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St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, is one of only three people in history — after Jesus and Mary — whose birthday is celebrated in the Church's liturgy.

In fact, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 is a solemnity, meaning it is the highest form of Catholic feast day. And because it falls exactly six months before the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, it is sometimes known as "Summer Christmas."

"The Church observes the birth of John as in some way sacred; and you will not find any other of the great men of old whose birth we celebrate officially. We celebrate John's, as we celebrate Christ's," St. Augustine of Hippo said in his sermon 293.

In the Mass for the solemnity, the priest prays to God in the preface that in Christ's precursor, "St. John the Baptist, we praise your great glory, for you consecrated him for a singular honor among those born of women."

"His birth brought great rejoicing; even in the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of human salvation. He alone of all the prophets pointed out the Lamb of redemption," the prayer continues. "And to make holy the flowing waters, he baptized the very author of baptism and was privileged to bear him supreme witness by the shedding of his blood."

St. Augustine explained that "John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, 'The Law and the prophets were until John.' So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother's womb."

John's connection to Christ

Father Mauro Gagliardi, a theologian and liturgist who teaches in Rome, wrote in a 2009 article on Zenit that it is important to emphasize John the Baptist's role as "indicator." John is "a prophet who refers back to Christ."

The liturgy, Gagliardi said, does the same thing, and thus the June 24 solemnity "reminds us of this: The Christian liturgy is a powerful indicator of Christ to the peoples, like [John] the Baptist."

John the Baptist's feast day also has cosmic connections, the theologian pointed out. The fact that June 24 is close to the summer solstice demonstrates the fulfillment of the prophecy in John 3:30 that "he must increase; I must decrease," since after John's birthday the days get shorter, or "decrease," while after Jesus' birthday on Dec. 25, the days get longer, or "increase."

"This interweaving between a figure from the history of salvation — John — and the cosmic rhythms (both guided by the same God) has found a fruitful development in the devotion and liturgy of the Church," Gagliardi said.

Popular customs of 'summer Christmas'

The Church's liturgical commemoration of St. John the Baptist dates back to the fourth century.

Acknowledgement of the saint's importance can also be noted in his shared patronage, together with St. John the Apostle, of Rome's Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which is also the seat of the bishop of Rome — that is, the pope.

The night of June 23 is known in some countries, including Italy, as "St. John's Eve." Due to the solemnity's timing, shortly after the summer solstice, some of the practices connected to the feast have a pagan character, including that some refer to it as "the Night of the Witches."

Modern-day secular festivities may include concerts and theatrical performances, while Catholics usually celebrate Mass and hold religious processions.

One of the most typical customs related to St. John's Eve, both secular and religious, is the bonfire, called in some countries "St. John's Fires," which are lit in honor of the saint who "was not the light, but came to testify to the light (Jn 1:8)." Fireworks or candle-lit processions can also take the place of bonfires.

In an Angelus message on June 25, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said the feast of St. John the Baptist "reminds us that our life is entirely and always 'relative' to Christ and is fulfilled by accepting him, the Word, the Light, and the Bridegroom, whose voices, lamps, and friends we are."

"'He must increase, but I must decrease' (Jn 3:30): The Baptist's words are a program for every Christian," Benedict said.

This story was first published on June 24, 2024, and has been updated.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision June 23 that a former inmate cannot sue prison guards in their personal capacities for allegedly violating his religious rights while he was in their custody.

In the decision, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court found that Damon Landor — a Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved in violation of his religious practice — does not have legal standing to seek monetary damages from the Louisiana Department of Corrections officials responsible for the incident.

Every justice appointed by Republican presidents sided with the majority, and every justice appointed by Democratic presidents dissented from the majority in the decision in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Landor contended that when he was taken to prison, he provided the guards with a copy of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Ware v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which found that in most circumstances, shaving the head of a Rastafarian violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Landor alleges the guards threw his copy of the decision in the garbage, took him to another room, handcuffed him, held him down, and shaved his head.

In its decision the Supreme Court determined that the law does not permit lawsuits against the individual guards for such violations.

According to the ruling, the authority of the religious liberty law derives from the U.S. Constitution's spending clause. It states the federal spending power allows Congress to put conditions on the money allocated to entities, such as prisons, but that it cannot regulate the conduct of private individuals under this authority without their express consent, meaning the officials themselves are not liable for any damages.

"Adopting Mr. Landor's proposed cause of action would allow Congress to evade the consent requirement inherent in its Spending Clause authority and regulate directly the conduct of countless nonconsenting individuals in spheres traditionally reserved to the States," the ruling states.

"Such a result would be inconsistent with principles of state sovereignty and a federal government of limited and enumerated regulatory powers," it adds.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent, disagreed with the majority's interpretation of the spending clause, asserting that the ruling diminishes constitutional powers and "transforms a federal statute into an invitation to be accepted or declined, deemed binding only if each particular defendant has explicitly agreed to be penalized."

"Prisoners like Landor who suffer violations of their religious freedom in state prisons — no matter how blatant — will often be left remediless," Jackson wrote. "And encroachments on prisoners' statutory rights are likely to happen with fair frequency, as state-empowered prison officials will have little incentive to abide by federal law, even if it is handed to them on a piece of paper."

In another 6-3 decision, which was split along the same lines, the Supreme Court also ruled practitioners of the Chinese spiritual movement Falun Gong had no standing to sue Cisco Systems, Inc. in spite of allegations the company's technology was used by the Chinese government to persecute them for their religious beliefs.

The decision in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe found that the practitioners did not have standing to sue under the Alien Tort Statute. Because there was no standing, the court did not determine whether the company aided the persecution in any way, which it denies doing.

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As Pope Leo XIV carries out his global mission, the Vatican is calling on the faithful worldwide to support him through the traditional Peter's Pence collection this Sunday, June 28, the day before the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. 

No contribution is too small; every gift counts: It doesn't matter whether you can offer a grain of sand or a mountain; what truly matters is participating and giving what is within your means, according to Peter's Pence Office.

To support this initiative, the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communication have prepared a series of informational and multimedia materials.

What is Peter's Pence?

The Peter's Pence website explains that it is an offering "which may be small in amount, but holds great symbolic value," as it "demonstrates a sense of belonging to the Church and of love and trust in the Holy Father."

It is also "a concrete sign of communion with him as the successor of Peter, and of concern for the most needy, whom the pope always cares for."

Peter's Pence has two purposes. The first is "to support the mission of the Holy Father, which extends to the entire world through the proclamation of the Gospel, the promotion of integral human development, education, peace, and fraternity among peoples."

A second purpose is "to support numerous charitable works benefiting individuals, families in difficulty, and populations affected by natural disasters and wars, or those in need of assistance or development aid."

How did Peter's Pence originate?

Peter's Pence, as a donation to the pope, began to take place on a regular basis in the 7th century with the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. Over time, more European peoples joined the practice. In the Middle Ages, the term was used to designate the annual contribution made by states to the Holy See, a custom that eventually fell out of use.

In modern times, specifically around 1870, following the end of the Papal States, the practice of making material contributions to the Vatican picked up again across Europe. The pope was able to provide aid to the needy, such as those affected by an earthquake in Croatia in 1881.

How is the money used now?

The website presents reports on the use of the funds raised. In 2024, for example, donations totaled 58.5 million euros ($66.5 million) of which 13.3 million euros ($15.1 million) were used to help those most in need, funding 239 charitable projects across 66 countries.

The remaining funds — the majority of the collection — supported the broader apostolic mission of the Holy Father and the Holy See. Specifically, 61.2 million euros helped cover essential activities carried out by Vatican dicasteries and offices, including evangelization efforts, support for local churches in difficulty, formation of priests and seminarians, diplomatic work through apostolic nunciatures, education, and the promotion of integral human development and peace.

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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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday that the Eucharist is a "powerful antidote" to division in the world, calling on Catholics to "draw with faith from this source of divine life" and to allow themselves "to be transformed by the mystery we celebrate."

"Thus, by incorporating us into Christ, the Eucharist teaches us to adopt the very style of life of the Lord Jesus, which was marked by the free gift of Himself," the pope said during his June 24 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

"This gift draws us into the dynamic of unity, offering a powerful antidote to the forces of division that undermine our world, our communities, our families, and our hearts," he said.

The pope continued his catechesis on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, focusing on the Constitution "Sacrosanctum Concilium" on the sacred liturgy.

Leo highlighted the liturgical reform called for by the council fathers, especially the creation of the Lectionary, the book containing the biblical readings for liturgical celebrations.

"The liturgical reform translated this request into the treasure that is the Lectionary, the book that gathers all the biblical readings for liturgical celebrations," he said.

"This richness has been drawn from the purest source of the living Tradition, which combines fidelity with tradition; with openness to legitimate progress," the pope added, citing "Sacrosanctum Concilium."

Reflecting on the Mass, Leo said the faithful are invited "to listen to the Word of God and to be nourished at the Lord's table, where He offers Himself to the Father."

The two parts of the Mass — the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist — "are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship," he said.

"The Eucharist opens us to an understanding of Scripture, just as Scripture for its part illumines and explains the mystery of the Eucharist," the pope said, quoting Benedict XVI's apostolic exhortation "Verbum Domini."

Leo also drew on the teaching of St. Augustine, who explained the mystery of the Body of Christ to the newly baptized by citing St. Paul's words: "Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it."

"It is your own mystery that you receive," Augustine wrote, according to the pope. "To what you are, you respond: Amen, and your response is like your signature. You are told, 'The Body of Christ,' and you reply, 'Amen.' Be therefore members of the Body of Christ, so that your Amen may be true."

The pope said that through the Eucharist, Christians become what they receive: the Body of Christ.

"Thus, the Eucharist is the sacrament of the Kingdom that is to come," Leo said. "It is the Bread for the journey that leads us to our heavenly homeland, until that blessed day when 'God will be all in all.'"

He also stressed that the faithful are not passive spectators at Mass but join in offering the sacrifice "not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him."

"By participating in it, they learn 'to offer themselves; through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other,'" he said.

The pope concluded by quoting "Sacrosanctum Concilium" on the Eucharist as "a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us."

"Dear brothers and sisters," he said, "let us draw with faith from this source of divine life and allow ourselves to be transformed by the mystery we celebrate."

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. House of Representatives on June 23 passed Catholic-backed housing legislation that, if and when it is signed by President Donald Trump, is expected to expand financing for affordable housing.

Catholic Charities USA President Kerry Alys Robinson said in a June 23 statement the bill (HR 6644) "has the potential to improve the lives of so many of our fellow citizens." The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but Trump is expected to sign the bill into law on June 24.

The House cleared the measure and agreed to the version that the U.S. Senate had amended on June 22. The legislation, among other things, would adjust federal multifamily loan limits.

Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, sponsored the bill, titled "The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act."

"We applaud Congress's effort to address manufactured housing laws, veterans' access to housing, and rental assistance for the elderly and disabled through the advancement of this bill," Robinson said.

The Catholic Charities leader praised provisions in the bill related to zoning reforms, increased private investment in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, a higher public welfare investment cap for banks, changes to homeless assistance programs, and the reauthorization of the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program.

She also lauded the bill's proposed reforms to the HOME Investment Partnerships and Community Development Block Grant programs, which she said have been key resources for addressing the housing needs of low-income individuals and families.

"All of God's children deserve a safe, decent, affordable place to call home and this legislation is an important next step in providing that assurance," Robinson said.

"We look forward to continued collaboration with Congress to ensure that housing policy in our nation reflects both sound research and our shared moral commitment to protect the most vulnerable."

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The EWTN Global Catholic Network received widespread recognition at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, including 30 first-place awards across its many divisions: EWTN Digital, EWTN Studios, EWTN Publishing, and EWTN News.

EWTN's top awards reflected the network's comprehensive coverage of major events in the life of the Catholic Church around the world, including reporting on the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the lives of persecuted Christians.

The awards were announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Catholic Media Conference, held June 16–19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2025 across EWTN's  multimedia platforms; from social media and video production to book and newspaper publishing, photography, advertising, and English and Spanish language journalism — showcasing the network's continued innovation, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service of the Church.

"These honors reflect the extraordinary dedication of our teams across television, radio, digital, print, and news media, who work every day to create opportunities for people around the world to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church," said Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN.

"As the media landscape continues to evolve, EWTN remains committed to meeting audiences wherever they are, through both traditional and emerging platforms, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel and the Real Presence of Christ are accessible to the faithful and to those who may be encountering Him for the first time," Warsaw added.

EWTN's papal photographer, Daniel Ibáñez, was named Photographer of the Year. In awarding the distinction, CMA's judges noted that in the work of Ibáñez "each photo is thoughtfully framed and immediately connects with the audience."

Meanwhile, EWTN Digital's Debbie Cowden was named Social Media Professional of the Year for her "strong, innovative, and enterprising content."

The EWTN News special report in English and in Spanish, "Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?," won first place in the category of Best Video — Hot Topic — Pope Francis. Judges called the report "one of the strongest entries in this year's awards" and "a must watch."

EWTN News' live coverage of the election of Pope Leo XIV, "Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter's Square," received the top award in the category of Best Use of Live Video in Social Media.

The network's coverage of the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), which featured Pope Leo XIV's historic first digital encounter with young U.S. Catholics, earned two first-place awards, for Best Multimedia Package — News and Best Social Media Campaign — General Interest.

From EWTN Publishing, "Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope" by Dr. Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, received second place recognition.

At the prestigious Gabriel Awards, which includes competition with both secular and religious media, EWTN Studios' romantic-comedy streaming series "James the Less" won first place for Best Video for Digital Media for its second season. The show previously won best video for its first season in 2024.

EWTN News also secured first place in Single News Story for the documentary  "Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq," which has garnered over a million views on YouTube alone.

The National Catholic Register earned 17 total awards, including 10 first-place honors, and once again received the top distinction as Best Catholic Newspaper, the sixth such recognition in the last decade.

The publication also won first place for its reporting on the Jubilee Year and on emerging Catholic population hubs across the United States.

The network achieved an exceptional sweep in Best Video — Feature (Radio, TV and Film Company), taking first, second, third and honorable mention for its videos "From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story," "John Paul II: Twenty Years Later," "Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation," and "Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck."

Similarly, EWTN News captured first, second, and third place in two categories, Best Video — Personality Profile and Best Video — Pro-life Activities (Radio, TV and Film Company). The winning personality profile videos included "Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer & His Catholic Faith," "Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?," and "North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years."

The best-in-class pro-life videos were for EWTN's "Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation," "Flash Mob Against Euthanasia," and "National Celebrate Life Rally."

The EWTN News Spanish-language service, ACI Prensa, also took home numerous recognitions with 10 awards, including four first place wins.

"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers for excellence in Catholic journalism and storytelling," said Montse Alvarado, president and COO of EWTN News.

"The past year marked a defining moment not only for EWTN News but for the global Church, as we helped audiences navigate the historic passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope."

"Those extraordinary events challenged us to innovate, deepen our coverage, and create new ways of reaching people with meaningful, faith-filled content at a moment when the world was watching," she said.

Now in its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. The network's 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.

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Catholic Voices for Israel is asking Pope Leo XIV to clarify the Church's position on Zionism and the modern state of Israel.

In an open letter addressed to Pope Leo on June 22, the group's co-founders André Villeneuve and Father Antoine Lévy, OP, are asking the Holy Father to answer the question, "Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God's providence — or should they not?"

While the pair note that "the Church's reticence to pronounce on the theological meaning of the State of Israel has served a real purpose," they proceed to express concerns over "a number of Catholic commentators" who they contend "have interpreted this silence as a formal dismissal of the very possibility of ascribing any theological resonance to the founding of the State of Israel and to its enduring existence."

"The Church's silence regarding Israel's right to exist — the reluctance to go beyond mere political recognition, on a par with that extended to the still inchoate State of Palestine (2013) — gives ground to all those Catholic voices that wish to lend this campaign of denigration the authority of the Church's own name," the letter manifests.

Villeneuve and Lévy argue that "the 'theological silence' that has prevailed until now would risk doing more harm to the Church's witness than the prudence it was meant to preserve."

'For Zion's Sake'

Villeneuve and Lévy's letter to Pope Leo comes as part of an effort by Catholic Voices for Israel to make "a biblically grounded, theologically informed case for Catholic solidarity with Israel."

In its founding statement, "For Zion's Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel," the recently formed Catholic Voices for Israel (CVFI) calls for Catholic Zionism to be understood as "supporting the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their ancient, biblical homeland; acknowledging God's love for Zion and his promise of the land in Scripture; recognizing that these promises were never revoked in the New Testament; and remaining open to seeing the work of divine providence in Israel's return to the land — a possibility the Church has not foreclosed."

Since launching CVFI last month, "For Zion's Sake" has garnered 165 signatories, including prominent names such as Gavin D'Costa of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and Jennifer Bryson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Addressing the question of his motivation for helping to spearhead the initiative, Villeneuve, an associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, told EWTN News that Catholic antisemitism has "become much more prevalent" since Oct. 7, 2023 on two levels: the political level and the theological and biblical level.

"All the prophets consistently reaffirm God's covenant with Israel and his promises that he will return them back to their land. So why aren't Catholics taking that seriously?" Villeneuve said. "As if this is just an evangelical, dispensationalist-type of idea, when Scripture is really quite clear about it? These promises and prophecies are never abolished in the New Testament."

One of the four "Guiding Principles" in CVFI's Charter asserts the importance of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the modern State of Israel, quoting Pope Benedict XVI who said in a 2018 letter to Rabbi Arie Folger that "it is not difficult, I believe, to see in the creation of the State of Israel the fidelity of God to Israel is revealed in a mysterious way."

While Villeneuve and the Charter both make the case for a Catholic Zionism and recognition of biblical significance for the modern state of Israel, other Catholic public intellectuals argue that the lack of official teaching leaves room for Catholics to disagree or form alternate opinions.

Indeed, in the same 2018 letter to Rabbi Folger, Benedict XVI says "the state of Israel cannot be seen to theologically represent fulfillment of the Land promise, but rather as a secular state which of course has religious foundations."

Outside perspectives on the effort

"The Charter is strongest when it grounds itself in truths the Church has clearly affirmed," Simone Rizkallah, manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund, told EWTN News.

"Where the Charter moves beyond settled doctrine is in its attempt to reflect on the theological significance of the modern State of Israel," she said, explaining that the Catholic Church has never taught that the modern State of Israel was biblically prophesied, nor rejected the idea that "the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland might bear theological significance in light of God's enduring fidelity to the Jewish people."

"On these questions there remains room for legitimate theological exploration and debate among Catholics," Rizkallah, who is not a signatory to the Charter, said.

In addition, Rizkallah pointed to the perspective of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his framing of the issue: "[Pizzaballa] put his finger on an important aspect of the discussion when he observed: "While Europeans primarily view Israel as a state, for Jews it is much more than that."

"Too often Catholics discuss Israel exclusively as a political entity without adequately appreciating the religious, historical, and covenantal significance that the Land of Israel holds within the Jewish self-understanding," she said. "Recognizing that reality does not require agreement with every policy of the Israeli government, but it does require taking Jewish self-understanding seriously."

Rizkallah, who is also a founding member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, said she welcomed the charter's rejection of dispensationalism, dual-covenant theology, political absolutism, and the notion that Israel should be exempt from moral scrutiny. She further praised the document's acknowledgement of the dignity and concerns of Palestinians and local Christians.

"One reason I believe this conversation is so important is that, despite the tremendous progress in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate, there are signs that certain anti-Jewish attitudes are reappearing within parts of Catholic discourse," she said. "I do not mean that large numbers of Catholics are racial antisemites, nor do I mean that the Church's official teaching has changed. On the contrary, the Church's teaching on the Jewish people remains one of the great achievements of the post-conciliar era."

"The challenge facing Catholics today is not only to reject overt antisemitism, but also to ensure that our theological, political, and moral judgments are shaped by what the Church actually teaches about the Jewish people," Rizkallah pointed out.

A 'work of God'

For his part, David Moss, longtime president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics in the U.S., praised CVFI's initiative.

"I am totally in agreement with this new Catholic initiative in support of Israel," Moss told EWTN News. "It can only be a work of God that His chosen people, the people Israel (aka the Jews), would survive the holocaust in Christian Europe, and then three years after the end of World War II return to their ancient homeland."

Moss emphasized that "it is way past time for Catholics to stand up for the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the many Jewish traditions of Jesus and His people upon which the Catholic faith is based."

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Throughout 2026, a museum in Puebla, Mexico, is hosting the exhibition "When Faith Challenged Power," which depicts the history of the Cristero War, a popular uprising against religious persecution in Mexico that frequently goes unmentioned in education and public discourse.

Marking the centenary of the outbreak of the conflict, also known as the La Cristiada, the exhibition on display at the museum at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP by its Spanish acronym) aims to highlight "everything involved in the defense of religious freedom" in early 20th-century Mexico, and how Mexicans "decided to defend something that was important to them."

Mariana Cruz Ugarte, coordinator of the UPAEP Museum, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the exhibition presents "a reflection that seems very pertinent both today and always: what is important to us, and why is it worth defending?"

A war Mexico rarely talks about

Although tensions between the Church and the Mexican state were rooted in the anticlerical 1917 Constitution, the Cristero War erupted in 1926 when the so-called "Law on Tolerance of Religious Worship" or the "Calles Law," named after then president Plutarco Elías Calles, went into effect in July of that year.

The regulations promoted and enforced by Calles severely restricted religious freedom, banning public worship outside of churches, prohibiting religious attire, dissolving religious orders, and deporting foreign priests.

Faced with the restrictions, Mexican bishops decided to suspend religious services. Tensions with the authorities escalated, and groups of Catholic faithful across various parts of Mexico spontaneously took up arms against federal repression.

Many of these men and women faced persecution while shouting "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" ("Long live Christ the King!") — a rallying cry that gave rise to the name by which they would become known: the "Cristeros."

"There is talk of more than 250,000 deaths in the Cristero War resulting from the armed conflict," noted Cruz, pointing out that despite the magnitude of that war, it is a "little-known" event.

In Mexico, she said, the War of Independence in the first half of the 19th century and the Mexican Revolution in the 1910s are "very deeply ingrained" in our minds, yet the Cristero War is "a moment in our history that little is said about."

"That's why it is important" to remember this war, she said, for "when we forget these lessons, which cost our nation dearly in blood, we risk the possibility that it could happen again, that it could continue to occur in other ways."

Furthermore, she emphasized, "even though this happened long ago, it helps us reflect on the importance of dialogue versus a response that descends into violence."

An exhibition that seeks to surprise

The immersive exhibition invites visitors to witness the private lives and concerns of the Cristeros "as if we were observing it ourselves," and to see "how people's lives changed" due to the war.

"That really adds to the element of surprise, because people don't imagine the characters speaking," noted Cruz, pointing out how visitors approaching certain areas of the exhibition are startled by sounds recreating the lives of persecuted Catholics.

In this way, it feels as though "they are living their lives and we are spying on them," even witnessing the "fear" experienced by those who "decided to defend something that was important to them."

"We wanted to surprise people," she emphasized, noting that this is "an exhibition that differs greatly from what we have traditionally presented at the UPAEP Museum."

In one area of ??the exhibition, two women can be heard conversing in hushed tones. "We are seeing these women making flags that they're going to donate to the Cristero army," the museum coordinator explained.

Then, one makes one's way in the dead of night to the center of a village, where the church stands closed and guarded by the federal army.

There, "we approach very discreetly so as not to interrupt what is taking place, the way people continued to live out their faith in secret, inside their homes, in the early hours of the morning," she added.

Inside one of the "houses" recreated by the exhibition, another exchange can be heard: "The priest is celebrating Mass, and they ask him to please lower his voice so they won't be discovered," Cruz explained.

"We seek to stir emotions but also to engage the senses," she said, noting that visitors "can even smell the grass in the village center."

The exhibition is further enriched by authentic Cristero artifacts ranging from flags and photographs to clothes and even weapons used by those who took up arms against the Mexican government's repression.

The UPAEP Museum coordinator emphasized that the exhibition aims to foster "reflection on peaceful coexistence," as well as "the importance of dialogue, always as a means to facilitate and reach conflict resolution."

However, a key point, she noted, is "the importance of getting involved and staying informed about what is happening in political life."

"One thing we can see is that political decisions affect people's lives," she said, pointing out that such decisions "transform even our everyday lives, the way we are accustomed to living them."

This can be especially relevant when "it seems there are young people today who do not feel particularly compelled" to pay attention to these developments.

The exhibition at the UPAEP Museum is open to the public free of charge and will remain open until Jan. 16, 2027.

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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 Catholic religious community in Melbourne, Australia says it will be forced to close after nearly two centuries as it moves to settle a large number of abuse claims brought against it.

Christian Brothers Oceania Province said on June 22 it was proposing a plan to facilitate the "orderly distribution of our remaining property, funds and other assets" to victims of abuse by congregation members.

The organization said in a press release that "some members" of the congregation had caused "enormous harm through their criminal sexual abuse of children."

The group said it is facing a "pivotal moment" in which a "very difficult financial position" led it to propose the distribution scheme. Either through that scheme or through "liquidation," the group said its Oceania province would "inevitably come to an end."

The congregation has multiple chapters on every continent except Antartica and has faced numerous sexual abuse allegations elsewhere. The Oceania province includes congregations in Australia, New Zealand, and Papa New Guinea.

The organization said that over roughly the past 45 years it has already made payments to abuse victims "in excess of $480 million." Yet in the past decade the number of claims against the organization has "accelerated," leading the group to propose the distribution scheme.

If the proposal does not receive court approval, the congregation said, then it will "have no option but to enter liquidation."

"In both cases," the group said, the Oceania province will "cease to exist."

The organization's press release noted that it is "financially and canonically distinct" from the "broader Catholic Church," meaning it has "no ability to compel other Catholic institutions" to help with the financial payout.

The province's assets include approximately 36 properties throughout Australia with a total value of about $216 million, the group said.

The proposed distribution scheme would also account for the future care of the remaining brothers in the province, the congregation said. A total of 176 brothers are still living throughout the province with an average age of 80 years.

The interests of the abuse victims "remain our highest priority," the congregation said.

The congregation first established a presence in Australia 183 years ago, in 1843, the group said, and while it argued that there is "much to be proud of" in its work, its history of sex abuse is "shameful and painful."

"It is a truth we do not resile from, and it is this which has brought us to this point today," the group said.

The Congregation of Christian Brothers was founded in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice in Waterford, Ireland. It was formally recognized by the Holy See in 1820.

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One year has passed since St. Elias Church in the Dweilaa district of Damascus, Syria, was bombed, killing at least 25 worshippers and injuring as many as over 100 people.

For many Syrian Christians, the terrorist attack became a defining moment that shook the community in a way not seen since the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

Speaking to ACI MENA, EWTN News' Arabic-language news service, Father Yohanna Shahada, pastor of St. Elias Church, recalled not only a year marked by grief, tears, and fear, but also one shaped by hope born of prayer, faith, and the solidarity of the Church's living stones, supporting one another through suffering.

One memory from the days immediately following the attack remains especially vivid in Shahada's mind. Rather than waiting to receive consolation, grieving families found themselves comforting the priests. Many of the wounded, despite their own pain, sought to encourage those serving the parish.

Shahada recalled one parishioner who underwent surgery on his leg. When the priest asked how he was doing, the man replied: "Father, as long as you are standing, we are well."

The bombing revived memories of war, destruction, and fear that many had spent years trying to overcome, Shahada said. Even today, concerns about the future and the possibility of another attack remain present among many families.

The families of victims of the church bombing faced not only the emotional pain of losing loved ones but also significant financial hardship, as many of those killed were the primary breadwinners for their households.

According to Shahada, approximately 150 people were injured in the attack. Their injuries ranged from minor to moderate, with some requiring surgery and others suffering life-altering wounds that resulted in the loss of a limb.

The priest emphasized that from the first moments after the bombing, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi closely followed developments and directed efforts to provide emergency assistance, hospital care, medication, and the medical treatment needed by the injured.

Shahada also praised the work of the Church's Department of Ecumenical Relations, which organized individual and group psychological support sessions. He highlighted the contributions of Church institutions and charitable organizations, including Caritas and the St. Ephrem Organization, as well as numerous community initiatives that stood beside affected families during their time of need.

Continuing support

The months following the attack were marked by sustained efforts to address urgent needs and help families rebuild their lives, Shahada said. These initiatives included assisting people in finding employment, supporting small business projects, and helping cover educational expenses for children from affected households whenever possible.

"No assistance can replace the loss of a loved one," he said. "But these efforts are a tangible expression of the Church's commitment to its people and its determination not to leave them alone in their suffering."

Reflecting on the spiritual dimension of the tragedy, Shahada said the experience, despite the evil and pain it brought, ultimately deepened many people's relationship with the Church and strengthened their appreciation for prayer and hope.

"The miracles we need are not born from anger or hatred," he said. "Those only deepen divisions. Prayer for those who harm us, however, opens the door to true transformation."

He pointed to the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus as an example of such transformation. Evil, he said, resembles thorns that grow and spread on their own, while a field of wheat requires patience, effort, and constant care to bear fruit.

Looking back, Shahada noted that although the bombing itself lasted only seconds, the restoration of the church has taken more than a year because every part of the building sustained damage.

He expressed hope that the faithful will be able to celebrate the rededication of St. Elias Church next autumn.

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

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