Belarus pardons 2 Catholic priests after talks with Vatican

The priests' release was credited in part to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, pictured here celebrating the seventh Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on May 2, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNACNA Staff, Nov 20, 2025 / 12:12 pm (CNA).Two Catholic priests in Belarus will be released from prison in an act of "goodwill" after national leaders engaged in talks with the Vatican.The state media organ BelTA reported on Nov. 20 that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko "pardoned two Catholic priests convicted of serious crimes against the state."The pardons of Father Henrykh Akalatovich and Father Andzej Yukhnevich came after "intensification of contacts with the Vatican, as well as the principles of goodwill, mercy, and the jubilee year proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church," the government media organization said. A separate press release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Belarus expressed "gratitude to all those who ...

World's tallest Our Lady of Fátima monument inaugurated in Brazil

The world's tallest monument of Our Lady of Fatima was inaugurated in Crato, located in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil. / Credit: Courtesy of Prefeitura do Crato/ScreenshotSao Paulo, Brazil, Nov 20, 2025 / 12:48 pm (CNA).The world's tallest monument dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima was inaugurated and blessed on Nov. 13 during the closing Mass of the Marian Jubilee in Crato, located in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil.The 177-foot-tall statue was created by the artist Ranilson Viana, inspired by the replica of the pilgrim image venerated in the cathedral of Our Lady of Penha, a work by the Portuguese sculptor Guilherme Ferreira Thedim."Our hearts overflow with joy and faith because in this blessed land of Crato, this magnificent image of Our Lady of Fátima stands thanks to the presence of the pilgrim image, coming directly from Fátima, in Portugal, a sign of our spiritual communion with that Marian shrine, a beating heart of prayer, penance, and hope for the whole w...

Pro-life groups condemn 'glorification' of Kessler twins' assisted suicide in Germany

Alice Kessler and Ellen Kessler attend the Circus Krone Christmas Premiere at Circus Krone on Dec. 25, 2022, in Munich, Germany. The twin sisters ended their lives by assisted suicide at their home in Grünwald, close to Munich, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. / Credit: Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty ImagesCNA Deutsch, Nov 20, 2025 / 13:18 pm (CNA).The Federal Association for the Right to Life, an umbrella organization for numerous pro-life organizations, has condemned the "glorification" of the assisted suicide of the 89-year-old Kessler twins.Alice and Ellen Kessler were German singers and performers who were famous in Europe, especially in Italy, in the 1960s. The twin sisters decided to die together by assisted suicide at their home near Munich on Monday. Alexandra Linder, the pro life association's chairwoman, said: "There is widespread media coverage of this, with many praising the 'self-determination' of choosing the time and manner of death oneself rather than waiting for death...

Scorsese's 'The Saints' spotlights extraordinary Catholic men and women

St. Patrick as depicted in Martin Scorsese's "The Saints." / Credit: Fox NationCNA Staff, Nov 20, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).The second season of Martin Scorsese's docudrama series "The Saints" premiered on Fox Nation on Nov. 16. The series highlights the extraordinary lives of men and women who embodied their faith and became saints in the Catholic Church. The new season includes episodes on St. Patrick, St. Peter, St. Thomas Becket, and St. Carlo Acutis.Created by Matti Leshem and developed by Scorsese, himself a Catholic, the show's new episodes will be released weekly from Nov. 16 to Dec. 7. The first season included episodes on St. Mary Magdalene, St. Moses the Black, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Joan of Arc, St. John the Baptist, and St. Sebastian.Leshem, who co-founded a production company focused on Jewish history and Judeo-Christian dialogue, spoke to CNA in an interview about the inspiration behind the series and how his own Jewish faith has been impact...

Pope Leo appoints Nigerian priest assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State

Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican's Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny. Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development "for their friendship and shared work over these years" and pr...

How Pope Leo XIV typically spends his day off

Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN NewsACI Prensa Staff, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).In reply to journalists' questions last night as he left Castel Gandolfo, which he now regularly visits, Pope Leo XIV described what his typical Tuesday day off is like.The pontiff shared that he does "a little reading, a little work. Every day there is correspondence, phone calls; there are some matters that are perhaps more important, more recent. A little tennis, a little swimming."A passionate tennis fan since childhood, the Holy Father in May received at the Vatican Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked second in the world (behind Carlos Alcaraz) and at that time was ranked first.When asked why he needs these moments of rest, Leo XIV emphasized on Nov. 19 that "to take good care of yourself, human beings… everyone, should do some activity for the body, the soul, all together.""I think it does me a lot of good. So it's a time, a break during the week that helps a l...

Outgoing Hungarian ambassador reflects on 10-year term at the Vatican

Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg speaks to EWTN News in 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAVatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg has served as Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See since 2015 and described his post at the Vatican as "the greatest 10 years of my life."First presenting his credentials to Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2015, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has "seen it all" and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents."I felt that 10 years is a good term. It's far longer than ambassadors usually have here," he said in the exclusive interview."I think I've seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments," he added. "In a way, I'm going to miss it but also family is important." Though his term at the Vatican is drawing to a close, the outgoing ambassador said he will likely contin...

Charlotte bishop grants Mass dispensation amid migrant crackdown in North Carolina

St. Patrick Cathedral in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina. / Credit: Diocese of CharlotteWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 16:23 pm (CNA).Bishop Michael T. Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte issued a Mass dispensation for any person who fears he or she may be subject to deportation and called for a day of prayer and fasting for migrants as immigration enforcement ramps up throughout North Carolina.The bishop published the statement on Nov. 18 telling those "who are afraid to come to church" out of fear they could be deported "are not obligated to attend Mass." These conditions, he said, are "circumstances beyond your control."Martin said the Church has always taught that the normal Sunday Mass obligation does not apply when a person cannot attend due to situations he or she does not control."I encourage you to take consolation in Jesus' refrain when the disciples were in the boat being swamped by stormy seas: 'Do not be afraid!' (Mt 14:27)," Martin added. "Your ...

New immersive Shroud of Turin museum opens in Southern California

"The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience," a $5 million, 10,000-square-foot museum on the chancery campus of the Diocese of Orange in Southern California opened to visitors on Nov. 19, 2025. / Credit: Everett Johnson, Diocese of OrangeLos Angeles, California, Nov 19, 2025 / 16:53 pm (CNA)."The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience," a $5 million, 10,000-square-foot museum on the chancery campus of the Diocese of Orange in Southern California, opened to visitors Wednesday.  The museum is presented by Papaian Studios in partnership with the Diocese of Orange and Othonia Inc., an international team of specialists dedicated to exploring and sharing the mystery of the Shroud of Turin.The 90-minute experience introduces visitors to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with a special focus on the Shroud of Turin, which many believe to be the burial cloth of Christ.The 90-minute experience at the new Shroud of Turin museum on the chancery campus of ...

Immigrant rights advocate Mercy Sister JoAnn Persch, 91, dies

Sister of Mercy JoAnn Persch, a longtime immigrant rights advocate, died on Nov. 14, 2025, at age 91. / Credit: Kathleen Murphy/CNAWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 17:48 pm (CNA).Longtime immigrant rights advocate Sister JoAnn Persch died on Nov. 14 at age 91.Two weeks before her death, Persch attempted to bring Communion to detainees at the Broadview, Illinois, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where for decades the Sisters of Mercy ministered to migrants and refugees. Officials denied her entry.Auxiliary Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado with eight spiritual leaders including Sister JoAnn Persch, left, attempt to bring Communion to detainees at the Broadview, Illinois, facility and were not admitted Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Bryan Sebastian, courtesy of Coalition for Spiritual and Public LeadershipPersch and Sister Pat Murphy were founding members of the Su Casa Catholic Worker House in Chicago, serving refugees from Central America who were surviv...