Catholic News

Cardinal Gerhard Müller has called the Society of St. Pius X's planned consecration of four bishops without papal mandate a schismatic act, while stressing that the dispute turns on authority, not the Traditional Latin Mass, which he affirmed remains valid.

In an interview with EWTN News In Depth, the former prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said episcopal ordinations carried out "without the pope are absolutely impossible, against the will of God," marking those who carry them out as "not Catholic or anti-Catholic." That judgment, he stressed, rests on "objective criteria," not "subjective judgments."

The Society plans to consecrate four priests, including American Father Michael Goldade, on July 1 at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, echoing Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's 1988 consecrations.

Without a papal mandate the consecrations would be valid but illicit, carrying an automatic "latae sententiae" excommunication.

Müller likened the society to the Donatists, the schism St. Augustine fought in North Africa.

"They should learn from the way of the Donatists," he said, adding that St. Pius X, the society's patron, "will pray against these people who abuse his name." Pope Leo XIV, he noted, is himself an Augustinian.

The German prelate, a longtime professor of dogmatic theology, called devotion to traditional liturgy and the rejection of papal authority "two absolutely different questions," and faulted bishops who forbid the TLM as "authoritarian."

Asked what faithful drawn to SSPX Masses should do if a schism follows, Müller said they "shouldn't go, and cannot participate in the Masses of schismatic priests and bishops."

The Vatican's current doctrine chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, warned on May 13 that the consecrations would be "a schismatic act."

The SSPX rejects the charge, holding that such consecrations do not by themselves break communion; on June 24 it sent Pope Leo and the College of Cardinals a "Declaration of Catholic Faith." 

Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani has cited a "state of necessity," noting only two aging SSPX bishops remain to ordain its priests.

Müller also discussed the June 26–27 consistory, which he said he expected to take up atheism and artificial intelligence, and renewed his criticism of "synodality," which he said had been "abused" to push ideas against Church teaching on the priesthood and marriage.

Full Article

In an audience with representatives of Jesuit colleges and universities in North America, Pope Leo XIV proposed four ways to address current challenges.

In his address on June 25, the Holy Father referenced several of the major challenges facing humanity, which he said is undergoing an "epochal change." Specifically, he pointed to the secularization of societies, where many people are "seeking to push any mention of God out of the public sphere and beyond popular culture."

In addition, he pointed to the failure of political systems to address the needs of migrants and the marginalized, as well as the lack of hope among young people, the degradation of the planet's resources, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

The pope encouraged representatives of Jesuit colleges and universities to confront these challenges by looking to the Society of Jesus' four Universal Apostolic Preferences, which are four focus areas that are to guide the Jesuits' mission worldwide from 2019 to 2029. They were developed through a two-year global discernment process involving Jesuits and their lay partners, then confirmed by Pope Francis in 2019.

The four Universal Apostolic Preferences are to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment; to walk with the poor, the outcasts, and those whose dignity has been violated in a mission of reconciliation and justice; to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future, and to collaborate in the care of our common home.

First, the pontiff reflected on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and the importance of discernment, encouraging members of academic communities to have the opportunity to participate in them and thus come to know "the One who is Truth."

"Those who conduct research, those who pursue studies and those who seek the truth are ultimately seeking God, whether they realize it or not," he emphasized.

He also referred to the "thirst for God" that is increasingly palpable among young people, something he noted he had witnessed firsthand during his recent visit to Spain. Consequently, he encouraged them to offer the Spiritual Exercises to young people on university campuses.

The pope also pointed out that it is essential to "walk with the poor and the outcasts of the world." For this reason, he urged them to "offer opportunities for immigrants, refugees and those of a lower socioeconomic status to have the benefit of an advanced education."

"The resurrection of Christ is the ultimate source of hope."

Pope Leo XIV

He emphasized that Jesuit schools and universities must be places where young people find "a hope-filled future," and thus must foster opportunities for dialogue, service, and prayer, "remembering always that the resurrection of Christ is the ultimate source of hope."

As another urgent duty, the pontiff underscored the need to educate about the care of creation, primarily due to the effects of climate change as well as "the exploitation of resources by a few at the expense of the common good."

Finally, in citing the advances in artificial intelligence, he appealed to the essential role of colleges and universities and noted that it is "important to begin now to address the consequences, both positive and negative, that come from these advances."

"With the help of the prayers of St. Ignatius of Loyola, may you continue the Jesuit tradition of forming those entrusted to your care to be 'men and women for others,'" the Holy Father encouraged.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

Cardinal Ernest Simoni, 97, who was tortured by Albania's communist regime, climbed Apparition Hill in Medjugorje on June 23, the day before the 45th anniversary of the start of the alleged apparitions.

Six young people claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary for the first time on June 24, 1981, the feast day of St. John the Baptist, on Mount Podbrdo. Since then, some of those visionaries say they still receive messages from the Mother of God on a daily basis.

Following a lengthy investigation, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith approved a document in 2024 titled The Queen of Peace, which acknowledges the spiritual fruits that have been borne, finds no obstacles in the alleged messages received, and makes no pronouncement regarding the supernatural nature of the phenomena.

Assisted by young people from the Cenacolo Community, who carried the cardinal part of the way as he was seated on a litter, the Albanian cardinal traversed a portion of the rocky path on foot, though not without difficulty.

Along the way, he blessed those present who stopped to greet him. Upon reaching the summit of the mountain, he prayed the rosary beside the statue of the Virgin Mary and blessed the water with which he sprinkled the crowd before returning.

The footage of this pilgrimage, provided by María Visión Medjugorje, bears witness to the determination of the cardinal who, as a priest, endured the communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, the man who proclaimed Albania to be "the first atheist state in the world."

A priest twice sentenced to death

Born in 1928 in the village of Troshani, the young Simoni underwent formation with the Franciscans from 1938 to 1948, until a bloody religious persecution eliminated the community's superiors and forced him to continue his formation in secret.

In 1956, he was ordained a priest at St. Stephen's Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Shkodrë-Pult. Seven years later, after celebrating Christmas Eve Mass on Dec. 24, 1963, he was arrested by four agents and informed that he would be executed by hanging, accused of having celebrated a Mass for the repose of the soul of recently assassinated U.S. President John F. Kennedy at the behest of St. Paul VI.

According to his own account, an attempt was made to entrap him by placing another prisoner in his cell who began complaining about the Communist Party. News of his preaching about love for one's enemies while in prison reached the dictator, who decided to commute his sentence to 28 years of forced labor. During those years, he continued to celebrate Mass and exercise his priestly ministry clandestinely.

In 1973, he was once again sentenced to death, accused of inciting a rebellion. However, exonerating testimony prevented the immediate execution of the sentence, and he remained in prison for another 18 years until his release in 1981.

He continued his pastoral work in secret for another nine years, until the fall of the communist regime in 1990.

"The Lord has helped me to serve so many people and to reconcile many, driving hatred and the devil away from the hearts of men," he stated upon concluding his testimony before Pope Francis in October 2016.

A month later, Simoni was created a cardinal at the consistory held on Nov. 19, 2016.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

The 2026 GIVEN Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum, taking place in Washington, D.C., this week, exists to help women understand their gifts and how to share them with the world.

The five-day gathering is hosted by the GIVEN Institute – a nonprofit organization dedicated to activating the gifts of Catholic young adult women for the Church and the world through faith formation and leadership.

The forum, taking place June 24-28, features keynotes, leadership training, mentorship, adoration, prayer, and Mass.

"We hope women will take away an understanding, on a much deeper level, that they are a gift. They are a beloved daughter of God," executive director of GIVEN, Jennifer Cole-Schaefer, told EWTN News.

Women have "been given gifts that are specific to them, and God has a plan to use those gifts," she said. "It's all about receiving this idea that we are a gift, realizing what our gifts are, and responding in a way that only we can respond with our particular gifts."

The forum welcomes Catholic women, ages 21-35, who have been accepted into the institute's leadership program, as well as mentors, volunteers, exhibitors, and sponsors.

Acceptance into the program includes participation in GIVEN's forum, followed by a year of accompaniment with a trained mentor. Participants cultivate a personalized "action plan" designed to serve the Church and their community.

The "formation starts well before we get to the forum, but the forum is a really pivotal in-person experience," Cole-Schaefer said.

"It's after the forum that the real work begins – when women start to actualize their action plans, and they don't do that alone. They do that through mentoring," she said.

"So we have a whole army of women with some life experience who've stepped forward and been trained as mentors to walk with our young women as they discern all the steps," Cole-Schaefer said.

Cole-Schaefer said she hopes that after the forum, women walk "away inspired and ready to change the world in whatever way God is calling them to."

2026 forum kicks off

This year's forum welcomes a variety of presentations and keynotes, including talks from Sr. Bethany Madonna, SV, a Sister of Life, and Dr. Mary Healy, a professor of scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and the editor of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.

The event is also featuring numerous panels on finding one's vocation and mission. Panelists include GIVEN alumni who attest to the formation they received through the forum.

President and COO of EWTN News, Montse Alvarado, will speak on June 27 about how young women respond with their gifts. GIVEN will also bestow Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, SV with its Fiat Award, which honors women whose lives embody the response of Our Lady through faithful leadership, service, and love.

Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, OP presented the keynote address on June 26. The Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Cecilia told attendees that God reveals "you are the gift" and "you are the love."

Todd told her listeners that contemporary culture tells women they were made for "comfort," "convenience," or "control," but, she emphasized, "you and I were made for communion."

"Every gift we've been given is to call others into the relationship with the Lord they were made for. It's to realize our relationship with the Lord, to grow in it, to let that love that fills us up" so we can then "pour it out onto the world," she said.

"My sisters, whatever gift he gives you, receive it. Whatever struggle you face, do not get discouraged. He's working in it," she said.

"Your story is a way he's bringing beauty into the world. But know that no matter what comes and goes with your gifts, the gift is him. His friendship, his presence, his love, is the gift he'll never take away," Todd said.

Full Article

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to cut tens of millions of teenage pregnancy prevention grants that don't align with the administration's goals.

The department's Office of Population Affairs, which designates grants for teenage pregnancy prevention, will divert $67 million to open new grants for prevention programs, a source confirmed to EWTN News.

The department will terminate 53 of 67 of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants following a department review, according to a Daily Signal report. The department reportedly described the current grants as "age-inappropriate," "sexually explicit," and in violation of the program's founding statute.

Some of the current teenage pregnancy programs teach teens how to access abortion, while others promote transgender ideology or sexually explicit material.

"Under programming favored by the Biden Administration, we saw too much emphasis on abortion and too little on protecting kids," said Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for Students for Life.

Hamrick referred to various instances of programming that instruct high schoolers with sexually explicit content.

"The kind of programming that tries to separate sexual activity from marriage or from babies, who are an important reality, misses the point," Hamrick told EWTN News. "Pretending in programming that the presence or absence of a baby is the only thing to discuss, or that contraception comes with magical guarantees, doesn't begin to educate teenagers."

"Young girls being groomed by older men; sexually transmitted diseases or broken hearts are all part of this reality, which makes pushing abortion as a 'solution' seriously off base," Hamrick continued.

The administration is opening up new grants for pregnancy prevention programming more aligned with its goals, promoting two new funding streams according to two notices the department listed on Tuesday, totaling $71.1 million in grants. Applications close July 26.

Andrea Trudden, spokeswoman for Heartbeat International, an organization of pregnancy help centers, noted that many pregnancy centers provide education that reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies.

"Pregnancy help organizations serve as an important resource for young women when an unexpected pregnancy occurs, offering practical support, compassionate care, and information about the resources available to help them continue their pregnancies," she told EWTN News.

"Many of these organizations also provide sexual risk avoidance education that encourages healthy relationships, responsible decision-making, and behaviors that reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy," Trudden continued.

"When a teen pregnancy does occur, the goal should be to ensure that no young woman feels she has to choose between her future and her child," said Trudden.

"Pregnancy help organizations have decades of experience walking alongside teens before, during, and after pregnancy, helping them build healthy futures," said Trudden.

"With the right support, education, parenting resources, and community assistance, teens can pursue their goals while welcoming the life of their baby," Trudden said.

"There are so many out there ready to help, at churches, at pregnancy care centers, and in the community," Hamrick added.

Hamrick noted that Students for Life lists resources at their webpage, Standing With You.

"A baby represents hope and a future, and for a family, whether by birth or adoption, and we need to help teenagers understand that they are not alone, that many will help, and that this is the beginning of another person's story," Hamrick said.

Full Article

Pope Leo XIV opened his second extraordinary consistory of cardinals on June 26 by defending his decision to conduct the gathering in a synodal format, acknowledging that the approach is unusual, but insisting that the Lord is leading the Church along this path so that she can "grow in communion."

Addressing 178 cardinals in the Paul VI Hall on the first of two days of discussions, Leo encouraged them to "engage wholeheartedly" in a synodal, working group structure, adding that he was "well aware that, for many of us, this is not the usual way of conducting a consistory."

Yet, he said this form is now part of "the journey along which the Lord is leading us," encouraging the cardinals to participate actively while assuring them that they can still make "personal contributions" and send him "any confidential observations or reflections."

"Enter into this ecclesial exercise with confidence," he said, adding that synodality is learned "by practising it" and that "we learn together to grow in communion."

The pope's comments came after some cardinals had expressed apprehensions about the consistory using a "synodal" round-table format for a second time — a structure they felt was "very controlled" when used at the first consistory last January, and left them with a sense that key decisions and framing had been set in advance.

Efforts made to address those concerns at this meeting include the introduction of a "free dialogue" session at the end of the meeting and a dedicated email address where cardinals can write directly to the pope to share their advice and concerns.

In his opening address, Pope Leo summarized the four themes the cardinals are to discuss. First, they were invited to contemplate the world "through the eyes of faith," listening and walking with others amid contemporary challenges. Secondly, they were asked to reflect on a "civilization of love" in a time of conflict, oppression and division, drawing on his social encyclical?Magnifica Humanitas, which explores human dignity and the common good. Thirdly, they are to explore that encyclical in greater depth by examining how the Church can build the common good through shared responsibility and adopting a "synodal style." Finally, they are to consider how to implement the Synod on Synodality "in the face of the world's wounds."

Synodality, a recurring theme in both his opening address and homily at the opening Mass, "points to a way forward: listening, discerning and jointly assuming responsibility," Leo said. It is not simply a set of procedures, he insisted, but "an attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand." Nor does it entail a "diminishment of authority;" rather it serves to "safeguard communion" while fostering the participation of all and helping pastors exercise authority more evangelically.

The pope underlined that the consistory is not meant merely to address the internal life of the Church but to shape "our view of the world, peace, the common good, synodality," so that the Gospel may be proclaimed with greater fidelity and credibility. The goal, he said, is to improve the Church's witness and to become better heralds of the Gospel, which requires listening and the sharing of responsibilities.

"For this reason I wish to ask for your help," he continued. "I need your support: strong, explicit and public. I need to feel supported by you as by brothers." He urged the cardinals to accompany him in his service, to listen to what is emerging in local churches, to recognize signs of hope, but not ignore "struggles, misunderstandings and resistance."

Leo said he was convinced the Lord is "teaching us a more evangelical way of living out together the responsibility he has entrusted to us," and that the credibility of their witness and fruitfulness in mission depend on this.

The pope decided to reinstate extraordinary consistories after Pope Francis had suspended them in 2014, a generally unpopular move with many cardinals who, ahead of the conclave last year, voiced a need for the Holy Father to consult them more frequently.

In contrast to the approach of Francis, who rarely consulted his porporati except for a select few and his council of nine cardinals who advised him on Church governance, Pope Leo was emphatic on Friday about how much he valued their input, saying "sincere advice is always an act of communion" and that he needed their freedom, frankness and loyalty.

He thanked them for attending, saying their presence showed their "concern for the whole Church," and stressing that their dialogue with him, to assist him in the service and mission of the Church, is one of the cardinals' "most important responsibilities."

Leo underlined that they are to be builders of "Christ's communion" which, he said, "takes shape in a synodal Church in which everyone cooperates in the same mission, each according to their own charism and ministry."

"We are not guardians of particular interests," he reminded them, "but disciples and witnesses of the Kingdom of God, called to be, in Christ, the leaven of universal brotherhood," echoing remarks he had made to the Roman Curia last December.

Opening homily

In his homily at the opening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday morning, Pope Leo said synodality and collegiality are "forms of Christian fraternity," which enables all the baptized to participate in the unity of the People of God.

Noting that the meeting is taking place just ahead of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, he urged the cardinals to follow the apostles' example of sharing the faith in freedom, to ask for the gift of peace and unity, and to "savor harmony through obedience."

The implementation of the synod, "to which we are committed, invites everyone to move forward in unity of faith, promoting peace, and in obedience to Jesus, the living Word," he said. As ideologies fade away, the Holy Spirit makes fraternal harmony, charity, and missionary zeal "flourish in the Church."

"Our working together in a collegial way embodies the synodality in which all the baptized participate in the unity of the People of God," he continued. "Synodality and collegiality are, in fact, forms of Christian fraternity, which binds us together as the baptized and as bishops."

Appearing to recast the way in which Petrine ministry is exercised, he closed by saying that in helping him in that task, "you will find in me one who asks, not commands."

"Moreover, the authority of primacy belongs to the one who listens and only then leads, to the one who learns and only then teaches, always following the one and only Teacher," he said. "May the intercession of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul accompany us on this enthralling journey."

Full Article

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration is pleading with President Donald Trump to allow Haitian and Syrian migrants to remain in the United States following a Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for possible deportations.

Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, who chairs the committee, asked Trump to refrain from deporting the migrants and for Congress to take action that would allow them to remain.

"Revoking the legal status of hundreds of thousands of people residing in our country creates a moral crisis when returning to their country of origin is not a safe or reasonable option," Cahill said in a statement.

"If we are truly to affirm the God-given dignity of every human person, we as a nation cannot turn a blind eye to such an injustice and the impossible choices it will create for families and communities," he said.

The Supreme Court on June 25 ruled in favor of the Department of Homeland Security ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of Haitian and Syrian migrants, finding the law provides the executive branch with broad discretion in making those determinations.

Without TPS status, more than 300,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians have lost legal protections that prevent them from being deported.

"Even if the administration determines TPS is no longer warranted, deferred enforced departure remains a tool available to the president, and we urge him to exercise right judgement in this way," Cahill said.

"Forcibly sending families to dire conditions is a legacy all leaders should seek to avoid," the bishop said. "To that end, my brother bishops and I also continue to call upon Congress to act — to meet this moment with the moral fortitude that is so desperately needed."

Full Article

The White House Religious Liberty Commission released its final report offering its recommendations to strengthen religious freedom in the United States.

During a June 26 presentation in the Oval O?ce, members of the Commission, led by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, delivered their final report to President Donald Trump.

The report includes detailed recommendations for religious leaders and institutions, educators, teachers, coaches and administrators, parents, the military, religious healthcare workers and institutions, and the private sector. It also includes calls for action on efforts to combat antisemitism.

Established by executive order in May 2025, the commission was "formed to finally advise the president as to legislation, or executive orders, or other moves he could make to foster religious liberty," Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, a member of the commission, told EWTN News Nightly's Veronica Dudo.

"Our purpose was to listen to lots of witnesses, and we did. I think it's well over 100 people we listened to in education, health care, the military," he said.

"We looked at antisemitism" and "we listened to scholars talk about the Founding Fathers," he said. "The whole purpose was to determine to what degree religious liberty is being threatened in our country, and then what recommendations we can make to the president."

"I respect President Trump very much. He's the president in my lifetime who's done the most for the defense of religious liberty," Barron said.

I respect President Trump very much. He's the president in my lifetime who's done the most for the defense of religious liberty."

Robert Barron

Bishop of Winona-Rochester

"It's the first mention in the First Amendment and it's basic to our democracy," he said. "I think this commission focused on that a lot. We kept coming back to that basic insight: This is the first liberty."

"When religious liberty is threatened, all the other liberties are threatened. And so we wanted to revive a sense of the Founding Fathers and the stress that they placed on it," he said.

The completed report is based on findings from the seven hearings that the commission held over the past year, receiving input from witnesses of diverse ages, religions, and backgrounds.

"I was struck by the courage of a lot of these people because their religious liberty really was threatened," Barron said. "I'm glad they came forward and…we were an opportunity for them to express their concerns to the government."

"Among the recommendations we make, we want education to happen so that the Justice Department can really be clear on…what religious liberty means, what your rights are, what the separation of church and state does and doesn't mean. So part of that is educational," Barron said.

Key recommendations 'for all Americans'

Among the many suggestions, the commission highlighted "12 key recommendations to strengthen religious liberty for all Americans," according to the report.

The commission recommended that the Department of Justice (DOJ) issue guidance clarifying the understanding of the Establishment Clause and separation of church and state, because "the phrase 'wall of separation between church and state' does not appear in the First Amendment or anywhere else in the Constitution," the report noted.

Instead, the wording originates from President Thomas Jefferson's 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, where he described the First Amendment as building a "wall of separation between Church & State."

Because the language is not in the Constitution, "don't be cowed" by the claims of "separation of church and state, a wall of separation, therefore, retreat into silence, retreat into privacy with your religion," Barron said. "I say, no, don't buy that."

"Go back to the First Amendment of our Constitution," he said. "We don't want an established religion. No one in our commission wants that. None of the Founding Fathers wanted that."

"But at the same time…The government shall make no move restricting the free exercise of religion," he said.

Many of the panel's recommendations focused on creating clarity so people know their rights, and have ways to receive help if they feel their rights have been violated.

The commission urged that if any public o?cial alleges a person under their supervision has improperly engaged in religious expression, they must provide a written explanation of the alleged violation to the person accused within 30 days, and explain the charge based on a constitutional provision or provision of law.

It recommended the DOJ, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issue "Know Your Rights" posters for students, parents, public school teachers and administrators, religious leaders, religious institutions, healthcare workers, and military service members.

The commission also suggests the DOJ, HHS, and EEOC create religious liberty violation hotlines and online portals for students, parents, teachers, and healthcare workers to get support.

"A number of people could call if they feel their religious liberties are being threatened," Barron said.

"We want people to bring litigation if they can in some of these cases to press the issue. I think we want people to know that they...have friends who will support them in their struggle for this right," he said.

The commission requests judges be nominated and confirmed who have a history of showing "courage to decide religious liberty cases on the merits where warranted, rather than engage in improper judicial avoidance," according to the report.

The commission also called for the repeal of the Johnson Amendment, which is a 1954 provision in the U.S. tax code that prohibits nonprofits, including religious institutions, charities, and universities, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

After speaking about antisemitism at many hearings, the commission recommended the issue be combatted through enforcement of civil rights laws, litigation of credible allegations discrimination and violence, and civic education.

The commission asked that e?orts continue to restore the retirement or re-enlistment eligibility for service members who lost employment, health insurance, pensions, and other benefits because of their religious beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The commission also recommended ways of tracking and streamlining religious liberty matters. It suggested that the DOJ create a religious liberty task force to track and prioritize litigation protecting religious liberty, and the Department of War streamline and improve the religious accommodation process.

Lastly, the commission recommended that "the courage of religious liberty heroes" be honored through the creation of a Presidential Medal of Religious Liberty and First Freedom Hero Awards.

The award would "recognize Americans who stand up for religious freedom and play an indispensable role in protecting citizens' Constitutional rights," the report said.

Full Article

Confronting a world marked by deepening division, widespread suffering and a crisis of meaning were the main topics for discussion during the opening session of the extraordinary consistory of cardinals on June 26 in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

The 178 cardinals attending the two-day consistory, run in a synodal format, spoke of growing polarization within societies, with some saying it is often fueled by misinformation and exacerbated by digital communication that hinders rather than fosters genuine dialogue.

The theme of the first session was: "In what kind of world are we called to proclaim the Gospel?" As the proceedings were closed to the public, the Holy See Press Office supplied the media with a synthesis of the discussions.

The Vatican said the cardinals spoke of political tensions, social fragmentation and an increase in violence, both at the interpersonal level and in international conflicts.

Many cardinals also pointed to a lack of respect for religious and ethnic minorities, with particular concern expressed about rising antisemitism and hostility toward Christians in various parts of the world.

The cardinal participants also spoke of extreme individualism, the crisis in the family, and loneliness that affects both the elderly and the young, which they see as a cause of even greater evils, such as the rise in suicide and drug use.

"In this context, there was much discussion about young people, including in the context of economic, financial and labor market crises," the Vatican synthesis said.

"At the heart of many of the contributions was an awareness of a general sense of mistrust, fatalism and powerlessness towards institutions, democracy and the future, linked also to the falling birth rate, the rise of criminal groups, youth crime and drug trafficking," it continued.

"In this regard, several groups emphasized the role of secularism, the loss of transcendent and spiritual values, and the loss of a sense of purpose in life; they noted that the spread of a sense of weariness and the absence of a perspective on truth signify an inability to recognize otherness and to build relationships."

Several groups noted a pervasive sense of mistrust toward institutions, including democratic systems, coupled with a growing fatalism about the possibility of meaningful change.

Migration highlighted

The phenomenon of migration received significant attention. While acknowledging the challenges it poses, the cardinals emphasized the need for humane and Christian responses, including effective integration policies and a rejection of exclusionary attitudes.

Migrants, several groups observed, can be a source of renewal and blessing for host communities when welcomed appropriately.

Environmental degradation, corruption, and the difficulties of life in large urban centers were also cited as contributing to the hardships faced by many people today.

Across all groups, the Vatican reported that there was a shared conviction that the Church has a vital role to play in responding to these challenges.

The cardinals stressed the need for the Church to present itself as a "mother" — a welcoming and compassionate presence capable of acknowledging its own failings while offering healing and reconciliation. This includes renewed attention to parish life, seen as a key locus for fostering community and encounter.

At a time when many institutions are experiencing a crisis of credibility, the cardinals affirmed that the Church is called to speak with moral authority on issues of human dignity, peace and the common good. They suggested that such credibility is most effectively established through proximity to those who suffer.

Young people were described as having a growing thirst for the Gospel. The Church, the cardinals said, must accompany them closely, offering both guidance and hope.

The Vatican synthesis said that the Church "sees how synodality is a providential path for the Church and humanity to find the answers the world seeks." It also said the witness of charity, especially by lay faithful, was highlighted as a powerful means of evangelization.

The cardinals pointed to signs of hope in popular piety, education and the life of faith among ordinary believers. Even in contexts where Christians are a minority, the Church's witness was described as particularly meaningful, they said.

Efforts to promote dialogue and peace, including ecumenical and interreligious initiatives, were identified as essential in countering violence and division, according to the Vatican synthesis. Prayer was also emphasized as a fundamental source of strength in these endeavors.

Although such a consistory of cardinals has traditionally been an opportunity for the pope to listen to all the cardinals' concerns, he was absent during the working group session, returning later to address the assembly following the group reports.

Thanking the cardinals for their contributions, he reiterated the importance of dialogue and participation, the Vatican said.

The pope observed that the widespread loneliness and suffering of today's world constitute a direct challenge to the Church. Its response, he said, must be to invite all people into communion — not only by opening churches and celebrating the sacraments, but also by creating opportunities and experiences of encounter.

"If we are not blind," the pope said, "it is true that there is so much suffering."

The June 26 session concluded with the recitation of the Angelus, with further discussions scheduled to continue in the afternoon and the following day.

As the consistory proceeds, the Vatican said it is expected to further refine these reflections, offering clearer indications of how the Church under Pope Leo XIV intends to navigate what it says many participants described as one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

The first session brought together cardinal electors and non-electors — 178 out of a total of 241 cardinals.

The Vatican said that, as planned, the cardinals were divided into two sets of groups. The first contained eight groups — rather than a planned nine — of ordinary cardinal electors, including nuncios and cardinal electors (under the age of 80) who have completed their service as ordinaries. A second set consisted of ten groups — rather than a planned eleven — comprising cardinal electors of the Roman Curia and non-elector cardinals.

The Vatican said that at the end of the first session, all eight from the first set shared their reflections at the end of the session, though only four out of ten from the second set reported on theirs.

Opening proceedings

The proceedings opened with the chanting of the Veni Creator Spiritus, followed by remarks from Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Rueda Aparicio of Bogota, Colombia, who presided over the session, and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Leo XIV then delivered an introductory address, calling on the assembled prelates to assist him in discerning the Church's mission amid today's complex realities.

Cardinal Re, speaking on behalf of the College, underscored the gravity of the present historical moment, describing a world shaped simultaneously by rapid technological advances, including artificial intelligence, and a troubling erosion of moral and ethical foundations.

He praised Pope Leo's recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, as a "beacon of light" addressing contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in the Church's social doctrine.

The cardinals then turned to a biblical meditation offered by Polish Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, the Archbishop of Krakow, who proposed the parable of the Good Samaritan as a key to understanding the modern world.

Rather than treating the world as an abstract concept, Cardinal Rys urged reflection on concrete human experience, symbolized by the wounded man in the Gospel narrative.

He identified several defining features of contemporary humanity: exposure to violence, loss of dignity, deep personal and societal wounds, and, above all, a pervasive loneliness. "People today are suffering a tsunami of loneliness," he noted, echoing reflections heard during the Synod on Synodality.

Cardinal Rys also pointed to what he described as a spiritual "descent" in secularized societies increasingly detached from transcendence.

Yet alongside this wounded figure, he highlighted the example of the Samaritan — an outsider who demonstrates compassion, closeness and self-sacrificial love — as a model for the Church's engagement with the world.

The Vatican said his reflection was followed by a prolonged period of silent prayer, after which the cardinals began discussions in their respective working groups.

Full Article

A Catholic group is honoring victims of nuclear weapons by helping to organize lantern floating ceremonies throughout the world.

Pax Christi International, a Catholic peace movement, is working with the Hiroshima Coventry Club (Touro Project) to organize the "Lanterns for Peace: from Hiroshima to the World" campaign around the world.

"Inspired by the lantern ceremonies held each year in Hiroshima, the campaign invites communities around the world to organize local commemorative events using traditional lanterns as symbols of remembrance, peace, hope, and nuclear disarmament," the Lanterns for Peace June 15 announcement read.

The lantern ceremonies will mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9 in 1945.

"In an increasingly fragile world, where the nuclear threat has once again become a tangible reality, this commemoration is not only a moment of mourning, but a genuine call to conscience," the statement continued.

The lanterns represent remembrance for lives lost, "hope for reconciliation and peace," and "a collective commitment to abolish nuclear weapons," according to the statement.

Lanterns for Peace is working with local groups to honor the anniversaries.

"Each participating city or community is encouraged to adapt the ceremony to its own local context while remaining united through shared symbols, messages, and commitments," according to a booklet the group issued.

The booklet contains more details about the event along with instructions on how to build a lantern.

Each event includes a lantern floating ceremony, where safe and permitted, a moment of silence or prayer, and the reading of survivors' testimonies.

Full Article