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Catholic News

"If the devil divides, the creed unites!" the pope said in his Feb. 6, 2025, remarks to a visiting group of priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches, including Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankar, and Syriac. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 15:50 pm (CNA).Pope Francis reiterated his desire for "full unity" with other Christian confessions when he received in audience young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches.Oriental Orthodox churches, as differentiated from the Eastern Orthodox churches, only accept the first three ecumenical councils."The proclamation of the common faith requires, first of all, that we love one another," the Holy Father said. As on Feb. 5, during his general audience, the pontiff did not read the speech he had prepared because he is suffering from a "bad cold."However, those in attendance received a copy of the text during the meeting that took place in the Casa Santa Marta.The Holy Father told the gro...

"If the devil divides, the creed unites!" the pope said in his Feb. 6, 2025, remarks to a visiting group of priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches, including Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankar, and Syriac. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis reiterated his desire for "full unity" with other Christian confessions when he received in audience young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches.

Oriental Orthodox churches, as differentiated from the Eastern Orthodox churches, only accept the first three ecumenical councils.

"The proclamation of the common faith requires, first of all, that we love one another," the Holy Father said. As on Feb. 5, during his general audience, the pontiff did not read the speech he had prepared because he is suffering from a "bad cold."

However, those in attendance received a copy of the text during the meeting that took place in the Casa Santa Marta.

The Holy Father told the group of young priests and monks of the Oriental Orthodox churches, including Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankar, and Syriac, that "Christians who remain divided are like fragments that must find unity in the confession of the one faith."

"We need each other to be able to confess the faith," he added.

This audience was part of a curriculum for young Oriental Orthodox priests and monks organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. This was the fifth time such a meeting has taken place.

Previously, similar study trips have been made for Catholic priests prepared by the Armenian Patriarchate of Etchmiadzin.

Pope Francis emphasized the "special relevance" of this visit in the year that marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council (A.D. 325) in which the symbol (Greek: symbolon/summary) of faith common to all Christians was professed.

The pontiff expressed his gratitude for the "exchange of gifts" promoted by the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox churches and noted that "it allows the dialogue of charity to go hand in hand with the dialogue of truth."

The ecumenical dimension of the 'symbol of faith'

He then reflected on the ecumenical dimension of the term "symbol," noting that in the theological sense, the concept is understood as "the set of the principal truths of the Christian faith, which complement and harmonize with each other."

"In this sense, the Nicene Creed, which succinctly sets forth the mystery of our salvation, is undeniable and incomparable," the pontiff said.

From an ecclesiological point of view, he said the creed also "unites believers."

"In ancient times, the Greek word 'symbolon' indicated one half of a tile split in two to be presented as a sign of recognition [by perfectly fitting with the other half]. The symbol is therefore a sign of recognition and communion between believers," he said.

For this reason, he pointed out that faith is a "symbol" that only finds "its full unity together with others."

"Therefore, we need each other to be able to confess the faith, which is why the Nicene Creed, in its original version, uses the plural 'we believe,'" he said.

Pope Francis referred to a third meaning of the creed on the spiritual level and asked his listeners not to forget that the creed is above all "a prayer of praise that unites us to God: Union with God necessarily passes through unity among us, we Christians, who proclaim the same faith."

"If the devil divides, the creed unites!" the pope said. He added: "How beautiful it would be if, every time we proclaim the creed, we felt united with Christians of all traditions!" Finally, everyone prayed the Nicene Creed together, each in his own language.

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

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null / Credit: LookerStudio/ShutterstockCNA Staff, Feb 6, 2025 / 16:20 pm (CNA).Catholic International University (CIU) is launching a master's degree program designed to form Catholic-minded students in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The fully remote Catholic university was founded in 1983, well before the rise of remote learning, with the mission to "communicate the mind and heart of the Church in support of the new evangelization." CIU's master of science degree in the prudential design of emerging technologies is designed to teach graduates how to integrate Christian principles into the design of artificial intelligence (AI). The program organizers took inspiration from the growing commentary from the Catholic Church about AI, including the Vatican's recent "Antiqua et Nova" note, which offered guidelines on the use of AI and its ethical and anthropological implications. "The Church is most worried about preserving ...

null / Credit: LookerStudio/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Feb 6, 2025 / 16:20 pm (CNA).

Catholic International University (CIU) is launching a master's degree program designed to form Catholic-minded students in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. 

The fully remote Catholic university was founded in 1983, well before the rise of remote learning, with the mission to "communicate the mind and heart of the Church in support of the new evangelization." CIU's master of science degree in the prudential design of emerging technologies is designed to teach graduates how to integrate Christian principles into the design of artificial intelligence (AI). 

The program organizers took inspiration from the growing commentary from the Catholic Church about AI, including the Vatican's recent "Antiqua et Nova" note, which offered guidelines on the use of AI and its ethical and anthropological implications. 

"The Church is most worried about preserving the dignity of the human person," Mark Amelang, vice president of marketing and communications at CIU, told CNA. 

"In order for higher education to make a difference, it must be at the intersection of science and a human-centric approach," Amelang said. 

In recent years, Pope Francis has spoken frequently about potential challenges the Church sees with AI. For instance, Pope Francis last month reflected that AI must be ordered to the human person and serve the common good rather than human dignity being "subordinated in the pursuit of efficiency."

"Since the pope started to message about the potential challenges the Church sees with AI, we have been creating a program to address them," Amelang said. "We have assembled some of the top Catholic AI experts to design and run our program." 

But Amelang noted that "what hasn't yet been addressed" in Catholic circles is how much higher education could make a difference in the field of AI. 

"At Catholic International, we are the only Catholic university to develop a program specifically designed to train students to make a positive impact on AI applications, ensuring that they remain person-centric," Amelang said. 

The new degree is part of a new "emerging technologies" department at CIU. What makes the department "so unique," Amelang said, is that it brings together technology and theology.

"Most universities draw stark lines between the engineering departments and those of theology and philosophy! And to make a solution work, both sides of campus need to be integrated," Amelang said. 

Michael Pencina, board of trustees member at Catholic International University and chief data scientist and director at Duke AI Health, said that CIU is "committed to advancing technology in a way that prioritizes the dignity and well-being of every person."

"We are shaping a future where technology advances and uplifts humanity by equipping graduates with the tools to integrate human-centered principles into applications of artificial intelligence," Pencina said in a Feb. 6 press release.

CIU's current president, Sophia Aguirre, has a particular interest in artificial intelligence. Before her time as president, Aguirre — an economist — took a one-year sabbatical to study AI.  

"Dr. Aguirre is a well-known economist and was bothered by the seemingly poor job AI was doing with larger mathematical economic data sets. It occurred to her that the same kind of technology was also being applied to the medical field," Amelang said. "As an academic, she felt called to research the problem."

"This desire to make a difference in the development of AI solutions stuck with her as she was asked to lead Catholic International University," Amelang noted.

The program brings together technological, philosophical, and theological educators.   

"As God would have it, we were able to gather some of the greatest minds in artificial intelligence that are deeply Catholic," Amelang said. "We welcomed them into Catholic International University, where they worked alongside philosophers and theologians to create this program that teaches from the heart of the Church." 

CIU hopes to form all sorts of students — whether technically or philosophically minded. 

"The program is designed to support both technically minded engineering types and philosophically, theologically inclined thinkers," Amelang noted. "Both types of students are welcome and can thrive in this program."

CIU changed its name from Catholic Distance University last year under Aguirre's leadership. 

"At the time of [Aguirre's] arrival, the university was still called Catholic Distance University (CDU)," Amelang said. "She was given the task of growing the university and expanding its breadth in order to spread the joy of the truth to God's people in more facets than just theology." 

In addition to the emerging technologies department, the university has since developed its liberal arts program as well as an ecclesial administration and management program.

To learn more about the emerging technologies department at Catholic International University, visit https://catholiciu.edu/emerging-tech/

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Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte, North Carolina, greets a young Catholic while surveying storm damage at Swannanoa, North Carolina, Friday, on Oct. 4, 2024. / Credit: Diocese of CharlotteWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).The Roman Catholic bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, have issued a joint statement about immigration policy and enforcement in the United States, describing the issue as "both complicated and emotional."In their statement, Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv, of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of the Diocese of Raleigh indicate that while "there is room for disagreement and discussion with respect to immigration policy, we wish to remind our more than 1 million Catholic faithful in North Carolina of the stated positions of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, formed by Catholic social teaching, and encourage personal reflection and formation on these issues.""We respect our borders and laws AND ...

Bishop Michael Martin of Charlotte, North Carolina, greets a young Catholic while surveying storm damage at Swannanoa, North Carolina, Friday, on Oct. 4, 2024. / Credit: Diocese of Charlotte

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

The Roman Catholic bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, have issued a joint statement about immigration policy and enforcement in the United States, describing the issue as "both complicated and emotional."

In their statement, Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv, of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of the Diocese of Raleigh indicate that while "there is room for disagreement and discussion with respect to immigration policy, we wish to remind our more than 1 million Catholic faithful in North Carolina of the stated positions of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, formed by Catholic social teaching, and encourage personal reflection and formation on these issues."

"We respect our borders and laws AND support immigration policy reforms and care for those who are already here, many already contributing members of our society for years. We do not see these ends as mutually exclusive," the bishops state.

"We recognize there are persons residing in the United States without legal documentation and we do not condone violating the law," the bishops make clear. "We will not counsel anyone to thwart or resist proper law enforcement but will continue to provide education about individuals' legal rights," they add.

At the same time, the bishops continue, "as Catholics, we advocate for the recognition that immigrants, as members of God's human family, are deserving of and must be granted the appropriate dignity as our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus himself was a refugee and taught us to welcome the stranger and to realize that in welcoming the stranger, we are welcoming Christ himself."

Referencing Catholic social teaching, the Tarheel State bishops call for "lasting solutions to our immigration system" and specify four principles upon which those solutions should be based.

Those principles include recognizing the right of people to migrate "to sustain their lives and the lives of their families … when a person cannot achieve a meaningful life in his or her own land."

In addition, the bishops affirm that "Catholics should not view the work of the federal government and its immigration control as negative or evil. Those who work to enforce our nation's immigration laws often do so out of a sense of loyalty to the common good and compassion for poor people seeking a better life. In an ideal world, there would be no need for immigration control. The Church recognizes that this ideal world has not yet been achieved."

When it comes to enforcement, the bishops hold that "a country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy." 

"Immigration policy that allows people to live here and contribute to society for years but refuses to offer them the opportunity to achieve legal status perpetuates a permanent underclass and does not serve the common good," the bishops state. "It is the position of the Catholic Church that pastoral, educational, medical, and social services provided by the Church are never conditioned on legal status."

Finally, the bishops indicate that "humanitarian protections for vulnerable families should be a priority."

"Catholic teaching maintains that families are the foundation of society, and the success of any civilization hinges on the well-being of its families. For generations, families living in the United States have included combinations of citizens and noncitizens."

In their conclusion, North Carolina's bishops "urge the preservation and strengthening of access to asylum, refugee resettlement, protections for unaccompanied children, assistance for victims of human trafficking, temporary forms of relief, and other humanitarian protections already enshrined in our law."

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The members of the general board of directors of the Regnum Christi Federation, before its first general convention from April 29 to May 4, 2024, in Rome. / Credit: Regnum ChristiACI Prensa Staff, Feb 6, 2025 / 17:20 pm (CNA).The Vatican has approved the statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation (RCF) "in a definitive manner." The RCF's General Directive College stated Feb. 5 that the recognition "reaffirms the validity of the path traveled and strengthens the commitment to live our charism with confidence and courage, in communion with the Church and at the service of the mission."The RCF defines itself as "a spiritual family in the Catholic Church made up of lay members, consecrated men and women, and the priests and brothers of the religious congregation of the Legionaries of Christ." The apostolate is governed by the General Directive College, which is made up of the directors of the Legionaries of Christ, consecrated men and women, plus two representatives of the lait...

The members of the general board of directors of the Regnum Christi Federation, before its first general convention from April 29 to May 4, 2024, in Rome. / Credit: Regnum Christi

ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 6, 2025 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has approved the statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation (RCF) "in a definitive manner." The RCF's General Directive College stated Feb. 5 that the recognition "reaffirms the validity of the path traveled and strengthens the commitment to live our charism with confidence and courage, in communion with the Church and at the service of the mission."

The RCF defines itself as "a spiritual family in the Catholic Church made up of lay members, consecrated men and women, and the priests and brothers of the religious congregation of the Legionaries of Christ." 

The apostolate is governed by the General Directive College, which is made up of the directors of the Legionaries of Christ, consecrated men and women, plus two representatives of the laity (with a voice and consultative vote), assisted by a plenary assembly.

The Holy See, through the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, expressed the hope that the new statutes "will help promote the common charism" and foster "collaboration in view of the mission entrusted to them by the Church."

The official recognition of the Catholic Church is the conclusion of a renewal process that began in 2010 after numerous incidents of sexual abuse and the abuse of power came to light involving in particular the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel. In 2019, the federation's statutes were approved "ad experimentum" (on a trial basis) for five years.

During the RCF's First General Convention in 2024, its members approved the statutes as "adequately expressing" the charism and functioning of the institution. The statutes were presented to the Vatican, which, after examining them, finally approved them definitively on Dec. 16, 2024.

"This approval represents a recognition by the Holy See that gives solidity and stability to the federation. At the same time, the future general conventions of the federation will have to evaluate the experience of the statutes and will be able to make any necessary modifications and submit them for ratification by the federated institutions, and for approval by the Holy See," explained the General Directive College, headed by Father John Connor, director general of the Legionaries of Christ.

The RCF board's statement concluded by thanking God for the Holy See's decision while inviting all members to "read the statutes and to reflect on them in prayer" in order to live their mission faithfully and safeguard their own charism.

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

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to the media during a joint news conference with Guatemala's President Bernardo Arevalo at the Culture Palace in Guatemala City on Feb. 5, 2025. / Credit: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 17:55 pm (CNA).Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the State Department is currently determining which foreign aid programs will be granted exemptions from the Trump administration's plans to freeze spending at USAID.Rubio, at a press conference in Guatemala, said the State Department is now working "to identify which programs should be specifically designated and therefore exempted" from President Donald Trump's funding freeze and stop-work orders. The secretary of state also said the State Department has reached out to USAID officials to help determine these exemptions.The Trump administration announced on Monday that all USAID employees would be put on leave and global personnel would ...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks to the media during a joint news conference with Guatemala's President Bernardo Arevalo at the Culture Palace in Guatemala City on Feb. 5, 2025. / Credit: JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 17:55 pm (CNA).

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the State Department is currently determining which foreign aid programs will be granted exemptions from the Trump administration's plans to freeze spending at USAID.

Rubio, at a press conference in Guatemala, said the State Department is now working "to identify which programs should be specifically designated and therefore exempted" from President Donald Trump's funding freeze and stop-work orders. 

The secretary of state also said the State Department has reached out to USAID officials to help determine these exemptions.

The Trump administration announced on Monday that all USAID employees would be put on leave and global personnel would be recalled in light of Trump's executive order, which put a 90-day freeze on most foreign funding last month. The order, which Trump signed directly after his inauguration, gives Rubio the power to "waive the pause for specific programs."

Rubio while on a five-day trip in Latin America clarified during the conference that funding "will not continue" for programs that do not further U.S. interests.

According to an Associated Press report, after Trump issued the order, Rubio exempted emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. On Tuesday AP reported that he agreed to continue spending funds on "humanitarian programs that provide life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance."

CBS News reported that in a private meeting on Wednesday, Rubio told U.S. diplomats in Guatemala that the United States plans to continue distributing foreign aid but the government needs to be able to defend what initiatives it is funding abroad.

"The United States is not walking away from foreign aid. It's not. We're going to continue to provide foreign aid and to be involved in programs, but it has to be programs that we can defend," Rubio also said to a gathering of staffers at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, according to a partial transcript obtained by CBS News on Wednesday.

"It has to be programs that we can explain. It has to be programs that we can justify. Otherwise, we do endanger foreign aid," he added.

During a press conference last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt listed some of the initiatives funded by USAID, which she called "insane priorities." The list included $1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia's workforce, $70,000 for a "DEI musical" in Ireland, $47,000 for a "transgender opera" in Colombia, and $32,000 for a "transgender comic book" in Peru.

A White House fact sheet also lists $2 million to fund "sex changes" and "LGBT activism" in Guatemala, as well as an undesignated amount of funding for the production of 3D-printed contraceptives.

"I don't know about you but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap, and I know the American people don't either," Leavitt added.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), along with Catholic Relief Services, the USCCB's charitable arm, has spoken out against the foreign funding freeze, releasing an action alert urging Catholics to contact their elected officials.

"Your help is urgently needed! Let your members of Congress know that you are deeply concerned about the administration's recent decision to stop work on almost all U.S. foreign assistance programs," the alert read, continuing: "This freeze will be detrimental to millions of our sisters and brothers who need access to lifesaving humanitarian, health, and development assistance."

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Members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, biological women's sports activist Riley Gaines, and lawyers from the Independent Women's Law Center approach the 10th Circuit Courthouse in Denver on May 14, 2024. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Independent Women's ForumWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 18:15 pm (CNA).The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) banned biological men from competing in women's sports on Thursday, Feb. 6, to comply with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump the previous day.A new NCAA policy that went into effect on Thursday afternoon states that biological men are no longer eligible to compete on women's college athletic teams under any circumstance. The NCAA is the largest college athletic association and governs the athletic policies for the highest levels of college sports."We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student athletes instead ...

Members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, biological women's sports activist Riley Gaines, and lawyers from the Independent Women's Law Center approach the 10th Circuit Courthouse in Denver on May 14, 2024. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Independent Women's Forum

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 18:15 pm (CNA).

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) banned biological men from competing in women's sports on Thursday, Feb. 6, to comply with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump the previous day.

new NCAA policy that went into effect on Thursday afternoon states that biological men are no longer eligible to compete on women's college athletic teams under any circumstance. The NCAA is the largest college athletic association and governs the athletic policies for the highest levels of college sports.

"We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions," NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement.

"To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard," Baker said.

The rule affects more than 1,000 colleges and universities that enroll more than half a million student athletes.

The NCAA's policy change reverses its previous standards, which had allowed biological men who self-identified as transgender to participate in women's sports if they brought down their testosterone levels by taking testosterone suppressants. The NCAA first permitted biological men to compete in women's sports three years ago, in February 2022. 

Under the previous rules, each sport had a maximum testosterone level for a biological man to be eligible to compete in a women's athletic competition.

Under Trump's Feb. 5 executive order, K–12 schools, colleges, and universities that continue to allow biological men to compete in women's sports will lose all federal funding. It also rescinds federal funding for K–12 schools, colleges, and universities that allow biological men to change in women's locker rooms.

Riley Gaines, a former swimmer with the University of Kentucky who was forced to compete against a biological male swimmer, said in a statement that she was "thrilled" about the NCAA policy change.

"While it's unfortunate that it took women losing opportunities, facing exploitation in locker rooms, and suffering injuries for leaders to recognize the importance of single-sex spaces, this is still a victory worth celebrating," said Gaines, who is also an ambassador for the Independent Women's Forum (IWF).

"However, men are still competing on women's collegiate teams across the country," Gaines added. "I hope the NCAA works with the appropriate authorities to urgently remove said male athletes, reinforce Title IX as intended, and ensure women's opportunities are protected."

Sia Liilii, the captain of the University of Nevada-Reno women's volleyball team, said in a statement she is "ecstatic" about the policy change. 

"Women have fought long and hard for equal athletic opportunities," Liilii, who is also an IWF ambassador, added. "By completely removing men from women's sports, we are moving back to the true definition of Title IX. Women are given an opportunity to champion their own sports division and shine on a fair competition floor."

Although biological men who identify as transgender are now ineligible to compete on women's teams, the NCAA policy still allows them to participate in women's practices "and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice" such as medical care during practice.

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Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Feb. 5, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).Pope Francis on Thursday released his message for World Mission Day 2025, encouraging all Catholics to be "missionaries of hope" who actively participate in the Church's evangelizing mission through a "communion of prayer and action.""I urge all of you, children, young people, adults, and the elderly, to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices, and by your generosity," the pope shared in his message.The pope said he chose "Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples" as the motto for the 2025 mission day, which will be observed this year on Oct. 19.To continue Jesus' "ministry of hope for humanity," the Holy Father said each Catholic must first develop "a mature faith in Christ" that is nourished by...

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Feb. 5, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Thursday released his message for World Mission Day 2025, encouraging all Catholics to be "missionaries of hope" who actively participate in the Church's evangelizing mission through a "communion of prayer and action."

"I urge all of you, children, young people, adults, and the elderly, to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices, and by your generosity," the pope shared in his message.

The pope said he chose "Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples" as the motto for the 2025 mission day, which will be observed this year on Oct. 19.

To continue Jesus' "ministry of hope for humanity," the Holy Father said each Catholic must first develop "a mature faith in Christ" that is nourished by prayer.

"Missionaries of hope are men and women of prayer, for 'the person who hopes is a person who prays,'" the pope said, quoting Venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Van Thuan. "Let us not forget that prayer is the primary missionary activity."

The Eucharist and the other sacraments, the Holy Father explained, are essential for Catholics to "draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit" to work with determination and patience in the "vast field of global evangelization."

"In following Christ the Lord, Christians are called to hand on the good news by sharing the concrete life situations of those whom they meet and thus to be bearers and builders of hope," the pope said. 

"Indeed, 'the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts' (Gaudium et Spes, 1)," he continued.

'Missionaries of hope among all peoples'

In order to be builders of hope in both advanced and developing nations, the 88-year-old pontiff said the Church must recognize that Jesus Christ, the "divine Missionary of hope," wants to speak to the heart of every man and woman and offer them salvation through his followers.  

"Christian communities can be harbingers of a new humanity in a world that, in the most 'developed' areas, shows serious symptoms of human crisis," he said. "In the most technologically advanced nations, 'proximity' is disappearing: We are all interconnected but not related."

In his message, the Holy Father decried how obsession with efficiency, materialism, ambition, and self-centeredness has created a culture of loneliness and indifference in wealthy nations. 

Expressing his special love for the poor, the pope said the Church's missionaries must give particular attention to the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.

"Often they are the ones who teach us how to live in hope," the Holy Father said. "Through personal contact, we will also convey the love of the compassionate heart of the Lord."

Referring to his papal bull for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Spes Non Confundit, the pope said Christians can be "signs of hope" through works of mercy such as visits to the poor, elderly, sick, and migrants.

'Missionaries ad gentes'

The Holy Father also shared his particular gratitude for the work of Pontifical Mission Societies who "have gone forth to other nations to make known the love of God in Christ" and built new churches. 

"I thank you most heartily! Your lives are a clear response to the command of the risen Christ, who sent his disciples to evangelize all peoples (cf. Mt 28:18-20)," the pope said. 

"In this way, you are signs of the universal vocation of the baptized to become, by the power of the Spirit and daily effort, missionaries among all peoples, and witnesses to the great hope given us by the Lord Jesus," he added.

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Pope Francis greets members of the Interprovincial Order of the Profession of Midwifery of Catanzaro on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged midwives and OB-GYNs to carry out their mission not only with professional skill but also with "a great sense of humanity."The pope's words were conveyed in a written speech handed out during an audience with an association of midwives and OB-GYNs from the southern Italian region of Calabria on Feb. 6.With Francis suffering from bronchitis, the pontiff's meetings on Thursday were held in halls at his Santa Marta residence rather than at the Apostolic Palace.The Vatican Press Office said Feb. 6 Francis would continue to hold his meetings at the Casa Santa Marta on Feb. 7 and 8 due to the illness.Pope Francis greets members of the Interprovincial Order of the Profession of Midwifery of Catanzaro on Feb. 6, 2025, at...

Pope Francis greets members of the Interprovincial Order of the Profession of Midwifery of Catanzaro on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged midwives and OB-GYNs to carry out their mission not only with professional skill but also with "a great sense of humanity."

The pope's words were conveyed in a written speech handed out during an audience with an association of midwives and OB-GYNs from the southern Italian region of Calabria on Feb. 6.

With Francis suffering from bronchitis, the pontiff's meetings on Thursday were held in halls at his Santa Marta residence rather than at the Apostolic Palace.

The Vatican Press Office said Feb. 6 Francis would continue to hold his meetings at the Casa Santa Marta on Feb. 7 and 8 due to the illness.

Pope Francis greets members of the Interprovincial Order of the Profession of Midwifery of Catanzaro on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis greets members of the Interprovincial Order of the Profession of Midwifery of Catanzaro on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

"At a crucial moment of existence such as the birth of a son or daughter, one may feel vulnerable, fragile, and therefore most in need of closeness, tenderness, and warmth," the pope said to the group of midwives and OB-GYNs.

"It does so much good, in such circumstances, to have sensitive and delicate people beside you. I therefore recommend you to cultivate, in addition to professional skill, a great sense of humanity, which confirms 'in the parents' souls the desire and joy for the new life, blossomed from their love' (St. John Paul II, Address to Midwives, Jan. 26, 1980) and contributes to 'assuring the child a healthy and happy birth.'"

The pope noted the loss of enthusiasm for parenthood in Italy and in other countries, where motherhood and fatherhood are no longer seen as "the opening of a new horizon of creativity and happiness."

He also urged Christian midwives and doctors to use the "hidden but effective medicine" of prayer in their practices.

Whether it is appropriate to pray directly with patients or to offer a silent prayer in one's own heart, prayer can "help strengthen that 'admirable collaboration of parents, nature, and God, from which a new human being in the image and likeness of the Creator comes into being,'" he said, quoting Venerable Pius XII in a 1951 address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives.

"I encourage you to feel toward the mothers, fathers, and children whom God puts in your path the responsibility to pray for them as well, especially in holy Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and simple, daily prayer," Pope Francis said.

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Pope Francis meets with Eastern Orthodox priests and monks on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Santa Marta home in the Vatican instead of in the Apostolic Palace as planned. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 12:30 pm (CNA).Pope Francis will hold the next few days of meetings in rooms at his Vatican residence while sick with bronchitis, the Vatican said Thursday."Due to bronchitis, from which he is suffering at this time, and in order to continue his activities, on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, Pope Francis' audiences will be held at Casa Santa Marta," the Feb. 6 message from the Holy See Press Office said.The 88-year-old Francis' meetings with an association of Italian midwives and with Eastern Orthodox priests and monks on Feb. 6 were also held at his Santa Marta home instead of the Apostolic Palace as planned. The pope also did not read aloud his prepared speeches for those audiences.Due to the light illness, the day prior, the pope had an aide to read his catech...

Pope Francis meets with Eastern Orthodox priests and monks on Feb. 6, 2025, at his Santa Marta home in the Vatican instead of in the Apostolic Palace as planned. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 12:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis will hold the next few days of meetings in rooms at his Vatican residence while sick with bronchitis, the Vatican said Thursday.

"Due to bronchitis, from which he is suffering at this time, and in order to continue his activities, on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, Pope Francis' audiences will be held at Casa Santa Marta," the Feb. 6 message from the Holy See Press Office said.

The 88-year-old Francis' meetings with an association of Italian midwives and with Eastern Orthodox priests and monks on Feb. 6 were also held at his Santa Marta home instead of the Apostolic Palace as planned. The pope also did not read aloud his prepared speeches for those audiences.

Due to the light illness, the day prior, the pope had an aide to read his catechesis at his weekly public audience in the Paul VI Hall.

On Sunday, Feb. 9, the pontiff is scheduled to preside over a Mass in St. Peter's Square for the second special weekend of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope: the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Security Personnel.

Pope Francis also kept his schedule while remaining indoors when he had a cold right before Christmas. His Angelus prayer and message on Dec. 22, 2024, were livestreamed from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

The pope, who has been suffering from visible breathlessness during recent meetings, has more and more frequently declined to read his prepared remarks to audiences or opted to have the remarks read by a priest aide.

He has faced several health challenges in recent years, including knee problems requiring a wheelchair, respiratory infections, and a fall resulting in a forearm contusion.

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President Donald Trump participates in prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast sponsored by the The Fellowship Foundation at the Washington Hilton on Feb. 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 15:20 pm (CNA).President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a new Department of Justice task force dedicated to fighting anti-Christian bias.During remarks delivered at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, Trump said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi would head the task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" and halt "all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government."According to Trump, Bondi and the commission will "fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and ... move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.""While I'm in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our m...

President Donald Trump participates in prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast sponsored by the The Fellowship Foundation at the Washington Hilton on Feb. 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 15:20 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump has announced the launch of a new Department of Justice task force dedicated to fighting anti-Christian bias.

During remarks delivered at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, Trump said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi would head the task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" and halt "all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government."

According to Trump, Bondi and the commission will "fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and ... move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide."

"While I'm in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals, and in our public squares," he said. "And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God."

Trump further announced that he plans to establish a new presidential commission on religious liberty as well as a White House faith office to be led by televangelist Rev. Paula White, his longtime adviser on religion. 

Also present at the event were several families of Israeli hostages who were taken by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump addressed them, saying: "We are joined today by several brave families whose loved ones were taken hostage during the horrible Oct. 7 attack. We are keeping you in our hearts and our prayers. As president, I will not rest until every last hostage is returned."  

Noa Argamani, a former hostage who was freed during a raid by Israeli forces over the summer, was also present at the event. Trump called her survival "unbelievable," attributing her freedom to "the grace of God." 

"Innocent civilians [that were] attacked on Oct. 7 were targeted for one reason: because they were Jews," Trump continued. "They were murdered and kidnapped because of their faith, and these events remind us of how blessed we are to live in a nation that has thrived for two and a half centuries as a haven of religious freedom."

The bipartisan National Prayer Breakfast has been split into two events since 2023 when a dispute between lawmakers and the event's coordinators led to the establishment of a separate smaller event on Capitol Hill that is mostly attended by members of Congress and other government officials. 

Trump attended the Capitol Hill breakfast in addition to the main event, which was hosted at the Washington Hilton.

"I really believe you can't be happy without religion, without that belief," Trump told lawmakers during his remarks on Capitol Hill, stating: "Let's bring religion back, let's bring God back into our lives."

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