Catholic News

American priest Father Michael Sliney, LC, recently took part in a pilgrimage along the St. Charbel Trail in Lebanon and said he was deeply marked by the experience, describing the discovery as a "hidden gem." Now back in the United States, he said he hopes to promote the trail among American Catholics, especially Lebanese Americans, and encourage them to experience it for themselves.

St. Charbel Trail, known in the region as Darb Mar Charbel, is a 80.8-mile pilgrimage and hiking trail that crosses some of Lebanon's most striking natural and spiritual landscapes, linking monasteries, villages, and historic sites associated with St. Charbel and the Maronite tradition.

The trail is currently divided into two main routes. The northern route stretches roughly 50 miles, beginning at the Monastery of St. Anthony of Qozhaya in the Qadisha Valley and continuing through sites including St. Charbel's birthplace and the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, where Pope Leo XIV prayed during his visit to Lebanon in 2025.

The southern route covers approximately 31 miles, beginning at the Maronite Patriarchal See in Bkerke and passing through Harissa, home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, one of the country's most important Marian pilgrimage sites, and ending at St. Charbel's tomb in Annaya.

A landscape shaped by centuries of faith

Sliney, who has spent more than 27 years in priestly ministry serving young people and families in Washington, D.C., and New York City, said the trail "creates a peaceful, silent environment where you can actually hear God."

That sense was especially strong, he said, in the Qadisha Valley, also known as the Valley of the Saints, a historic center of Maronite monastic life. "I felt this is where the heart of God is beating," he said. "It's beating in the Valley of the Saints. It's beating in these monasteries."

For Sliney, walking through the valley felt "almost like going back to a time capsule." He said he was struck by the continuity of monastic life there, where Christians have prayed for centuries in monasteries and caves carved into the mountains.

At the Cave of St. Anthony, which dates back to the fourth century, that history became particularly tangible. "For 1,700 years people have been coming here to pray," he said. "It's hard to imagine… really since the time of Christ almost, people have been praying in that particular cave."

The people along the trail

More than the monasteries, caves, and churches, what affected Sliney most during the pilgrimage, he said, were the people he encountered, especially the monks and nuns.

He described the nuns he met as "dynamic," "happy," and "joyful." The monks left a similar impression. "I was very, very impressed by the fervor, the humility, the joy, and the dedication of these monks," he said. "I really believe the Valley of the Saints is such a holy place because of these monks and these nuns."

Sliney said he was also deeply marked by the resilience, hospitality, and spirit of service he encountered among Lebanese people more broadly.

He recalled being welcomed to celebrate Mass in the house of St. Charbel and being invited to wear Maronite vestments. He was also moved by small, personal gestures from people he had only just met.

At one monastery, a monk gave him a bag of medals of the saints that he had collected since childhood, asking him to distribute them among the pilgrims. The monk then offered him a rosary he had made for himself.

Family life also stood out to him. He recalled entering restaurants and seeing families of 15 or 20 people gathered around the same table.

A path back to faith and heritage

Sliney wants more people to experience the trail. He said he believes American Catholics would benefit from making the pilgrimage but says Lebanese Americans in particular should be among the first to rediscover it.

"I think they need to rediscover the beauty of their faith and the beauty of their heritage," he said. "I think it would spark a faith in them that needs to be rekindled."

While acknowledging the opportunities American life has offered many Lebanese families, Sliney said he worries that they can also become absorbed by "materialism" and "noise."

"I think Lebanon — the peace, the serenity, the simplicity of this country and of the people — is something not just they need, but I think we need as Americans," he said. "Our culture could use the silence so we can hear the whisper of God."

For Lebanese living abroad, he sees the trail as more than a pilgrimage route. He believes it could become a way of reconnecting them with a faith and heritage that may have weakened across generations. "I think it would spark a faith in them that needs to be rekindled," he said.

"I really believe St. Charbel is behind this trail. Our world today needs to learn from the simplicity and the humility and the joy of the monks and of the nuns and of the people of Lebanon. And I think the trail will allow them to experience that."

Is Lebanon safe for pilgrims?

Sliney also pushed back against perceptions of Lebanon as uniformly unsafe. He said he felt safer in Lebanon than in Washington, D.C., while acknowledging the ongoing war in the south, which he did not visit.

"Lebanon being a very unsafe [place] to go to is a false narrative. And I feel it does an injustice to the country," he noted.

He also described the hiking as "pretty intense," with steep climbs and descents — despite being a marathon runner himself.

As parts of the trail are still being developed and funds are being raised, he said he plans to return to Lebanon to complete it once more sections are open.

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The Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Rose of Lima (1586–1617) on Aug. 23, calling attention to the most significant first-class relic of the beloved saint: her skull, which is preserved in the Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary at St. Dominic Convent in the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Friar Luis Enrique Ramírez, a Dominican priest and rector of the basilica located in Lima's historic center, explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, how the relic is preserved and where it is kept within this historic church entrusted to the Order of Preachers.

"St. Rose's skull has been here in the basilica since the late 1800s, around the time this neoclassical altarpiece was created," the priest explained, standing before the reliquary housing the first-class relic. The reliquary, which also holds significant relics of St. Martin de Porres and St. John Macías, "consists of two parts: One section holds the skull itself, which wears a crown of roses that was originally gold but is now silver," the priest noted, adding that the original crown was stolen.

The other part is a small box containing some of her bones, he said.

There is also a tablecloth she embroidered, which serves as an example "of the work she used to do."

The Dominican friar also noted that over time, her bones "have been divided into minuscule fragments, and relics of St. Rose of Lima are found in a great number of places all over the world."

St. Rose's house, located very close to St. Dominic Convent, preserves 10 objects belonging to the first saint of the Americas, such as her betrothal ring to the Lord, soil from her grave, and a handwritten letter.

Why are there relics of saints like St. Rose of Lima?

Ramírez explained that the relics of saints represent "a way for the faithful to share in the holiness of the person they venerate. Being close to the saint is a very ancient tradition in the Church."

By being near saints' relics, the faithful can "share in their holiness; it's a way to find encouragement. It's also a way to help you, in some sense, to strive to live your life in a state of grace."

The Dominican priest noted that given the current trade in relics and the risk of counterfeits, the Holy See has established clearer and stricter regulations for handling requests for a saint's relics, particularly to verify their authenticity. This process requires authorization from a bishop and, in the case of St. Rose, from the Dominicans.

Plaque commemorating the mystical betrothal of St. Rose of Lima

Inside the basilica, on the left side of the nave, there is a plaque on the floor marking the exact spot where St. Rose of Lima's mystical betrothal took place in 1617 — the moment she consecrated herself entirely to the Lord after hearing the words "Rose, be my spouse."

According to Ramírez, the saint had come to the site of the former Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary to bid farewell, as she was preparing to become a Poor Clare nun; her friends had raised funds to enable her to enter the convent with the required dowry, as was the custom at the time.

"She came to bid farewell to Our Lady of the Rosary represented by the image that at that time was in her chapel, right where the plaque is now, and that is where the phenomenon occurred in which she became so heavy she could not be lifted, and where the mystical betrothal to the Infant Jesus also took place," the Dominican friar explained.

"She realized that God did not want her to be a nun but rather a laywoman, so she decided to join the Dominican Third Order as a laywoman, here at St. Dominic Convent in Lima," he added.

The 'new' chapel of St. Rose of Lima and another first-class relic

During a tour of the St. Dominic Convent Museum, Ramírez showed EWTN News a "new" chapel, erected about 10 years ago in a space that had previously been the room of another Dominican friar.

"On the main altar stands the image of St. Rose of Lima, the patron saint of Peru, America, and the Philippines, which is carried on a litter during the Aug. 29–30 processions," the priest explained.

Beneath the image "lies a relic: the shoulder blade of St. Rose of Lima. And everything in the chapel is dedicated to her. We have paintings, both old and new, including of St. Catherine of Siena, to whom St. Rose was devoted, as well as images of St. Rose's 'Doctorcito' ['Little Doctor,' her affectionate name for the Child Jesus], the image to which she held great devotion." There is also Our Lady of the Rosary of the Creoles' Confraternity and "the most important sculpture: the marble work by Melchiorre Cafà, which was present at St. Rose's beatification ceremony at Santa Sabina Basilica" in Rome in 1668.

What lessons can Catholics today learn from St. Rose of Lima?

"Let's remember that St. Rose of Lima was a laywoman; that is, she was not a religious sister but someone who lived in her own home," the Dominican priest noted.

Ramírez recalled how the saint worked at various tasks such as embroidery and helping in other households to contribute to the support of her family. At the same time, he continued, "St. Rose was fully aware of God's presence in her life and engaged in profound mystical prayer, imitating St. Catherine of Siena in what is known as the inner cell."

This, he said, means that "she did not have a physical cell to retreat to, as in a monastery, but she did have an inner cell where she could take refuge, and indeed she had many mystical experiences in that regard."

Rose of St. Mary, as she is also known, lived a life "deeply committed to the suffering and the needy in her society, to the poor who needed her help not just with her counsel but also with medical care, comforting, and assistance in general."

In this way, Ramírez emphasized, St. Rose of Lima is "a very contemporary example" for any Catholic today. Like St. Rose, he said, "you can work to earn a living, you can commit yourself to mystical prayer, and you can commit yourself to social work in the service of the needy," living a "committed life within our Church and, furthermore, in the spirit of our Dominican charism."

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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Pope Leo XIV met with sick and disabled residents of the city of Rimini, Italy on Aug. 22, urging them to "follow the Lord by taking an active part in the life of the Church."

The meeting came at the end of a whirlwind day of travel for the pope, who visited the tiny landlocked country of San Marino before making an appearance at the 47th Meeting for Friendship Among the Peoples in Rimini.

In his meeting with those suffering from illness and disabilities, which took place at Rimini Cathedral, the pope said the ancient church signified to the sick and poor: "You are home."

Jesus, the Holy Father said, worked to "heal [sick people] and restore to them a life worthy of their dignity."

He urged the assembly to take part in Church life "in the parish, in associations, and in places of welcome and service."

The pope subsequently said Mass at the Port of Rimini, where in his homily he told the faithful that "everything we are and have is a gift from God."

He said every baptized Christian is oriented toward "embracing, gathering, welcoming, liberating, forgiving [and] emancipating anyone who is a prisoner of sin and its consequence."

Referring to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans, the pope said: "God is simple, because he is pure charity, and calls us also to love with a heart similar to his, conforming our ways to his ways and our thoughts to his thoughts."

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Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Italian city of Rimini on Aug. 22 to visit the 47th Meeting for Friendship Among the Peoples, telling about 60,000 attendees that "love is the force that can transform the world."

Upon arrival after a brief visit to the country of San Marino, Leo addressed a spontaneous greeting to the people gathered in the auditorium, expressing his joy and pointing out that "the loudest applause should be for Jesus Christ."

"Our hearts, so big and capable of loving, should never be closed. Let's find the way together to build a world of peace and love," he said.

In his speech to the gathering, Pope Leo recounted the teachings of his immediate predecessors on social friendship, fraternity and union, highlighting the value of Rimini's meeting to achieve these ideals. The annual event is hosted by the international organization Communion and Liberation.

He assured the assembly that "in recognizing our dignity as children of God, we come into contact with what originally unites human beings, beyond all diversity, separation or conflict."

"We can identify with each other, listen to each other and establish friendship, between individuals and, therefore, also between peoples. Before borders, definitions and institutions, there are always people," he added.

Reflecting on the pastoral constitution Gaudium et spes of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo did not hesitate to affirm that "it is a time of responsibility" among men and that it is love that is the foundation of a fraternal society.

"Following Jesus Christ after the tragedies and the new beginnings of the twentieth century implies, in fact, a clear awareness: Evil is not fought with evil. As in heaven, as on earth, love is the law of life, the method of redemption of the crucified Messiah," he said.

"Faced with the false realism that rearms minds, words and nations, the current Catholic culture must counteract the realism of mercy, which maintains that enemies cannot exist and that everyone, even adversaries, are brothers to whom they look into the eyes and receive with sincerity," he added.

Addressing especially young people, Leo told them that they "are a sign that the future is a promise, not a threat" and witnesses of a love that "continues to inspire hope."

"Love moves, drives, awakens from lethargy, inspires new vocations and calls us to take risks. Get involved! Open up to true universality, expanding your ties beyond any too close affiliation," he said.

"In every corner of the world, especially in the margins and among those who suffer, you will find those willing to build the civilization of love. Do not allow anyone to belittle this word, which is the very name of God: 'God is love,'" said the Holy Father.

"In love, there is never coercion or indoctrination; there is never seduction, deception or manipulation. Love resides only in freedom, in sincere exchange, in generous self-giving."

Finally, he invited young people to remain devoted to Christ to testify, without boasting, in the midst of today's world.

"May the Holy Spirit instruct us in the practice of communion. That gives us pleasure for [the Holy Spirit], appreciation for him and hope in him. May he continue to guide us, dear brothers and sisters, with that love 'that moves the sun and the other stars'," he concluded.

This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 22 arrived in San Marino, launching a pastoral visit on the occasion of the country's 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

The Holy Father was also scheduled to visit the Italian city of Rimini, where the Meeting for Friendship Between Peoples takes place.

The pope left Rome by helicopter around 8 a.m. and arrived 45 minutes later at the Torraccia airfield in San Marino. There he was received by the Captains Regent Alice Mina and Vladimiro Selva who were accompanied by various local officials.

Also present in the welcome delegation was the apostolic nuncio in Italy and the Republic of San Marino, Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra, as well as Monsignor Domenico Beneventi, the bishop of San Marino-Montefeltro.

In a telegram addressed to Italian President Sergio Mattarella — sent by custom as the pope was leaving Italian territory — Leo expressed his greetings, accompanied "with fervent wishes for the spiritual, civil and social progress of my beloved Italy."

Upon his arrival, military honors were given to the pope, after which a private conversation was held between the pontiff and the captains regent in the Palazzo Publico. The Holy Father also met with local authorities and representatives of civil society.

Later, the captains regent addressed a few words to the pope, who in turn gave a speech in which he said he was enormously pleased to visit San Marino, which has the honor of being "the oldest republic in the world."

The pope thanked the captains regents for their invitation and for the warm welcome they gave him. He stressed the importance of the 100 years of relations between the Vatican and San Marino.

"This connection is old due to its long historical coexistence, but at the same time recent if we consider that just a century ago, in April 1926, diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the serene Republic of San Marino were formalized," he said.

The pope then reflected on the value of freedom in personal life and in the events of a nation, pointing out that "there is no true civil freedom without personal freedom."

"This freedom is granted and guaranteed, ultimately, by God, whose voice resonates in the consciousness of every human being," he said.

"Promoting freedom means defending the space of consciousness. And here our thoughts are addressed to the many men and women who, in all times and places, are martyrs of freedom because they testify to the primacy of conscience," he added.

The pope highlighted the value of figures such as Saint Thomas More, patron saint of rulers and politicians, who inspire those who exercise power to remain faithful to their consciences "even in times of great adversity, witnesses of true freedom, the freedom that comes from being sons and daughters of God."

At the same time, Pope Leo remarked that freedom is realized "in giving, in communion, in encounter and in dialogue," being lived according to the Gospel. In addition, he continued, freedom is also "a constant commitment to active and positive participation in peacebuilding."

Finally, the Holy Father pointed out that San Marino can be a "laboratory" of good policies, highlighting the "human care" that is expressed in "the protection of every life, at every stage, from conception to natural death."

"This concern for others has been a distinctive feature of the history of San Marino since its beginnings," he said.

"This sensitivity is also the result of the Christian tradition of this country and the constant and positive collaboration between the political authorities and the bishop in the pursuit of the common good," he said.

This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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In the small landlocked country of San Marino on Aug. 22, Pope Leo XIV called on young people to open "the door of their heart" to God, assuring them that the faithful "only find authentic freedom in Jesus Christ."

After his arrival in San Marino, one of the smallest and oldest republics in the world, and following a meeting with the country's captains regent, the pope went to the Basilica of San Marino. There, together with priests and the faithful, he worshiped the Blessed Sacrament and venerated the relics of Saint Marinus.

"I'm glad to meet you in this basilica," the pope said in a speech after the moment of prayer. "I would like us to live this moment together as a pause in our common path in the footsteps of Christ."

Addressing especially young people, the Holy Father recalled the words spoken by his predecessor Benedict XVI when visiting San Marino in 2011: "Do not stay in the partial, immediate answers [...], easier at first and more comfortable, which can give some moments of happiness, of exaltation, of drunkenness, but that do not lead you to the true joy of living."

Benedict XVI had told pilgrims at the time: "Your heart is an open window to infinity!" Addressing the faithful on Aug. 22, Pope Leo said: "Well, dear young people: keep that window open!"

"Follow with the gaze of the soul the paths that trace in you the great longings for beauty, goodness and life that you carry in your heart," the pope said.

"If you carefully observe their journey and listen to your voice, they will lead you to the top, to meet God, where He seeks and waits for you; and, with his help, your dreams will have the necessary strength to leave a mark on history and improve it," he added.

As a "second call," the pope said to young people: "Enthusiastically embrace your mission in the world! Do it, first of all, trying to understand what the call is for you, unique for each one, and value its greatness."

"Then, give yourself to him and invest without reservation all the richness of the gifts that God has granted you," he continued, encouraging them not to be "fear of making demanding decisions, such as marriage, consecration, orderly ministry, professional life or social and political commitment."

The Holy Father also expressed his "sincere gratitude to the priests, catechists and educators," who "work for the human and Christian growth of young people," and highlighted their "hidden, but very important" work of helping parents, who are "first responsible for the education of their children in faith."

"The family, in fact, is the first place of formation in the faith, the natural bosom in which the Gospel is learned from childhood and breathed on a daily basis," he said.

He encouraged the faithful to establish "an educational pact, so that parents feel involved, rediscover the faith themselves in a new way and have the joy of transmitting to their children the Christian values of which they are custodians."

While warning that "we live in a world wounded by numerous conflicts," the pope assured the assembly that, in the face of "these disturbing tendencies," the response of believers "can be no other than to travel the path of the Gospel with an even greater conviction."

Towards the end of his address inside the basilica, the pope encouraged the faithful to live in communion, giving "testimony of unity in our communities: among the parishes and, within them, between pastors and faithful, among the different charisms and ministries."

After concluding the meeting inside the basilica, the Holy Father addressed a greeting to the faithful who were outside and spoke again in a special way the young people present: "Open the door of your heart, always listen to Jesus Christ and never be afraid to listen to what Jesus wants to say to each of you."

"Recognize in yourselves the value of life. The value of your life, of you, who were created by God and are loved by God: your life has a great value for us, for the Church, for your family and for the whole world," said the pope.

This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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From practicing law to answering a call to the priesthood, Bishop Robert Boxie's faith journey has led to multiple milestones, including becoming the youngest U.S. bishop and the first African American to be appointed to the leadership role in nearly a decade.

With an Ivy League law degree, a successful career, and the ability to travel, Robert Boxie III seemed to have it all. Yet, he said he felt the Lord calling him to something even greater: religious life.

Originally from southern Louisiana, Boxie grew up where "Catholicism runs deep in the soil," he said in an Aug. 21 interview with "EWTN News In Depth" host Catherine Hadro.

With that faith instilled in him, Boxie went on to attend Vanderbilt University, where he received a degree in chemical engineering and a second degree in music. He then worked for a year in France teaching English.

Upon returning to the U.S., he continued his education at Harvard Law School before working as a law clerk in Maryland and then as an associate at a law firm in Washington, D.C.

Then, following much discernment, he entered seminary for the Archdiocese of Washington and was ordained a priest in 2016.

After a decade as a priest, Pope Leo XIV appointed Boxie an auxiliary bishop of Washington. Cardinal Robert McElroy ordained him into the order of bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on July 8.

"It's still new. It's still fresh," he said. "The ordination … was tremendous. It was a real gift to me, and my family, and my community."

"It's a new reality that I've never experienced before, but it's one where I know that the Lord has prepared me for this moment," he said. "There have been a number of graces before the ordination, at the ordination itself, and since then. Lord's just been incredibly generous with me."

From lawyer to priest

Before attending law school, "my faith was just something very personal and very private," Boxie said. "But it was really in law school where my faith became more public, and I was able to share it with others."

Boxie joined the Catholic Law Student association and attended his first vocation retreat for the Archdiocese of Boston, where he really began to consider the priesthood.

"I eventually went on another vocation retreat for the Archdiocese of Washington to see if the first one was a fluke, or if that was just a happenstance," he said.

While discerning, "I had a great clerkship. I was at a great law firm. I was doing some good work, making some good money, living in a great part of town, really living the D.C. life, if you will. And it was fun."

"I felt as though I'd worked so hard to achieve this and wanted to see that to its natural end," he said. But, "the Lord called, and he placed this desire that kept growing, and growing, and growing that I couldn't simply ignore, or couldn't simply disregard."

A few years after his priestly ordination, Boxie began serving as chaplain at Howard University in Washington, D.C., which is "one of the premier historically Black colleges and universities in the United States."

"For the six years that I spent at Howard, I had the best job as a priest in the United States, hands down. And I would put that to any other priest in the United States," he said.

He also served as a priest in residence at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Ministry to youth and African American communities

At 45, Boxie said he has "no problem being John the Beloved [who is believed to be the youngest of the Twelve Apostles] of the bishops' conference."

Boxie feels "a responsibility" to Catholic youth who have "an incredible amount to offer — their creativity, their ideas, their perspective, their zeal and enthusiasm," he said.

Boxie's appointment marked another milestone. It was the first time since 2017 an African American has been selected as a U.S. bishop.

"It's huge, and it's much bigger than me," Boxie said. "There has been a fraught history within the Catholic Church when it comes to Black people."

"There was a significant period in the Church where African Americans were relegated as second-class citizens in the Church and in the house of God —  having to sit in the back of the church or in the choir rafters, receiving sacraments last, being denied even entry into the church."

The "Church has done an incredible amount of good as well in the Black community, especially when it comes to education and schooling," he said. "But there is still some healing that has to take place."

Following his appointment, Boxie said he believes "people feel hope" and "that the Church hasn't forgotten them."

"Black Catholic faith, Black spirituality in general, is one where you can find joy and suffering. And there's so much suffering that's going on around, and our experience is one where we can still find the joy in that. We can still find God's plan and God's providence in that," he said.

'Kindredness with the pope'

The bishop said he believes his appointment is a way to better minister and evangelize to the U.S. Black Catholic community. There are about 3 million Black Catholics in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center.

Pope Leo "has African ancestry in his blood," including family in "the Creole community in New Orleans," Boxie said. "I'm also part of that Creole community in southwest Louisiana, and so I feel a kindredness with the pope."

"He's recently spoke about his own African history and how he's had both those who were enslaved and those who enslaved other human beings. And so he's aware of that. He's sensitive to that," Boxie said.

"Even his recent statement in Magnifica Humanitas, his first encyclical, apologizing for the sin of slavery and the horrors that ensued from that," he said. "I'm so grateful for that."

"It's going to open up so many more avenues and doors for folks who have been disillusioned by the Church to take another look," Boxie said.

"Leo is different," he said. "I think he's very much continuing the tradition of past popes" while also "putting his own stamp, his own mark on it."

In continuity with Pope Francis, Pope Leo "wants to select bishops and shepherds that are close to the people, that really have a sense of where people are, the smell of the sheep, and who are on the ground, in the trenches with folk."

Mission as bishop

"I will be assisting Archbishop Cardinal McElroy, but as an auxiliary that gives me more flexibility to be out with the people," Boxie said.

For those in D.C. "who are … working on the Hill, or in law firms, or lobbying groups — I've been there and I've had that experience as well," he said.

"I feel as though I can have a special connection with the young people, young adults, that are here in the city, who are trying to navigate this space and this world, and figure out where the Lord is really calling them," he said.

"I look forward to just connecting with so many people," he said. "Because there are a number of folks who are seeking and who are searching."

"And I was there too. Seeking and searching: 'Where is the Lord in this? How is he calling me to glorify him with my life, with the gifts that he has given to me?'"

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The Dicastery for Culture and Education has confirmed to the parents of students at Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Hamburg in Germany that the Vatican document "Male and Female He Created Them" remains the authoritative guide for sex education.

With this, the Vatican appears to contradict a framework regarding sex education that the archdiocese's vicar general said must be used in all Catholic schools and that some parents reject.

Father Sascha-Philipp Geißler, SAC, implemented the document "Male, Female, Diverse: Framework for Sexual Education at Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Hamburg" first in 2025, and all Catholic schools in the archdiocese are expected to use it beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.

The framework, in line with influential sexologist Uwe Sielert, describes sexuality as "general life energy." On the issue of gender, it states: "Biological sex does not necessarily have to correspond to social identity."

Regarding conflicts of values with parents, the document notes that it may be "the school's role to 'stand on the children's side.'"

After receiving a response to their complaints to the Vatican, the Parents' Network for Child Protection and Prevention asked Hamburg's Archbishop Stefan Heße once again to withdraw the framework. They asked that it be replaced by guidelines that "in particular guarantee parental rights and child protection and are in full accordance with Catholic doctrine and the requirements of the Holy See."

Monsignor Matthias Ambros, the undersecretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, wrote in the letter dated July 6, which was obtained by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News: "After due consideration of its contents, this dicastery confirms that, with regard to the question of possible guidelines on sex education, the position remains the one set forth in the document 'Male and Female He Created Them' … published by the Congregation for Catholic Education on February 2, 2019."

According to the dicastery, the parents' petition was received on July 2. The letter thanks the parents for their "commitment to Catholic education." It does not explicitly mention the framework the Archdiocese of Hamburg wants Catholic schools to use. In fact, the dicastery did not comment on the substance of the parents' objections at all.

Based on the answer from Rome, the parents' network compared the Vatican document from 2019, which firmly rejects gender ideology, with the Hamburg framework. The comparison lists 20 contradictions the parents see. These relate to the view of human nature, the assessment of marriage and family, and parents' rights to educate their own children. The framework concept "adopts, in essential parts, the premises of that gender ideology which the congregation's letter … has expressly rejected in the spirit of respectful dialogue," the parents' network concluded.

"We ask you: Do not view our concern merely as the protest of a group of parents. Read the response from Rome and compare it with the concept that is to be implemented in Catholic schools in Hamburg. Rome has once again reaffirmed the Church's continuing position on sexual morality. If you, too, recognize the contradiction we have pointed out, we ask you: Do not remain silent! This is not merely a matter of defending our children and families but also of standing up for the teaching of our Church and remaining faithful to what it itself proclaims," the network's spokeswoman, Varinia Arauco Vera, said.

When the framework first took effect in 2025, the archdiocese described it as a sign of "contemporary, values-based, and scientifically sound sex education."

"We advocate for the acceptance of diversity with regard to sexual orientations and gender identity," said Geißler, the vicar general, at the time.

Christopher Haep, head of the Department of Schools and Higher Education in the archdiocese, added: "We want Catholic schools to be safe places where sexuality is not treated as a taboo but is recognized in all its complexity and dignity."

The department's spokesperson, Christoph Schommer, told CNA Deutsch in March that "as the school operators, we are in regular and intensive dialogue with parents and parent representatives."

When the policy was implemented, it received "broad approval from the general parents' council, school administrations, and the representatives for school pastoral care."

"But of course, we also engage constructively with critical voices," Schommer said.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian emphasized the significance of his Church's centuries-old and continuing presence in the Middle East, despite the grave challenges its faithful have endured, including massacres, genocide, famine, and other hardships.

He described this endurance as a sign of hope and resilience that strengthens him to continue in the footsteps of his forebears and live the faith according to their example.

In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, conducted in cooperation with its Middle East and North Africa sister news outlet ACI MENA, Minassian said the Armenian Catholic Church, like all Churches in communion with the universal Church, remains committed to its vocation of living out and bearing witness to the faith through good example and serving its people with love and an open heart.

Our Lady of Bzommar Monastery: A witness to resilience

Minassian pointed to the resilience of Our Lady of Bzommar Monastery, which has housed the historic seat of the Armenian Catholic patriarchal see in Lebanon for several centuries. Despite the many hardships endured by the monastery and its residents over the years, it remains standing today.

"There are no challenges or difficulties that we cannot overcome before returning to continue our mission and bear witness to the whole world," he said.

Minassian expressed confidence that the difficulties currently taking place in the Middle East and around the world will eventually pass.

"After the storm, the sun always shines, and a brighter future comes," he said.

He said his personal experience as a member of the first generation born after the Armenian genocide of 1915, and as the son of a father who was orphaned because of it, taught him that severe challenges and persecution can deepen hope and strengthen Christians to continue their vocation, safeguard their faith, and take pride in their Christian identity.

Absence of an effective international Christian presence

Minassian also addressed the responsibility carried by the patriarchs of the Eastern churches as fathers and servants of their communities. He said they must work diligently to provide for the spiritual and social needs of their people.

"This is a great responsibility, and the Western world sometimes does not understand its magnitude," he said.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment over the absence of an effective international Christian presence during recent events. Nevertheless, he affirmed his absolute trust in Jesus Christ, "who is present with us in the Eucharist," and in God's ability to provide everything his children need.

Amid growing pressures targeting Christians and Church properties in the region and around the world, Minassian said he believes that sincere work for genuine peace, rather than political peace, will restore rights to their rightful owners and allow every person to have a home, a church, and a land.

"This is my faith. It may be somewhat idealistic, but I believe deeply in God's divine providence and place my trust in it," he said.

Youth and the diaspora

Minassian drew attention to the difficulties facing the Armenian Catholic Church because it is not always able to establish parishes in different parts of Europe and the Americas.

As a result, many Armenian Catholic families in the diaspora do not have access to a church or priest who can serve them according to their own rite.

He also noted the lack of cooperation his church sometimes encounters from Latin-rite churches, despite the Armenian Catholic Church's willingness to cooperate with and welcome everyone without conditions.

"We do not always receive the same treatment from the Western mentality," he said.

Minassian called on Armenian Catholics in their homelands and throughout the diaspora to continue their journey and remain committed to their mission of bearing witness to the Lord and his saving work, through which the world is redeemed and granted eternal life.

He also encouraged young people serving in the Church to carry out their ministry with joy and humility.

He expressed hope that the synodal journey within the universal Church would pave "a path that enables us to walk together," allowing the Eastern and Western Churches to fulfill their mission of drawing closer to one another "and walking together toward our Savior, Jesus Christ."

One Church

Speaking about the relationship between the two branches of the Armenian Church, Minassian stressed that, in reality and at its deepest level, it is one Church. He explained that global politics, wars, and massacres imposed the division seen today, but that the Lord Jesus remains one and continues to unite his people.

Minassian described the communion, cooperation, and mutual respect shared among the Eastern Churches as a practical expression of unity and a source of genuine hope. He pointed to their openness, love, and readiness to serve, make sacrifices, and support one another during difficult times.

Drawing on the words of Jesus — "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples" — the Armenian Catholic patriarch concluded with a message to Christians around the world: "May every Christian be ready to sacrifice himself for the good of others."

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

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Catholic fiber artist Holly Guertin creates wool-based 3D artworks, especially depicting sheep, with a "sacramental worldview."

Guertin is based in Philadelphia, and her work is currently on display at a visual arts center in North Carolina. Her debut solo art exhibition, "Hand in Hand," is on view at Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury until Oct. 31.

Guertin also works as a fiber arts teacher and chair of the Craftsmanship Department at Martin Saints Classical High School, where she teaches students felting, embroidery, and repeat pattern design.

EWTN News spoke to Guertin about her unique art and the ways in which her faith inspires it.

EWTN News: What is fiber art? What drew you into this art form?

Guertin: Fiber art is a medium that utilizes textile and cloth-making processes for the purpose of beauty and expression. It is a very open art category and the techniques in fiber art are often repetitive and labor intensive.

When I was a freshman in college at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), I happened upon an open studio event at the fibers department. The artworks and projects I saw in the building were some of the most interesting I'd ever seen, and once I saw the variety of careers that were possible with a fibers degree, I changed my major from fashion to fibers and never looked back.

In the fibers program, I learned everything that goes into cloth making (such as knitting, weaving, and felting) and cloth decoration (such as dyeing, screen printing, and embroidery). I never tried a technique I didn't like.

How has faith played a role in your art? How do you pull from scriptural imagery and religious symbolism in your artwork?

My faith has been intertwined within my artwork from the very beginning. Throughout my life, art has been a way I explore different themes and ideas. By being made in the image of God, his creative power that crafted the universe is woven into our very being. When I am creative, I am participating in the Lord's creativity. This cooperation inspires and fuels my work.

I love to read the Bible, and the Lord has shown me his creativity and his love for textiles and patterns throughout the Old and New Testaments. From the making of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:1) to St. Paul's handkerchiefs (Acts 19:11-12), the Bible is filled with references to textiles and the making of cloth.

I also find so much inspiration from the natural world, his creation, and view it as an invitation to creativity with and for the Lord (cf. Romans 1:20). The Lord has been so generous with me and I am constantly inspired by his word and his world.

How is wool and sheep imagery important in your artwork?

Wool has been integral to my development and formation as an artist. As soon as I began working with wool in our 3D Fibers class at SCAD, I wanted to explore the Good Shepherd and Lamb of God symbols in the Bible. Seventeen years later, I'm still plumbing the depths of this imagery, and it is so rich.

I have been researching and exploring why sheep and shepherds are mentioned over 400 times in the Bible. What is so special about this creature? Through the Lord's own words, the sheep and shepherd relationship mirrors our relationship with him (Psalm 100:3).

Throughout the Scriptures, God likens his people to sheep (Ezekiel 34). We are the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3), he is our shepherd (Psalm 23), and Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18), to name just a few. The simile is apt and the Lord has so much to tell us through this symbol. Like sheep, we are dependent, communal, habitual, and full of potential.

The way we view sheep, even today, mirrors our understanding of ourselves. Especially in our increasingly digital and artificial ways of living, I have found wool to be an antidote to our divisive and isolating culture. Wool has revealed our innate human dignity, the value of manual labor, the meaning in material, the beauty in pattern, the sacred in the ordinary, and the power of creativity.

What has your faith journey been like, and how has art been a part of it?

I am a Catholic convert from evangelical Protestantism. I was received into the Church during the Easter Vigil 15 years ago during my senior year at SCAD.

When, in my sophomore year, I discovered the power of my hands to transform wool into felt, my eyes were opened to a sacramental worldview. Especially because I was working with wool, a material so steeped in religious and scriptural symbolism, I understood the immense value in the creative act. Suddenly, the work of my hands held meaning!

I saw how beauty isn't superficial or unnecessary but is an essential channel that reveals the goodness and truth of the Father.

After I became Catholic two years later, I discovered the thousands of years of theological development that catalyzed and put language to everything I had experienced in fiber arts. St. John Paul II especially has had a great influence on my artwork and how I understand creativity and beauty.

To follow Guertin's work, view her artwork here, visit her Instagram here, or visit her weekly newsletter here.

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