Catholic News

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on Aug. 18 upheld a Maryland judge's order blocking a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy that would have loosened limits on immigration enforcement at or near houses of worship while the case proceeds.

The plaintiffs, including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Sikh Temple Sacramento, and several Quaker organizations, sought the injunction after DHS ended the policy that treated churches as "sensitive locations" in January 2025.

DHS previously restricted immigration enforcement from conducting arrests at churches and other sensitive locations unless there is approval from a supervisor or there is an urgent need to take enforcement action.

Instead, the Trump administration's policy requires officials to use "discretion" and "common sense" when deciding where to conduct immigration enforcement.

The plaintiffs filed suit against DHS in the District of Maryland on Jan. 27, 2025, alleging that the policy violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The district court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, ordering DHS to follow its prior guidelines, most recently issued in 2021. On May 6, 2025, DHS appealed the preliminary injunction to the 4th Circuit.

The case is not the first lawsuit of its kind. Dozens of other religious groups have brought similar lawsuits against DHS following the policy shift.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in February he and Rev. Franklin Graham teamed up to oppose immigration enforcement in churches, warning that ICE's presence at Sunday Mass was driving people away. He called the practice a violation of religious freedom, saying the federal government cannot harass people who come to worship.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act invoked

In the Aug. 18 decision, the senior circuit judge, Barbara Milano Keenan, wrote the judges "hold that the plaintiffs have standing to pursue their claims." She said they agree with the lower court that DHS policy likely violates the plaintiffs' rights under the RFRA.

"RFRA proscribes not only outright governmental prohibition of the free exercise of religion but also forbids indirect coercion, substantial pressure, or penalties being placed on such free exercise," she said. "Governmental action meeting this test creates a substantial burden on free exercise, rendering that action subject to strict scrutiny."

The decision was met with positive reactions from the plaintiffs, who said it "reaffirms a fundamental promise of religious liberty: every person should be able to gather, worship, pray, and serve their community without fear that immigration enforcement will unlawfully disrupt sacred spaces."

"We are grateful that the court has preserved these protections while this case moves forward, and we will continue fighting to ensure that religious freedom remains meaningful for every congregation and every person who walks through our doors," the coalition of plaintiffs said in a statement.

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About 50,000 faithful took part in the closing procession for the novena to Our Lady of Glory in Brazil on Aug. 15. The local bishop, Flávio Giovenale, said the large turnout reflects the faith of the people, who are "thirsting for Christ."

"This multitude is saying: We want spirituality, we want Jesus, and we love Our Lady because she leads us to Jesus," the bishop told the website Juruá 24 Horas.

"Our Lady is like a mother who takes us to school; the teacher — the master — is Jesus, and Our Lady leads us to him," he said.

The devotees walked about two miles in a procession lasting nearly two hours. Holding candles, they followed the image of Our Lady, praying and giving thanks.

"We came to give thanks for the harvest and for our family's health. Being here among so many people sharing the same purpose is something indescribable," farmer Renilson Fox said to news website G1.

"We spend the whole year waiting for this moment," veterinarian Douglas Vasconcelos told G1. He said that for him, this "is a day to renew our faith and give thanks for so many graces received."

Mary is our 'prototype'

"Today, we celebrate Our Lady of Glory, who is already there [in glory], a gift from God," Giovenale said during the Mass at the Cruzeiro do Sul cathedral prior to the procession. The bishop recalled Jesus's words: "I am going to the Father's glory, and after I prepare a place, I will return and take you with me."

"We say that at the end of time, we will all rise again and be reunited in body and soul to live in heaven, body and soul. But for Our Lady, Jesus chose to make an exception, a gift. In his freedom, he said: 'Our Lady was the first to say yes to me; she will also be the first to rise again,'" he explained.

The bishop recalled that the Dormition of Mary, although not found in the Bible, has been a tradition "since the early years" of Christianity. It says "that Our Lady fell asleep in the Lord and Jesus came and took her, body and soul."

"She is there in heaven, body and soul, as the first Christian, the first to say 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord,' and the first to rise again, body and soul. She is, as it were, our prototype," he said.

In his homily, Giovenale said that before attaining glory, Mary served, and Christians must follow her example to reach the kingdom of heaven.

"We're going to walk in procession, why? Because Mary — after receiving the angel's announcement that she would be the Mother of the Savior, and after saying, 'I am the servant of the Lord' — what did she do? She went to serve Elizabeth," he said.

"To serve, to be Christians, to be a faithful people, we can't afford to slack off. Jesus promised us happiness, not ease. It requires effort; it requires saying, 'I want to serve,' just as Mary did," he said.

The bishop recalled that it was Jesus who said, "I came into the world not to be served, but to serve."

"Mary was the one who, in so many ways, anticipated this, because she is the first to be faithful to Jesus," he added.

Giovenale cited the theme of this year's novena to Our Lady of Glory: "Our Lady of Glory, Mother of the Faithful People."

"If we want to be faithful to Jesus, faithful to God, we must imitate Mary — to journey forth and go serve others," he said.

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

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With an increasing number of abortions done via sending pills through the U.S. mail, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Catholics across the nation to pray to St. Joseph to "stop the spread" of abortion pills.

The bishops are calling for sustained and dedicated prayer from Aug. 18 to Oct. 31, with the campaign launching ahead of Respect Month Life in October.

USCCB President Archbishop Paul Coakley and Bishop Daniel Thomas, who heads the bishops' committee on pro-life activities, urged Catholics to "join a focused effort of prayer and action to stop the spread of abortion pills."

Activists have criticized the mailing of abortion pills as a largely unregulated and dangerous practice. Pro-life advocates were dealt a blow in May when the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily allowed for the continued mailing of abortion pills throughout the U.S. amid a legal dispute over the practice.

"Every abortion involves the death of a child and harm to the mother," the two bishops wrote in an Aug. 18 letter. "Now with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks."

"The Food and Drug Administration has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry by allowing abortion pills to be prescribed in telehealth appointments and sold both at neighborhood pharmacies and online, circumventing state laws that protect life in the womb," the bishops wrote.

They said the federal government's lack of regulation makes women "vulnerable to suffering an abortion alone at home, without any medical supervision" and "sets up additional opportunities for exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers."

The bishops urged Catholics to visit the USCCB's Respect Life campaign website, where visitors can "learn about the danger of abortion pills [and] send messages to pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies that are involved."

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According to the "9th Study on Social Rights" in Cuba published on Aug. 13, 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, eight out of 10 have been forced to skip a meal during the day, and 95% disapprove of the government's economic and social management.

Yet behind these figures lie the stories of people who don't know what they will eat the next day, the sick who can't get their medications, and families surviving thanks to aid received from abroad.

Osvaldo Gallardo, a writer and Catholic layman originally from Camagüey, emigrated to the United States but maintains frequent contact with family and friends who remain on the island. From abroad, as a religious freedom activist, he closely follows a situation he says has become increasingly unbearable.

"What strikes me most is the infinite sadness, the absolute hopelessness, the listlessness, the desperation, and the anguish with which my relatives and everyone I know in Cuba live their daily lives," Gallardo stated in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

"It's immeasurable; it's a total lack of meaning in life, a loss of any sense of where we are headed or what our goals are," he added.

The study, based on 1,318 interviews conducted across the country's 15 provinces and the special district of Isla de la Juventud, reveals a severe deterioration in such fundamental areas as food, healthcare, housing, and public services.

Sixty-eight percent of the households surveyed report monthly incomes of less than 20,000 Cuban pesos, approximately $30. Furthermore, 80% state that they have skipped breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to a lack of money or food shortages.

Power outages are the primary issue cited by respondents (70%), followed by the food crisis (52%), the cost of living (45%), and the state of public health, including access to medicine and medical care (34%).

For Gallardo, these figures reflect a reality that can be confirmed simply by speaking with those who remain on the island.

"Hardships on the island have always been immense, but right now, the outlook is bleaker than at any other time in the history of Cuba's nearly 70-year dictatorship," he stated.

8 out of 10 Cubans go without a meal

One of the most concerning findings of the study relates to food. Eighty percent of Cubans report having gone without a meal during the day, compared with 70% the previous year.

Gallardo said this reality comes up constantly in conversations with his relatives and on social media.

"I couldn't tell you what people do to survive. I don't know how. There are people who manage to survive. And I don't think I'm wrong to say that there are people who aren't surviving. There are people who are starving to death," he stated.

He said he personally makes an effort to periodically send food, medicines, and hygiene products to his relatives. However, he acknowledged that there are limits to the help he can give.

"Given my financial situation, I can't provide everything they need," he lamented.

The study indicates that 63% of respondents struggle to acquire even the most essential goods, while another 30% have incomes that barely cover basic needs. All told, nine out of 10 Cuban households are in a state of economic survival.

"I imagine that 90% of Cubans right now wake up without knowing what they're going to have for lunch, without knowing what they're going to eat, without knowing what they're going to have for breakfast," Gallardo said.

In his view, there is no need to wait for an investigation to confirm this reality.

"That is a reality one can sense the moment one looks at social media. You don't need to conduct a study; you need do nothing more than check social media in the morning to see for yourself that the 94% poverty rate cited in the report is an undeniable fact," he pointed out.

'It's a country that's dying every day'

Food shortages are not the only problem. The crisis is also hitting hard those in need of medical care.

The study identifies public health and the lack of medicines as top concerns for Cubans. Gallardo warned that the situation is particularly difficult for the chronically ill and the elderly.

"People are dying. The chronically ill are dying. People are dying of hunger. There are photos of elderly people in truly pitiful conditions. There are reports. People are dying. It's a country that's dying every day," he lamented.

"Young people are also dying due to health issues. People who see no future and commit suicide," he added.

Precarious conditions are also evident in housing. According to the study, 47% of homes need repairs, 25% require urgent repairs, and 7% are at risk of collapse. Another 4% of respondents report living in shelters or makeshift camps, while 2% live on the street.

Public services have not escaped this deterioration either. Ninety-five percent rate the condition of the electrical grid as poor, while garbage collection receives a negative rating from 87% of respondents. Dissatisfaction is at 86% regarding internet and telephone services; 84% for water and sewage systems; and 82% for hospitals and healthcare centers.

The Church is trying to respond to the crisis

Amid the situation, the Catholic Church appears to many people as one of the few places where they can find help.

Gallardo highlighted the charitable work carried out by the Catholic Church and other Christian communities in Cuba, especially through the distribution of aid sent from the United States.

"There are many people for whom, if they had a substantial meal once a week, or a pill or medication once a week to relieve pain, it was thanks to the Church," he noted.

However, he also warned that the needs are too great for the Church to meet on its own.

"It's not enough, because the Church in Cuba itself needs help and has often survived on aid from abroad," he stated.

For Gallardo, the Church offers something that goes beyond material aid.

"People in Cuba can find solace in the Church; they can find a helping hand, a listening ear, and sometimes material aid, though that will never be enough," he noted.

The writer also pointed out the limitations the Church faces in expanding its social work.

"The Church doesn't have the autonomy to run a soup kitchen. The Church doesn't have the autonomy to run a nursing home; it does operate them, but under very tight state control, and this cannot expand because the Church doesn't have the financial capabilities," he explained.

95% disapproval rating

Economic deterioration is accompanied by strong disapproval of the way the government is running things.

The study indicates that 95% of respondents view the government's economic and social management negatively, while only 3% rate the performance of President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz positively.

Furthermore, 84% have no confidence in the latest economic measures announced by the authorities and don't believe they will contribute to improving the country's situation.

For Yaxys Cires, director of strategy at the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, these results reflect "the Cuban regime has completely exhausted its political and economic capabilities."

"Their administration is widely rejected by the public, and their measures fail to inspire confidence. Yet, it is the people who bear the burden of this decline, especially the elderly and the chronically ill," Cires pointed out.

A desire for change also clearly emerges from the respondents' answers. Seventy-six percent want both political and economic transformations. Only 7% believe that lifting the U.S. embargo should be the primary change, and virtually no one favors maintaining the status quo.

'The Cuban people are alone'

Gallardo said he believes Cuban discontent is nothing new. For decades, he said, successive generations have sought ways to express their rejection of the political system.

In this context, the protests of July 11, 2021, marked in his view a turning point.

"For a long time, the Cuban people have been told that they haven't done enough. That's not true. When you look at history, there have been many forms of rebellion among the Cuban people and in the diaspora since the Cuban dictatorship was imposed in 1959," he pointed out.

"But if there was one thing that changed the game, it was July 11, 2021. Since then, protests in Cuba have not stopped," he noted.

The study shows that there is still an expectation that things could change. Half of the respondents believe that a significant and favorable change for the Cuban people could occur within the next six months.

Gallardo, however, warned of the vulnerable situation facing the population.

"It is an unarmed people, a hungry people, a repressed people. And Cuba's rulers — the dictatorship — will not yield," he stated.

For this reason, he believes that international pressure could be decisive.

"People are waiting for something to happen, and without outside help, without significant international pressure on the Cuban dictatorship, it's unlikely that anything will, because the people could rise up only to be ruthlessly suppressed in the streets," he explained.

"But the reality is that the Cuban people are dying, and while the Cuban people are dying, people are looking the other way," he added.

Christian hope

Despite everything he observes and hears from his relatives and compatriots, Gallardo said he still holds onto hope.

He places that hope, at least for now, not in immediate political change but in his faith.

"If you ask me today whether I have hope, I believe I have the Christian hope that God, the Lord of history, will look upon us with mercy," he said.

"But that is my hope. My hope does not lie in any human event right now, at least not in the medium term. I hope and trust in the Lord," he affirmed.

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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Catholics in the Philippines observed a day of mourning Wednesday, one day after a shooting at a Catholic school left two students dead.

A ninth-grade student shot and killed a classmate in the grade above him on the morning of Aug. 18 at the junior high school campus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Philippines before taking his own life, police said.

Authorities have identified the attacker only as a minor. Officials said he livestreamed the attack on Facebook.

The junior high school is part of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1912. The institution educates students from grade school through postgraduate level.

Father Guillrey Anthony Andal, SJ, the university president, canceled classes at all levels and declared a day of mourning and prayer across the university's campuses. "We do not want any of these things to happen," he said, adding the safety of students was the university's first priority.

The university urged the public in a statement not to share unverified information, photographs, or videos of the incident, saying these could harm those affected and hinder the investigation.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, which represents the country's Catholic schools, colleges, and universities, cautioned against speculation, saying in a statement that behind every report and social media post were students, families, and teachers in "profound grief and shock." Ateneo de Manila and Ateneo de Davao universities issued statements of solidarity, local media reported.

The attack was the second at a Philippine school in two months. Three students were killed in June when two schoolmates opened fire at a public high school in Tacloban City in the central Philippines, local media reported.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation and directed agencies to work with schools on safety measures. Schools "must also be among the safest places in our country," he said in a statement. Education Secretary Sonny Angara traveled to Zamboanga City on Wednesday to meet the university president, city officials, and police.

A senior Bureau of Customs official told local media one of the weapons used had been issued by the agency to the attacker's father, a customs enforcement officer at the Port of Zamboanga, who has been placed under preventive suspension.

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The Trump administration has moved to end temporary protected status (TPS) for people from 13 countries since 2025, and Catholic bishops warn that people may still face unsafe conditions if forced to return.

TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible foreign nationals from designated countries that are deemed unsafe to return to due to ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

Multiple nations will lose their designations in coming months. TPS for El Salvadoran nationals will expire Sept. 9. Designations for Sudan and Ukraine are set to expire Oct. 19, while Lebanon's will end Nov. 27. TPS for Haiti ended July 27.

Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, said bishops are focused on Haitian nationals "because that's the community most affected right now, and now lives in a fear because they could be deported any time."

The situation there "is pretty dire," he told EWTN News. "The government is ending the temporary protected status and wants to return people to Haiti," but "in our judgment it's not safe, and there's a moral question of returning people to Haiti right now."

"The bishops themselves from Haiti have … said 'it's just not safe,'" he said.

In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation, H.R. 1689, that would extend TPS for Haitians for three more years. No legislative efforts have gained traction in the Senate.

"We're hoping, politically right now, for the Senate to agree to a resolution the House has already passed," Cahill said.

In January, Cahill called on the administration to extend TPS for Haitians. In June, Cahill followed up after the Supreme Court allowed TPS designations for Haiti and Syria to end, calling for other options including "deferred enforced departure."

"If we have, in good faith, offered temporary protected status, we should not return people until we deemed it safe to go back," Cahill said in an interview. "And what's the criteria? And that's the question for politicians to work out: 'What's the criteria for determining when it is safe that a person can return to their country?'"

"Justice is about human dignity and how we treat other human beings," Cahill said. It's an "injustice" to somebody who has been here legally, "to all of a sudden say, 'We're going to take it away and send you back,'" he said.

"It's about justice and right reason," he added.

Temporary protected status across U.S.

As of March 31, 2025, the U.S. provided TPS protections to about 1.3 million individuals from 17 countries including Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador, Ukraine, Honduras, Afghanistan, Nepal, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Syria, Burma, Nicaragua, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and Lebanon.

Since the program's inception, nearly 30 countries have received TPS designations, some more than once. TPS designations can be, and usually have been, extended.

TPS holders reside all over the United States. As of 2025, the largest populations of TPS holders live in Florida (403,965), Texas (147,080), New York (98,250), California (79,320), and Georgia (50,110), according to the National Immigration Forum.

The Trump administration has ended, or moved to end, TPS for 13 of the 17 nations. The programs for Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua ended throughout 2025.

In 2026, TPS for South Sudan, Burma, Haiti, Somalia, Yemen, Haiti, and Syria were terminated or expired. In February, a district court blocked the terminations for Haitian and Syrian nationals, but in June the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to officially terminate the designations.

Self-deportation

Once TPS protection ends, a TPS holder will revert back to his or her previous immigration status, and those who no longer hold status in the U.S. will potentially be subject to removal proceedings.

While the TPS designations end, DHS is encouraging people without status to self-deport rather than be deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"Once non-criminal illegal aliens submit their intent to depart through the CBP Home Mobile App and pass vetting, they will be temporarily deprioritized by ICE for detention or enforcement action before their scheduled departure," DHS reported on its website.

Those who do self-deport will receive "cost-free travel, a $2,600 exit bonus, and forgiveness of any failure to depart fines," according to DHS.

According to the department, those who self-deport can potentially return to the United States legally. It is unclear what would allow or block potential reentry, and returning is not guaranteed. Those who are deported by ICE are unable to return with legal status.

"Temporary Protected Status is exactly that — temporary," DHS said in a statement shared with EWTN News. "For too long, TPS has been allowed to function as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent."

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The issue of Iraqi children being legally registered as Muslim when one of their parents converts to Islam has returned to public attention after an Iraqi woman won a final court ruling allowing her official religious identity to be restored to Christian in government records.

The case was announced by ADF International, an organization that advocates for religious freedom.

According to the organization, Iraq's Court of Cassation issued a final ruling allowing the woman's religious classification in the government database to be changed back to "Christian," reflecting the faith she practices after experiencing the consequences of the law.

Several Iraqi laws concerning religious identity have raised questions in light of Article 2 of the Iraqi constitution, which guarantees religious rights and freedom of belief and religious practice for all individuals, including Christians, Yazidis, and Mandaeans.

Earlier laws, including the Population Registration Laws No. 59 of 1955 and No. 54 of 1927, allowed individuals to change their religion. Later legislation took a different approach. The Civil Status Laws No. 189 of 1964 and No. 65 of 1972 allowed only non-Muslims to change their religion, an approach that continued in later laws. The legislation also states that minor children are registered as Muslim if one of their parents converts to Islam.

To better understand the issue, its legal and social consequences, and possible ways to address it, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, spoke with Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, a member of the Iraqi Parliament and head of the Christian Suyana Parliamentary Bloc.

Oghanna explained that the case recently reported in the media began with a lawsuit filed before the Personal Status Court in the Hamdaniya district. The ruling was later reviewed by higher courts before a final decision was reached.

The history of the 'right to return'

Oghanna spoke about the difficulties faced by children who were registered as Muslim after one of their parents converted to Islam.

He explained that from the adoption of Civil Status Law No. 65 of 1972 until the 1990s, Iraqi courts allowed a child whose official religion had been changed because of a parent's conversion to return to his or her original religion after reaching legal adulthood.

He cited Presidential Office Letter No. T/9/33963, dated Sept. 25, 1988, which explicitly recognized the right to return to one's original religion within one year of reaching legal adulthood.

Oghanna said the situation changed during the 1990s, during what became known as the "Faith Campaign."

"At that time, a judge sent a letter to former President Saddam Hussein arguing that the right to return amounted to 'apostasy from Islam,'" Oghanna said. "A directive was subsequently issued prohibiting it."

He added that the rights continued to be applied in similar cases in the Kurdistan Region from 1992 until 2003.

The legal situation after 2003

After 2003, when Iraq's judicial system was reunified, people seeking to return to their original religion faced further difficulties because courts did not always take the same approach to such cases, Oghanna explained.

The situation remained complicated until 2020, when Judge Ahmed Jassab al Saadi called for these cases to be reconsidered without applying Islamic law provisions to them.

He based his position on Iraq's commitments under international agreements, particularly the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

"This created a more positive approach in the courts, allowing a person who reaches the age of 18 to return to his or her original religion within one year," Oghanna said.

What challenges remain?

Oghanna warned that the one-year deadline remains a major challenge for people who want to restore their original religious identity.

He said the period may be too short for someone to understand the legal process and file a case to correct his or her official records — therefore he called for a longer period and for the law to be applied consistently in such cases.

Oghanna said his parliamentary bloc is working with the government and the judiciary on several key issues. These include addressing the registration of children as Muslim when one parent converts to Islam and guaranteeing their right to return to their original religion after reaching adulthood without a specific time limit.

The bloc is also seeking to amend Article 26, Section 2, of Iraq's National Identity Card Law, which states that minor children follow the religion of a parent who converts to Islam.

Establishing legal precedents

Oghanna stressed that changing the law should be accompanied by efforts within the judicial system to protect the right of individuals to return to their original religion and to safeguard freedom of religion and belief, in accordance with Iraq's constitution and international commitments.

He also emphasized the importance of documenting previous court decisions that supported this right so they can be used as legal precedents in future cases.

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

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has highlighted the importance of sacred music in the liturgy, calling for the Church's musical heritage to be preserved while fostering healthy inculturation of local traditions.

"For this reason, the composer of sacred music is called to know and preserve the musical heritage of the Church, allowing it to inspire new compositions at the service of the liturgy, while respecting contemporary sensibilities and the different cultural traditions," Leo said.

In his address during his general audience at the Vatican on Aug. 19, the pontiff continued his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council's constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.

The general audience was his third of the month to be held inside St. Peter's Basilica due to Rome's high summer temperatures.

Sacred music — an integral part of the liturgy

Leo discussed the Second Vatican Council's emphasis on the role of sacred music in the liturgy.

"The document states that 'The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art,'" Leo explained.

He also explained that sacred music fosters both prayer and communion among the faithful.

"Music, indeed, is part of the liturgical action and is not merely a decorative part of the celebration," Leo said. "In particular, music expresses the affective dimension of prayer, as St. Augustine says: 'Cantare amantis est,' that is, 'singing belongs to those who love.'"

"Singing also fosters communion. It contributes to the unity of hearts, overcoming differences between people and bringing everyone together in praise of God through the symphony of voices," he added.

Tradition, inculturation, and active participation

The pope went on to explain that, because sacred music is so important, the liturgy should be celebrated with dignity, with music that is both noble and simple. He also highlighted the role of Gregorian chant and the pipe organ in fostering devotion during the liturgy.

"The Council then attributes great value to Gregorian chant, without excluding other genres of sacred music from the celebration. Particular attention is also given to the pipe organ, while the use of other instruments is permitted 'on condition that the instruments are suitable, or can be made suitable, for sacred use, accord with the dignity of the temple, and truly contribute to the edification of the faithful,'" Leo said.

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Leo also discussed inculturation in Church music to incorporate diverse cultures.

"A theme close to the Council's reform is that of inculturation, including in the field of sacred music. In particular, with regard to the musical traditions of different cultures, the Council emphasizes the importance of taking them seriously into consideration, as they form part of people's religious and social life."

The pope also encouraged the faithful to participate in singing parts of the Mass to reflect the sacred mysteries being celebrated.

"Sacrosanctum Concilium devotes considerable attention to the theme of the active participation of the faithful," Leo said. "As for the concrete way in which this can be achieved through the specific role of sacred music, the Constitution offers a clear answer: 'the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs' and 'reverent silence' should be fostered."

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Around 15,000 faithful gathered on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Holy Places of Chalchihuites in the Mexican state of Zacatecas to commemorate the centenary of four martyrs killed during the Cristero War.

Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, apostolic nuncio to Mexico and representative of Pope Leo XIV in the country, presided over the celebration that concluded the centenary jubilee year.

The Archdiocese of Durango shared images of the crowd gathered at the site where Sts. Luis Bátis Sáinz, Manuel Morales, Salvador Lara Puente, and David Roldán Lara were killed.

The four martyrs were shot to death on Aug. 15, 1926, at Puerto de Santa Teresa, a town located in the state of Zacatecas and under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Durango.

'God does not die'

"God does not die," Spiteri said at the beginning of his homily, echoing the words spoken by St. Manuel Morales before his execution.

The nuncio recalled that the four martyrs "offered their lives while freely and peacefully professing their faith in God."

"Their crime was wanting to profess publicly, freely, and peacefully their faith in the God of life and in the Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ," he stated.

Spiteri noted that the four saints were victims of "an ideology that did not admit freedom of thought and conscience," which some sought to "impose with violence."

In the face of this violence, he continued, the martyrs bore witness to the value "of peaceful resistance." He emphasized that authentic freedom "is not wanting to do whatever we feel like, but being able to choose freely, consciously; choosing good and not evil."

He said that "choosing to respond to bad actions, violence, and injustice" by doing good and extending forgiveness "is true freedom."

The Vatican diplomat also encouraged Catholics to work "to build a more just society grounded in solidarity."

He emphasized that the Church relies not on "the force of power" but on "the power of service," and he encouraged the faithful to renew their commitment to offering a witness "of dialogue, understanding, and listening to the most vulnerable and those on the margins, in order to build the kingdom of God."

Who were the 4 martyrs?

St. Luis Bátis Sáinz was a priest in San Pedro Parish in Chalchihuites and was particularly noted for his work with young people, according to the Vatican website. He was arrested just 15 days after the suspension of public worship in Mexico, amid the intensification of religious persecution under the government of Plutarco Elías Calles.

St. Manuel Morales, a husband and father of three, was a member of the Mexican Catholic Youth Action and president of the National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty, an organization that sought the repeal of the federal government's anticlerical provisions.

When Bátis asked the soldiers to spare Morales' life because he had a wife and children, Morales replied: "Father, I am dying, but God does not die. He will look after my wife and my children."

St. Salvador Lara Puente, who had just turned 21, worked for a mining company and was an active member of Catholic Action. When soldiers arrived looking for him, he replied: "Here I am."

St. David Roldán Lara, 24, also worked for a mining company and was actively involved in the parish apostolate. He and Lara were cousins.

Bátis and Morales were the first to be shot to death. A few feet away, soldiers subsequently executed Salvador Lara and David Roldán.

The four were beatified by St. John Paul II on Nov. 22, 1992, and canonized by the same pontiff on May 21, 2000, alongside St. Cristóbal Magallanes and other Mexican martyrs.

The Archdiocese of Durango also counts among its martyrs St. Mateo Correa Magallanes, a priest murdered on Feb. 6, 1927, in the city of Durango.

Religious freedom and freedom of conscience

On Friday, Aug. 14, during a press conference held upon his arrival in Durango, the nuncio said his message for the local Church was one "of peace and communion, as the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, also asks of us."

Spiteri highlighted the martyrs of Durango as examples of freedom of conscience.

"Whenever the respect for freedom of conscience has been lacking … the results have always been very sad and tragic," he warned.

The pope's representative clarified that religious freedom protects not only Catholics or those who profess a particular faith but also an individual's right not to adhere to any religion.

"When this freedom of thought is restricted … it is always a step in the wrong direction; we are moving backward, not forward," he stated.

During his visit, Spiteri had the opportunity to visit the Museum of the Holy Martyrs and attend the opening of the photographic exhibition "Centenary of the Beginning of the Cristero Movement in Mexico and Durango."

A shrine dedicated to the martyrs is currently being built at the Holy Places of Chalchihuites.

The celebration was preceded by an eight-day archdiocesan pilgrimage that traveled the road to the Holy Places.

At its conclusion on Aug. 14, the archbishop of Durango, Faustino Armendáriz Jiménez, stated: "Blessed are those who have traveled this path, because those of us who live this experience have experienced God."

The archdiocese also shared images of the pilgrims after completing the pilgrimage, "tired, but happy," and with their "hearts full of gratitude and joy."

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

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The State Department has awarded $50 million to Catholic Relief Services as part of a $1.4 billion partnership with faith-based organizations around the world.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will receive the funding through the State Department's Faith and Community Initiative (FCI) announced Aug. 6, alongside other international aid groups, including World Vision, Compassion International, and Samaritan's Purse.

"CRS is so proud to be among the recipients of the new Faith and Community Initiative! We received $50 million in first-year funding to lead programming in Cameroon, Liberia, and Nigeria, working as part of a group of faith-based organizations," CRS spokesperson Brittany Wichtendahl said in a statement to EWTN News.

"The funding will help improve hospitals, clinics, and the health networks in rural parts of the countries — where a lot of families have limited access to quality healthcare," she said. "This investment reflects a core strength of CRS' approach: working alongside trusted local Church, Caritas, and faith-based partners that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve."

CRS' financial statements show that U.S. government grants routinely constituted 40% to 50% of total revenue in fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2025, and the 2026 federal grants to the U.S.-based international humanitarian nonprofit organization are only a fraction of the government funding CRS previously received. CRS' fiscal 2023 budget totaled $1.3 billion, rising to $1.4 billion in fiscal 2024 before dipping to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2025.

The aid CRS is set to receive is part of $850 million the State Department earmarked for distribution among faith-based groups over the course of five years.

The State Department also said an additional $570 million will be provided directly to faith-based hospitals and clinics under memorandums of understanding with country governments.

The State Department said leveraging faith-based and community-run hospitals and clinics ensures that "at least 80% of resources go toward frontline health services that reach patients and clients while streamlining overhead and management costs, a significant increase from the 35% to 40% of resources that went to frontline health services in historical awards from the State Department."

The latest aid package comes after CRS received $235 million in food aid from the State Department for programs in Sudan and Ethiopia in July.

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