Mass attendance up at various colleges in wake of Charlie Kirk assassination

St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. / Credit: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsCNA Staff, Sep 15, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).In what some are calling "the Charlie Kirk effect," people across the nation, including many college students who are not ordinarily churchgoers, have decided to go to church since the assassination last week of the conservative Christian political activist Charlie Kirk.Matt Zerrusen, co-founder of Newman Ministry, a Catholic nonprofit that operates on about 250 campuses nationwide, told CNA he has spoken with Catholic college ministry leaders throughout the country over the last few days, and "every one of them told me they've seen bigger crowds" at Masses and lots of people "they've never seen before.""I have not talked to anyone who has not seen an increase in Mass attendance," Zerrusen said. "Some schools are reporting increases of 15%."He told CNA that many more college students are also as...

Gov. Cox: Transgender partner of alleged Charlie Kirk killer cooperating with authorities

Tyler Robinson, 22, (pictured on Sept. 12, 2025) the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk, conservative Christian political activist. / Credit: Handout/Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 15, 2025 / 18:01 pm (CNA).Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed that the man accused of killing Christian conservative activist Charlie Kirk lived with a transgender partner who is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation.The suspected assassin is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a resident of St. George, Utah, which is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive south of Utah Valley University, where the shooting occurred. Formal charges are expected Tuesday, Sept. 16.Although Robinson has exercised his right to remain silent while in custody and has not spoken to authorities, his live-in transgender partner and members of his family are cooperating with the investigation. He was arrested Thursday night, Sept. 11, the day after the shooting.In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunda...

Pope Leo XIV meets with his Augustinian brothers in Rome

Pope Leo XIV is pictured here with his Augustinian brothers in Rome on Sept. 15, 2025. / Credit: Courtesy of Augustinian Foundation WorldwideACI Prensa Staff, Sep 15, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Monday received the participants of the general chapter of the Order of St. Augustine, with whom he said he felt "at home." In his address, he reflected in particular on the theme of love, which the order's founder, St. Augustine, "placed at the center of his spiritual quest."At the beginning of his Sept. 15 address, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude to Father Alejandro Moral, OSA, for his years of service and extended a warm welcome to the newly-elected prior general, Father Joseph Farrell, OSA.Referring to the general chapter as an opportunity to reflect on the gift received, the challenges, and the current situation of the order, he reminded the Augustinians of the importance of "interiority in the journey of faith."He emphasized that this interiority is not "an escap...

'No one can silence their voice': Pope Leo XIV honors modern martyrs at ecumenical service

Pope Leo XIV presides over an ecumenical commemoration of the martyrs and witnesses of faith of the 21st century at Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on September 14, 2025. / Elias TurlVatican City, Sep 14, 2025 / 12:38 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV led an ecumenical commemoration of the martyrs and witnesses of faith of the 21st century at Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Sunday, stressing that "even though they have been killed in body, no one can silence their voice or erase the love they have shown."The Sept. 14 liturgy brought together Orthodox, Eastern, and Protestant leaders, along with ecumenical organizations and Vatican officials."Through his cross, Jesus revealed to us the true face of God, his infinite compassion for humanity," the pope said. "He took upon himself the hatred and violence of the world, to share the lot of all those who are humiliated and oppressed."Pope Leo, speaking on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, said that many...

Juan Dabdoub, tireless defender of life and family in Mexico, dies

Juan Dabdoub, founder of the Mexican Family Council. / Credit: David Ramos/EWTN NewsACI Prensa Staff, Sep 14, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).Juan Dabdoub Giacoman, a legendary and tireless defender of life and family in Mexico, passed away at the age of 71 on Sept. 11 in Mexico City after a long battle with cancer."A Catholic at heart and by conviction," as he described himself on his social media, Dabdoub was born on Nov. 30, 1953, in Monterrey in Nuevo León state in Mexico and specialized in marketing and business management.Self-described as a "rebel by nature and an idealist by conviction," Dabdoub dedicated his recent decades to activism in support of life and family, and founded the Mexican Council of the Family (ConFamilia), which promoted an amendment to the Mexican Constitution to officially recognize marriage as between one man and one woman.The proposal was supported by more than 200,000 signatures, nearly twice the number required by law, but was ignored by the country's Sen...

'Happy birthday, Pope Leo!': EWTN viewers around the world share songs, prayers

Pope Leo XIV waves at the crowds of people who braved a rainy morning for the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 10, 2025. / Credit: Vatican MediaNational Catholic Register, Sep 14, 2025 / 07:09 am (CNA).Sept. 14 marks Pope Leo XIV's 70th birthday. To celebrate, "EWTN News In Depth" invited viewers to send in video messages to share their own personal greeting to the Holy Father on such a momentous occasion.The responses ranged from young Catholic school children singing "Happy Birthday" to seminarians and priests sharing their own sentiments and religious sisters gathered to say happy birthday in unison. Some celebrated by blowing out candles while holding their own Pope Leo prayer card, while many just thanked the Holy Father for all the love and joy he shares daily.Although many American voices shared birthday blessings and prayers of gratitude, several messages came from the Philippines, many in Spanish, and one even from Norway and the Netherlands.There was a ...

Death of Melkite Catholic in Syrian prison sparks debate over security abuses

null / Credit: Freedom Studio/ShutterstockACI MENA, Sep 14, 2025 / 08:09 am (CNA).The death of Milad Farakh, a member of the Melkite Greek Catholic community from the village of Kafra in Syria's Valley of Christians (Wadi al-Nasara), has stirred controversy on social media. About two weeks after his arrest and transfer to the Balouna Prison in Homs on charges of selling spoiled meat, reports emerged recently that he had died under torture, based on leaks.A local source told ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, that the "spoiled meat" charge (Farakh was a butcher) was merely a cover to prevent unrest in the region. The source added that the security services themselves admitted Farakh had died under torture and issued an official apology. The officer responsible for interrogating him was also detained.At the same time, the source stressed that media claims of "persecution of Christians" in Wadi al-Nasara do not reflect reality. "We have never felt any direct target...

Pope Leo XIV marks 70th birthday at Sunday Angelus: 'I give thanks to the Lord and to my parents'

Pope Leo XIV at a window of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, leading pilgrims in reciting the Angelus, on September 14, 2025, the pope's 70th birthday. / Vatican MediaVatican City, Sep 14, 2025 / 09:55 am (CNA).On Sunday, his 70th birthday, Pope Leo XIV presided at the recitation of the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. From the early morning hours, the square had filled up with the faithful carrying banners, flags, and congratulatory signs to celebrate the pope's milestone.Leo was visibly moved when musical groups in the square played "Happy Birthday," a gesture greeted with applause, cheers, and the waving of signs bearing messages of gratitude and blessing."Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Sunday! Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, commemorating the discovery of the Cross by Saint Helen in Jerusalem in the fourth century, and the return of the precious relic to the Holy City by the Emperor Heraclius," the pope said ...

Vatican lights up with drone show at historic 'Grace for the World' concert

Illuminated drones reproduce Michelangelo's "Pietà" over St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on September 14, 2025. / Courtney MaresVatican City, Sep 14, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).St. Peter's Square became the stage for an unprecedented spectacle on Saturday night, as tens of thousands gathered for Grace for the World, a massive concert closing the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity.The event opened with breathtaking symbolism: more than 3,000 drones illuminated the night sky above the basilica, tracing the image of Pope Francis, framing Michelangelo's dome and Bernini's colonnade in light. The display, a first for the Vatican, drew reverent silence before the crowd erupted in applause.Illuminated drones portray Pope Francis above St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on September 14, 2025. Eva FernándezThe moment was accompanied by a stirring duet of "Amazing Grace" performed by world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli and American singer Teddy Swims. Their voice...

Pope Leo XIV's Peruvian birthdays: Simplicity, closeness, and community

Pope Leo XIV is pictured here during a past birthday celebration when he served as bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Diocese of ChiclayoLima Newsroom, Sep 13, 2025 / 17:00 pm (CNA).Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Robert Prevost celebrated various birthdays in Chiclayo, Peru, with gestures marked by simplicity, closeness, and community as remembered by laypeople and groups of faithful who shared these moments with him during his years as bishop of the diocese.Father Jorge Millán, who worked closely with Prevost in Chiclayo, recalled the sober style of these celebrations: "We used to gather as a family with the bishop: lunch, the classic cake, singing 'Happy Birthday' to him... It was just a pleasant afternoon, nothing more, but then he would return to work," he shared with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.In the mornings, he recounted, the bishop received greetings from institutions and schools in the city, while in the afte...