:31 pm (CNA).As the Senate considers provisions for the "One Big Beautiful Bill" budget reconciliation, U.S bishops are asking lawmakers to protect vulnerable groups. "The bishops are grateful that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes provisions that promote the dignity of human life and support parental choice in education," Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said in a statement. "These are commendable provisions that are important priorities for the bishops.""Still, Congress must be consistent in protecting human life and dignity and make drastic changes to the bill to protect those most in need," Broglio said. "As Pope Leo XIV recently stated, it is the responsibility of politicians to promote and protect the common good, including...

Castel Gandolfo prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV: 'The heart of the city returns'

An aerial view of the papal palace of Castel Gandolfo near Rome. The apostolic palace is a complex of buildings served for centuries as a summer residence for the pope and overlooks Lake Albano. / Credit: Stefano Tammaro/ShutterstockRome Newsroom, Jun 26, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).Castel Gandolfo is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV on July 6. The imposing papal villa in this town on the shores of Lake Albano, a fortified 17th-century palace, was converted into a museum for tourists in 2016 by the decision of Pope Francis.Although only a few rooms are open to the public, they feature showcases exhibiting liturgical vestments belonging to previous popes as well as their portraits.The Argentine pontiff didn't pack his bags to go there in the summer like his predecessors but instead stayed in room 201 on the second floor of St. Martha's House at the Vatican, where he usually resided."He [Francis] did a lot for the city, opening the doors of the papal residence and the gardens... But n...

Assisted suicide bill a 'watershed' in the devaluing of life, English archbishop says

English Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool speaks with EWTN News via video call about the recent passage of a bill to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales, calling it a turning point in the country's devaluation of the dignity of life. / Credit: EWTN NewsRome Newsroom, Jun 26, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, who oversees life issues for the bishops of England and Wales, has called the recent passage of a bill to legalize assisted suicide a turning point in the country's devaluation of the dignity of life."I think we've crossed a watershed, that fundamental line in the sand that a life is always to be protected and that one cannot assist another person's suicide… there's an erosion of the value of the dignity of life," the archbishop told EWTN News in an interview via video call from Liverpool this week.Sherrington added that the bishops are concerned particularly for those who are already very vulnerable, such as the disabled, who...