Catholic News

Madrid Archbishop Cardinal José Cobo Cano said that the imminent visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain has generated "incredible expectations" and that the main challenge will not only be organizational, but pastoral.

"The challenge is that it is not an event. We are used to concerts, which are prepared, closed and that's it," he said in an interview with EWTN News about the preparations for the trip of Pope Leo XIV, who will visit Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands from June 6 to 12.

He expressed hope that the visit will be "a moment of experience and ... a moment also that will be slow, that it helps us to look up and take a step forward."

Preparations in record time

Cardinal Cobo explained that the visit has been organized in "record time," with just three months of work, and with a much greater social and ecclesial response than expected.

"We have had three scarce months to prepare a trip, during which we have also found that there is a great desire and an incredible expectation. I think we thought it was going to be something [for which] we had to motivate [Catholics] a lot, but nothing was needed," he said.

As he highlighted, the pope's program in Madrid has been designed as a "pastoral triptych" with three major components: the celebration of the Eucharist on the feast of Corpus Christi, the great meeting with the Church of Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, and a space for dialogue with leaders of culture, economy and sport.

"The celebration of the Eucharist, [especially on] Corpus Christi — which is a very important holiday for us — and celebrating it with the successor of Peter, is a gift for the whole Church of Madrid and for the whole Church of Spain, because they will come from all places. This is the most celebratory central moment," said the cardinal.

The pope and "politics with capital letters"

In Cobo's opinion, one of the most delicate moments will be the appearance of the Holy Father in the Cortes, or the Spanish parliament, before a joint session of both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.

Cobo warned that he is concerned that a message about "politics with capital letters" may be reduced to a partisan reading.

"In a society where we are used to talking about political parties, that moment is important," he said.

"Of course the intention is that the pope will come, that he will support politicians, that he will support politics and that he will thus be able to reinforce democracy from the experience and tradition of the Church," he said.

Asked if the recent accusation of alleged corruption of the former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero could have any impact on the visit, Cobo indicated it was unlikely.

"We are used to working with many events in political life. That's already part of life and the headlines are moving," he said. "I think the good thing about a papal visit is that ... it can help us look up and see that despite the political situation that is painful ... there is a higher level."

"There is another level, a level that speaks to us of hope, it is a level that speaks to us of responsibility, that speaks to us of ethics," he said.

"I believe that we are not going to contradict one thing with another, but we are going to get used to being also in another space, which is that of non-confrontation and welcoming wounds and difficulties and putting them in front of the space of meaning that life gives and that faith tells us."

The hope of the young, and not so young

The cardinal also noted that for young people the visit could represent a response to a climate of "disorientation", "uprooting" and "hopelessness."

He maintained that many are looking for "anchors" and answers about the meaning of life, something that, in his opinion, explains the renewed interest in the figure of the pope among new generations.

"I think it is a response to a longing that young people have ... and not only young people, I think it is from a very broad generation, I believe that there is an experience of a certain discomfort, a disorientation ... a certain de-rooting. People need anchors that they don't have."

A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Bad Bunny?

Regarding the coincidence of the pope's presence in Madrid occurring at the same time as the rapper Bad Bunny's concerts, Cobo did not close the door to a possible meeting, although he left it in the hands of both parties.

"The pope is never closed to talking to anyone who wants to enter into dialogue with him," he said.

"If at some point that can happen, we wouldn't rule it out of course, but that depends on the two of them. What is certain is that indeed Madrid is very big and can have different events on the same day," he said.

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On the solemnity of Pentecost, which this year is celebrated on May 24, Catholics have the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence.

An indulgence can be received by praying or singing the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" during the solemnity of Pentecost. The prayer is below.

What is a plenary indulgence?

The following "General Remarks on Indulgences" from "Gift of the Indulgence" summarizes the usual conditions given in the Church's law (cf. Apostolic Penitentiary, Prot. N. 39/05/I):

"This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): 'An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.'"

Conditions in all cases

In order to obtain the plenary indulgence, in addition to praying or signing the hymn mentioned above, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

1. Detachment from all sin, even venial.

2. Sacramental confession, holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope. These three conditions can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the works to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.

A single sacramental confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but frequent sacramental confession is encouraged in order to obtain the grace of deeper conversion and purity of heart.

Prayer: Veni Creator Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up thy rest; come with thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which thou hast made.

O comforter, to thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in thy sevenfold gifts are known; thou, finger of God's hand we own; thou, promise of the Father, thou who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o'erflow with love; with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread, and grant us thy peace instead; so shall we not, with thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and thee, through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son, who rose from death, be glory given, with thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

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

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Catholic organizations worldwide are condemning legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset this week expanding the use of the death penalty for Palestinians tried in military courts.

"We, Catholic leaders and organizations committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, express our grave concern and unequivocal moral objection to the recent legislation expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly its application in the context of prolonged occupation," Pax Christi International said in a letter signed by 56 Catholic leaders including bishops, priests, and religious, and 51 Catholic organizations.

"By introducing and normalizing the death penalty within military courts operating in occupied territory, it institutionalizes a system of state-sanctioned killing on discriminatory grounds," the letter said. "The fact that Israeli citizens are excluded from these provisions highlights the inequity and discrimination inherent in this law."

Bangladesh outlaws finding out babies' sex in womb to combat selective abortion

The High Court of Bangladesh has banned couples from finding out the sex of their baby in the womb, stating doing so encourages selective abortions.

The landmark ruling found that disclosure of the sex of a baby before birth to be "discriminatory" and a violation of constitutional rights, according to an Asia News report. The judges found that determination of sex before birth encourages discrimination against girls and that "the issuance of guidelines alone is not sufficient" to address the problem."

"By banning the determination and disclosure of the sex of the fetus, the lives of many children can be saved," Edward Pallab Rozario, a doctor and president of the Association of Catholic Doctors of Bangladesh, said in the report.

Preparations continue in Baghdad for installation of new Chaldean patriarch

In Baghdad, preparations are underway for the installation of Patriarch-elect Paul III Nona on May 29 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baghdad.

The ceremony will include mainly religious, with the participation of the Chaldean Synod Fathers and invited Church leaders, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Thursday.

A special reception for the new patriarch was also planned for May 22 followed by his first Mass as a patriarch after the installation. Choirs and young deacons from across Iraq are preparing liturgical and traditional Chaldean hymns in Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) and Arabic for the celebrations.

Church leaders welcome new papal nuncio in Damascus

In Syria, Catholic Church leaders welcomed the new papal nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona, upon his arrival in Damascus, ACI MENA reported Wednesday.

Church leaders expressed hope that his mission will help strengthen ties between Syria and the Holy See at a critical time for the country. Archbishop Youhanna Jihad Battah said Syrian Christians value the Vatican's continued presence and support, especially after years of conflict and economic hardship.

Ethiopian bishops appeal for protection of migrants facing abuse abroad

Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) have appealed for greater protection of Ethiopian migrants worldwide, warning that many are caught in systems of exploitation, violence, fear, and abuse as they seek better lives abroad, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday.

"Millions of young Ethiopian men and women leave their homeland not because they lack love for their country but in search of better employment opportunities and improved living conditions," the CBCE members said in a statement Thursday on the worsening plight of Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, stressing that every migrant possesses inviolable human dignity regardless of legal status or economic condition.

Slovakia remembers doctor and nun slain in South Sudan

Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia Archbishop Nicola Girasoli celebrated a Mass in honor of Sister Veronika Racková, a doctor and missionary in South Sudan, on the 10th anniversary of her death.

During his homily, Girasoli reflected on Racková's legacy and called for those who knew and loved her to contribute to her cause "so that the beatification process can begin, because her witness of Christian life is beautiful, and today's celebration helps us to make further progress in this direction," according to a report from Fides News Agency on Tuesday.

Racková, a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Servants of the Holy Spirit, served as a missionary and doctor in Ghana and Sudan before she was shot and killed by South Sudanese soldiers at a checkpoint in May 2016 on her way back from helping transport a pregnant mother to the hospital.

Catholic sisters warn of impersonation in eastern Africa

Members of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) in the Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda region have issued a warning to Catholic Dioceses, Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL), and the wider faithful in eastern Africa over a woman allegedly presenting herself as a member of the congregation.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa on Thursday, the leadership of congregation identified the woman as "Maria Cecilia Nyakato Kemigisha" and rejected any association with her.

"After verification, we wish to state clearly that Maria Cecilia Nyakato Kemigisha is not and has never been a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and has no connection with our region or congregation," leader Sister Lovely Thomas, SSpS, said in the statement, noting the impersonator has been contacting dioceses, religious communities, and individuals asking for various forms of assistance.

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Lionsgate, in collaboration with Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon Productions, announced Thursday that the highly anticipated film "The Resurrection of the Christ" will be released in theaters in two parts — Part 1 will be released on May 6, 2027, and Part 2 will be released on May 25, 2028.

The production studios also announced that filming concluded ahead of schedule after shooting for 134 days in the cities of Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera in Italy.

"Mel is a true visionary with an artist's eye for scale and a storyteller's instinct for emotional truth," Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a press release on May 21. "Every image we've seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life. There are very few directors who can operate at this level of epic spectacle while at the same time delivering such depth and conviction. Mel has crafted a film of extraordinary ambition that audiences worldwide have been waiting to experience for over 20 years."

"The Resurrection of the Christ" is the sequel to Gibson's famous film "The Passion of the Christ," which starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus.

While many believed that Caviezel would reprise his role as Jesus, the filmmakers decided to instead select an entirely new cast. Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen will portray Jesus, Cuban actress Mariela Garriga will play Mary Magdalene, Kasia Smutniak will play the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Italy's Pier Luigi Pasino will play Simon Peter.

Released in 2004, "The Passion of the Christ" vividly depicts the final hours of Jesus' life, from his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion.

The film has been the subject of debate since its release. The graphic scenes of Christ's scourging and crucifixion sparked controversy; some critics considered it excessively violent, while others praised it for its historical authenticity and its ability to realistically convey Christ's suffering.

In January 2004, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, then-director of the Holy See Press Office, noted that Pope John Paul II had seen the film and gave it a positive review, describing it as "the cinematographic recounting of the historical fact of the passion of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel accounts."

Despite controversies surrounding the film, it garnered a profit of $370 million domestically with many crediting it as having opened the door to faith-based media in Hollywood.

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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Italy's "Terra dei Fuochi," or "Land of Fires," for a one-day visit on May 23, the first pope in history to meet with this population amid a yearslong battle against illegal waste disposal.

The pope arrived in Acerra around 8:45 a.m., landing at the Arcoleo sports field, where he was immediately welcomed by Acerra Bishop Antonio Di Donna.

Numerous dignitaries were also present, including Tito d'Errico, the mayor of Acerra.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to the region also marks the 11th anniversary of the publication of the late Pope Francis' landmark environmental encyclical Laudato Si'.

Pope Francis himself was originally scheduled to visit the area for the encyclical's fifth anniversary, though the visit was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the sports field, Pope Leo XIV traveled immediately by car to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Acerra, where he met with bishops, clergy, members of religious orders, and the families of victims of environmental pollution. Approximately 12,000 faithful were present for the occasion.

"Today we wish to fulfill Pope Francis' desire, recognizing the great gift that the encyclical Laudato Si' has represented for the Church's mission in this land," the Holy Father said.

"Indeed, the cry of creation and of the poor among you has been felt most dramatically due to a deadly concentration of shadowy interests and indifference toward the common good — forces that have poisoned both the natural and social environments," he said, adding: "It is a cry that calls for conversion!"

Di Donna himself recounted the history of the region at the cathedral, stating that the "environmental tragedy" began in the 1980s, "when certain industrialists in the north needed to dispose of vast quantities of toxic waste."

"Over the span of roughly 30 years, hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic waste arrived from numerous industries across northern Italy, only to be dumped in a specific part of this territory," the bishop said.

The environmental crisis triggered "a collapse of the agricultural industry," the bishop said, describing the "Terra dei Fuochi" label as "a mark of infamy for our region."

Pope Leo XIV told the assembly he had come to listen to those in the region who have lost loved ones to the environmental devastation. The pope said he also wished to "thank those who have responded to evil with good."

"We suffer because of the devastation that has compromised a marvelous ecosystem — places, histories, and memories," the pope said.

"Faced with this reality, there are two possible attitudes: indifference or responsibility," he continued. "You have chosen responsibility, and — with God's help — you have embarked upon a path of commitment and the pursuit of justice."

"Can these lands come back to life?" the pope continued. "Be the answer yourselves: a united community, in faith and in commitment. Then life will multiply."

The pope was scheduled to return to Rome after his visit to Acerra, located a little over 130 miles southeast of Rome. The Holy Father also met with civic leaders and local residents of Acerra.

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

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Pope Leo XIV greeted residents and civic leaders in the southern Italian town of Acerra on May 23, a region marred by toxic wastes but possessing what the pope said was "beauty no injustice can ever erase."

"In life, we come to understand that the more fragile a beauty is, the greater the care and responsibility it demands," the pope told the crowd in Acerra's Piazza Calipari.

The Holy Father arrived in the small town earlier in the day for a brief pastoral visit. Acerra is located about 130 miles southeast of Rome.

After meeting with local Church leaders at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, the pope headed to the piazza, where he said he was "delighted" to spend the Saturday morning with the crowd of around 15,000.

The pope's visit to the Land of Fires came on the 11th anniversary of the late Pope Francis's landmark environmental encyclical Laudato Si'. Acerra has for years suffered environmental fallout due to the dumping of waste materials in the region.

Yet "life is present here, and it stands in opposition to death; justice exists, and it will prevail," the pope said. "We must, of course, choose life and break free from the bonds of death."

"There is always a subtle convenience to be found in resignation, in compromise, and in postponing necessary and courageous decisions," he continued. "Fatalism, complaining, and shifting the blame onto others serve as a breeding ground for lawlessness and mark the beginning of a desertification of consciences."

"For this reason, I would like to say to you all: let each of us shoulder our own responsibilities; let us choose justice; let us serve life!"

The pontiff further reminded the citizens of Acerra of the need to care for creation.

"I would like to thank those 'pioneers' who, through their courageous commitment, were the first to denounce the ills plaguing this land and to draw attention to the obscured and denied reality of its poisoning," the pope said.

"I am thinking, in particular, of the members of environmental associations," the pope said. "We all know that we must stand guard over the health of creation just as we stand guard over our own front door, and that we must resist the temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the earth, the water, the air, and our shared life."

Acerra Mayor Tito d'Errico expressed his gratitude to the pope for his presence, pointing to the significance of the Laudato Si' anniversary. "Integral ecology is not merely a label; it is a social and economic model that places the dignity of the human person at its very center," d'Errico said.

During the visit Acerra Bishop Antonio Di Donna presented the Holy Father with two precious mementos linked to Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the patron saint of the diocese: a statue of the saint and an autograph letter.

Following the event in the piazza, the pope departed by helicopter to Rome.

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

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DHAKA, Bangladesh — Catholic communities across Bangladesh are praying the rosary throughout May in homes, student hostels, and at outdoor grottos, marking the traditional Marian month with a renewed effort to draw young people back to active faith.

Youth organizations, women's groups, and lay associations — working with religious sisters and priests — are leading rosary devotions in villages and cities. The Diocese of Mymensingh's Youth Commission has launched a monthlong initiative aimed at students living in city hostels, while parishes from Dhaka to Natore are continuing long-standing community devotions.

In Mymensingh, the diocesan Youth Commission inaugurated the program at the Surasree-Panthanivas Mess, a student hostel in the Kachizhuli area, where young men and women joined the rosary and Mass together, according to Charchil Mrong, secretary of the Youth Commission of the Diocese of Mymensingh.

"Many said that they were able to connect with each other and be optimistic about their faith and goals," Mrong told EWTN News. "Our aim is to bring disconnected youth from religious places back to the path of Jesus and we took this initiative with that aim in mind."

Mrong said the May rosary is also being prayed in homes across the city, where families gather as they do each year for the devotion.

"It is not just in the hostels where students stay, but like every year, this rosary prayer starts in May in different families in the city, and through this prayer, families come together. This is not just a prayer but also strengthens unity, harmony, and family ties in the entire area," Mrong said. "This prayer will reach all the young men and women in Mymensingh, bringing them together to a new light of hope. Hopefully, this prayer will bring positive changes in our youth society."

Weekly devotions in the capital

In Dhaka, the rosary and Mass are offered every Tuesday and Wednesday during May at Tejgaon Holy Rosary Church. People from all walks of life take part, with many remaining after the prayers to pray privately at the Marian grotto and light candles.

"Mother Mary is the best means of reaching Jesus; we can reach Jesus through praying to Mother Mary," said Father Jyanto S. Gomes, parish priest of Holy Rosary Church.

"Mother Mary is a symbol of obedience and humility. By praying to her, we make ourselves obedient and humble to Jesus," Gomes said. "This prayer should be a constant part of our family life in May and we should maintain the practice of prayer."

Village devotion in the north

In Natore district to the north, parishioners of Gopalpur Catholic Church gather each Wednesday in May to pray the rosary at the parish cemetery. In surrounding villages, women travel from house to house leading the rosary.

"The devotion to Mother Mary is strengthened in this month of May," said Mary Rozario, a member of Gopalpur Church. "Although we should always pray this prayer, we cannot do it much due to lack of time, but in May we try to pray to Mother Mary."

"People are now very busy with worldly matters, and their attention to prayer is very low," Rozario said. "Therefore, the Church should take timely steps to make them prayer-oriented. We should move away from traditional prayer and determine the time for prayer considering the time of people."

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In 2018, Pope Francis added the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to the Roman calendar. This memorial is celebrated each year on the Monday after Pentecost. This year it will be celebrated on May 25.

In the decree on the celebration, the then-head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah, wrote that the intention for the memorial was to help the faithful "remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the mystery of the cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic banquet, and to the mother of the redeemer and mother of the redeemed, the virgin who makes her offering to God."

While this memorial honoring the Blessed Mother as the mother of the Church is relatively new, Mary's title as mother of the Church has been associated with her for centuries.

The theological foundation for the title is often traced to the Gospel of John. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he says to his mother: "Woman, behold your son," and to the apostle John: "Behold your mother." Catholic tradition has long interpreted that moment as John representing all disciples, making Mary the spiritual mother of the entire Christian community.

The 2018 decree highlights this moment as well. It reads: "Indeed, the mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25) accepted her son's testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender mother of the Church, which Christ begot on the cross handing on the Spirit. Christ, in turn, in the beloved disciple, chose all disciples as ministers of his love towards his mother, entrusting her to them so that they might welcome her with filial affection."

Over the centuries, Marian devotion expanded through prayers, feast days, art, and theology, but the specific title "mother of the Church" gained wider prominence during the 20th century.

During the Second Vatican Council, bishops debated how Mary should be presented within modern Church teaching. Some argued for a separate document dedicated entirely to Mary, while others believed she should be discussed within the Church's broader mission and identity.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI formally proclaimed Mary as "mater Ecclesiae" — "mother of the Church" — calling her "mother of all the faithful and pastors."

It was also added to the Roman Missal after the holy year of reconciliation in 1975. Subsequently, some countries, dioceses, and religious families were granted permission by the Holy See to add this celebration to their particular calendars. With its addition to the General Roman Calendar, it is now celebrated by the whole Roman Catholic Church.

Pope John Paul II strongly championed this Marian title and had a deep devotion to "mater Ecclesiae." The pope's papal motto was "Totus tuus" ("Totally yours") and signified his total consecration to Jesus through Mary.

During his papacy he also had a mosaic commissioned facing St. Peter's Square titled "Mater Ecclesiae." This mosaic was done after the pope's survival of a 1981 assassination attempt in which John Paul II credited Mary with saving his life, and he dedicated his pontificate to her protection.

John Paul II also wrote extensively about the Blessed Mother's role in guiding the faithful, most notably in his 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater, which explores Mary's participation in the plan of salvation, the mother of God being at the center of the pilgrim Church, and examines Mary's role as intercessor and spiritual mother.

With this in mind, the memorial aims to "encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious, and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety."

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The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, "One Nation Under God," will kick off on May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida.

In honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, the pilgrimage will begin in Florida, where the first recorded Catholic Mass within the future continental United States was celebrated, highlighting the country's Catholic roots.

"We have to return to one nation under God, and I think that by beginning this pilgrimage at St. Augustine, we're returning to one of the major start points for Catholicism," Jeffrey Bruno, a photojournalist and contributor to the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, said in an interview with Register Radio.

"If we do return to that as a nation, we really will be a nation filled with hope and with promise," he said.

The launch of the pilgrimage will include remarks from Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress. He will also be joined by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of St. Augustine and the nine perpetual pilgrims who will travel the entirety of the pilgrimage, which spans more than 2,000 miles.

The 250th anniversary coinciding with the pilgrimage is "perfect," said Bruno, who has photographed past Eucharistic pilgrimages and the Eucharistic congress. "Hopefully it's going to be a new start, a fresh start" and "the next 250 will be really happy and holy, I pray."

The pilgrimage will pass through most of the original 13 colonies. Pilgrims will travel the Eastern Seaboard along the Cabrini Route in honor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.

The group will stop in Baltimore, which is the U.S. Catholic Church's "foundation," as it houses "the first cathedral" and "was the first diocese" in the nation, Bruno said.

Pilgrims also will travel through Colonial Williamsburg, the immersive restoration of Virginia's 18th-century capital, where "American culture ... meets Catholic culture," he said.

"American Catholic culture has had such an incredible impact on this country," he said. "Catholicism is so interwoven into the fabric of the United States. Mother Cabrini is the perfect example of that too, with all the accomplishments, all the hospitals and institutions that she founded over all the years."

"Healthcare, education, all these different things, it's like they can all find their roots back in … Catholicism" and its "contributions to this country," he said.

"I just hope [and] I pray that the contributions moving forward will be even more intense," Bruno said.

The pilgrimage will conclude on July 5 in Philadelphia.

Graces of the Blessed Sacrament

As the Eucharist travels from state to state, it will offer needed "grace" to believers and nonbelievers alike, Bruno said. 

In his past experience on the pilgrimages, he said "seeing the impact of the Blessed Sacrament" and "passing through the highways and the byways has been the privilege of a lifetime."

"The grace that comes from these pilgrimages, from these processions, from the processions with the Blessed Sacrament, and the witness of the pilgrims and the people that turn out to join in the local parishes … it's breathtaking. It's incredible," he said.

Bruno said "the efficacy of grace" is just like a quotation attributed to the inspiration of St. Carlo Acutis: "People who put themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints."

"I think that bringing the Blessed Sacrament" and "crossing all these different towns and places and exposing people — believers, nonbelievers, people that are hurt, people that are broken — to his grace ... [has] an efficacy that can't be understated," he said.

"It's something that I think the country has missed for a long period of time. And I'm super glad that this is happening now," Bruno said. "You see the hunger is out there."

"Everybody needs him" and "he's present, he's available," Bruno said. "The grace is there."

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The state of Washington has settled a federal lawsuit brought by a Christian couple, agreeing to a permanent injunction that will again allow religious families to serve as foster parents without having to support beliefs that counter their religious faith and violate their constitutional rights.

Shane and Jennifer DeGross, a Christian couple who served as licensed foster parents in Washington state for nine years, sued the state in 2024 for religious discrimination. The state had declined to renew their foster license in 2022 because of their sincerely held Christian beliefs that God created the human body as either male or female, and that this biological sex is immutable.

The DeGrosses objected to the state's policy requiring foster parents to affirm a child's gender identity, including using pronouns that do not align with the child's sex and supporting social or medical transitioning.

The state decided to settle this week after a key federal court ruling in April denied Washington's motion to dismiss the case with respect to the DeGrosses' First Amendment claims to the free exercise of religion and free speech, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

During the nine years they served as foster parents, the couple cared for multiple children and were described by their licensing agency as exemplary foster parents, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the religious freedom law group representing the couple.

As part of the settlement reached on May 20, Washington's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will change its licensing policies to respect all religious families' deeply held convictions and won't "attach any conditions or restrictions to the license solely because of their religious beliefs, including speech and actions pertaining to marriage, gender, or sexual relationships." State officials also agreed to pay $250,000 in attorneys' fees.

"When children are sleeping on cots in child-welfare offices for lack of loving homes, states like Washington should be doing everything they can to bring in more qualified foster parents," said Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, ADF senior counsel, when the federal court issued its decision in April.

The federal district court cited another ADF case in its April opinion, Bates v. Pakseresht, where ADF had successfully challenged a similar law in Oregon on behalf of a Christian mother, Jessica Bates.

In 2023, Bates challenged the department rule that required those seeking to become adoptive or foster parents must agree to "respect, accept, and support the … sexual orientation, gender identity, [and] gender expression … of a child or young adult" who is placed in the home.

In 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ordered that the Oregon Department of Human Services must allow Bates to begin the process of adopting two children without first making her comply with the state's gender identity affirmation policy.

According to a statement from ADF, the appeals court ruled that Oregon's policy "engaged in viewpoint discrimination and violated Bates' free speech and free exercise of religion. The Washington district court saw the same issues in how the state's policy violated the DeGrosses' constitutional rights."

The settlement permanently resolves the dispute and requires DCYF to stop imposing viewpoint-based restrictions on religious foster parents.

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