Catholic News

The Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada, considered the most widely read newspaper in the country, has admitted to a "failure of journalism" in 2021 with its reporting of "mass graves" at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

In a May 30 editorial, the newspaper's editorial board wrote that the claim that 215 children's remains had been found was "an extraordinary assertion" that "requires proof."

The editorial said the "starting point for the media" in 2021 should have been searching for evidence when the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation issued a press release announcing "confirmation of the remains of 215 children of the Kamloops Indian Residential School" through the use of ground-penetrating radar that identified subterranean anomalies."

"The media, including The Globe and Mail, did not initially scrutinize, much less challenge, that assertion," the editorial said.

The newspaper said the fact of historical crimes committed against Indigenous children at residential schools "does not automatically validate the claims of missing remains being found" or the reference to "mass graves."

The editorial noted that media changed their wording gradually to refer to "possible or probable graves," but said the lesson learned was that "assertions about residential schools should be listened to carefully, and then, just as carefully, held up to scrutiny."

The Globe and Mail also pointed at politicians who made unverified comments, saying then-British Columbia Premier John Horgan called Kamloops "a tragedy of unimaginable proportions," something he "had no way of knowing whether that was true."

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "made much more dramatic pronouncements that were also not founded in fact" and ordered the Canadian flag to be flown at half staff at all federal buildings. The flag remained lowered for more than five months.

Although Horgan died in 2024, Trudeau "still has the opportunity to set the record straight," the editorial said. "He has not; neither has the current Liberal [Party] government."

The editorial also said Ottawa has yet to account for hundreds of millions of dollars sent to First Nations to establish whether the soil anomalies are human remains.

In the days leading up to the editorial, The Globe and Mail and the National Post both carried reports about the five-year anniversary of the Kamloops press release. "Since the announcement in 2021, the story of the Tk'emlúps 215 has moved from certainty to ambiguity," one Globe story said.

The National Post's Terry Glavin, who came under fire for his first-anniversary investigative feature "The Year of the Graves: How the World's Media Got It Wrong on Mass Graves," wrote last week that the reconciliation process has been tainted and genuine residential school survivors have suffered most.

Glavin noted that the flawed coverage gave rise to an expanding definition of "residential schools denialism," which he described as a "wholly unique construct" that compares skepticism of residential stories to Holocaust denial.

The Globe's admission was reported by other media — not all of which were supportive of the Globe's editorial. While The New York Post said the "mass-graves scam reveals the cost of media bias," journalist Rachel Gilmore wrote in her Substack column that the editorial had "just fueled residential school denialism."

In 2022, the federal government appointed Kimberly Murray as special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves. In an interim report in June 2023, Murray called on lawmakers to consider criminalizing the denial or minimization of the abuses Indigenous children suffered at residential schools.

On June 1, the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights reviewing Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, voted to amend the bill by adding criminalization of residential school denialism. However, on June 3, the Senate voted down the amendment, according to Juno News.

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Pope Leo XIV received members of German Catholic student associations at the Vatican on June 5, reminding them that they "represent Catholic values in society not as those who carry partisan flags but as representatives of the common good of humanity."

In his address in the Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father also highlighted the principles guiding the associations — of which Pope Benedict XVI was also a member — religion, scholarship, friendship, and homeland.

The Catholic faith has never been a label

In his speech, the pope stressed that "in the face of the despotism and ideologies of the past, the Catholic faith has never been merely a veneer or a label but rather a way of life to be shared in university and in work settings."

He added that the association's communal dimension benefits not only Germany but also all of Europe. For this reason, Leo XIV encouraged students to devote particular attention to study and to promote "our common humanity," especially in light of the challenges posed by the technological revolution.

He underscored that the human person is "always relational and limited, and therefore called to become a task for oneself and a gift to the other."

"Just like the exercise of reason, so too does the light of faith illumine the promises and deceptions of the present time, calling on each person to do their best to help build a just and peaceful society," he continued.

Addressing the associations' members, he reminded them that by following Christ they represent "Catholic values in society not as those who carry partisan flags but as representatives of the common good of humanity."

In this way, he reiterated that "the same Catholic faith strengthens our cooperation, without compromising with the trends of the moment, without placing individualistic preferences ahead of the common tradition of the Church."

He also encouraged them to promote the evangelization of culture, recalling that "the search for truth is a good worth desiring and passing on."

'Truth sets us free'

The pope also praised self-discipline and conversion, noting that "by doing our very best, we become responsible stewards in society without being seduced by careers focused on money."

"Let us rather recognize that culture is the good of humanity: truth sets us free, while falsehood distorts names and things," he warned.

The Holy Father urged the German students to be "witnesses to Christian humanism" and reiterated that "the world is full of meaning and not an inert entity to be shaped arbitrarily or by the thirst for power."

"We, in fact, are not random aggregates of particles but bodies open to transcendence: by directing our thirst for life and justice, for wisdom and love, we discover together the truth in knowing, doing, and believing," he explained.

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV recalled that the cultural mission of Christians "is to direct society and history toward this pinnacle of a God-centered life."

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 U.S. bishops are preparing to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and are calling on the faithful to reflect on Christ's love.

Ahead of the anticipated event, Catholics should "take a moment to reflect on the title 'Sacred Heart of Jesus'" and what it "truly mean[s]," Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville said in a video message.

"Love and forgiveness are freely given from Jesus' Sacred Heart, encouraging us all to grow into the best disciples we can be across our country," Fabre said.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a link for the faithful to watch the consecration Mass online, which will take place June 11 in Orlando, Florida, during the bishops' spring meeting.

The consecration coincides with America's 250th anniversary following the bishops' decision at their fall meeting to consecrate the U.S.

Prior to the consecration Mass and the act of consecration, the bishops will hear numerous reflections on the Sacred Heart from brother bishops.

The relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French sister who experienced visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart, will also be present at the Mass.

As the bishops prepare for the event, Fabre prayed that "Jesus' heart will continue to become the gentle and peaceful center of our lives, embracing our homes, parishes, neighborhoods, and nation, drawing each person into his comforting warmth — especially now when many of us are feeling tired, divided, or lonely."

The "cherished image" of the Sacred Heart of Jesus "reflects Jesus' humanity, love, and devotion to the Father," he said.

"Even more importantly, it reminds us that when we pray, we're not just speaking into the air. We're talking to someone whose heart burns with love for us," he said.

"Every person, including Jesus, has a heart," Fabre said. "Jesus' heart shows us love most tenderly, warmly inviting us to experience it."

"As our country is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are all entrusted to his grace. We are also reminded that Jesus is one of us. He has won the victory over sin and death, and he longs for us to come to him," he said.

"Jesus Christ patiently offers us his Sacred Heart in the wounds and challenges of our marriages, families, and friendships amid financial worries or illness, and in our battles with addiction or loneliness," he said.

"Jesus longs for the heartbeat of his love to resound in our world, in our country, and in our lives. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in thee," he said.

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Hundreds of Catholics processed through Williamsburg, Virginia, on the morning of June 5 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage made its way through the colonial-era capital city in the eastern part of the state.

A team of priests carried the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance through the campus of the College of William & Mary, the nation's second oldest university, before finishing in front of the 17th-century Wren Building, the oldest academic building in continuous use in the United States.

Young Catholics carried amplifiers on their backs through which hymns were projected as the procession made its way through the historic area. The faithful sang along with the hymns as they walked.

The Williamsburg event was the latest public display of faith in the national procession, which launched on Pentecost in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, before making its way through Georgia and the Carolinas.

After its route through Virginia — which included stops in Roanoke and Richmond and which will also include a stop in the Diocese of Arlington — the pilgrimage will travel to the Archdiocese of Washington and then further north, stopping in Baltimore; Camden, New Jersey; Portland, Maine; and numerous other dioceses and archdioceses.

'Something that's been going on for centuries'

The procession featured a broad mix of the faithful, including young adults, elderly Catholics, religious sisters, and families large and small.

Tony and Crystal Rivera-Silva came up with five of their children from nearby Newport News. Tony told EWTN News that the family joined their home-schooling group to be a part of the procession.

"I just love it for our children, in particular for them to have this experience that will hopefully draw them to stay in the faith and draw them to love the Lord," Crystal said.

The family has participated in smaller processions in the past, they said, but this was the largest one in which they've ever taken part.

"I was telling the kids as we were processing, 'People have been doing this since the Middle Ages'," Crystal said. "It's just so cool to be a part of something that's been going on for centuries."

Among the clergy present in Williamsburg was Father Michael Herlihey, OFM Cap, who announced as the procession began that he would be hearing confessions at the back of the crowd as it wound its way through the campus.

"I was a chaplain last year on the pilgrimage, and it occurred to me, we're not just bringing one sacrament, we're bringing two," he told EWTN News.

Searching for "creative ways" to bring confession to the faithful, he said he decided to simply begin hearing them during the processions themselves.

"Every procession, I just go to the back of the line and hear confessions," he said.

"I was in Illinois and heard them for three hours, in the middle of a cornfield, in front of a tractor," he said with a laugh.

Andrew Waring, director of the Diocese of Richmond's evangelization office, told EWTN News that the response to the pilgrimage has been "fantastic."

The evangelization office and multiple other diocesan departments have been planning for the event since October 2025, he said.

"They told us in the beginning that the number of registrants would not accurately reflect the number of people that would show up," Waring said. "We're routinely seeing two to three times as many people show up for the events as registered. We filled the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart [in Richmond] yesterday with nearly 600 people. We had 400 people in the procession in downtown Richmond."

Both of the processions in Roanoke and Newport News saw around 500 Catholics turn out, he added.

At a Mass at nearby St. Bede Catholic Church after the procession at which Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout was the principal celebrant, Father Eric Ayers, noted the rich historic significance of the region, which includes not just Williamsburg but Jamestown and Yorktown, all three of which have been pivotal locations in American history.

Ayers, a former Baptist, also recounted the arrival of a Spanish Jesuit missionary group to the area in the late 16th century. "They must have felt great anxiety and vulnerability being far from home, in a new land and culture, so different from their own, isolated, with no one to protect them," the priest said.

"All they had was their faith — and I am sure the tangibility of Christ with them in the Eucharist must have been a great comfort."

"The Eucharist has always been a source of strength and unity in times of challenge and transition," he said.

A Eucharist pilgrimage, meanwhile, "reminds that God is first in our life and in our nation and must be the lens through which we see everything else," he said.

The procession has been greeted by thousands of Catholics along the route, while a group of young adult perpetual pilgrims has accompanied the Blessed Sacrament throughout its entire journey up the coast.

Spearheaded by the National Eucharistic Congress, the excursion is the third major Eucharistic procession to take place in the U.S. in recent years after multiple pilgrimage routes in 2024 ahead of that year's National Eucharistic Congress and an additional procession in 2025 from Indianapolis to Los Angeles.

This year's route coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States; the 2026 procession has taken the theme "One Nation Under God," a nod to the 75th anniversary of that having been officially added to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

The pilgrimage will finish in Philadelphia during the Fourth of July weekend. A few weeks prior, at their spring plenary meeting, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11.

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In Glasgow, Kentucky, this year a man allegedly replaced his girlfriend's medication with abortion drugs. Her baby survived — but in many other cases, women have lost their babies due to the rising crime of forced abortions, documented in a recent tracker by Heartbeat International, a worldwide pregnancy help center group.

The abortion pill can be shipped across state lines via telehealth medicine; in some cases, the abortionist doesn't even have a video call with the person ordering the abortion drug, making it easy to impersonate a pregnant woman.

The abortion pill has been left largely unregulated by Trump's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in spite of documented danger to women as well as unborn babies.

Heartbeat International has documented 17 reported incidents going back to 2007. Two abortion pill poisonings have already been documented this year — and these are just the incidents that are reported.

Andrea Trudden, spokesperson for Heartbeat International, said the actual number is probably much higher.

"Publicly reported cases likely represent only a fraction of what is actually occurring," Trudden said in a statement shared with EWTN News.

"Many women never report what happened to them, particularly when the person responsible is someone they know and trust," Trudden continued. "By creating this tracker, we hope to provide a factual resource that helps illuminate patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed."

The tracker includes a case in Texas where a pregnant woman lost her child in the fourth month of pregnancy after a man allegedly secretly drugged her with abortion pills.

"We are hearing from more women who feel pressured into abortions they do not want, many coerced or forced abortions, and we are increasingly hearing from women who believe they are being poisoned with abortion drugs," Christa Brown, senior director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International who oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, said in a statement. "Many of these women are frightened, confused, and unsure where to turn. They often are afraid that no one will believe them."

In another case in Texas in 2025, Justin Anthony Banta was charged with capital murder after he spiked his girlfriend's drink with crushed abortion pills, killing her unborn child.

"Every woman deserves to make decisions about her pregnancy free from coercion, threats, manipulation, violence, or deception," Brown said. "When abortion drugs become increasingly accessible outside traditional medical settings, opportunities for misuse also increase."

In another case in Ohio in 2024, Ohio physician Hassan Abbas allegedly forced crushed abortion drugs into his pregnant girlfriend's mouth, leading to the death of her unborn child.

Rosalie Markezich's boyfriend allegedly pressured her into taking abortion drugs. Fearing for her safety, she took the pills and lost her unborn baby. Later, she took legal action, becoming involved in an abortion pill lawsuit against the FDA.

"The stories we hear every week remind us that these drugs can be used not only for abortion but, in some cases, as tools of control and abuse," Brown said.

What is being done about forced abortions?

Advocates for women and children pointed to concrete political action as well as the accessibility of pregnancy centers for women in need.

Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for Students for Life Action, called on the Trump administration to take action.

"The chemical abortion pill policies left in place by the Trump administration empower abusers and pill pushers and abandon women and children," Hamrick told EWTN News. "That must change."

"There is so much that must be done, as chemical abortion pills are the abuser's dream drug, and the way that the Biden administration set things up, they can still get their hands on the deadly drugs," Hamrick said.

She called on the administration to "to enforce the Comstock Act," which prevents the shipping of any materials used for abortive purposes and to stop shield laws that "shield criminals" who ship abortion pills into states where they are illegal.

Hamrick urged local leaders to "let women know that coercion is a crime and to encourage them to seek help if they feel unsafe."

Live Action Spokesman Noah Brandt said that these cases of coercion show "the brutal reality of the abortion pill."

"These tragedies are the predictable result of turning abortion into a no-oversight, mail-order business," he told EWTN News.

Brandt drew attention to the loss of life from chemical abortion.

"Sixty-five percent of abortions in America are chemical abortions, which have already ended the lives of an estimated 7.5 million preborn children," Brandt said.

He urged the administration to "act with urgency and pull the abortion pill from the market completely."

"Mifepristone should not be safeguarded or repackaged," he said. "A civilized society does not mail poison to mothers or their abusers so their children can die alone at home."

But aside from political action, the 3,000 pregnancy centers across the United States support women in crisis situations.

Trudden said that "pregnancy help organizations are uniquely equipped to support women who are facing pressure to have an abortion or who fear they may have been given abortion drugs without their consent."

"Trained staff can help assess whether a woman feels safe in her home or relationship and connect her with resources if she is experiencing coercion, abuse, or threats to her safety," Trudden said.

Pregnancy centers can even help women, in some cases, to reverse the effects of the first abortion pill, mifepristone, with the hormone progesterone, which supports pregnancy.

"If a woman believes she has taken abortion drugs and wishes to continue her pregnancy, pregnancy help organizations can connect her with the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which will connect her with a healthcare provider experienced in abortion pill reversal protocols to try and save the pregnancy," Trudden continued.

"The abortion pill regime does not empower women. It endangers them and equips predators," Brandt said.

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Four Nigerian men have been sentenced to death by a court after being found guilty of carrying out the Pentecost massacre, an attack on St. Francis Xavier Parish in the city of Owo, Nigeria, on June 5, 2022, that left at least 40 people dead.

On that day, the men entered the church during Pentecost Sunday Mass, opening fire on Catholic worshippers and detonating explosive devices. Several children were among the fatalities, and another 100 people were injured.

The parish remained closed for months for repairs and for survivors to receive treatment. It reopened its doors in April 2023.

Church reaction to the verdict

As the fifth anniversary of the tragedy was observed on Friday, the local bishop, Jude Arogundade, expressed his sorrow over the pain left in the wake of the massacre and reacted to the court ruling, stating that "people will say at least justice was done, some level of justice was done."

"But at the same time, it doesn't bring back the lives of 41 people that were brutally murdered on that day. So my reaction is, well, we have a law in this country. The law may have taken its course, but we are left to continue to nurse the wounds of those who are scarred by that attack," he told the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian.

"But after that, the law of the land still take its course. And that, we don't have anything to say apart from we are a country, and the country is guided by its constitutions and laws, and it has to be upheld," the bishop noted.

In 2018, Pope Francis authorized a modification to No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the death penalty, declaring the application of this punishment to be "inadmissible" in any case and calling for its abolition worldwide.

Furthermore, Pope Leo reaffirmed this teaching in April, noting that "only when a society safeguards the sanctity of human life can it flourish and prosper."

Further details on the verdict

Those convicted are Idris Abdul Malik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdul Malik, 26; and Abdul Haleem Idris, 25. Additionally, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, the fifth defendant, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence against him.

According to the Spanish news agency EFE, these individuals were also sentenced to death for their membership in the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and on charges including conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and homicide.

Judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the country's capital, stated that "the prosecution has successfully proven, beyond reasonable doubt, the nine charges against the first, second, third, and fourth defendants."

In practice, executions are rare in Nigeria because they require the approval of state governors, many of whom prefer to withhold it. The last execution took place in 2016. By 2023, the number of prisoners on death row in the country exceeded 3,000.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor of Ondo state where the town of Owo is located, stated that "the court has done the right thing" and described the ruling as "a victory for our state and justice for the victims and their families."

The defense lawyer for the convicted men stated that they would appeal the court's verdict. Throughout the trial as reported by the BBC, the men claimed to have been subjected to mistreatment by the authorities.

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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A French-American priest is being hailed as a hero after springing into action just outside St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit this week.

Rev. Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins was in the shrine parking lot Monday night when he heard a loud crash and the squealing of tires just down the road. He ran to the street just in time to see a man running away from the scene toward him, wearing only one shoe. Then he heard a voice cry out, "Stop him!" And that's when Commins followed his first impulse — flying into action — in full cassock.

Speaking with Detroit's local Fox affiliate, Commins said he grabbed the suspect and "put him down." The young man was resisting quite a bit, so the French priest said he had to "unfortunately give him a couple punches and hurt my hand a little bit," leaving the priest with some cuts and a possible fracture.

The priest said he was uncertain if the suspect had a weapon, so he wanted to make sure "there was no threat." Another parishioner helped the priest hold the man down until officers were on the scene.

"As soon as I had the police officers take care of this gentleman, I rushed back to the lady [in the struck vehicle] and made sure she just didn't need the anointing of the sick or blessing," Commins said. "I was there too with the medics; she was not very responsive, but her eyes were twitching a little bit."

The 18-year-old suspect was allegedly driving a stolen car when officers pursued him. He sped when they tried to "initiate a traffic stop," Fox News Detroit reported. During the chase, the car rammed into another vehicle, where the woman sustained minor injuries.

As soon as he knew the woman was safe, Commins went back to normal priestly life. "Had to do my prayers as usual and have dinner with the community," he said, adding: "Just another day in the D."

Commins serves within the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass. He received his high-school education in one of the institute's prestigious schools near Paris prior to joining the seminary in Florence, Italy.

Commins currently serves as the pastor at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit and as an honorary board member for Regina Caeli Academy, a pre-K-to-grade-12 classical home school hybrid with more than 25 centers across the nation.

The priest was aboard the "Good News Cruise" earlier this year, offering the Traditional Latin Mass to those onboard the cruise. Other clerical participants in that cruise included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Father Mike Schmitz, and Father Leo Patalinghug.

This story was first published by The National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by and updated by EWTN News.

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In just a few days, Pope Leo XIV will land in Barcelona for the second leg of a historic trip to Spain, scheduled for June 6–12.

Bishop Xabier Gómez of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, which lies west of Barcelona, has been in his own words "blessed" to be designated to accompany the Holy Father during his visit to the inmates of Brians 1 prison and the Virgin of Montserrat Shrine, both located within the diocese he has led since 2024.

Speaking with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, the prelate highlighted the pontiff's "clarity, authenticity, and ability to communicate," and underscored the importance of paying attention to both his words and his gestures during this apostolic visit, trusting that "they will serve as an impetus and invite us to deepen our conversion into being missionaries, because our priority as a Church is to proclaim Jesus Christ."

'The Church's path is mercy'

One of the most anticipated moments of the Holy Father's visit to Barcelona is his stop at the correctional facility in the Diocese of Sant Feliu, which houses the largest prison population in Catalonia.

"It's a highly anticipated visit," he noted, "one that has brought great joy to the hearts of the parishioners and believers within the prison who make up, as I put it, a parish within the correctional facilities."

Since the pontiff's visit was confirmed, the diocese has worked tirelessly and "with great enthusiasm" with the prison pastoral care team. Their efforts have encompassed the spiritual preparation of the inmates, the welcoming song for the pope, and the testimonies to be shared by several women regarding "how faith is being for them a powerful light and hope amid the hardships and environment of the prison."

"The fact that he would want to come and meet the inmates already says a lot. It signals that the Church's path is mercy, that the Church's name is mercy," Gómez noted.

The family as a pastoral priority

Regarding the long-awaited visit to the Basilica of the Sagrada Família (Holy Family) where the pope will bless the Tower of Jesus that crowns the basilica, Gómez noted that the cross atop the tower will rise "like a beacon," illuminating not only Catalonia but also the Mediterranean.

For the prelate, Sagrada Família calls to mind not only the Holy Family of Nazareth to whom the church is dedicated but also the need to accompany and care for families. He further emphasized that the Church "seeks to be a family within the human family, a sacrament and sign of salvation."

In this regard, he reminds us that the family as a domestic Church also constitutes a pastoral priority and a subject of special attention for the pilgrim Church in Spain and throughout the world.

A missionary impetus for Spain

The bishop said the pope "is keenly aware of the social and ecclesial reality in Spain; he is very well informed, he knows it and knows us very well, he loves and appreciates us, and he comes to confirm us in faith and in hope." Above all, he emphasized that his visit will confirm the "missionary impetus that the Church in Spain wants to take center stage."

Regarding the "religious awakening in Spain," he noted there is also an awakening within other religions and that this phenomenon should be approached with prudence as a reality that "sociology will gradually be able to confirm."

"This is not solely a Catholic phenomenon. There is a generation of young people who have or are demonstrating an interest; they are asking questions, an interest in religious and spiritual matters and many of them, thank God, find a welcome and a response within the Catholic Church," he said. He said he hopes these young people will find, within the Catholic Church, the experience of friendship with Jesus Christ.

'The Church is mercy and communion'

The bishop of Sant Feliu emphasized that "the Church is mercy and communion," two dimensions to which Pope Leo XIV constantly alludes.

"I believe that the fact that the Church deepens its identity as communion in diversity, that the Church delves deeper into catholicity, and is also capable of broadening this concept of catholicity to embrace universality and difference within harmony, and is capable of maintaining harmony amid diversity, is a message that is sorely needed for civil, cultural, and political society in Spain," he added.

The bishop pointed out that the message of the Gospel is a message of peace, reconciliation, and fraternity. "In the Gospel, we do not find that others are adversaries or enemies."

"Others are brothers, they are our brothers. We pray to a Father who is the Father of all. The kingdom of God [is] that kingdom of fraternity, justice, and love, the kingdom we serve in the Church, and of which Pope Leo XIV will surely speak to us," Gómez said.

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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An independent, civilian-led fact-finding body has been launched in the Philippines to uncover new evidence and details about the killings carried out during former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio S. David, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and bishop of Kalookan, serves as adviser to the Philippine Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was launched on May 27.

The commission is chaired by Raul Pangalangan, a former International Criminal Court (ICC) judge. Other members are Dr. Raquel Fortun, a forensic pathologist; Al Fuertes, an expert in trauma and psychosocial support; Father Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, a Vincentian priest and theologian; and Carlos Conde, an independent human rights researcher.

"The truth must be protected for the families who have carried these stories for years, not just as a record," said David, a fierce critic of the Duterte drug war. "The Truth Commission exists so these stories can be heard, verified, preserved, and acted upon."

The commission does not intend to replace courts or determine criminal liability against persons linked to anti-drug operations and related abuses.

"The court looks for criminal liability; the Truth Commission seeks a deeper truth," David said.

"The commission recognizes that the violence did not start in 2016, but the scale, persistence, and targeted killings in the last few years have left thousands of families still seeking truth, justice, and healing," the commission said in a statement.

The commission's framework safeguards its integrity, independence, and mission — especially regarding truth-seeking, due process, survivor protection, confidentiality, public trust, and institutional independence.

The team is to ensure that the testimonies of victims, survivors, and families are heard, validated, and kept.

"This commission is not about supplanting courts or apportioning guilt. It is about creating a credible truth record that can inform accountability, healing, reform, and the prevention of future violence," said Pangalangan, a respected Philippine lawyer.

More than accountability

Conde, a human rights activist, said the commission is not just about accountability but also the healing of drug war victims, as the civilian and civil society-led Philippine Truth Commission is tasked to establish a credible public record of the brutal drug war in the Philippines.

When asked how the commission's findings would affect Duterte's case in the ICC, he told EWTN News that the commission's work is different from the ICC's and should not affect Duterte's trial.

"However, if the ICC determines that our findings are helpful for their purposes, we won't object to them using them," he said. "On another level, we hope that the commission's work will bolster the ICC investigation's credibility, particularly among Filipinos who still continue to argue that the ICC does not have the authority to investigate the drug war."

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Philippines said it commends the launch of the Truth Commission, saying the initiative would uncover the truth behind the thousands of killings.

"We also recognize and trust the integrity, credibility, and expertise of the individuals leading and guiding this initiative. Their lifelong work on human rights, accountability, forensic investigation, psychosocial support, democratic governance, and public service gives hope that this process will genuinely center victims and survivors," Amnesty International Philippines said.

The case at The Hague

Human rights groups estimate that the drug war under Duterte, 81, killed some 30,000 drug suspects and suspected addicts and traffickers, largely poor people.

Duterte was arrested and sent to The Hague in March 2025 and is being held in the ICC's detention center.

The ICC has charged him with three counts of crimes against humanity, particularly the killing of at least 76 people and the attempted murder of two others during his 22 years as mayor of Davao City and then as president (2016–2022).

His trial is set to begin Nov. 30.

The Truth Commission offers a much-needed ray of hope for truth-telling, accountability, and justice-seeking, Charlito Manlupig, chairperson of Kusog Mindanaw, a civil society organization, told EWTN News.

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Juan Vicente Boo, the Vatican correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC for 23 years, says the current pontiff is, among the popes of the last five centuries, the one who "knows Spain best," as it is a country he visited on nearly 50 occasions before becoming pope.

The first of his trips to Spain dates back to July 1982. Robert Prevost was 26 years old at the time and had been a priest for just over a month and a half. Together with several companions from St. Monica International College run by the Augustinians in Rome, he embarked on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in a van, a journey not without its adventures. They ended up sleeping in tents and enjoying the Spanish landscape and cuisine.

"It was a holy year, and he traveled as a pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela with four other Augustinians in a van. They spent a month and a half traveling, taking the opportunity to visit Ávila and see the sites associated with St. Teresa. In Galicia, after gaining the jubilee indulgence, they traveled on to Pontevedra, Vigo, Ourense, and Lugo. And then they headed south to Madrid," Boo told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

That very same year — months later, in October — Spain would receive a visit from St. John Paul II. Since then, Father Robert Prevost has cultivated his relationship with Spain, to the point of having visited at least 34 cities.

"His knowledge of Spain is quite extensive and not merely because of what he has witnessed firsthand, but because during his time as a missionary in Peru, first in Chulucanas and later in Trujillo, and subsequently as a bishop in Chiclayo, he saw directly what the Spanish had built in terms of culture and evangelization," explained the veteran correspondent, who just published the book "Leo XIV: The Pope of the New Era" (Espasa Publishing, currently available only in Spanish).

Boo described the pope's personality, which entirely shapes his style of governance, through what he terms "the triads": the convergence of three cultures, three educational backgrounds, and three dimensions related to his life experiences.

"He has the best of three cultures: the American culture of Chicago and the Midwest, the most humane, serene, and European in the United States; the Latin American culture of Peru, which expands the heart especially if you're serving people with problems, as was the case for Father Robert there in the different stages of service during 22 years; and the best of Roman culture, because he came to the Italian capital as a student in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and lived at the Augustinian General House near the Vatican.

Added to those cultural roots are three distinct educational backgrounds: a degree in mathematics from Villanova University, a background in theology from the Chicago Theological Union, and legal training, specifically a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the Angelicum.

The third triad is his life journey: a strong missionary spirit, extensive experience as an international traveler, and a profound understanding of the inner workings of the Holy See. "For 12 years, as prior general of the Augustinians, he resided directly across from the Vatican and was a firsthand witness to its inner life. Subsequently, Pope Francis progressively appointed him to various bodies of the Curia, until he eventually served in as many as nine dicasteries including the Commission for Vatican City State, a level of involvement rarely seen in the career of a single prelate," Boo noted.

Visits to Spain during his time as prior of the Augustinians

From 2001 to 2013, during his time as prior general, Prevost traveled across Spain from north to south. Visits taking place from 2002 to 2011, in addition to later trips, are documented. These journeys took him from Navarre to Andalusia (north to south), with stops in cities such as Barcelona, ??Valencia, Madrid, and Valladolid.

"My impression is that he knows Spain much better than the vast majority of Spaniards, because he has visited more than 30 cities, whereas many Spaniards haven't even visited half that number," Boo explained.

Many of these journeys were undertaken for pastoral, educational, and community visits for the Order of St. Augustine. In 2002, he visited Oropesa in Toledo province for the canonization of Alonso de Orozco, as well as the city of Talavera de la Reina and León, the city where the centenary of the Augustinian school was being celebrated. From then on, Valladolid became one of his bases of operations; he stayed at the Royal Seminary of the Philippine Augustinians and traveled from there to monasteries such as the one in Madrigal de las Altas Torres in Ávila province.

In 2003 he traveled to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where he stayed in the Augustinian community in the town of Puerto de la Cruz. That same year he also visited the Sant Roc neighborhood in the town of Badalona, ??one of the most disadvantaged areas of metro Barcelona, to which he would later return. In 2011 he also made a private visit to the Montserrat monastery.

In 2004 he traveled to Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Aldaz in Navarra province, and the Augustinian school in Calahorra in La Rioja province. Years later, in 2015, he returned to Pamplona as bishop of Chiclayo.

His visits continued in 2005 with stays in Zaragoza and Valencia, where he visited the Basilica of the Virgin of the Forsaken and the cathedral. Two years later, in 2007, he toured the Balearic Islands and several Andalusian cities: Seville, Huelva, Cádiz, and Málaga, maintaining a particularly strong presence within the educational and community spheres of his order.

Finally, in 2010, he returned to Madrid for the 50th anniversary of St. Augustine School, an institution with which he maintained a close relationship, and in 2011, he returned to the capital for World Youth Day.

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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