Catholic News

One of the historic milestones of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Spain was the opportunity to realize Antoni Gaudí's dream: the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, coinciding exactly with the centenary of the great architect's death.

"God's architect" died leaving behind a vast legacy of art and devotion visible throughout Barcelona — like an open-air Gospel sculpted in stone.

The spectacular central spire — crowned by a white cross that makes the basilica the tallest in the world and which will be open to visitors starting in 2028 — is undoubtedly one of them.

The celebration marked the conclusion of Leo's visit to Barcelona before he travels Thursday to two of the Canary Islands — Tenerife and Las Palmas — where the pope will address the suffering of migrants who risk their lives on the Atlantic route in search of a better future.

After Mass, Leo XIV stepped outside to bless and inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ — a beautiful ceremony in which the pope, rather than simply putting his stamp on a finished work, charted a course for Christians.

"The Sagrada Família is the tallest church in the world — not to stand out in worldly rankings, but to guide the steps of God's people journeying through this land of Catalonia, with the cross illuminating the path like a lamp lit in anticipation of the Bridegroom's return," he affirmed.

As he has done since setting foot in Spain on Saturday, June 6, the pope delivered a message of unity and harmony.

"The entire city of Barcelona and all of Catalonia gather in this temple — itself a sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain — and lift their gaze to encounter the face of God the Father, resplendent in his son made man, Jesus Christ," he explained at the altar of the basilica consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, noting that it stands as a visible sign of the invisible God.

The pope thus called for eyes to be raised toward the Tower of Jesus Christ and toward that inimitable masterpiece, the Sagrada Família.

Scripture, he said, "teaches us that it is not we who give God a place, as if he were an element in a series or part of a whole greater than himself."

"Rather, it is God who gives us a place, and the place he gives us is his own heart: the place of the Son, for us who were strangers; the place of the Beloved, for us who are sinners," he declared.

Like a shepherd guiding his flock in the teachings of the Church, the pope continued his interpretation of the Gospel — specifically, the passage where the Lord tells the Pharisees: "If you do not believe that 'I AM,' you will die in your sins."

"Strong words," the pope remarked, clarifying "that they are by no means threats or blackmail."

"They are an invitation to salvation — a call to freedom from Christ, who desires our ultimate, eternal good," he said. In the face of the threat of evil, "the Lord is always with us, always on our side."

He then uttered one of the most powerful statements of the trip: "Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot believe in Jesus and promote war. We cannot believe in Jesus and kill the innocent. We cannot believe in Jesus and abandon those who suffer, those who weep, and those fleeing from misery."

Before celebrating the Eucharist, he went down to the crypt to pray and lay a floral offering where the remains of the architect — whom Pope Francis declared venerable in 2025 — rest. Seeing him pray at the tomb served as further encouragement for the cause of the virtuous life of the architect — who died a century ago on this very day — to eventually be inscribed in the Church's book of saints.

This was one of the most moving moments, as neither John Paul II nor Benedict XVI visited the tomb during their own visits to the basilica.

The foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid in 1882; for 144 years, it has grown alongside Barcelona — and alongside Gaudí himself, up until the day of his death.

The pope's presence here represents more than just a tour of a work of breathtaking beauty; it carries an eloquence that transcends its commemorative significance. Few works like the Sagrada Familia so powerfully convey that beauty is not a secondary adornment of faith, but rather a way of making God visible.

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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Following his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said the Christian presence in the Holy Land is facing "a difficult reality" amid growing violence and the absence of any political horizon.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, the patriarch said ongoing instability is increasing the vulnerability of local communities and deepening people's uncertainty about the future.

The patriarch's remarks came after an official ceremony at the Élysée Palace attended by French political and Church leaders, during which Macron awarded Pizzaballa the rank of officer in the Legion of Honor in recognition of his service to the people of the Holy Land and his ongoing efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and defend the values of justice and peace.

The cardinal said his meetings with Macron were "important and direct" and that their discussion focused less on political details, which the president already knows, and more on social issues, people's concerns, and their daily realities in both Palestine and Israel.

He added that Macron showed particular interest in understanding how the Church interprets current developments and in learning about the humanitarian situation of Christian communities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

Pizzaballa also noted that Palestinian Christians "do not differ in their suffering from other Palestinians." Settlements continue to expand, lands are being confiscated, and landowners are often prevented from accessing or working their property, he said. At the same time, attacks by settlers continue amid what he described as a clear lack of security.

He also pointed to the economic crisis that is prompting many Christian families to consider emigration, especially after years of war, declining employment opportunities, and the suspension of development projects.

Pizzaballa called on the international community and churches in the West to "redouble their efforts to create real opportunities, build connections, and develop new pathways that enable families to remain in their homeland and preserve their roots.

Regarding the Church's mission in the context of the conflict, Pizzaballa stressed that its role begins with speaking the truth and condemning injustice. It also includes promoting mutual respect, helping build dignified lives, and accompanying people as they seek to overcome despair.

The Church, he said, "tries to be a voice reminding everyone of the humanity of the other," while combining spiritual care with advocacy for justice and peace.

The patriarch also reflected on the region's broader tensions, noting that conflict has become part of the culture of the region after generations of violence. Overcoming this legacy, he said, "will not happen anytime soon," particularly in the absence of leadership capable of looking beyond the barriers imposed by violence.

He added that the Church remains committed to serving as "a bridge of hope" at a time when trust is diminishing and fears are increasing.

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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Although most Americans view birth control and having children outside of marriage as morally acceptable behaviors, that support saw a significant drop according to Gallup's 2026 Value and Beliefs poll.

The annual survey tracks American views about 20 subjects with moral implications. The issues that saw the largest decreases in support in 2026 were birth control, having children outside of marriage, sex between teenagers, gambling, and cloning animals.

Pollsters surveyed 1,001 adults from May 1–17. The report has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Pollsters asked whether the person finds the behaviors "morally acceptable" or "morally wrong."

Joseph Meaney, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told EWTN News ethics cannot be measured by polling because "what is right is not necessarily popular," but these polls "help us understand how effectively ethical conduct is being taught and perceived."

"It is hopeful to see clear moral violations like using birth control and out-of-wedlock pregnancy losing support in American society," he said.

Shifting views

The issue that saw the largest drop of societal support from 2025 to 2026 was having children outside of marriage, with the poll finding 58% of Americans believing this is morally acceptable and 35% saying it is morally wrong — a nine-point drop in acceptance from last year.

Pollsters found a partisan divide on the subject, with 76% of Democrats viewing it as morally acceptable, along with 56% of independents and 44% of Republicans.

For birth control, 83% of Americans called it acceptable and 11% called it morally wrong, which shows a seven-point drop in acceptance from the previous year. It found a slight partisan divide here as well, with 92% of Democrats accepting it, along with 81% of independents and 79% of Republicans.

As gambling becomes more widespread through websites and mobile applications, the societal acceptance dropped down to 57%, with disapproval rising to 35%. This is a six-point drop from the previous year. It has acceptance from 66% of Democrats, 55% of Republicans, and 53% of independents.

Societal acceptance of sex between teenagers has consistently been low, but it decreased by an additional six points in 2026 from 41% acceptance to 35% acceptance, with disapproval at 57%. It's accepted by 54% of Democrats, 35% of independents, and 16% of Republicans.

Cloning animals has also been consistently unpopular, but acceptance went down from 34% to 27%, with 64% disapproving. This did not have a significant partisan divide: 29% of independents, 27% of Democrats, and 25% of Republicans view it as acceptable.

Other values measured

Pollsters also asked other ethical questions related to subjects such as abortion and other life issues, gender, human sexuality, and marriage but did not see a major shift from 2025 through 2026.

A majority of people, 52%, believe the death penalty is morally acceptable while 39% say it is not. A plurality of people believe abortion and doctor-assisted suicide are morally acceptable, with 49% approving on both questions. It found 41% say abortion is morally wrong and 45% of people say doctor-assisted suicide is morally wrong.

There was a partisan divide here with Republicans being more likely to view the death penalty as morally acceptable and Democrats being more likely to view abortion and doctor-assisted suicide as morally acceptable.

The poll found societal acceptance for divorce at 74%, for premarital sex at 65%, and for gay and lesbian relationships at 62%. Alternatively, only 38% said it is morally acceptable to change one's gender.

Societal acceptance for extramarital affairs was found to be 7%, for cloning humans at 9%, for polygamy at 19%, and for pornography 31%.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told EWTN News these types of polls "help remind us of the importance of being in dialogue, and actively discussing critical moral issues in an open society, so as to contribute to the formation of human consciences in truth and light."

"To the extent that Catholics try to stand up for unpopular truths, like the unacceptability of divorce, premarital sex, and birth control, and to the extent that they seek to structure their own choices and lives around these deep moral verities, it has the undeniable effect of sparking interest and even awakening the consciences of more worldly-minded individuals, whether they profess to be atheistic, agnostic, or otherwise unsure about higher matters," he said.

"Catholics have a particular obligation and responsibility in this regard to strengthen the culture around them, because 'to whom much is given, much is expected,'" Pacholczyk added.

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted to advance the cause of beatification and canonization for Catholic missionary John Rick Miller on the local level.

Miller was an American businessman and missionary known for numerous apostolates including the association "For the Love of God Worldwide," which promotes consecration to God through the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The bishops voted in favor of moving the servant of God's cause forward at the spring USCCB plenary meeting held in Orlando, Florida, on June 10.

As the bishops prepare to consecrate the U.S. to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they referenced Miller's cause, noting his long focus on national consecration.

"The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has granted the confidence of the forum to the Archdiocese of Miami," Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said at the meeting. "This particular cause recognizes, or underscores, the vocation of the laity to holiness."

"St. John Paul II wrote … that to ask to be baptized means to ask to become holy," Wenski said. "Miller is a layman who, after a deep conversion, lived that baptismal call to holiness in an exemplary way, which is why we present his cause for your consideration today."

Miller "was born in New York City in July 1948 into a Catholic family. He was a husband, a father of two children, [and] an international corporate executive," Wenski said. "In 1988, after some years of distance from religious practice, he experienced a deep conversion through the intercession of the Blessed Mother."

"From that moment, his spiritual life rested on two inseparable pillars — a life of prayer, adoration, and daily Eucharist, before which he placed every apostolic initiative and intent, and also [an] intense Marian devotion, lived a filial entrustment to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, and also the chaste heart of St. Joseph."

"The three hearts … became the hallmark of his apostolate," Wenski said. "He left a fervent and industrious corporate life and dedicated himself fully to the apostolate."

Mission abroad

Miller's work reached numerous nations, as he evangelized and taught the catechism across the globe.

"I think there's enough evidence of holiness in multiple nations recognized by bishops and archbishops — Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, honored by many civil institutions," Wenski said.

"He co-founded the Apostolate of St. Joseph in 2001, he founded the Guild of Our Lady of Willesden in London under Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, and with the Pallottine Fathers, he promoted 10 Marian shrines in southern India," he said.

"Through his initiative, Colombia was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2008. With that experience, the Mission for the Love of God Worldwide was born in 2009 and recognized in 2011 by the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference as a private association of the faithful," he said.

"Diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the end of 2012, he continued to evangelize until his final weeks," Wenski said.

"His life is a testament to the living out, or the following, of Lumen Gentium that states that it belongs to the laity by their very vocation to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs, and directing them according to God's will," Wenski said.

"There is a pastoral need for lay models of holiness, and he and his life exemplified that," Wenski said.

Miller joins the 87 U.S. Catholics on the official path to sainthood, in addition to the 11 canonized Americans who have already been declared saints.

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With the FIFA World Cup set to begin on Thursday, during his apostolic visit to Spain Pope Leo XIV shared a reflection regarding soccer, highlighting the importance of learning teamwork as a lesson for life.

"Soccer also helps us remember something very important: that life is not a race to be run in solitude; it is something played as a team, and we must learn to run together," the pontiff observed during a meeting with members of diocesan charitable and assistance organizations at the Church of St. Augustine in Barcelona.

"Someone who could be a star but never passes the ball — doesn't let the others get into the game — will probably lose," the pontiff added while answering questions from Renzo, a 6-year-old boy who wanted to know if the Holy Father liked soccer.

At the outset of his remarks on the subject, the Holy Father mentioned that he currently plays tennis but used to play American football in his youth.

He also recalled his time as a missionary in Peru and the love for sports that he shared with seminarians there. "When I was in Trujillo, I played soccer — on defense, if you want to know; I wasn't a big goal-scorer," he recounted.

"A little sport is good for everyone; one has to find ways to — let's say — maintain and enjoy good health: body, mind, and soul. So, that has indeed been a part of my life," he continued.

Finally, he connected the topic of sports to the social work carried out by Church communities in Barcelona, ??describing them as a team working in unity. "I want to acknowledge and commend everything you are doing here," he concluded.

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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ORLANDO, Florida — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted June 10 to support advancing the cause of beatification and canonization for Monsignor Joseph Buh, a Slovenian-born missionary priest who spent more than half a century ministering in northern Minnesota.

The vote took place during the bishops' plenary assembly in Orlando, Florida, after Duluth Bishop Daniel J. Felton asked members to consider whether it was advisable to advance the cause on the local level.

The bishops also approved advancing the cause of sainthood for John Rick Miller, a layman and international missionary known as the "ambassador of the Virgin Mary."

Presenting the request to his fellow bishops, Felton described Buh as "a remarkable example of missionary discipleship" whose "love for Christ and the Church led him to leave his homeland of Slovenia and dedicate his life to the people of northeastern Minnesota."

"His story remains profoundly relevant for the Church today," Felton said. "For we live in a missionary age."

The action marks another step in a process that has been developing in the Diocese of Duluth for several years. In 2024, the diocese began formally exploring whether Buh's cause should move forward, consulting clergy and the faithful about devotion to the priest and his reputation for holiness.

Buh was born in 1833 in what is now Slovenia and was ordained in 1858. After emigrating to the United States, he became one of the most influential Catholic missionaries in northern Minnesota during a period of rapid immigration and settlement.

Known for extensive travels across the region — often by horseback over long distances and difficult terrain — Buh ministered to immigrant mining communities and Native American settlements at a time when priests could spend weeks or months covering a single mission circuit. He helped establish more than 50 parishes and missions and later served as vicar general of the Diocese of Duluth.

Felton said Buh anticipated key elements of modern Catholic teaching on evangelization.

"He immersed himself in the communities that he served. He learned their languages, understood their customs and struggles and, most importantly, learned the language of their hearts," Felton said.

Buh spoke six languages, including Ojibwe, an Algonquian language, which Felton said he learned so that he could "faithfully serve and evangelize the Indigenous communities."

He added that Buh's pastoral method was rooted in presence and listening.

"He began by listening after learning their language, their story, and their needs," Felton said. "His example reminds us that evangelization begins with presence, listening, and genuine love for the people entrusted to our care."

The proposal brought before the bishops follows several years of preparatory work in the Diocese of Duluth. In October 2023, Felton appointed Father Richard Kunst to help evaluate whether sufficient devotion to Buh existed among the faithful to warrant moving forward with a cause.

'A true spiritual father'

Although Buh died in 1922, interest in his life has persisted within the Diocese of Duluth. Advocates of the cause point to both his missionary work and the reputation for sanctity that followed him during his lifetime and after his death.

Felton said the faithful of northeastern Minnesota have long regarded Buh as "a true spiritual father," reflected in the title by which he became known, the "patriarch of the Diocese of Duluth."

His ministry coincided with demographic changes in northern Minnesota as mining and railroad expansion drew new immigrant communities to the region. His fluency in multiple languages allowed him to minister across cultural lines, particularly among European immigrant groups who often lacked stable parish structures in their early years in the United States.

At his funeral, Church leaders praised his decades of missionary service across remote communities in northern Minnesota. In the years since, his memory has remained particularly strong in the region.

"Stories of his life continue to be shared throughout our region, even to this day," Felton told the bishops. "There are accounts of his sacrifices while traveling through severe winters, his tireless efforts to provide both spiritual and material assistance, and the deep trust people placed in his prayers."

"For generations, devotion to Monsignor Buh has endured," he added.

Interest in Buh's cause has increased in recent years. His remains were exhumed in 2024 and transferred to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth, where they were formally entombed in 2025.

As supporters have examined Buh's life and writings, Felton said he is remembered as "a beloved, gentle, humble, and generous priest" whose life was ordered toward helping others draw closer to God.

"He did not come to Minnesota in search of adventure or personal gain," Felton said, "but out of a desire to serve Jesus Christ and to lead others."

The bishops' vote does not open the cause nor declare Buh a saint. Rather, it represents one of several preliminary steps in the canonization process.

If the process continues, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints would need to grant a "nihil obstat" ("nothing stands in the way"), allowing the cause to be formally opened. At that point, Buh would receive the title "servant of God."

Felton told the bishops that Buh's witness speaks to the Church's present missionary context.

"I truly do believe the Holy Spirit is lifting him up in this time," he said. "I think the Holy Spirit has lifted him up for our times to be our inspiration, to be our guide."

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In Barcelona's Raval — a lively neighborhood where more than half the population is of migrant origin — joy palpably filled the streets on Wednesday.

Before celebrating Mass on June 10 at Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica, Pope Leo XIV brought his affection to this community in one of the city's most disadvantaged yet vibrant areas, demonstrating that the pope has not come to just admire churches but to touch human suffering.

In this neighborhood, St. Augustine Church houses — within the premises of a former convent — a soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charity and the Mano Amiga Foundation, which distributes clothing and food to the poor.

The beneficiaries of this ministry include the family of 6-year-old Renzo. He and his family arrived in Spain some time ago fleeing extreme poverty in Peru.

Renzo — a little boy from a vulnerable family struggling to make ends meet — put the pope on the spot.

"Why do bad things happen to some people? And not to others? Whose fault is it? Why are there so many people living on the street? No one sees them; no one helps them," he asked the Holy Father with the sweet innocence of a child.

But before addressing that question, the pope answered another: whether he had wanted to be pope when he was a child.

"I didn't want to be pope, neither as a young man nor as an old man," the pontiff remarked, drawing laughter from those present.

But "when the Lord calls, one must say yes," he added. It was evident that the pope felt at ease in this parish. He even said: "I truly feel at home here, and thank you for everything you represent."

Leo shared that "it is not easy to find the answer, Renzo, to your question about why bad things happen to some people while others are spared," while noting that "reflecting on the life of Jesus might help us."

"God's word tells us that Our Lord 'went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,' and yet we know he was crucified. But the story did not end there, for he rose again on the third day, conquering both evil and death," the Holy Father recalled.

The pope emphasized that "through the life of Jesus Christ, God shows us that, even amid suffering, he never abandons any of his children, for he has prepared eternal joy for us — a place where there will be no more sorrow or pain. Let us have confidence; Jesus is with us, helping and accompanying us, and giving us the strength to navigate the difficult moments we may encounter in life."

During a diocesan meeting with organizations dedicated to social assistance, the pope highlighted the aid they provide to people living in this neighborhood marked by marginalization.

Each diocesan ecclesial community, he noted — moved by charity and guided by the Holy Spirit — "is called to reach out, according to its own means and capabilities, and with discretion, sensitivity, and perseverance, to the wounds and needs of the least and most vulnerable, in order to alleviate their suffering and remedy their poverty."

As Christians, he affirmed, "we are called to the task of making God's love for every man and woman present within the concrete fabric of history."

Also present at the gathering were the four Augustinians living in Barcelona and the surrounding area who served as hosts: two Tanzanians and two Filipinos who minister at neighborhood parishes and one in Badalona.

The pope focused much of his address on forgiveness. "Forgiving does not mean saying that what was wrong was actually right, nor does it mean letting someone continue to cause harm. It does not mean forcing oneself to forget, as if nothing had happened," he explained.

[Forgiving] does not mean forcing oneself to forget, as if nothing had happened."

Pope Leo XIV

Forgiving, he added, "means not letting hatred take over our hearts." He emphasized: "Jesus asks us to forgive because it is the only way to experience God's peace and heal spiritual wounds."

The pontiff also addressed one of the most painful social ills: the loneliness of the elderly. "Let us not allow loneliness and abandonment to become the norm in the lives of older adults. That is a very sad thing," he warned.

Renzo also asked the pope if he liked soccer, a question that drew laughter from those present.

As is well known, the pope plays tennis, but he revealed that he also played soccer as a young man. He shared that in Peru, he "followed the local teams closely" while also playing soccer alongside the seminarians.

"A little sport is good for everyone," he said, concluding the moving encounter.

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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Since the time Ángeles Hernández discovered her calling to become a pilot after boarding a Boeing 747 as a child bound for a visit to England, she never imagined that, decades later, she would sit in the cockpit of an Iberia airplane flying the successor of St. Peter from Madrid to Barcelona.

During takeoff, the pope was invited to the cockpit, where they shared an exchange she said she will never forget.

"I think I'm still beside myself ... I'm still on cloud nine. I've hardly had time to stop and pray, and I believe this is something you process through prayer because otherwise it doesn't sink in the same way," the 33-year-old pilot told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, just a day after an experience she said she will always cherish in her heart.

The woman from Extremadura, Spain, said it hasn't yet fully sunk in and that she still needs to "bring down to earth" the emotions she experienced on the afternoon of June 9, when Pope Leo XIV sat with her and pilot Pablo Martínez in the cockpit.

She said she feels "blessed" and attributed the event to "God's ways." She also recalled a conversation with a nun from the Eucharistic Sisters of Nazareth, for whom she holds great affection: "I told her I didn't know if I deserved something like this, and she replied that it was the Lord's way of telling me he loved me."

The video of Hernández with Pope Leo in the cockpit has gone viral around the world.

It shows the pontiff clearly enjoying the experience. "I do think he really enjoyed the flight," she said. "He mentioned that it was his first time taking off [while in the cockpit] and he asked us technical questions, such as what temperature the engines reach upon startup. He was very curious, and we explained the operation [of the plane] to him as we went along."

Martinez, the other pilot, told the pope he is a Real Madrid soccer team fan and had enjoyed the pope's allusion the day before to the "spectacular goal" scored for the Church in Madrid. The pope jokingly replied that he's also a "White" (referring to the nickname for Real Madrid fans) and added that one has to "be careful" in Barcelona, ??given the traditional rivalry between the Real team and Barça (the Barcelona team).

During the journey, the plane carrying the pope was escorted by two Spanish Air Force F-18 fighter jets. At one point during the flight, the cockpit crew made contact with the military pilots.

Hernández said the pope "didn't hesitate for a moment to put on the headset and pick up the microphone" to speak with Commander López of the Zaragoza Squadron. "It was a unique experience," she recalled, with feeling.

Hernández also had the opportunity to ask the Holy Father to pray for her family's intentions and, more broadly, for all families in Spain: "For all their concerns, their intentions, and the illnesses borne in silence, and also for those who care for the sick."

She also asked him for a blessing for many of her friends and family members.

"The pope told me to let them know they have his blessing and that he is praying for them. I'll never forget those words — they are truly a gift," she said.

Although the years of training and the journey to becoming a pilot haven't always been easy, Hernández stated with conviction: "It's a matter of putting things in God's hands and saying, 'Let's give it our all; if you are with me, we'll make it.'

She said faith is an immense gift she received from her parents and grandparents, who were the ones responsible for sowing that initial seed. Over the years, she explained, that seed has been "watered" thanks to many people she has met along the way.

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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Texas Catholics are preparing to welcome fans from around the world as the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament officially begins this week.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Diocese of Fort Worth, and the Diocese of Dallas have launched special initiatives blending hospitality, faith, and outreach for the hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world descending on those cities during the largest World Cup in history, which begins June 11.

The cities of Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth will host 16 matches total, with a tournament-high nine matches taking place at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, which sits in between Fort Worth and Dallas.

The Diocese of Dallas has launched the "Welcome the World, Welcome the Stranger" initiative, encouraging parishes to extend hospitality to the city's visitors, offering a downloadable resource kit that includes prayers and ideas that "will help your community welcome visitors from around the globe with faith, joy, and generosity."

The diocese is also offering fans information on Mass times in multiple languages and "everything you need to stay connected to your faith during your visit to north Texas."

"We are grateful for your presence among us and for this moment that brings the world together in a spirit of joy and unity," Dallas Bishop Edward Burns said on the diocese's World Cup website. "It is my hope that, during your time here, you will experience not only our hospitality but also the peace that comes from being welcomed as part of one human family."

Burns celebrated an opening Mass on June 7 at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are additional Holy Hours planned for specific match days.

Dallas Stadium will feature several high-profile group games such as Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14), England vs. Croatia (June 17), and Argentina vs. Austria (June 22) before culminating in a semifinal on July 14.

The Fort Worth Diocese's initiative, "Together for the Win," is available in multiple languages and offers visiting fans parish locations, including their distance from Dallas Stadium.

Diocesan spokesman John Cuccaro told EWTN News the diocese also plans to host watch parties during the tournament and will post reels of the matches on social media.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's dedicated World Cup website, meanwhile, offers a parish locator, information on special Masses and other events, and links to notable Catholic sites in the city, which expects over 500,000 visitors.

NRG Stadium (temporarily renamed Houston Stadium) will host seven matches from June 14 to July 4, including five group-stage games and two knockout rounds.

Portugal will be playing two matches in Houston on June 17 and June 23. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is inviting fans to worship at a special Portuguese Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, June 21, at 3:30 p.m.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament opens in Mexico City with the match between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The opening ceremony will take place at the same venue about 90 minutes before kickoff, celebrating Mexican culture through music, dance, and folklore.

There will be three separate opening ceremonies — one in each host country — with additional events in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.

This expanded 48-team tournament features a record 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running through the final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The 11 U.S. host cities will collectively stage 78 of the tournament's 104 matches. In addition to the two cities in Texas, matches will take place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford), Boston (Foxborough), Miami (Miami Gardens), Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), Seattle, and Kansas City.

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QUELIMANE, Mozambique — Catholic leaders' grief over the killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Mozambique's Quelimane Diocese continues to deepen as Pope Leo XIV, Catholic bishops in Africa, the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, and the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) joined in mourning the 54-year-old bishop, calling for justice.

Authorities in Mozambique said Afonso was fatally shot during a home invasion at his residence in Quelimane during the early hours of June 6. 

The Mozambican member of the Institute of Consolata Missionaries (IMC), Afonso had led the Diocese of Quelimane since July 2025 and also served as apostolic administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Beira and secretary-general of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM).

Members of the CEM have demanded urgent action and accountability. In a June 8 letter, the episcopal body condemned what it described as a "vile and cowardly crime" and insisted on a swift, rigorous investigation to uncover both the masterminds and perpetrators of the attack.

Earlier this week, in a message released by the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV said he had "learned with sorrow of the grave act of violence" that claimed Afonso's life and said he was joined in prayer with all the people of Mozambique.

Pope Leo XIV's message came as Church leaders across Africa and beyond reacted to the killing, describing it as a painful loss for the Church and an attack on the values the late bishop dedicated his life to promoting.

Africa's bishops condemn 'barbaric crime'

In a June 6 statement, the leadership of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) expressed "profound shock, sorrow, and indignation" over the violent killing of Afonso.

"This heinous act, perpetrated against a shepherd of God's people, constitutes not only an attack on the life and dignity of a devoted servant of the Gospel but also an assault on the values of peace, justice, human dignity, and religious freedom that are essential for the flourishing of every society," said SECAM President Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, OFM Cap, leader of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa.

Ambongo also said they "strongly and unequivocally condemn this barbaric crime."

"No religious leader, regardless of faith or denomination, should ever become the target of violence," he said.

He continued: "Those who dedicate their lives to serving God and promoting reconciliation, solidarity, education, charity, and the common good deserve protection and respect, not persecution and death."

On behalf of Africa's Catholic bishops, Ambongo called on Mozambican authorities to conduct "an immediate, thorough, transparent, and independent investigation" and ensure that all those responsible are "identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice without delay."

"The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church, and the international community deserve the truth," Ambongo said.

The cardinal went on to urge the Mozambican government to strengthen protection for religious leaders and places of worship, emphasizing that religious freedom is "a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of every democratic and peaceful society."

He expressed condolences to Mozambique's Catholic bishops, clergy, women and men religious, and lay faithful of the Quelimane Diocese and Beira Archdiocese, IMC members, and the late bishop's family and loved ones.

"We join them in mourning the loss of a faithful pastor whose life was dedicated to the service of Christ and his Church," Ambongo said.

Vatican dicastery recalls missionary service

The Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, where Afonso served at the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches before becoming a bishop, also issued a tribute, highlighting the late bishop's missionary commitment and service to the universal Church.

"With deep sorrow, yet comforted by the firm hope of the resurrection promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ," officials of the Vatican Dicastery said they joined "in the mourning of the Church in Mozambique" and united themselves spiritually with the pope and the faithful of Quelimane and Beira.

The dicastery officials recalled that Afonso, born in Ribáuè on May 6, 1972, took his solemn vows in the Consolata Missionary Institute and was ordained a priest in 2002.

"Inspired by a genuine missionary spirit and a deep love for sacred Scripture, he generously dedicated his ministry to the service of evangelization in Africa, Italy, and the universal Church," they said.

Vatican Dicastery officials noted that the late bishop served as an official of the Dicastery for Evangelization from 2017 until his episcopal appointment in September 2023.

"The years spent at the service of the dicastery were marked by competence, dedication, a sincere ecclesial spirit, and a generous commitment to the mission ad gentes and to the growth of the young Churches," they said.

The dicastery officials recounted his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Maputo in September 2023 and later as bishop of Quelimane in July 2025.

In April, he was also entrusted with responsibility for the Archdiocese of Beira as apostolic administrator.

Reflecting on Afonso's passing, the Vatican officials said: "His sudden death deprives the Church in Mozambique of a zealous and caring pastor, an exemplary missionary, a man of profound faith, and a faithful servant of the Gospel."

They added that those who worked with the late bishop remembered "his humility, fraternal kindness, spiritual depth, pastoral wisdom, and his total dedication to the mission entrusted to him by the Lord for the good of the Church."

The dicastery entrusted Afonso's soul to "the infinite mercy of the Father" and prayed that the Lord would "comfort all who mourn his death and sustain his Church in its confident expectation of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."

ACN sees another 'dark cloud' over Mozambique

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) also lamented Afonso's killing, describing it as another painful moment for the Church in the southern African nation.

Officials of the pontifical charity said the murder "adds yet another dark cloud over the Church in Mozambique."

They noted that the Church in the country "is already grappling with terrorist violence in the north of the country, particularly in Cabo Delgado Province."

Officials of the Catholic charity with the mission of supporting persecuted and oppressed Christians worldwide recalled that Afonso had repeatedly warned about insecurity and violence in the region before his death.

Reaffirming their commitment to the local Church, ACN officials said Mozambique "remains a priority country" for the organization, which continues to support the Church through humanitarian assistance, psychosocial programs, and reconstruction projects.

As the Church in Mozambique prepares funeral arrangements for the slain bishop, tributes from Rome, Africa, and Catholic organizations continue to pour in from across the world.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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