Catholic News

Memorial programs were held across India on July 5 to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old tribal rights activist who died in custody at a Mumbai hospital in 2021 while awaiting trial on terrorism charges.

Memorials in Ranchi and Mumbai

Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi led supporters in garlanding Swamy's bust at "Bagaicha," meaning "garden," the Jesuit social action center Swamy founded near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.

After the floral tribute, Bagaicha director Jesuit Father P.M. Antony told EWTN News: "All of us proceeded to our program hall to discuss about the present socioeconomic and political situation in the country and the state of Jharkhand today."

The commemoration featured a screening of "Carrying the Cross," a roughly 100-minute documentary on Swamy's life and work.

In Mumbai, where Swamy died, the anniversary was marked in the hall of St. Peter's Church in Bandra, where his funeral was held in 2021. The Bombay Catholic Sabha, the lay wing of the archdiocese, organized the gathering with civil society groups, at which activists paid tribute to the priest, whom they praised as a fearless advocate for the oppressed tribal communities of Jharkhand.

"We are living in times when if you do anything to fulfill either the words or the spirit of the constitution you are likely to be the next martyr," said senior advocate Mihir Desai, who led Swamy's legal defense.

Desai repeatedly petitioned the Bombay High Court for the elderly Jesuit's release on bail after he was brought to Mumbai following his October 2020 arrest at Bagaicha, in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, in which he was charged along with 15 others.

"If you speak with passion about equality, about nondiscrimination, about freedom of speech — all these are fundamental rights … If you speak about these things in the spirit in which they are incorporated in the constitution, you will be treated as an anti-national," said Desai, who had worked with the Jesuit for three decades as a civil rights lawyer.

The Bhima Koregaon case

As the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, reported at the time of his arrest in October 2020, the priest, who championed the rights of oppressed tribal communities, was detained along with 15 other activists, academics, and lawyers on terrorism charges related to the "Bhima Koregaon conspiracy."

The arrests, carried out on the grounds that the accused were allegedly linked to a banned Maoist organization, drew condemnation abroad, including a posthumous resolution honoring Swamy's life and work in the U.S. Congress in July 2022.

Describing Swamy's death as "institutional murder," Desai said "why they wanted to arrest him was because they did not want any urban or rural voice … a dissenting voice of the marginalized to be heard" and alleged that documents had been planted on his computer by hackers, about which the priest had "no clue."

In December 2022, Arsenal Consulting, a U.S.-based digital forensics firm engaged by Swamy's lawyers, reported that "incriminating files" had been planted on his computer through a yearslong malware campaign — a finding his supporters said showed he had been framed. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has disputed the analysis, and the trial court declined to consider it.

"Father Stan is gone. But we want the court to declare him not guilty," said Desai, who said he is preparing a fresh petition to that end after a judicial magistrate's inquiry concluded that the priest had died of natural causes. "Compensation [must] be paid. Accountability has to be fixed and he has to be declared as innocent," he said.

The NIA maintains its case, alleging that Swamy aided the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) through the civil society groups he worked with; the special NIA court repeatedly denied him bail, citing what it called "prima facie" evidence.

A judicial magistrate's inquiry, mandatory in custodial deaths, ruled his death a "natural death" and found no wrongdoing, and in May 2025 the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission accepted those findings, concluding there was nothing "unnatural" in his death and no medical negligence.

In December 2025, the Bombay High Court disposed of a petition by Swamy's family to clear his name but granted them liberty to file a fresh challenge to the magistrate's report.

Speakers noted that all 15 surviving co-accused have since been granted bail, while Swamy did not live to see trial.

Teesta Setalvad, who heads Citizens for Justice and Peace, described Swamy as "a priest who jumped out beyond [clerical] culture and took up perverted cases [against the poor tribals] and worked for the release of prisoners, exposing fabricated cases."

Activist Irfan Engineer read out a protest letter from Surendra Gadling — the last of the 16 accused still jailed, now over a separate case — who was staging a one-day hunger strike at Taloja Central Jail, where Swamy had also been held.

"Father Stan Swamy was a victim of institutional murder because he refused to surrender before those in power and chose to stand firmly for the rights of Adivasis [tribals], Dalits, and the marginalized and oppressed masses," Gadling wrote. "He fearlessly raised his voice against injustice, repression, and attacks on democratic rights. This one-day hunger strike is to protest against the institutional repression that led to his death."

Anand Teltumbde, a former professor at the Goa Institute of Management who was released on bail after 31 months in the case, told EWTN News: "July 5 has become a historic day for the country with 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy's death in custody."

Dolphy D'Souza, a Bombay Catholic Sabha spokesman, recalled: "During Father Stan Swamy's funeral at peak COVID time, only 25 people were allowed inside the church here and many of us had to wait outside. Today we are all here to remember him."

Across India, the anniversary drew commemorations in several cities, including New Delhi, along with a spontaneous wave of social media posts remembering the priest's imprisonment and death in custody and pressing for his name to be cleared.

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Pope Leo XIV still has a Peruvian credit card, wakes in the middle of the night and checks soccer results, follows the Chicago White Sox, and uses a cellphone.

He is also, according to Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, a pope keenly aware of his role as pastor of the universal Church, careful not to give the impression of being merely an American pope and frustrated that his actions are sometimes interpreted as anti-Trump or anti-U.S. gestures.

Burch offered that personal portrait of the Holy Father in a conversation with a small group of Italian journalists about the historic July 4 dinner he hosted for Leo at Villa Richardson, the U.S. ambassador's residence.

The pope came in person to the residence, prayed with Burch's family, and shared a meal that included American charcuterie, watermelon salad, Chicago-style hot dogs, apple pie, and gelato. According to Burch, Leo approved of the menu. The evening was informal rather than bilateral: The pope arrived without secretaries, accompanied only by two Vatican gendarmes.

Burch said he had wanted to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States by inviting the first U.S.-born pope in history to dinner. The invitation was sent about two months ago, and confirmation came about one month ago, the ambassador said.

The dinner took place on the same day Leo made a brief visit to Lampedusa, a trip that some had interpreted as a symbolic gesture aimed against the Trump administration. Burch said the pope rejected that interpretation in their conversation.

The ambassador said the idea was to create an occasion to celebrate July 4. He noted that when Vice President JD Vance visited the pope for the Mass inaugurating his pontificate, Vance also invited Leo to visit the United States. While awaiting such a visit, Burch said, the embassy wanted to create a moment of celebration, and the pope's acceptance of the invitation was received with gratitude and joy.

Burch stressed that the dinner at his residence should not be understood as an effort to resolve major political questions. Rather, he said, it was an extraordinary sign of the pope's affinity with and warm closeness to the United States.

The pope arrived at about 7:30 p.m., according to the ambassador. He posed for a photo with Burch's family, gave them his blessing, and joined them for an aperitif. Burch said he and Leo, both from Chicago, spoke about the city and the many friends they have in common.

After dinner, Burch also had time to speak privately with the pope in the garden. The ambassador said they discussed a wide range of subjects. Before leaving the embassy at about 10 p.m., the pope sang the patriotic song "God Bless America" and signed several baseballs, marking each one with the date.

Burch said Leo was relaxed and that the two laughed about many things. He added that people in the Church and in the world sometimes hold only an image of the pope and forget that the pope is also a man like everyone else.

The pope told Burch he had recently spent a sleepless night and ended up watching the Argentina-Cape Verde match. He also spoke about the White Sox and about his vocation, including why he chose to become a missionary priest.

Burch said Leo told him that he loves the United States, where he was born, and has great affection for the country, but he also wants to be careful not to appear too favorable or too close to the United States. The ambassador said the pope made the same point when Burch presented his credentials.

The Church in the United States is vibrant and growing, Burch said, but it is not the only place where the Church is present, and Leo is aware of the need not to appear too American.

Burch said there is also some hesitation regarding a possible papal trip to the United States. That hesitation, he said, is not because of hostility toward the president but because of the need to choose the right moment and to situate such a visit after a number of trips that demonstrate the pope's apostolic commitment.

The ambassador said Leo also spoke about his frustration with the way every papal gesture can be attacked or interpreted through the lens of the United States. Burch said the pope's July 4 visit to Lampedusa was not intended as an attack on the United States.

According to Burch, the pope's role is to be pastor of the world and to point to the global challenges of migration, which is not only a U.S. issue. Through the Lampedusa visit, Burch said, Leo appealed to humanity and asked leaders to focus on migrants during a difficult moment.

The ambassador said relations between the Holy See and the United States are marked by a strong desire for cooperation. He added that his conversation with the pope did not delve deeply into areas of disagreement.

Burch noted that the Holy See supports nuclear nonproliferation, is attentive to the situation in Cuba, wants peace between Russia and Ukraine, and has opposed the exploitation of the Venezuelan people. On migration, he said, there is generally a broad sense of the need for processes through which nations can manage migration in a safe, orderly, and legal way.

The pope respects that balance, Burch said, because he understands that when tension arises, resolving that tension is the responsibility of nations.

According to the ambassador, the main differences concern how to reach shared goals: how to build peace in the Middle East, how to fight narco-trafficking in Central America, and how to protect people facing the challenges of mass migration. Burch characterized these as prudential differences.

Burch acknowledged that Leo and President Donald Trump have not yet spoken. He said Trump has not spoken with many leaders and that, when a conversation is necessary, he expects they will speak. He added that the pope does not simply pick up the phone to discuss politics with world leaders.

Migration remains one area of difference. Burch said the pope's message in Lampedusa is not inconsistent with the U.S. view of migration. The United States, he said, has always set rules and removed people who did not respect them, while the Trump administration is responding to a situation in which millions of people have entered outside the legal framework.

Burch said the pope does not argue that rules should be set aside in order to welcome migrants. Rather, he said, Leo asks people to look toward an ideal in which they are as welcoming as possible. The pope, Burch said, speaks as universal pastor of the Church and not as someone proposing a specific political implementation.

For Burch, differences of opinion over migration are not a serious problem. He said it is normal for leaders to have disagreements and that there will always be differences over how to reconcile U.S. policy with Catholic social teaching. Such differences, he said, do not mean relations must be difficult.

On the contrary, Burch said, there is much work the Holy See and the United States continue to do together, including on Cuba and peace in the Middle East. Looking at the past year and a half, he pointed to what he described as peace between Israel and Hamas, the removal of narco-terrorists, talks between Israel and Lebanon, cooperation among Arab states, conditions for real cooperation, the removal of the nuclear threat in Iran, and the removal of financing for terrorists. He also said there is much the two sides can do together for persecuted Christians.

In short, Burch said, the issue is not whether the pope and the president can become friends but whether there is a chance to achieve results together.

Asked what he took away from the dinner and what struck him most, Burch said there is great respect for the pope, whether one is Catholic or not. But then, he said, one meets a gentleman who is a human person like everyone else, someone who enjoys himself.

Above all, Burch said, the pope is highly informed. Leo had deep knowledge of everything they discussed, the ambassador said. When Burch asked how he manages that, the pope mentioned X, formerly Twitter, and a daily briefing he receives. Burch said he told Leo that surely those were not his only sources of information. The ambassador described the pope as a serious reader, very bright, and very well informed.

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

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Maronite patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, who met with Pope Leo XIV last week, said the pope's visit to Lebanon last December, held under the motto "Blessed are the peacemakers," marked the beginning of a new phase of dialogue for peace. Rai expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel would lead to a true, just, comprehensive, and lasting peace — but Christians there fear their country's sovereignty may be at stake.

Rai warned in his Sunday homily that Lebanon "must not become the price of any international or regional understanding, nor an arena for settling scores, but rather a message of peace." He expressed hope that the efforts involving the United States, Lebanon, and Israel would bear fruit and lead to an agreement that removes "the specter of war" from Lebanon.

His remarks come as Lebanon finds itself at the center of two parallel diplomatic tracks: a U.S.-Iran agreement and a direct trilateral framework involving Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. In both, Lebanon's future is at stake and the country's Christians remain a central part of the national conversation on peace and sovereignty.

For many Christians in Lebanon, the fear is that their country's future could once again be treated as part of a broader regional bargain rather than as a sovereign national question.

This concern was reflected in a letter sent by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in which he urged Washington to separate the Lebanese issue from negotiations with Iran. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem described the agreement as "a great victory" and "a pivotal point for Lebanon."

Speaking to EWTN News, Lebanese member of Parliament Pierre Bou Assi said that, as the Lebanese Forces leader stated in his letter to the U.S. vice president, their project remains the establishment of a real state in Lebanon. But he said such a state cannot fulfill its role as long as Hezbollah remains armed and continues to drag Lebanon into wars and suffering in service of Iran.

"We want to be freed from Hezbollah's weapons in order to build a state that protects everyone, Christians and Muslims alike," he said.

Bou Assi added that he does not believe the U.S.-Iran understanding will have a direct impact on Hezbollah's behavior in Lebanon. According to U.S. sources, he said, the talks did not focus specifically on this point but rather on the Strait of Hormuz and a monitoring mechanism for Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Many in Lebanon stress that including the Lebanese issue in these regional negotiations has allowed Iran to regain leverage over the Lebanese political sphere.

Moreover, President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that Syria could play a role in addressing the issue of Hezbollah has touched a deep nerve among many Lebanese Christians. For them, any talk of Syrian involvement in Lebanon triggers the memory of nearly three decades of Syrian military and political occupation, which only ended in 2005.

Bou Assi said that, as a Lebanese and Christian member of Parliament belonging to the largest Lebanese and Christian parliamentary bloc, and despite respect for the United States as a friendly country, "we cannot accept the return of the Syrian army to Lebanon."

"The Lebanese suffered greatly under the occupation of the Assad regime, which lasted for 30 years between 1975 and 2005," he said. "For this reason, as a sovereignist component that resisted that occupation, we cannot accept the repetition of this bitter and destructive experience."

At the same time, Bou Assi pointed to repeated statements by the Syrian president that Syria has no intention of entering Lebanon again, out of respect for Lebanese sovereignty.

He said such positions are in line with the Lebanese Forces' desire for the best possible relations with Syria, relations based on respect for the sovereignty, stability, and interests of both countries and peoples.

Toni Nissi, president of the Committee for the U.N. Security Council Resolutions on Lebanon and secretary-general of the National Council for the Cedar Revolution, echoed similar concerns in a conversation with EWTN News.

"For many Lebanese, and certainly for many Lebanese Christians, such remarks inevitably awaken painful memories," Nissi said.

He explained that his generation remembers a period in which Lebanon's sovereign institutions were overshadowed by external tutelage. For that reason, he said, any suggestion that Syria might once again assume a political or security role inside Lebanon naturally provokes concern.

Nissi also stressed that diplomacy becomes problematic when nations become objects of negotiation instead of subjects of their own history.

"For far too long, Lebanon has been treated as a battlefield where others settle their disputes and as a diplomatic mailbox through which regional powers exchange messages," he added.

There are growing concerns in Lebanon, especially among Christians, that the U.S.-Iran memorandum and the wider diplomacy surrounding it could overshadow the Lebanon-Israel talks promoted by President Joseph Aoun as an effort to return decisions of war, peace, and sovereignty to state institutions.

For many Lebanese Christians, those talks carry a deeper meaning. They are not only a diplomatic opening with Israel but also a possible step toward restoring the authority of the Lebanese state after years in which Hezbollah's weapons and Iran's influence have shaped the country's security choices.

Lebanese officials have described the move toward direct negotiations with Israel as a historic step through which the state could reclaim responsibility for Lebanon's foreign and security policy. Yet the government now faces the delicate reality of seeing Iran negotiate with Washington over issues that directly affect Lebanon's future, raising fears that Beirut could once again be treated as a secondary actor in decisions concerning its own sovereignty.

Nonetheless, last week's signing of the Trilateral Framework Agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States, announced by U.S. Secretary of ?State Marco Rubio, marked a major milestone, offering a possible path toward placing Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and state authority back at the center of the diplomatic process.

Nissi explained that the framework "establishes a phased mechanism intended to strengthen security, extend the authority of the Lebanese state across its entire territory, and create a practical pathway for implementing long-standing international commitments while reducing the risk of renewed conflict."

"It is neither a final peace treaty nor merely another ceasefire," Nissi added. "It is a roadmap for restoring state authority through implementation."

For Nissi, the framework also carries a deeper national significance. "Perhaps the greatest opportunity created by this framework is that Lebanon can finally stop being a battlefield for others," he said. "For decades, Lebanon functioned less as an independent strategic actor than as an arena through which regional powers projected their rivalries."

What these parallel diplomatic tracks will ultimately achieve for Lebanon remains uncertain. For now, the country's sovereignty continues to be violated from both directions: by Hezbollah's weapons and decision-making outside the authority of the state and by Israel's continued occupation of Lebanese territory and military actions inside Lebanon.

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China has freed underground Christian pastor Ezra Jin Mingri about two months after President Donald Trump publicly called for his release.

Jin, who was arrested by Chinese authorities on Oct. 10, 2025, was reunited with his family in Los Angeles on July 3 ahead of America 250 celebrations.

"I am profoundly grateful that Pastor Ezra Jin has been released and reunited with his family," Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, a Catholic, said in a July 5 statement. "I especially thank President Trump for personally raising Pastor Jin's case with CCP [Chinese Communist Party] General Secretary Xi Jinping and for ensuring that U.S. diplomats remained committed in pressing for his freedom."

Trump said following his visit to China in May that President Xi Jinping was "giving very serious consideration to the pastor," referring to Jin. Congress had urged Trump to use the U.S.-China summit to advocate for Jin's release alongside Jimmy Lai, the jailed Catholic media tycoon and democracy advocate. Trump noted China's president was less likely to release Lai.

A statement issued to reporters by the pastor's family said: "We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling so overwhelmed with joy. We thank God for this tremendous miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership. We hope this is a signal of a positive turn for people of faith in China and relations between our two nations."

Jin was among nearly 30 people arrested by Chinese Communist Party authorities during a sweeping crackdown across nine cities on the underground Zion Church, of which he is the founder.

Frances Hui, policy and advocacy manager at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, wrote on social media: "Incredible to hear that [Jin] is free, has just arrived in L.A., and is finally reunited with his family." Hui was among advocates who rallied on behalf of those imprisoned in China ahead of Trump's visit.

Hui described standing beside Jin's daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, as "a privilege," noting that she and her husband, Bill Drexel, had advocated for Jin's release while preparing for the birth of their third child.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said in a statement: "Despite months of imprisonment, Pastor Jin stayed true to his faith. Yet again, President Trump has demonstrated his ability to stand up for persecuted Christians worldwide."

Former vice president Mike Pence said in a statement: "President Trump should be commended for securing Ezra Jin's release by raising the case with Xi Jinping in Beijing this year. Truly treasure in heaven to see this godly man of faith set free."

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A growing number of Catholic bishops are instructing the faithful to avoid illicit sacraments celebrated by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) after the traditionalist group's bishops incurred the penalty of excommunication last week.

The Vatican declared July 2 that six prelates involved in the SSPX's unauthorized July 1 episcopal consecrations incurred automatic excommunication. Despite repeated warnings, SSPX bishops consecrated four new bishops without a pontifical mandate — an act of open disobedience to the authority of the pope that carries automatic excommunication for the six bishops involved.

The SSPX is a fraternity of priests known for its celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Various Catholic bishops with SSPX locations in their areas are explicitly forbidding Catholics from attending SSPX services while also urging frequent attendees or SSPX priests to seek spiritual guidance and return to the Catholic Church.

Invited 'home'

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis urged SSPX families in his community to stay with the Catholic Church.

"In the 10 years that I have led this local Church, I have met many sincere people who worship regularly or occasionally at the chapels of the SSPX within the territory of our archdiocese," Hebda said. "I have been impressed by the strength of their families and their commitment to traditional Catholic values."

"It is my hope they will not follow the above-mentioned bishops in separating themselves from the successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV, and from the Church that he humbly leads," Hebda continued. "Throughout the centuries, our Catholic Church has consistently echoed the teaching of St. Ambrose: Ubi Petrus ibi ecclesia (Where there is Peter, there is the Church)."

"At this difficult moment, we are blessed that the same traditional Eucharistic liturgy beloved by those who have worshipped with the SSPX in the past continues to be celebrated in six locations throughout the archdiocese," Hebda said. "I am confident that those who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass could find a home here."

Bishop Terry LaValley of Ogdensburg, New York, noted that in light of the "formal schism," the disobedience "gravely harms the unity of the Church for which Christ so fervently prayed the night before he died."

LaValley said in a statement that Catholics are "forbidden" to participate in SSPX sacraments, the only exception being "when there is danger of death." He noted that the schism "is not simply about the celebration of the Mass."

"The SSPX repudiates and denounces the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, in particular, ecumenism, religious liberty, collegiality of the bishops with the pope, and the Church's understanding of and relationship with Judaism," LaValley noted.

LaValley instructed the faithful to avoid participation with SSPX and invited SSPX priests to remain with the Church.

In a similar vein, Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, invited anyone who previously worshipped with SSPX to come "home."

"The Holy See has made clear that the clergy of the society are now to be regarded as schismatic," Caggiano said in a statement. "This means that, from this day forward, the sacraments they celebrate are illicit and, most significantly for the faithful, the confessions they hear and the marriages at which they preside are considered invalid by the Church."

"I know these words are difficult to hear, especially for those among us who have worshipped, whether regularly or on occasion, at liturgies celebrated by priests of the society," Caggiano said. "Over the years I have come to know some of these families. I have been moved by their love for the beauty of the sacred liturgy, their devotion to our Catholic tradition, and the seriousness with which they seek to raise their children in the faith."

"My heart goes out to them at this painful moment, and I want them to know that they remain very much a part of our diocesan family," Caggiano said.

"I also wish to offer a word of reassurance. This excommunication does not fall upon those who have simply attended these liturgies out of a sincere desire to worship and who have never intended to reject the authority of the Holy Father or the teaching of the Church," Caggiano said. "What the Church now asks is straightforward: Knowing the situation as it now stands, the faithful of the Catholic Church can no longer take part in the liturgies of the society, for to do so knowingly would be to share in a separation from the successor of Peter."

Caggiano noted that the "vetus ordo," also known as the Traditional Latin Mass, is still celebrated in his diocese at several parishes throughout the diocese.

He emphasized that the diocese also welcomes any SSPX priest who wants to return to full communion "with open arms and great tenderness."

Bishop James Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, said he will "be preparing guidance to assist our clergy, lay faithful, and especially any of the lay faithful who have worshipped locally with the SSPX at St. Vincent de Paul Kansas City."

"While it is imperative to not abandon future efforts toward full communion and to fervently pray for such, those who wish to maintain communion with the Catholic Church, including valid reception of the sacraments of matrimony and penance (confession), will no longer find that possible within the SSPX," Johnston said in the statement.

"In this moment, I wish to reassure the members of the SSPX within this diocese of my pastoral concern as a shepherd with a desire to assist you in this time of crisis," Johnston said.

Schism 'wounds' the body of Christ

Bishop Douglas Lucia of Syracuse, New York, emphasized that the announcement "forbids Roman Catholics of good standing to participate in and to receive the sacraments from bishops and priests associated with the Society of St. Pius X."

"[F]ormal adherence to schism is a grave offense against God and carries the penalty of excommunication decreed by the Church's law," Lucia wrote July 2.

"I grieve over the wound that has been inflicted on Christ's body, the Church, and its effect on the spiritual good of the faithful," Lucia said. "Although today's action relates to a specific event, I would caution that such wounds occur in the Church, when people's pain and concerns are ignored and the universal call to holiness is subjugated to personal agenda."

"I regret that the communion and trust that has been built in my seven years as bishop here in Syracuse is now so imperiled, but there cannot be accord when discord has been sown," Lucia said.

Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wisconsin, instructed Catholics "to refrain from attending Mass at any SSPX chapels."

"The Catholic faithful should attend Mass at a Catholic church with a Catholic priest where they can receive licit and valid sacraments," Hying said.

"For many years, the Church has been in dialogue with the leadership of SSPX in the hope that the group would return to full communion with the Catholic Church," Hying said. "Their continued rejection of papal authority and decision to undertake blatantly schismatic acts have harmed these discussions and wounded the path to unity."

Archbishop Shawn McKnight of Kansas City, Kansas, called the bishop's consecrations "a source of profound sorrow for the whole Church because it wounds the visible unity that Christ desires for his body." He noted that Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI took several steps toward communion and acceptance of the society.

"Fidelity to sacred tradition is never opposed to fidelity to the successor of Peter," McKnight said in his letter. "Rather, both are gifts entrusted by Christ to his Church and serve together to safeguard the deposit of faith and promote the salvation of souls."

"The Church's living tradition is preserved by remaining close to the successor of Peter, by adhering to the apostolic faith handed down through the centuries and safeguarded within the communion of the Church," McKnight said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said unidentified Lebanese Christian villages asked Israel to annex them.

"Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere," Netanyahu said during an appearance on Fox News' show "The Sunday Briefing" on July 5.

"It's ridiculous that [Netanyahu] would say such a thing," said Alberto Fernández, a former U.S. ambassador and contributor to EWTN News on Middle East topics. "It's something that only makes sense within the context of him trying to look good to his own Israeli audience. Within the context of Lebanon, it's ridiculous."

Fernández noted Netanyahu's claims have been repeatedly denied in the Arab and Lebanese press. Lebanese officials have rejected Netanyahu's claims, including senior members of the Kataeb party, and Hanna al-Amil, the mayor of Rmeich, a Christian village in southern Lebanon, according to several Arab news outlets.

"We can't forget that it's Hezbollah that keeps plunging Lebanon into war with Israel," he said. "And one thing that Christian villagers do not want is, they may not want to be part of Israel."

They don't want to be at war with Israel either, Fernández said.

"They want peace. They want to be left alone. They want to be able to live their lives and their villages and farm their land and be left alone," he said.

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Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for the month of July is for respect for human life in all circumstances.

"Both you and I have received the most beautiful gift of life — your breath, your heartbeat, your smile, all that you are is God's work of love," Pope Leo said in a video shared on Instagram.

The Holy Father asked the faithful: "Will you help me protect this precious gift?"

"This month I invite you to pray for our commitment to respecting and protecting human life in all circumstances," he said.

In the full video shared on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month's prayer intention:

"Lord of life,

You created us in love and called us to live in fullness.

Each person is a sacred gift that reflects your face,

from the first instant of existence

to the final breath of their journey on earth.

Today we ask for the grace to recognize and protect

the unique and unrepeatable value of every human being.

May we learn to welcome life unconditionally,

to tenderly care for fragility,

to accompany each stage with respect,

and to bravely defend those who have no voice.

Forgive us, Lord,

when we fall into indifference or the culture of discard,

when we fail to see in others a being worthy of love.

Give us a new heart, always ready to choose life,

and generous hands that protect it through concrete actions.

Make your Church a living witness of the Gospel of life,

an open home where every life is celebrated,

where no one feels unwanted,

and where dignity is always honored and protected.

Lord Jesus,

may we love life as you love it:

with tenderness, fidelity, and self-giving.

May we proclaim, in words and actions,

that every human life is worth the total gift of ourselves.

Amen."

"Pray with the Pope" is accessible on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

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Despite a summer heat wave, about 500 Catholics from Pakistan's Punjab province traveled to the ancient city of Taxila to mark the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle at a site long associated with the apostle's mission in the Indian subcontinent.

The faithful from St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gujranwala arrived in eight buses on July 4 at the archaeological site of Sirkap, where Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas preached at the court of King Gondophares before continuing his mission to India.

"The Gospel reached the far corners of the world through the companions of Christ, and that same mission has been entrusted to us," Father Yousaf Yaqoob, the parish priest who celebrated the Mass, told the pilgrims.

He encouraged the faithful to visit Christian pilgrimage sites across Pakistan.

"The relics and even the air at pilgrimage sites are a source of blessing. In this digital age, people speak of the Gospel but have largely forgotten the great sacrifices and miracles behind it," he said. "A nation that forgets its history is forgotten by history."

After the Mass, pilgrims toured the Taxila Museum and the sacred sites at Sirkap, through which, according to Christian tradition, St. Thomas passed in the first century while proclaiming the Gospel in the Indo-Parthian kingdom ruled by King Gondophares.

Why Taxila draws Christian pilgrims

The Acts of Thomas, an early Syriac Christian text, recounts that the king gave the apostle money to build a royal palace. Instead, Thomas distributed the money among the poor. Enraged, the king ordered his execution. However, after the king's brother, Gad, miraculously returned to life and described a heavenly palace built through the apostle's charity, Gondophares pardoned Thomas and, according to tradition, embraced Christianity along with many of his subjects.

The Punjab Archaeology Department also preserves a local tradition that St. Thomas built a 3-foot-high stone throne at Sirkap and preached there for four decades. Two brick baptismal basins near the throne are still used for infant and adult baptisms.

According to archaeology officials, more than 25,000 visitors had visited the site by July 4.

The parish charged each pilgrim 1,700 Pakistani rupees (about $6), covering transportation, refreshments, and visits to Sirkap and Shahdara Valley, a popular tourist destination in the Margalla Hills near Islamabad.

Braving the summer heat

Sagar Rahat, the parish choir leader, joined fellow pilgrims in collecting small twigs and stones from around the stone throne.

"We keep them as souvenirs and blessings. Our hearts are filled with pride, passion, and honor simply by standing at a place visited by one of Christ's apostles," the 34-year-old told EWTN News.

Rahat, who has made the pilgrimage annually for the past decade, said the lack of basic facilities continues to trouble visitors. With the mercury climbing to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), the water in pilgrims' bottles quickly turned warm under the blazing sun.

"There is no shade, so we have to bring umbrellas. There are no water coolers, and the water in our bottles becomes warm in the direct sunlight," he said.

In a July 2 message marking the feast, Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi said St. Thomas' witness continues to inspire Christians, especially young people and families, to remain courageous in bearing witness to Christ.

"The example of St. Thomas invites us to profess our faith courageously, remain committed to sincerity and sacrifice, continue proclaiming the good news, and persevere despite opposition and hardship," the archbishop said.

Taxila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Buddhist and Gandharan ruins, also occupies a unique place in Christian tradition because of its association with St. Thomas and King Gondophares.

Although historians continue to debate the historical details of the apostle's visit, the tradition remains an important part of South Asia's Christian heritage.

In 1935, a farmer plowing a field near the ruins discovered a cross that was later presented to the Anglican bishop of Lahore. The relic, known as the Taxila Cross, is now preserved in the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection in Lahore, the Punjab capital.

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A broad coalition including the U.S. solicitor general has lined up behind Colorado Catholic families and two Catholic preschools as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether Colorado violated the First Amendment by excluding Catholic preschools from its universal preschool program because they operate according to Catholic teaching.

The case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, challenges Colorado's requirement that schools participating in its universal preschool program comply with state policies that the Catholic schools say would force them to violate religious beliefs about marriage, sexuality, and employment to receive public funding.

The U.S. solicitor general joined more than 20 states and 43 Republican members of Congress urging the high court to rule against Colorado's "discriminatory exclusion" of the faith-based schools. The solicitor general argued that Colorado's policy discriminates against religious exercise, imposes unconstitutional conditions on participation in a public benefit, and conflicts with recent precedents.

Colorado forces petitioners to choose, the solicitor general wrote. "They can either adhere to their faith, which precludes enrolling families who refuse to adhere to Catholic teachings, and lose the subsidy, or obtain the subsidy but abandon their religious beliefs," the brief said.

Supreme Court to hear case

Represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton and St. Bernadette Catholic Parish in Lakewood, part of the Archdiocese of Denver, along with several Catholic families, argue that the state cannot deny otherwise available public benefits simply because the schools remain faithful to their religious mission.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case this fall after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Colorado's policy in September 2025 to exclude Catholic preschools because of their religious beliefs.

Broad coalition of support

Support for the Catholic families has continued to grow ahead of oral arguments. A total of 29 friend-of-the-court briefs have been filed urging the justices to rule in favor of the schools, including briefs by more than 20 states, religious liberty scholars, education advocates, and a broad coalition of faith groups.

Among those filing briefs is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  U.S. bishops stated that "if that decision stands, it will provide a roadmap for governments to circumvent this court's decisions, directly threatening the free exercise rights of religious adherents and organizations."

Dan and Lisa Sheley, Catholic parents of seven whose children attend St. Mary's, said they were encouraged by the widespread support.

"We're grateful that so many people from across the country are rallying behind our case," they said in a statement provided by Becket. "Colorado promised preschool for all but then showed Catholic families the door. That's unfair to parents, unfair to children, and contrary to the spirit of the Constitution's promise of religious freedom."

Previous religious liberty cases

Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said in a statement the coalition demonstrates the significance of the case.

"Colorado has united a diverse array of Americans around a simple point: It's wrong to promise preschool support to every family in the state and then yank it away from Catholic families," Rassbach said. "This broad coalition shows just how egregious and unlawful Colorado's religious discrimination has become. We're confident the court will remind Colorado — once again — that the First Amendment protects religious people too."

The case follows a series of Supreme Court decisions strengthening protections for religious schools, including Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, and Carson v. Makin, all of which held that states generally may not exclude religious institutions from publicly available benefits because of their religious identity. A decision in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy could further define the constitutional protections afforded to religious schools participating in government education programs.

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Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Father Matt Brody of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia surveyed the throng of faithful making their way down Philadelphia's Broad Street praying the rosary.

"People want to know why they are braving the heat to follow a canopy," he explained to EWTN News. "I've already explained to three people what the Eucharist is. They are curious about the monstrance, and this gives a chance to evangelize."

Evangelization was the chief mission of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 2026, which ended Sunday after passing through 18 dioceses since it began on May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida.

The final stop in Philadelphia took on a patriotic theme in the City of Brotherly Love as about 2,000 believers squeezed into the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul for Mass. Beforehand, sisters knelt before the relics of St. Katharine Drexel, one of America's first saints. This year's pilgrimage placed special emphasis on the American saints who have contributed not only to the Church but also to the American story.

Pope Leo XIV delivered remarks by video at the beginning of Mass encouraging his fellow Americans to "cultivate a Eucharistic life … with eyes fixed on the heavenly one." Leo mentioned Sts. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Katharine Drexel, and John Neumann, among others.

The pilgrimage has drawn both believers and those who want to believe in something higher than themselves. This is what drew Erin Daly and her two daughters, Elsa and Lydia, to join the procession immediately following the Mass on Sunday. They were at Pope Leo's first Corpus Christi Mass in Rome last June and wanted to be in town for this special occasion. Elsa, a student at the University of Dallas, was one of many young people holding signs with spiritual messages of hope and faith.

Another banner waver, Amear Mottley, explained that he had been to Mass that weekend, was curious to know more, and joined the procession because he wanted to be close to Jesus. Asked if he was Catholic, he responded: "I don't know what I am."

Marchers came from neighboring dioceses and from across the country. Deacon Dave Matour was with his wife, Sue, and 25 people from their parish in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and the Diocese of Oakland, California, was represented by 28 Catholics in matching pink T-shirts.

Many chose to wave American flags and wear their patriotism on their sleeves. Kevin and Janet Daly from Michigan were among those who wore the "One Nation Under God" motto.

The procession eased down Broad Street under a sweltering sun with Philadelphia's City Hall behind it. A loudspeaker bellowed the Hail Mary in English and Spanish through the air while pilgrims withstood the heat, not complaining, and offering one another water, being vigilant of the elderly walkers who may have needed extra attention.

The procession turned on Girard Avenue for the final stretch to the National Shrine of St. John Neumann, the pilgrimage's final stop where the final Benediction would take place. Trumpets greeted marchers as they made their way up the steps into the church, waving their Mass programs as makeshift fans.

When the monstrance was held aloft and blessed the crowd, the heat inside the church subsided for a moment, and the exhausted gatherers got a sense of refreshment.

"We made it," joked Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez, who carried the Blessed Sacrament for the entire last leg of pilgrimage on Sunday and concluded the day with remarks mixed with levity and awe at the impact the processions have had on the communities visited: "The pilgrimage is over, "he said, "but our journey continues because Christ walks with us."

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