Catholic News

BANGASSOU, Central African Republic — A Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Bangassou in Central African Republic was shot dead in an armed attack in eastern Central African Republic. A parishioner accompanying him was seriously wounded.

Father Crépin Martial Monga, pastor of St. John the Baptist Zémio Parish in the Bangassou Diocese, was killed Monday, June 29, as he returned to the rectory.

According to local and diocesan sources, the attack occurred around 6:43 p.m. local time on the road linking a checkpoint of the Central African Armed Forces to the parish residence.

He was struck in the head and died instantly. A female parishioner traveling with him was also hit by a bullet in the neck. She was rushed to the hospital in Zémio, where she remains in intensive care.

Medical personnel say her condition is critical and she may require evacuation to a better-equipped facility.

Authorities have not yet identified those responsible for the attack, and no group has claimed responsibility. The circumstances and motives remain unclear as investigations continue.

Bangassou Bishop Aurelio Gazzera paid tribute to the slain priest, highlighting his commitment to peace.

"This is a tremendous loss for the local community and for the Diocese of Bangassou," he said.

Gazzera praised the priest's constant commitment to peace and reconciliation in the region.

The bishop noted that at the time of his statement, gunfire was still being heard in Zémio, a volatile security situation that currently makes it difficult to gather precise information on the exact circumstances of the tragedy.

Beyond his pastoral ministry, Monga was actively engaged in peace-building efforts in the region. He served on the Local Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, working to promote dialogue, social cohesion, and reconciliation among communities affected by conflict.

He was widely known as a man of peace, committed entirely to his pastoral mission. His "weapons," as described by those who knew him, were the Bible and the rosary, and his mission was to serve communities affected by prolonged instability.

Serving in the conflict-affected Zémio region, he was recognized for his closeness to the people, his kindness, and his dedication to families facing hardship.

Only hours before his death, Monga was still actively engaged in pastoral care. On June 28, he administered the sacrament of baptism to 175 candidates, including 160 displaced Christians from his parish who had been accommodated in Zapay from June 27–29.

On the morning of June 29, the priest accompanied the newly baptized to the banks of the Mbomou River before returning with them — his final pastoral act before the attack that evening.

Monga's funeral is scheduled to take place July 1 at St. Peter Claver Cathedral in the Bangassou Diocese.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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The Supreme Court this week said it would take up a long-running religious liberty lawsuit brought against an Ohio city in order to address a dispute over a legal concept known as "finality."

University Heights resident Daniel Grand had asked the Supreme Court to rule on the question of "finality," a legal principle requiring property owners to obtain a land-use decision from local officials before bringing certain federal court challenges.

Grand brought the suit against University Heights in 2022 after the city blocked his efforts to convene a minyan, or Jewish prayer group, of about a dozen friends at his home. The city directed that he would have to acquire a special-use permit to host the group.

Both a federal district court and an appeals court dismissed Grand's case on the grounds that he had not properly followed "finality" rules before filing, specifically that he did not complete the permitting process before bringing the suit.

On June 30, the Supreme Court said it would consider the case, which it will take up during its next term.

Grand is being represented in part by the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom. John Bursch, a senior attorney with the group, said on June 30 that University Heights' policy "underscore[s] a troubling trend of weaponizing zoning laws against people of faith."

"Every American has the right to host a prayer gathering in his home, and he certainly doesn't need a city permit to do so. When government officials forbid that, courts must hold those individuals accountable, immediately," Bursch said.

Ahead of the Supreme Court's decision, Grand's lawsuit received backing from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which filed an amicus brief in appeals court arguing that Grand's religious liberty claims should be considered without being subject to "finality."

Religious plaintiffs have standing to sue "as soon as a credible threat arises," the bishops said in their filing, arguing that court processes that play out over "months or years" due to finality rules serve as a "constitutional harm" in and of themselves.

The Supreme Court will begin its next term in October.

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A Catholic nun was briefly detained by federal immigration officers while walking to church in her religious habit on Sunday, sparking widespread concern among local faith leaders and prompting swift intervention by members of Congress.

Sister Leticia Ugboaja, a member of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and a registered nurse at South Texas Health System, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on June 28 as she headed to Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, Texas, just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Parish officials quickly shared news of the arrest on social media, which drew significant attention and led to outreach from lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Monica de la Cruz and Henry Cuellar, the latter of whom said his office communicated with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and border czar Tom Homan to secure Ugboaja's immediate release.

By Sunday evening, Ugboaja, who volunteers as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows, had been released from custody and returned home.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told EWTN News that he was told at first that she could not be released until Monday because of staffing issues but that Homan made her earlier release happen.

"[Homan] said he'd take care of it. I want to thank the DHS secretary and Homan for helping her get released" on Sunday, Cuellar said.

The congressman said he now knows why Ugboaja was initially detained but is not at liberty to speak about it.

"This is not the way they should have picked her up," he emphasized. "If ICE had any questions, there would have been more appropriate ways to deal with her situation."

Cuellar said the image of a nun in full habit walking to church on a Sunday morning "lowers a curtain of fear in the community … We should not have people being picked up on the streets in America. That's not America." 

"If there's fear, it should be focused on criminals," the Democratic congressman said. "Those are the ones who should fear ICE."

Brenda Riojas, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, told EWTN News in a statement the diocese was "grateful also for the quick response of local representatives who reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to get Sister Leticia released from custody."

She noted the diocese is still gathering information about the circumstances regarding Ugboaja's detainment by ICE.

In the statement, Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville said the nun "is a well-known source of goodness and hope in our community, and I am grateful she has been released."

He said there remain "many questions" about her arrest.

"For now, it is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed."

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, started a petition addressed to Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, calling for an immediate investigation into why the nun was detained.

"This incident highlights the concerns that advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations have raised for months about unlawful enforcement practices and the lack of oversight," the petition reads.

The incident comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has included operations near houses of worship.

An ICE spokesperson told EWTN News in July 2025 that while the agency is "not subject to previous restrictions on immigration operations at sensitive locations, to include schools, churches, and courthouses," it nevertheless "does not indiscriminately take enforcement actions at these locations."

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws," the spokesperson noted, adding: "All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention, and, if found removable by final order, removed from the United States."

In January, the Department of Homeland Security removed places of worship from its sensitive locations list, allowing ICE agents to carry out immigration enforcement procedures.

Following a lawsuit from a group of 27 religious organizations, ICE was temporarily blocked in March 2025 from carrying out deportations in places of worship. However, one month later, a federal judge found the organizations did not have legal standing, thereby allowing operations to continue.

Bishops in South Texas have reported increased anxiety among parishioners, with some opting to attend Mass virtually or requesting assistance with errands to avoid leaving their homes.

Bishops in other parts of the country have issued dispensations from Mass attendance for those who fear deportation.

San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller told EWTN News in January that instead of dispensing the Mass obligation, he wants to "reach out to those who are hidden."

"That's our work. We will go and find them in their homes, bring catechists and Communion to their homes," he said.

Reached for comment, ICE referred EWTN News to the Homeland Security department, which did not respond by the time of publication.

This story was updated at 3:13 p.m. ET on July 1, 2026, with the quotes from Rep. Cuellar.

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Pope Leo XIV is not even two years into his pontificate and he is already facing one of the most delicate episodes of his ministry: a new rupture within the Church.

In a defiant move and despite repeated warnings from Rome, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) went ahead Wednesday with the consecration of four new bishops without a pontifical mandate — an act of open disobedience to the authority of the pope that, under canon law, carries automatic excommunication for the six bishops involved.

The Vatican's official response is now awaited and could include a formal declaration of schism, as Rome had warned in the days leading up to the ceremony.

In 1988, after Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the founder of the SSPX, consecrated bishops without a papal mandate, Rome responded two days later. On July 2, St. John Paul II published the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei, in which he spoke openly of a "rupture" of ecclesial communion and created a commission to help reconcile faithful linked to the society.

A schism is a tragedy for any pope. In the case of Pope Leo XIV, it also carries a more personal resonance: The pope belongs to the Augustinian order, the same religious family to which Martin Luther belonged, whose break with Rome helped lead to the Protestant Reformation and the fracturing of Western Christianity.

A repeated act of defiance

The illicit ceremony took place in a meadow in Écône, Switzerland, home to the SSPX international seminary — the same place where Lefebvre caused a rupture with Rome exactly 38 years ago by consecrating four bishops without the required pontifical mandate.

That act of defiance was repeated Wednesday, July 1, apparently without regret, despite the paternal plea in which Pope Leo XIV warned Tuesday of the "sin of extreme gravity" they were about to commit.

The ceremony was carried out by the two surviving bishops from the illicit 1988 consecrations. Spanish Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta presided as principal consecrator, assisted by Swiss Bishop Bernard Fellay as co-consecrator.

The new bishops — Swiss Father Pascal Schreiber; American Father Michael Goldade; and French Fathers Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier — were designated as auxiliaries of the society with the stated aim of serving the Church, though in practice the act marks a decisive step toward rupture.

Provocative symbolism

The ceremony included several elements loaded with symbolism recalling — not without a certain provocation — the 1988 consecrations. The throne on which De Galarreta sat was the one once used by Lefebvre. The vestments worn by the bishops were those used by the four bishops ordained 38 years ago.

Thousands of faithful arrived hours early, many dressed in traditional attire and straw hats and carrying folding chairs, in an atmosphere that mixed celebration with solemnity. For the occasion, the SSPX even sold commemorative items, including an exclusive 75 Swiss franc box of wine — about $92.50 — called "Cuvée des Sacres," featuring pinot noir, syrah, petit arvine, and fendant, with each bottle decorated with the image of one of the consecrated bishops.

De Galarreta whispered the liturgical formulas into the microphone, strictly in Latin, with his back to the 17,000 faithful present, according to organizers. Those gathered came from nearly 70 countries.

Without the pope's mandate

Outwardly, the episcopal consecration followed a valid rite. But it lacked a key element to make it licit: the mandate of the pope.

The ceremony began with a solemn procession to an altar set up beneath a tent, with members of several religious orders linked to the SSPX taking part. Priests and religious sisters connected to the society sat in the front rows.

Many families were also present, following the rite on giant screens set up in the Swiss field.

In principle, those faithful did not automatically incur excommunication. Father Pierpaolo Dal Corso, an expert in penal and sacramental canon law, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that such a penalty would apply only if they rejected the authority of the pope or the legitimacy of the Catholic Church.

In 1996, the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts clarified that excommunication for schism does not automatically apply to those who attend SSPX celebrations. In the same line, canonist Monsignor William King told ACI Prensa that excommunication requires conscious adherence to the denial of the pope's authority.

Before the rite of consecration, Father Davide Pagliarani, the SSPX superior general, spoke and even defended the need to canonize Lefebvre. The movement's founder died in 1991 without public signs of repentance, a necessary condition for full reconciliation with Rome.

An invalid argument

Pagliarani read a text justifying the consecrations by appealing to an alleged "state of necessity," an argument also used in 1988, though the Holy See has repeatedly said it does not apply — especially after an explicit warning from the pope.

In his remarks, Pagliarani made clear his doctrinal break, saying that "from the Second Vatican Council to our own day, the authorities of the Church have been imbued with a spirit contrary to the faith and have acted against holy tradition."

"We consider it a sacred duty toward Holy Mother Church and souls to proceed with the consecration of bishops fully faithful to holy tradition and the constant magisterium of the Church," he added.

The four candidates pronounced their oath in Latin, even pledging to "fight against schismatic heretics," in a paradox that did not go unnoticed.

The SSPX superior general insisted on rejecting what he called a "false dilemma" between fidelity to the faith and ecclesial communion, attempting to argue that the society's decision does not constitute a break with the Catholic Church.

But the canonical situation of the SSPX remains complex. The society continues to reject key elements of the Second Vatican Council, especially Dignitatis Humanae, the council's declaration on religious freedom.

"We are accused of not respecting the pope, but it is precisely because we love him as the vicar of Christ that we do not want to see him humiliated alongside false shepherds, representatives of false religions," Pagliarani said, effectively closing the door to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

"We live these consecrations in joy and hope. We do not live them in polemics, tension, bitterness, or resentment," he said.

"Your worst enemies will not attack you head-on, but will try to make you slide gradually toward a more updated perception of the faith and of relations with the world. When you sense this danger, reflect, pray, seek counsel, evaluate, remain still before reacting like a serpent," he urged the newly consecrated bishops.

He added: "Never, ever retreat. That is what it means to be like a serpent: to perceive the duplicity, the ambiguity, the cunning that exists in the world."

"God now asks us to be treated as rebels," Pagliarani declared at another point.

The SSPX is already clearly outside the canonical jurisdiction of the Church. But with this new step, it has directly defied the pope. If the Vatican now formally declares a schism, its members will become even more isolated, without the possibility of receiving any ministry or mission in dioceses. That would leave its members — some 600,000 people — headed toward an increasingly sectarian circle.

Although SSPX priests are suspended, Pope Francis granted them faculties to hear confessions and witness marriages. If a schism is confirmed, those concessions could be reviewed.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article implied that the 1988 consecrations took place on July 1. The correct date is June 30.

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.

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The Vatican Museums has launched an ambitious restoration to the frescoes of the Hall of Raphael in the Apostolic Palace, expected to take five years and to cost 5.5 million euros (around $6.3 million).

The Renaissance frescoes — which date to the early 16th century and have been virtually untouched since their creation — are in dire need of cleaning and repairing, according to the Vatican Museums.

A team of over 20 conservators began the delicate work, utilizing laser technology, on April 15. The process is expected to conclude in 2031.

The corridor, which is 210 feet long and 13 feet wide, boasts nearly 14,000 square feet of frescoes and stucco work designed by Raphael and executed between 1517 and 1519 by Raphael's assistants, Giulio Romano, Giovanni da Udine, and Perin del Vaga. The designs include scenes from the Old Testament, botanical designs, and grotesques.

Raphael, a prominent artist and architect of the High Renaissance, had been commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the papal apartment of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Pope Leo X brought the artist back to decorate one of the loggias, a hall on the west wing of the second floor, overlooking the Courtyard of St. Damasus.

The decorated hall, also known as the Loggia of Raphael, was "immediately considered one of the highest expressions of Renaissance art applied to architecture," per a June 24 press release from the Vatican Museums. "It is still today one of the most refined testimonies of the figurative language of the early 16th century."

The hall is "a passageway long traversed by cardinals, high prelates, and ambassadors visiting the pope, admired and copied by the greatest Italian and foreign artists and an essential destination of the Grand Tour," said Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, quoted in the statement.

The conservation work "will mark a pivotal moment both in the history of restoration and in the history of Italian Renaissance art," she said.

The cost of the project, which is the first-ever major restoration of the frescoes, is sponsored by the World Monuments Fund and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation.

Delicate restoration process

Angela Cerreta, the director of the restoration, told the Spanish news outlet ABC in June that the paintings are not in a good condition: "It's a very delicate surface and has been exposed to the elements for centuries. For many years, it was copied for fear of its loss."

"We are meticulously analyzing the engravings to observe all the phases prior to the losses," he said, explaining that in the 1970s, the Vatican attempted to restore the hall using inorganic products, but the result did not turn out well.

"Since then, a kind of negative legend has arisen about this hall, suggesting it was best left untouched," Cerreta told the Spanish news outlet. But between 2019 and 2023, conservators carried out additional restoration tests to find the right technology.

The Vatican Museums' chief restorer of paintings and wood materials, Paolo Violini, said that "Examination of the surface revealed the need to adopt a 'dry' cleaning method in order to preserve the delicate original layers and their fragile surviving traces, which are highly sensitive to the action of chemical procedures. Laser technology proved exceptionally e?ective in meeting this requirement."

"Following a series of tests employing di?erent systems and operating modes, an 'active fiber' model was selected for its versatility in managing the degree of cleaning, allowing for highly accurate and detailed control," he said, per the statement.

Part of the restoration process will be the installation of a new lighting system and new filtered windows to protect the frescoes from ultraviolet radiation and to reduce solar heat. The cost of the lighting and windows is supported by the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.

After the restoration concludes, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation will cover the cost of digitizing the artwork, and the Vatican Museums is also weighing the possibility of opening the hallway to the public on specific dates.

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"Every holy Mass, when I look into the church from the altar, I see the whole world in front of me."

For Dom Alois Brodersen, an Augustinian canon regular and parish priest of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bergen, Norway, those words capture the reality of parish life.

Standing before a congregation representing more than 120 nationalities, he sees the fulfillment of a vision first imagined by the parish's founders nearly 150 years ago.

When St. Paul's was built in the 1870s, it seated more than 300 people despite serving a Catholic community of only a few dozen faithful. Its founders envisioned the church as a missionary bridgehead for Catholicism in Norway. Years later that vision has been realized.

Today, the parish is home to almost 20,000 Catholics from more than 120 nations.

"Experiencing all these people from all places in the world coming together and working for Christ, their piety and their faithfulness, that's the greatest gift," Brodersen told EWTN News.

That vision was given fresh significance on June 28, when Bishop Fredrik Hansen solemnly consecrated St. Paul's Church a century and a half after the building first opened for worship.

A church built on faith and foresight

The congregation dedicated to St. Paul was founded in 1858 with the blessing of Pope Pius IX. As the Catholic community steadily grew, parish leaders acquired land on what was then the outskirts of Bergen and began constructing a permanent church in 1864.

Designed by Italian architect Edoardo A. Mella, the church took 12 years to complete. Its construction was financed through an international fundraising effort led by parish priest Father Daniel Stub, who secured support from Pope Pius IX, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, Queen Josephine of Norway and Sweden, and Catholics across Europe.

When the first Mass was celebrated on June 30, 1876, the newspaper Bergens Tidende described the new church as "one of the most beautiful houses of worship in the whole country."

Yet one important ceremony never took place.

According to Brodersen, the church was not solemnly dedicated when it opened because the ceremony required a bishop assisted by 14 priests — more clergy than Bergen's fledgling Catholic community could provide. Although the altar was consecrated during renovations in 1972, the church itself remained undedicated for nearly a century and a half.

Completing a 150-year mission

That changed on June 28, when Hansen formally consecrated St. Paul's Church, entering the historic building accompanied by a traditional "buekorps," one of Bergen's distinctive boys' marching corps whose drums have long been part of the city's cultural heritage.

For Hansen, the consecration represented far more than correcting a historical oversight.

"It is about bringing to completion the work of so many, undertaken over so many years," he told EWTN News. Quoting Christ's words that "one sows and another reaps," he said today's Catholics continue building upon the work begun by earlier generations who planted the seeds of the Church in western Norway.

Looking ahead, Hansen expressed hope that the anniversary would inspire renewed evangelization. Describing St. Paul's as a parish of nearly 20,000 faithful served by 10 priests, seven religious sisters, two schools, numerous national communities, and a growing catechetical program, he said he hopes the celebration will strengthen its mission of "teaching the faith, celebrating the sacraments, and building the parochial community."

For Catholics living in increasingly secular societies, he added, "our common and enthusiastic witness of Catholic faith is crucial. By this we fortify our own community and preach to society at large."

The universal Church in 1 parish

By the church's centenary in 1976, membership had reached around 1,100. Today it numbers nearly 20,000, with much of the growth driven by successive waves of immigration from Vietnam, India, Chile, the Philippines, Poland, Lithuania, and dozens of other countries.

"We have more than 120 different nations in the parish," Brodersen said. "They all bring their piety, their traditions with them, and they are very active in the parish."

Rather than dividing the parish, he explained that diversity has strengthened it. During Bergen's annual Corpus Christi procession, the parish's major national communities each prepare one of the outdoor altars.

"Everybody is working together on this great project," he said.

The universal character of St. Paul's becomes tangible as the church celebrates Masses in Norwegian, Vietnamese, Spanish, French, Polish, Lithuanian, Tamil, and Tagalog, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its parishioners.

Yet many parishioners regularly attend liturgies outside their own linguistic communities, including the Saturday evening Latin Mass. "Holy Mass is there for everybody," Brodersen noted. "It's not all about understanding the words spoken, because you know the Mass and you take part in it by heart."

For him, St. Paul's demonstrates that cultural diversity need not weaken the Church but can deepen its witness.

"It is possible, by all differences in language, culture, and whatever, to work together," he said. "It is possible to be one in Christ."

"When people see this church so full that sometimes people have to stand outside because there is no room inside anymore," Brodersen reflected, they encounter something increasingly uncommon across much of Western Europe.

And each time he stands at the altar and looks across a congregation drawn from every continent, he sees the vision the founders of St. Paul's Church had.

"I see the whole world united in adoration."

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At the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage, the Archdiocese of Mexico reminded fans that prayer is "the path to unite the world."

In an editorial from the June 28 edition of its weekly publication, Desde la Fe (From a Faith Perspective), the Archdiocese of Mexico stated that seeing "rival players praying together at the end of matches" during the World Cup, the most-watched sports event in the world, has provided "the most moving and hopeful scenes of the tournament."

The Mexican capital's archdiocese emphasized that "strengthening unity is one of the greatest gifts of prayer," which "allows us to discover that beyond our differences, we share the same fragility, the same hopes, and the same need for God."

"Furthermore, it creates a communion that does not depend on physical proximity or a coincidence of circumstances," the editorial noted.

In this regard, the Archdiocese of Mexico recalled the suffering of the Venezuelan people, shaken last week by powerful earthquakes that have left at least 1,450 dead and thousands injured.

"When tragedy strikes a community, prayer takes on a special meaning," the archdiocese emphasized, noting that while it "does not replace material aid or the work of those risking their lives in rescue efforts," it brings solace and reminds those suffering the tragedy "that you're not alone."

"Prayer does not always immediately change circumstances, but it transforms the heart of the person who places himself in God's hands, causing hope to flourish, even in places where many might think God is absent," the archdiocese stated.

The Archdiocese of Mexico emphasized that "when millions of people see rival players praying together at the end of a match, they are witnessing a reminder that prayer has the power to unite those whom the world insists on keeping apart."

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.

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New discoveries in quantum science raise profound questions, but how does this emerging branch of research relate to the Catholic faith? That question is at the heart of a new international gathering of physicists, philosophers, and theologians taking place July 12–15 at Chapman University in Orange, California.

The university will host the inaugural meeting of the "Interface Between Quantum Science and Technology, Philosophy, and Catholic Theology" where topics will include quantum entanglement, quantum indeterminacy, hylomorphism, and electromagnetic radiation — with Catholic theology integrated into most lectures. Daily Mass will also be celebrated. All talks will be recorded and made available afterward.

Organizers include Professor Vincenzo Tamma, founding director of the Quantum Science and Technology Hub at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K., and Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer, director of the Magis Center, host of EWTN's "Father Spitzer's Universe," and a prolific writer on faith and science. Local organizers include Chapman professors Andrew Jordan and Daniele Struppa, both from Chapman's Institute for Quantum Studies.

A 'call' to bring people across disciplines together

The idea for the gathering was conceived when Tamma first visited Chapman.

"I was in contact with Father Spitzer when Dr. Jordan invited me to visit the Institute of Quantum Studies at Chapman, and then I realized Father Spitzer was based very close," Tamma told EWTN News. "So we met in person for the first time, and I shared with him my desire — what felt more like a call — to bring together people across disciplines and to build a community … to take away the false understanding that science and faith are in opposition."

Faith, science, and technology collaborations are hardly new. Besides the work of many Catholic scientists throughout history, thousands of scientists belong today to the Society of Catholic Scientists, which recently held its annual convention at Mundelein Seminary outside of Chicago. The event at Chapman, however, is the first to focus specifically on quantum science and technology, a field only about a century old — and which some scientists say rips shreds in a purely materialistic worldview.

"At the very beginning of this field, physicists — the fathers of quantum mechanics — like Einstein were very, very interested in philosophy and what we can call 'the ultimate questions,'" Tamma said in an interview with EWTN News. "We've lost, a little bit, that sense of interdisciplinary collaboration. I share in the same desire — and sense of wonder — of many other physicists, to open deeper questions."

Tamma pointed to St. Augustine's image of "the book of nature" and "the book of revelation," two different ways of knowing truth that are fundamentally complementary.

"Together, they can help us understand the truth of reality and why we are here and the purpose of creation," he said.

The gathering's 3 goals

Organizers said the conference's purpose is threefold: informing the public, initiating fellowship, and advancing knowledge.

"We want to inform the public that there exists an excellent intersection between faith and science," Spitzer told EWTN News. "We want to use this conference as a starting point to form an international organization dedicated to having Ph.D. scientists, philosophers, and theologians interacting with each other in a fellowship of both faith and their academic disciplines."

To that end, a public keynote titled "Is the Notion of God Meaningful to Scientific Culture? The Openness of Science to the Quest for Truth and Meaning" will be delivered by Father Giuseppe Tanzella-Nitti of Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross who is also an adjunct scholar at the Vatican Observatory. The lecture is free but registration is required.

Beyond that public lecture, the conference itself is invitation-only, gathering some of the world's leading scientists, philosophers, and theologians. "This is not a lightweight group," Jordan said.

Physics is an area of science remarkably appealing to Catholics, revealing as it does the created world's order and intelligibility. A number of famous physicists have been deeply religious Catholics, including Georges Lemaître, a Belgian priest and astrophysicist who first proposed the big bang theory; Victor Hess, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering cosmic rays; and modern scientists like Cornell's Jonathan Lunine, Vanderbilt's Robert Scherrer, and the University of Delaware's Stephen Barr, who will deliver a keynote at Chapman.

"By bringing together various research organizations, without losing their identity, they can contribute to the common knowledge," Tamma said. "They can come in dialogue to really work together and the results can be a gift to society and to the Church."

Advancing the existing body of knowledge across various disciplines through this focused collaboration is the third major goal of the event.

"Can we make further progress? Can we advance our knowledge, both about our work and our faith?" Jordan said. "I would love to see new insights come out of this meeting, such as new scientific, philosophical, and theological articles and books published. We hope to deepen our knowledge about faith and science together."

Spitzer highlighted that many scientific fields point toward Catholic beliefs, citing the argument for "fine tuning" in the field of cosmology, the theories of emergence and convergence in biology, and the argument for a "mind-like universe" proposed in philosopher Thomas Nagel's book "Mind and Cosmos."

His examples reveal how many disparate scientific fields offer their own support of St. Augustine's words: "If any man could hear [the earth and sea and air and heavens], he should hear them saying with one voice, 'We did not make ourselves, but he made us who abides forever.'"

Quantum physics — which is foundational to scientific understanding and widely known in popular culture — lends itself particularly well to the growing faith-science dialogue. "Quantum science is foundational for the whole of physics and therefore for the rest of science," Spitzer said, "so it's a good place to start."

Three decades of rapid progress in quantum physics have filtered into pop culture through science fiction, but beneath the hype, scientists say the field definitively opens the door to something greater than what science can know.

"A lot of people know about quantum mechanics, but they have a flawed understanding of what it is," Tamma said. "There are laws of quantum mechanics that are well defined — and these laws point to questions that cannot be answered by physics alone."

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The dream of unity has long inspired the churches that trace their roots to the ancient Church of the East. Efforts to reach that goal continue, while Christians pray that, in God's time, full unity will one day be realized.

Until then, these sister churches continue to work together in serving the Gospel and caring for their faithful, despite the growing challenges facing Christians in the Middle East, where their shared history began.

As the region goes through another difficult moment, and following the election and installation of a new Chaldean patriarch, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, spoke with Mar Awa III, catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, about the historic relationship between the Assyrian and Chaldean churches and the future of Christians in Iraq and across the Middle East.

A new beginning

Mar Awa III described the election of Mar Paul III Nona in Baghdad in late May as the beginning of a new chapter in the modern history of the Chaldean Church after years marked by internal challenges, especially those connected to political issues.

He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two sister churches.

"Our churches share the same history, traditions, liturgy, and spiritual heritage," he said. "We are committed to working closely together for the good of our Assyrian and Chaldean faithful, both in our homelands and throughout the global communities."

Guided by divine providence

The Assyrian patriarch reflected on what he sees as a meaningful sign of divine providence. The heads of the three churches that descend from the historic Church of the East all bear the title "III" in their patriarchal names.

He said this gives them a special opportunity to deepen cooperation and strengthen coordination among their churches in practical and effective ways.

"In addition to this shared connection that brings us together as brothers in faith and ministry, all three of us have served our churches in the abroad," he said. "That experience has helped us understand both the needs and the challenges facing our faithful around the world."

The gift of the Holy Spirit

Asked about practical steps toward the long-desired unity of the Church of the East, Mar Awa III said Christian unity is, above all, a gift from God.

"The unity of the sister churches is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit," he said. "It is also a living spiritual experience that requires constant prayer, deep reflection, and sincere fraternal cooperation."

He expressed hope that the three patriarchs would meet soon to discuss pastoral and community cooperation and to develop a roadmap for closer collaboration on shared concerns, both in their homelands and in communities abroad.

"I am confident that our cooperation on the social and political challenges facing our people will help strengthen them in the land of their fathers and preserve our presence and identity," he said.

Responsible media

Mar Awa III also reflected on the growing power of media and social media in today's world and their influence on society and the life of the church.

"Freedom of expression is important," he said, "but it does not mean using that freedom without respect for ethical and human values, whether in religious or secular media."

He urged media organizations to adopt respectful language that pursues truth and benefits society instead of stirring up pointless disputes or harmful criticism.

He also warned against social media campaigns that target church leaders and clergy with insults, personal attacks, and language that can slide into hatred and defamation.

"Such behavior is not only lacking in accuracy and objectivity," he said. "It is also far from Christian virtues and moral values."

Returning to the roots

The patriarch said a new chapter began in the history of the Assyrian Church of the East when its patriarchal see returned to Iraq in 2015 after more than 80 years abroad.

"The return to Erbil brought our Church closer to its deep Eastern roots in Mesopotamia, as one of the oldest apostolic churches in the world," he said.

Although this has created difficulties in managing communities abroad — where most of the church's faithful now live — he said the return strengthened their sense of belonging to the church's traditions and spiritual heritage. It also deepened their connection to their land and historical roots.

Strengthening cooperation

Mar Awa III said the reality facing churches in Iraq and the wider Middle East requires closer cooperation among them, regardless of church affiliation, for the good and future of their faithful.

He stressed that today's challenges, especially migration, preserving the deposit of faith, and protecting Christian and community identity, require shared attention and cooperation.

He said churches must coordinate more closely to find effective solutions that help preserve the Christian presence in the East and protect its spiritual and historical heritage.

Deep concern over events in Iran

Mar Awa III expressed deep concern over the current war in the region, especially the fate of the church's faithful in Iran, who are directly affected by it.

He said the outcome remains unclear at this stage.

All churches in the region, he added, are following the consequences of the war with great concern.

"Military conflicts always have serious consequences for small communities, including Middle Eastern Christians," he said. "Our prayers continue without ceasing that the war end as soon as possible and that dialogue and understanding may silence the sound of weapons."

Called to support one another

Alongside repeated wars, worsening economic hardships, social instability, and ongoing security challenges have caused painful waves of migration from all churches in the East, especially among young people.

With the renewal of war, Mar Awa III expressed hope that Christians around the world would recognize the suffering of their brothers and sisters in the East and understand the size of the challenges they face.

He encouraged them to support Christians in the region in ways that can help reduce continued migration, especially from Iraq.

He also called on the international community to play its part in addressing the economic and security causes of migration by supporting practical initiatives that help provide the conditions for a dignified life in a safe homeland.

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

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Deacon Jim Winder, the chancellor of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico, says the diocese, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border, is "not against border security."

"We've been accused of that, and it's not correct," he told EWTN News. In 2021 the diocese allowed federal immigration officials to build an access road and place motion sensors on diocesan-owned land that runs alongside Mexico, an arrangement the diocese renewed in 2023.

"They've had that ever since," Winder said. "We think that's adequate. I don't think any people can get through there with that system."

The U.S. federal government, however, is attempting to seize that land outright from the diocese and build a much more substantial border wall there. It is so determined to do so that it seeks to seize the land through eminent domain.

Las Cruces is fighting the government's attempt in court, putting the diocese at the forefront of the current U.S. immigration debate.

Quite literally at the apex of the dispute is Mount Cristo Rey, a small mountain with a nearly-century-old statue of Jesus Christ atop it that has been a pilgrimage site for decades. The diocese says the government's proposed border security at the base of the mountain would negatively affect pilgrims coming to the site.

The Trump administration's immigration policy has come under fire from numerous elements of the U.S. Catholic Church over the past 18 months, including the U.S. bishops and multiple dioceses that have witnessed enhanced immigration enforcement. Various Church leaders have urged the administration to balance its border security efforts with more mercy and discretion.

Winder stressed that the diocese is supportive of immigration security. But, he said, "we see the border wall as more of a political tool — something that the administration wants to do to show that they're tough on immigration."

Winder said the disputed stretch of land near El Paso, Texas, is not ideal for illegal immigration. Mount Cristo Rey, he said, is "really rough. It's not super tall but it's rough. To try to go over the mountain to get in the United States — it's a pretty effective barrier in and of itself."

"It's nice flat ground on either side of it, for hundreds of miles," he said. "[The government] patrols it. They've got vehicles parked there. I don't think it's a real high-volume place," he observed, for illegal immigration crossings.

Statue of Christ arose from priest's vision

Amid the ongoing court battle, Las Cruces Bishop Peter Baldacchino held a Mass atop Mount Cristo Rey on June 28, drawing hundreds of faithful to the sun-baked top of the mountain with Christ towering over them.

Mount Cristo Rey sits near the now-vanished town of Smeltertown within what Winder called a "unique" tip of land in New Mexico, one that is surrounded both by the state of Texas and the nation of Mexico. Both El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, are roughly southeast of the mountain.

An informational website says the towering statue of Christ took shape from 1933, when local priest Father Lourdes Costa "[looked] out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown [and] envisioned erecting a monument at the summit of this glorious mountain."

The 29-foot-tall limestone statue was dedicated in 1940. It has since become a regular pilgrimage site, with the faithful hiking up the short summit to the base of the monument.

Winder said the decision to hold the Mass on June 28 was "completely apolitical."

"It wasn't meant as a protest," he said. "It was a Mass. It was meant for prayer, to bring people together, to practice unity, to pray for the Church, and to pray for government leaders."

The response to the Mass was "very good," the deacon said.

"It was very hot. It's not a great time to climb mountains in southern New Mexico. But about 400 people showed up and made the climb. They came from all over. Some from El Paso, some from our diocese, some from Albuquerque and beyond."

The mountain has served as a significant site for local Catholic worship for nearly a century, Winder said. He compared the geography of the area to the "Four Corners" monument where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet.

"This is a place where there's this unity of two nations and two states," he said. "There's a symbolism of that unity in Christ the King standing above it. But it's also a pilgrimage site."

"It's just a special place," he said. "It's very powerful. It's a magnificent place to have Mass."

The diocese was dealt a blow in June when a federal district court said the government could put down a six-figure deposit on the land as a pretext to obtaining it. The dispute is still ongoing, Winder said, with another hearing anticipated in late July.

The diocese has filed numerous motions against the government's effort, he said. He described the proposed border wall as more of a political symbol than a really practical measure, one that would mar the sacredness of the site.

"If you go to the mountain and hike to the top, you'll see a 30-foot-tall image of Christ the King," he said. "And if the government builds this wall, and you turn your head slightly [from Christ], you'll see a 30-foot 'Keep Out' sign below."

"It's an affront," he said.

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