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Jan 2, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Many people who receive assistance through anti-poverty programs faced disruptions in 2025, and Catholic Charities' wish list for 2026 includes government support for food assistance and housing.

The largest disruption came in October when food stamps received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were delayed amid the government shutdown. Funding for rental and heating assistance were also disrupted.

Confusion about how to implement a memo in January from the Office of Management and Budget calling for a grant freeze also caused delays in funding related to health care, housing affordability, and food assistance.

Luz Tavarez, vice president of government relations at Catholic Charities USA, said "people get nervous and scared" amid disruptions.

Many Catholic Charities affiliates saw an influx in clients, especially during the shutdown, but Tavarez said there are "very poor people who rely on SNAP subsidies for their meals" and who "can't get to a Catholic Charities [affiliate] or other food pantry for assistance" when it happens.

Long-term eligibility and funding changes to SNAP were also approved in the tax overhaul signed into law in July. Previous rules only included a work requirement up to age 54, but the law extended those requirements up to age 64. It added stricter and more frequent checks for verifying the work requirements.

It also shifted some funding responsibilities away from the federal government and to the states.

Tavarez expressed concern about some of the SNAP changes as well, saying the government should end "burdensome requirements for individuals and states."

Under the new law, there are stricter rules for verifying a person's immigration status for benefits. It also limited which noncitizens could receive SNAP benefits, which excluded some refugees and people granted asylum.

Tavarez expressed concern about such SNAP changes, encouraging the government to permit "humanitarian-based noncitizens" to receive those benefits.

Overall the 2025 tax law gave the biggest boost to the richest families while poorer families might get a little less help than before, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The bill added a work requirement for Medicaid recipients, and this will not take effect until 2027. Under the previous law, there was no work requirement for this benefit. It also shifts some Medicaid funding requirements onto the states.

Tavarez said Catholic Charities has "concerns with how [work requirements are] implemented" moving forward but does not oppose the idea outright: "There's dignity in work so the Church isn't necessarily opposed to people working as long as there's some opportunities for people to do other things and other issues are taken into consideration."

She also expressed concerns about funding shifts: "We know that not every state views things like SNAP and Medicaid as a good thing. We don't know how states are going to balance their budget and prioritize these programs."

2026 wish list

Looking forward to 2026, Tavarez said Catholic Charities hopes the government will restore full funding to the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program for food banks and bulk food distribution programs and ensure that funding is protected for school meals and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made policy changes in November that would focus its homelessness funding on "transitional" housing instead of "permanent" housing. This move is facing legal challenges.

President Donald Trump's administration initially sought to cut federal housing assistance and shift much of those costs to states, but this was ultimately not included in the final version of the 2025 tax law.

In December, Trump promised an "aggressive" housing reform plan that focuses on reducing costs. At this time, the specifics of that proposal have not been announced. The increased cost to buy a new home has outpaced the growth in wages for decades.

Tavarez said Catholic Charities is focused on housing affordability in 2026 and that the solution must be multifaceted. This includes "building and developing affordable housing," "a tax credit for developers," "more affordable housing units," and subsidies and Section 8 vouchers for low-income Americans, she said.

"We recognize that there's a real crisis — I think everybody does in a bipartisan way — but there needs to be a real bipartisan approach and it's going to require money," Tavarez said.

Tax credits and economic trends

Some changes to the tax code included in the 2025 tax law are geared toward helping low-income Americans.

Specifically, the law reduced taxes taken from tips and overtime work. It also increased the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 and tied the credit to inflation, meaning that it will increase each year based on the rate of inflation.

Tavarez characterized the changes to the child tax credit as a "win" and hopes it can be expanded further.

The economy has been a mixed bag, with November unemployment numbers showing a 4.6% rate. In November of last year, it was slightly lower at 4.2%.

Inflation has gone down a little, with the annual rate being around 2.7%. In 2024, it was around 2.9%. The average wage for workers also outpaced inflation, with hourly wages increasing by 3.5%, which shows a modest inflation-adjusted increase of 0.8%.

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Jan 2, 2026 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Following U.S. military strikes on Christmas, targeted sanctions and further U.S. action to end persecution of Christians is expected in Nigeria in 2026, according to members of Congress and advocates familiar with the situation. 

Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, has said he will present a report to U.S. President Donald Trump that "outlines concrete ways the United States can partner with Nigeria to bring an end to this bloodshed and protect our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Moore's office said the congressman would meet with Trump sometime in January and present him a report including 30 possible ways the administration could act to end the persecution of Christians in Nigeria in accordance with Trump's designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC).

"During my trip to Nigeria, I met many who had endured unimaginable suffering — women who had watched their children and loved ones brutally murdered in front of them," Moore said in a statement. "At the same time, our engagement with Nigerian leaders was productive, and we are close to establishing a strategic security framework to confront both ISIS and Boko Haram in the northeast and to stop the targeted violence against Christians in the Middle Belt by Muslim Fulani radicals."

"I am grateful to President Trump for entrusting me with leading this official House investigation," he said. "The report I will present to the president outlines concrete ways the United States can partner with Nigeria to bring an end to this bloodshed and protect our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Trump had threatened military action against Nigeria shortly after announcing the designation. He said in a social media post Nov. 1 if the Nigerian government fails to stop the killing of Christians, "the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities." He has since threatened further military action following the Christmas Day strikes.

After the Dec. 25 strike, Trump said in a statement that he "warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was."

Moore's forthcoming report follows his travel to Nigeria's Middle Belt region, where he met with Christians who fled from persecution and are living in camps of displaced people. The president had charged Moore with looking into the situation in Nigeria and reporting back to him.

Nina Shea, Hudson Institute senior fellow, said she hopes the recent strikes on ISIS will further embolden the Nigerian government to police Islamist Fulani militants in the region, including by confiscating their AK assault weapons.

"These Fulani have observed the free rein given to the terror groups until now and act as though they too have a license to massacre and kidnap Christians," she said. "Trump now has the attention and cooperation of the Nigerian government in addressing this crisis before it's too late."

The president can choose from a menu of sanctions for a CPC-designated country under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, ranging from diplomatic measures to economic sanctions.

Under the IRFA, the U.S president must designate countries that engage in or tolerate "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" as CPCs. Violations include torture, prolonged detention without charges, and forced disappearance, according to the State Department.

Shea said she expects the outcome of the CPC designation in 2026 to entail the return of Middle Belt Christians to their homelands with ongoing protection from "an effective security force." Shea said she further expects to see the U.S. government assist Nigeria in its border security "to stop the influx of Islamist terrorists and weapons from the Sahel," and for the U.S. government to impose visa sanctions against "Nigerian officials and individuals who are complicit in the atrocities linked to religious freedom violations."

"The stakes for Christians are very high," Shea said.

Sean Nelson, senior counsel for global religious freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom International, said he's "cautiously hopeful" for the outcome of the CPC designation in 2026. "This is really the most I've ever seen in terms of D.C. action in order to really try to resolve and fix what is one of the worst persecutor situations in the world," Nelson said.

For his work with ADF, Nelson said his focus regarding Nigeria in 2026 will be ADF's challenge of blasphemy laws at the Supreme Court of Nigeria that allow punishment by death.

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Jan 1, 2026 / 16:24 pm (CNA).

Micah Kim, the 5-year-old son of popular Catholic speaker Paul Kim, has passed away, Kim announced in a tearful social media post Thursday afternoon.

Micah died on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, after more than a week on life support following a rare medical emergency brought on by a severe case of the flu.

"Micah Joseph is beginning the new year basking in the never-ending glory, love, and peace of God," Kim wrote in the post, which was accompanied by a two-part video. "Micah has been very busy already, as I see the Lord using him and sending him on missions to bring millions of people closer to God."

Kim asked for privacy for his family as they grieve but said he felt he had to provide an update to the millions of people praying for Micah and his family throughout the ordeal. He shared that over the last week and a half, his social media account has been viewed more than 50 million times by people from all over the world offering prayers for the situation.

Micah was rushed to the hospital a week and a half ago after experiencing severe internal bleeding and other complications. Kim, a devoted husband and father of six known for his engaging talks on faith and family at Catholic conferences, first alerted followers via social media on Dec. 22: "My son Micah is having a medical emergency right now and headed to the hospital in an ambulance."

By Dec. 24, Micah underwent emergency chest surgery to address the bleeding, which successfully stabilized his heart function. Kim shared on social media that after the surgery, his son's heart began beating independently and his vital signs remained steady.

Doctors gradually reduced life support, with Micah's lungs showing slow improvement on a ventilator. However, a subsequent MRI revealed severe brain damage, leading physicians to conclude there is "no medical possibility" of recovery.

"I couldn't be a prouder father," Kim said in his Jan. 1 post. "This reality gives me great joy and hope in the midst of sorrow. Our hearts are broken; but we trust in the Lord. Please pray for my family and me as we learn how to live by faith and not by sight."

Cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, and laypeople — including many well-known Catholic media personalities — had messaged Kim and told him they were praying for his son, he said. Kim had prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet live with followers during the ordeal, and the family had asked for a miracle through the intercession of Venerable Fulton Sheen.

In addition to an outpouring of prayer for Micah, a GoFundMe campaign was begun to support the family amid mounting medical costs.

"Thank you for all the love, prayers, and compassion that a countless number of you have showed us," Kim wrote. "May God truly bless you. Your prayers for Micah were answered, but in a different way than what we had all hoped for. God healed and welcomed him into eternal life. He is where we all want to be."

Amira Abuzeid contributed to this story.

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Jan 1, 2026 / 10:00 am (CNA).

2026 dawned in Venezuela in an atmosphere of ambivalence: sorrows and joys, tensions and consolations, and more questions than certainties. The work of the Catholic Church goes on within the country's turbulent reality, a task that is far from easy due to "the autocratic drift of national politics," as the bishops stated at the beginning of last year.

This past December in their Christmas message, the Venezuelan bishops did not hesitate to reaffirm that the "joyful experience" of Jesus' birth is "overshadowed" by the turbulent national reality. Thus, people go about their daily lives enveloped in a barrage of news, rumors, and hardships.

The collapse of the economy and basic services, which seems to have no solution, is causing great suffering for the most vulnerable. The latent threat of foreign military intervention on the national territory continues due to the severe tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The worsening political and ideological persecution by the socialist regime is evidenced by the hundreds of prisoners — men and women without distinction, including minors — who are being held in the most deplorable conditions. All of this looms over the new year and the Catholic Church, which has experienced firsthand the worst of the current situation in Venezuela.

So what does 2026 hold for Catholicism in Venezuela? ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, spoke with analysts and experts to consider what the coming months will bring.

Nicaragua, a model to follow?

In February, ACI Prensa asked Archbishop Jesús González de Zárate, archbishop of Valencia and president of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference, whether the episcopate believed the country was heading toward the type of persecution against the Catholic faith like what has been experienced in Nicaragua for several years under the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.

González simply replied that the bishops pray and work so that the Church does not go through a similar situation. The president of the bishops' conference said the bishops' goal is for everyone in Venezuela to be able to "live in harmony and peace" and for the country to have "the conditions of freedom, work, and pluralistic religious expression" that the majority aspires to.

Today, following months of systematic harassment and abuse suffered by the Venezuelan bishops to the point of humiliation, those aspirations remain elusive.

Víctor Maldonado, a Venezuelan political scientist, told ACI Prensa that the relationship between the socialist government and the Catholic Church is clearly "very bad," despite the fact that the bishops' conference has tried to maintain a stance where "a certain moderation and self-censorship" prevail in order to avoid "falling into a situation where they lose everything."

"They are subjected to contempt and insults every time they speak out as a body," Maldonado explained, which is why they are currently focused on "holding their ground" to try to avoid "the brutal persecution that has taken place in Nicaragua."

Despite the prudence of the episcopate, in the last months of 2025 it was violently persecuted by the socialist government, which has been increasingly called into question and isolated internationally. Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, was perhaps the most prominent voice in the Church criticizing the situation in Venezuela, and thus has earned the particular enmity of the Maduro regime.

"Its essence is totalitarian and atheist. Nicaragua is the testing ground for extreme measures. And a clear demonstration of what they are capable of doing. In this sense, Nicaragua has served as a showcase for intimidation," Maldonado said, referring to the so-called "socialism of the 21st century," which gained worldwide prominence when the late Hugo Chávez was president of the country.

Like Nicaragua, a persecuted Church

Martha Patricia Molina is a Nicaraguan lawyer and researcher, author of the report "Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church," in which she compiled the prohibition of more than 16,500 processions and acts of piety as well as more than 1,000 attacks by the Nicaraguan dictatorship against the Catholic Church. Her report was delivered to Pope Leo XIV in October 2025.

Molina noted that when dictatorships like those of Ortega and Maduro identify a de facto power that is not supporting their policies, "they begin to attack it until it disappears." When, in Venezuela, as in Nicaragua, all resistance by civil society disappears, then the socialist regime "will focus its fury and punitive power against the prelates."

"It's important that Venezuelans begin now to study and identify the patterns of repression that have been used in Nicaragua to attack religious freedom," Molina said, emphasizing the urgency of "instilling in laypeople and clergy the importance of citizens protesting the government."

Similarly, Maldonado noted that the Maduro regime has gradually incorporated "efforts to delegitimize the Catholic religion," especially through the promotion of Santería and Protestantism, to "demonstrate that they, through the arbitrary use of resources and power, can determine religious hegemony at any given moment."

Furthermore, the political scientist pointed out that the Maduro regime has also used "certain openly revolutionary priests" to promote its political agenda. Perhaps the most representative case is that of Jesuit Father Numa Molina, who "behaves like a committed party member, regardless of the interests and positions of the Church."

"I believe that the bishops' conference is still a respected voice that has a tradition of assuming the prophetic role that belongs to the Church. Like all Venezuelans, it is subject to the same threats of persecution and repression," Maldonado said, although he noted that at this moment "it's not a unified voice" and that "the close relationship of some pastors with those who violate rights and persecute with such ferocity" is causing scandal among believers.

"This struggle over what is the Church's position weakens their moral authority, and Catholics probably don't feel fully supported in their suffering and anguish," he added.

Molina, however, emphasized that the episcopate has been "united and alongside the unprotected and persecuted people."

"Of course, there will be instances — which also need to be identified — of priests backing the regime. In Nicaragua, we have identified all of them; they are bishops and priests (a few) who have gone so far as to claim that there is no religious persecution in Nicaragua," she said.

The autocrat vs. the religious leader

In a statement to ACI Prensa, Marcela Szymanski, an expert on religious freedom at the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, stated that an autocrat "is a man thirsty for power who seeks by all means, especially with weapons and money, to increase his wealth and territorial control."

Szymanski explained that the religious leader is the one most feared by the autocrat, who will try to co-opt him in any way possible. If unsuccessful, "the autocrat will eliminate him and his community using both violent and nonviolent tactics." In Latin America specifically, autocratic regimes of a Marxist bent usually ally themselves "with organized crime to eliminate their opponents."

"In countries where the rule of law has collapsed and human rights violations are increasing, this alliance of Marxist ideology with criminal organizations has become more evident," she said.

In Nicaragua, Szymanski continued, the Ortega dictatorship "doesn't care about world opinion," only about its own survival. That is why it has decisively ramped up its persecution of the Church. In Venezuela, on the other hand, "where the alliance of left-wing parties with organized crime is clear, international reputation is still valued, but less and less."

"The victim, in this case the Church in Nicaragua and Venezuela, cannot be blamed for having the wrong religion, or for being unwise for not obeying the autocrat," she said. Their situation is precarious because "they do not have — and will not have — weapons or money, therefore they cannot stand on an equal footing with the autocrat."

"The men and women who make up the Church must persevere in their faith, because reason cannot comprehend the motive behind such blatant aggression. Resilience, hope, and a life of prayer are what no one can take away from the faithful, even if they close churches and schools and take away hospitals and nursing homes," Szymanski added.

"The priests and sisters who persevere alongside them are the pillars of this suffering Church," she emphasized.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 07:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through force or exclusion, as he celebrated his first liturgy of the new year on Thursday. 

"The world is not saved by sharpening swords, nor by judging, oppressing, or eliminating our brothers and sisters," the pope said in his homily for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Rather, he added, it is saved by "tirelessly striving to understand, forgive, liberate, and welcome everyone, without calculation and without fear." 

As is customary for the Jan. 1 Mass, a large group of diplomats accredited to the Holy See attended the liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica, underlining the international scope of the Church's prayer for peace on the World Day of Peace, observed each year on the first day of January. 

A blessing for a new beginning 

At the start of his homily, Leo XIV pointed to the ancient biblical blessing proclaimed in the liturgy: "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace" (Num 6:24-26). He recalled that this blessing was addressed to a people set free, Israel after slavery in Egypt, and he drew a parallel to the Christian life at the opening of a new year. 

"For each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God's generous love, his mercy, and the response of our freedom," he said. The coming year, he continued, can be seen "as an open journey to be discovered," lived with confidence "free and bearers of freedom, forgiven and bringers of forgiveness," trusting in "the closeness and goodness of the Lord who accompanies us always." 

Mary's 'yes' and the human face of mercy 

The pope centered his reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation and Mary's decisive role in salvation history. "By her 'yes,' she helped give a human face to the source of all mercy and benevolence: the face of Jesus," he said. 

Leo XIV invited the faithful to contemplate God's love through Christ's life: "Through his eyes — first as a child, then as a young man and as an adult — the Father's love reaches us and transforms us."

He urged Catholics to begin the year with renewed confidence in that love: "Let us ask the Lord to help us experience at every moment, around us and upon us, the warmth of his fatherly embrace and the light of his benevolent gaze."

'Unarmed and disarming' peace 

Echoing the theme he chose for this year's World Day of Peace message, Leo XIV returned repeatedly to the image of God's humility revealed in the Nativity. Citing St. Augustine, he emphasized "the complete gratuity of his love" and described God's approach to humanity as one of radical vulnerability.

"As I emphasized in the message for this World Day of Peace, God presents himself to us 'unarmed and disarming,' as naked and defenseless as a newborn in a cradle," the pope said. 

That divine "style," he suggested, is the model for Christian action in a world tempted by coercion, retaliation, and fear. Christian witness, he said, should reflect a God who does not overwhelm but invites, and who heals rather than humiliates. 

Mary the disciple who 'laid aside every defense' 

Leo XIV also reflected on Mary's path after Bethlehem, presenting her not only as mother but also as disciple. He described her as one who followed Jesus "with the heart of a humble disciple… all the way to the cross and the Resurrection." 

"To do so, she too laid aside every defense," he said, renouncing "expectations, claims, and comforts," and "consecrating her life without reserve to the son she had received by grace." 

In Mary's divine motherhood, the pope added, the Church sees "the meeting of two immense, 'unarmed' realities": God, who "renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh" (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and the human person who embraces God's will, offering "the greatest power she possesses: her freedom." 

A renewed mission 

Near the end of the homily, Leo XIV recalled a Jan. 1 homily of St. John Paul II that invited Christians to begin again with courage after the Jubilee of 2000. As the Church approaches the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, Leo XIV urged the faithful to return to the Nativity with faith and then step forward with renewed commitment. 

"Let us approach it as the place of 'unarmed and disarming' peace par excellence," he said, and then, "like the humble witnesses at the grotto," to set out once more, "glorifying and praising God" (Lk 2:20) for what they have seen and heard. 

"This be our commitment and our resolve for the months ahead, and, indeed, for the whole of our Christian lives," he concluded. 

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. 

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Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 07:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Catholics to pray for peace, "first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering," and also "within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain," during the Angelus address on the first day of 2026.

Greeting pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 59th World Day of Peace, the pope reflected on the start of a new year as a time to renew hope and reconciliation.

"While the rhythm of passing months repeats itself, the Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all peoples," he said. "Without this desire for the good, there would be no point in turning the pages of the calendar and filling our diaries."

Leo also looked back on the jubilee, which he said "is about to end," noting that it has taught the Church to cultivate hope for a new world by converting hearts to God, so as "to transform wrongs into forgiveness, pain into consolation, and resolutions of virtue into good works."

The pope then turned to the Marian feast, saying Christmas today "directs our gaze towards Mary, who was the first to experience Christ's beating heart." He evoked "the silence of her virginal womb," where "the Word of life presents himself as a heartbeat of grace."

"God, the good creator, has always known Mary's heart and our hearts," Leo said. "By becoming man, he makes his heart known to us." He added that the heart of Jesus "beats for every man and woman," both for those who welcome him and for those who reject him.

"His heart is not indifferent to those who have no heart for their neighbor," the pope said. "It beats for the righteous, so that they may persevere in their dedication, as well as for the unrighteous, so that they may change their lives and find peace."

At the end of the Angelus, Leo greeted the tens of thousands of pilgrims in the square and offered "good wishes of peace." He also returned to the theme of the World Day of Peace, recalling that it has been celebrated on Jan. 1 since 1968 at the request of St. Paul VI.

In his message for the day, Leo said he wanted to repeat the wish he felt the Lord gave him at the start of his pontificate: "Peace be with you all!"

"A peace that is unarmed and disarming, which comes from God, a gift of his unconditional love, and is entrusted to our responsibility," he said.

"Dear friends, with the grace of Christ, let us begin today to build a year of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence," the pope continued.

Leo also expressed appreciation for peace initiatives held around the world, mentioning a national march held the previous evening in Catania and greeting participants in a march organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio.

He offered greetings as well to a group of students and teachers from Richland, New Jersey, and to the Romans and pilgrims present.

Finally, the pope noted that 2026 marks the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, and he invoked a biblical blessing for the new year: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."

"May the Holy Mother of God guide us on our journey in the new year," Leo said. "Best wishes to everyone!"

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Dec 31, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

2025 was a complex and multifaceted year for Christians in the Middle East. Across six pivotal countries, the contours of this reality reveal an uneven trajectory that is nevertheless unified in essence: a steadfast attachment to land and faith amid harsh circumstances and ongoing challenges.

Egypt: Official support and societal challenges

Throughout the year, the Egyptian state continued its positive policies toward Christians, most notably through the development of the Holy Family Trail, the legalization of the status of 160 churches and related buildings, and the disbursement of a "Christmas grant" to informal workers. At the same time, Copts faced ongoing challenges, including the failure of some universities to take Christian feast days into account when scheduling examinations.

More profoundly, sporadic attacks led by extremists persisted, involving the abduction of girls, the displacement of families, and the vandalism of property, churches, and cemeteries, along with hate speech targeted at Christians. These incidents underscored a gap between official positions and certain societal practices.

Jordan: A model of stability awaiting completion

Jordan remains among the safest countries in the region for Christians, with increasing official support.

This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities established eight Christmas celebration sites nationwide, launched the Baptism Route for Christian pilgrimage, and issued postage stamps featuring icons of Jordanian saints.

The country also hosted church-related intellectual conferences, and the king of Jordan held significant meetings this month with Church leaders from the region and from around the world.

Nevertheless, Christians continue to await the issuance of a new personal status law, while emigration persists, having significantly reduced their population over past decades to around 4%, according to some sources, which is down from nearly 12% in 1956.

Lebanon: Papal hope amid persistent crises

Lebanon continues to grapple with the legacy of its civil war 50 years on, along with deep divisions and ongoing crises.

In 2025, the country suffered destruction from Israeli bombardment, particularly in the south, alongside security breakdowns that included the killing of a priest in his home and a spate of church thefts.

The pope's visit offered a profound spiritual balm, carrying strong messages of peace, Lebanon's role in the world, the responsibility of youth in shaping the future, and the imperative not to forget the poor and vulnerable.

Yet political and economic realities continue to weigh heavily on Christians, leaving emigration as an ever-present option.

Syria: Official reassurances and deep-seated anxiety

Syria's Christians endured a difficult year amid security breakdowns and scattered acts of vandalism targeting churches and religious symbols.

The most serious incidents occurred in the heart of Damascus with the bombing of St. Elias Church and in Suwayda, where at least six churches were vandalized, numerous properties looted, and several Christians killed.

In response, cooperation between the state and the Church, along with meetings between political leadership — particularly President Ahmed al-Sharaa — and patriarchs, helped ease some concerns, alongside heightened security measures around churches on Sundays and feast days.

Still, Christians continue to face harsh living conditions and fears of an uncertain future, including those in eastern Syria under the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

The Holy Land: Cautious celebration amid ongoing threats

Holy Land Christians returned this year to celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem and elsewhere following a decline in the intensity of the war there, despite the destruction it left behind, especially in Gaza, where those who remain face the challenge of living with dignity.

In the West Bank, settler attacks escalated, particularly in the Christian town of Taybeh.

With ongoing unemployment and instability, Christian emigration continues from the Holy Land, reducing the Christian proportion to around 1%. Their numbers have declined sharply, especially in Jerusalem, where Christians now number no more than about 6,700.

In Bethlehem, emigration is no longer an individual phenomenon but increasingly affects entire families, fueling fears that the Holy Land could be emptied of its indigenous Christian population and transformed into little more than a living museum.

Iraq: Church reconstruction and ongoing attacks

Iraq witnessed a stark paradox in 2025: repeated attacks on cemeteries and churches, and renewed waves of emigration that have cost the country nearly 90% of its Christian population.

The decline of the Christian population has taken place over two decades, alongside the reconstruction and reopening of monasteries and churches. These include the Monastery of Mar Oraha, the Chaldean Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Light in Ankawa, and the consecration of the altar of Our Lady of the Syrians Church in Duhok for the Syriac Orthodox.

This year the Church of Abraham in the ancient archaeological site of Ur hosted its first-ever prayer service. Politically, the 2025 parliamentary elections revived debate over the Christian quota and representation, amid Church calls for unity and the defense of rights.

Emigration — especially among youth — remained the dominant theme.

A sign of hope

The Vatican announced this year the canonization of the martyred bishop Ignatius Maloyan, a deeply symbolic step that once again cast light on the history of martyrdom that has shaped Christian presence in the region.

The resonance of the Roman pontiff's message at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy in Beirut continues to echo among the peoples of the Middle East: "The Middle East needs new attitudes: a rejection of the logic of revenge and violence, a move beyond political, social, and religious divisions, and the opening of new pages in the name of reconciliation and peace. We have traveled the path of mutual hostility and destruction for far too long, and we all witness the painful results. We must change course and educate the heart for peace. To the Christians of the East, the sons and daughters of these lands, I repeat and say: Take courage."

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.

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Dec 31, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

On New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, and the first day of 2026, the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences as a sign of God's mercy and the desire for the sanctification of all her members.

A plenary indulgence is remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.

Indulgences on Dec. 31

On the eve of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Church grants a plenary indulgence to those Christian faithful who publicly recite the "Te Deum," thanking God for the year that is ending. This blessing is extended especially on Dec. 31.

To recite the "Te Deum," click here.

Indulgences on Jan. 1

Likewise, on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a plenary indulgence is granted to those who publicly recite the hymn "Veni Creator," imploring blessings for the new year that is beginning.

To recite the "Veni Creator," click here.

Additionally, those who devoutly receive the papal blessing "urbi et orbi" ("for the city and for the world"), either through radio, television, or the internet, as well as those who devoutly receive the blessing of the bishop of their diocese, will also be able to obtain these special blessings from the Church.

Conditions to obtain a plenary indulgence

In addition to performing the specific work mentioned above, the following conditions must be met:

First, it is necessary to be detached from all sin, even venial sin.

Second, one must make a sacramental confession, receive Communion, and pray for the pope's intentions. These conditions can be met a few days before or after carrying out the action prescribed to obtain the indulgence, but it is suggested that Communion and prayer be performed on the same day that the action is carried out.

It is important to note that several indulgences can be obtained through a single confession, although frequent participation in the sacrament of reconciliation is recommended in order to deepen one's conversion and purity of heart.

As for receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, it should be noted that with just one Communion and one prayer, made on the same day, a plenary indulgence is obtained.

Finally, the condition of praying for the intentions of the supreme pontiff is fulfilled by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. However, each Christian is given the right to use any other formula according to his personal piety and devotion.

What is a plenary indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.

It is not a forgiveness of sin but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to souls already in purgatory.

In order to obtain a plenary indulgence the faithful must — in addition to being in the state of grace — both have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin (even venial sin), have sacramentally confessed their sins and received the Eucharist (either within or outside of Mass), and must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

The conditions for a plenary indulgence can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the actions specified to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Dec 31, 2025 / 08:08 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV used the Vatican's final general audience of 2025 on Wednesday to invite Catholics to look back on the past year with gratitude and repentance, and to place what lies ahead in God's hands.

In St. Peter's Square on Dec. 31, the pope said 2025 brought both joy and sorrow, citing the jubilee pilgrimage of the faithful as well as "the passing of the late Pope Francis" and "the scenarios of war that continue to convulse the planet."

"At its end," Leo said, "the Church invites us to place everything before the Lord, entrusting ourselves to his providence, and asking him to renew, in us and around us, in the coming days, the wonders of his grace and mercy."

He tied that end-of-year spiritual "dynamic" to the Church's Te Deum observance, saying the hymn of praise and thanksgiving helps believers recognize God's gifts and renew hope. Leo noted that the prayer includes lines such as: "You are God: We praise you," "In you, Lord, is our hope," and "Have mercy on us."

According to the Vatican's published schedule, Leo was set to celebrate first vespers for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, at 5 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, followed by the Te Deum.

In his catechesis, the pope encouraged an honest examination of conscience, calling the faithful to reflect on God's action over the past year, to evaluate their response to his gifts, and to ask forgiveness for times they failed to follow his inspirations or invest well the talents entrusted to them.

Leo also returned to a core jubilee image, describing life as a pilgrimage. "This reminds us that our whole life is a journey," he said, one that reaches its true fulfillment in "the encounter with God and in full and eternal communion with him."

The pope pointed to another emblematic jubilee practice, the passage through the Holy Door, describing it as a concrete sign of conversion and of the believer's yes to God, who "invites us to cross the threshold of a new life, animated by grace, modeled on the Gospel."

Looking to Christmas, Leo recalled St. Leo the Great's preaching on the universal joy of Christ's birth: "Let the saint rejoice … let the sinner rejoice … let the pagan take courage." The pope said that invitation extends to all, including those who feel weak or fragile, because Christ has taken human frailty upon himself and redeemed it.

To close, Leo cited St. Paul VI's reflection at the end of the 1975 Jubilee, saying its core message can be summed up in a single word: "love." He then repeated Paul VI's emphatic profession of faith, including: "God is love! … God is mercy! God is forgiveness! … God, yes, God is life!"

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA's Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Dec 30, 2025 / 19:22 pm (CNA).

Catholic leaders in Bangladesh are mourning the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, an alumna of Catholic-run St. Joseph's School who became the country's first woman prime minister and maintained a lifelong bond with the Catholic community. She died Tuesday morning local time at age 80 at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka following a prolonged illness.

"She knew us and we had a good relationship with her," said Bishop Gervas Rozario, vice president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh. "She protected minorities when she was in power."

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which she led for decades, announced her passing. "Amma (Mother) is no more," acting chairman Tarique Rahman told senior leaders. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, declared a three-day state of mourning and a public holiday for her funeral, to be held Wednesday at the National Parliament grounds.

From 'putul' to prime minister

Khaleda Zia's journey began in the classrooms of Catholic-run schools. Born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri, she spent her formative years at St. Joseph's School in Dinajpur, where she was affectionately nicknamed "putul" (doll) by her principal, Sister Pia Fernandes.

Father Albert Rozario recalled a memory from her time as the president's wife. When taking her son for an admission test at St. Joseph's School in Dhaka, she waited outside the gate until the principal, realizing who she was, invited her inside.

Politics was not her chosen path. It was thrust upon her by tragedy following the 1981 assassination of her husband, President Ziaur Rahman. As the BNP reeled from the loss of its founder, party leaders turned to the grieving widow to unite them and carry forward his legacy.

She rose to the challenge, becoming BNP chairperson in 1984. The woman once nicknamed "doll" as a girl led the movement against the military dictatorship of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, earning a reputation as an "uncompromising leader."

Her perseverance paid off with an electoral victory in 1991, making her the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh.

Supporter of Christians

Her tenure was defined by reforms. She restored the parliamentary system and instituted the caretaker government model to oversee elections — a system meant to ensure fairness. She introduced free education for girls up to grade 10 and stipend programs for rural female students, boosting enrollment and literacy.

"She played a significant role in increasing access to education, expanding opportunities for women and girls and strengthening basic social services," Bishop Rozario noted.

Her political life included three terms (1991–1996, a brief period in 1996, and 2001–2006) and intense rivalry. She endured imprisonment on corruption charges in 2018, release in 2020, and was finally acquitted in 2025 after a legal battle. Through it all, she remained a central figure in the nation's consciousness.

For the Christian community, she was an ally. Father Albert Rozario, who celebrated Christmas with her three times, remembered her inclusive spirit. "She used to say, 'Christmas is not only for Christians, it is for people of all religions.'" That she died during the Christmas season has added a layer of resonance for many.

Her passing has drawn condolences from across South Asia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted her "important contributions … to India-Bangladesh relations." Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is traveling to Dhaka to pay his last respects alongside dignitaries from Pakistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

In a televised address, Chief Adviser Yunus captured the national sentiment: "Today, our entire nation stands still in deep grief and sorrow… With her death, the nation has lost a great guardian."

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