Catholic News

Catholic and other Christian groups have expressed concern after the High Court of Chhattisgarh — a central Indian state governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — declined to set aside a state government order making Hindu prayers mandatory in government schools, dismissing a challenge to it as "premature."

"The government order of June 12 [mandating Hindu prayers in schools at assemblies, meal breaks, and at closing] came as a shock to us," Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, the state capital, told EWTN News on July 13.

"We were looking forward to the judiciary to uphold the fundamental rights of the religious minorities enshrined under the constitution. But the July 2 verdict of the High Court belies our hope, as it has dismissed the plea against the government order as 'premature,'" Thakur said.

What the circular requires

The ruling came on a petition filed by former Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chairman Abdul Salam Rizvi and two others challenging the June 12 order. According to The Hindu, which cited a government official, the morning assembly would include the national anthem, national song, Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, Guru Mantra, and excerpts from the biographies of great personalities.

During the midday meal, students would recite a food prayer, the Bhojan Mantra, while the closing session at the end of the school day would include the state song, the Gayatri Mantra, and the Shanti Mantra. The order also threatened punitive action "to ensure strict implementation of the order," with officials inspecting schools to check for violations of the prescribed guidelines.

The court's ruling

While dismissing the petition against the June 12 order as "premature," the High Court said the plea was "based on mere apprehension rather than any actual grievance."

The judge, Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, said the petitioners could approach the court "afresh by way of an appropriate petition, supported by cogent and relevant material, if any exigency arises in the future."

However, Thakur said: "In a secular democratic country, young children or their families should not be forced to wage legal battle against the system to uphold their fundamental rights."

"We urge all concerned to ensure that the schools — temples of learning and harmony — are not reduced to communal battlefields of division and religious dominance," reiterated Thakur, who heads the Catholic Church in Chhattisgarh, where Christians number less than 2% of the state's 25 million people and the Catholic Church runs over 250 schools.

Article 30 of the Indian Constitution empowers all religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Protests and 'deep disappointment'

The notification of the order drew protests from Christian and civil rights groups and opposition political parties, which dubbed it a Hindu nationalist "majoritarian show."

Sushil Anand Shukla, spokesperson for the opposition Congress party, said: "Students of all faiths, castes, and communities study in government schools and making the recitation of specific religious mantras compulsory could hurt the sentiments of people belonging to other faiths."

The Progressive Christian Alliance (PCA), in a statement on July 10, expressed "deep disappointment" with the High Court order: "The judgment fails to adequately protect the fundamental rights of students of religious minorities and other faith streams ... who now face daily pressure to participate in religious practices that are not their own."

"The dismissal overlooks the real and immediate coercive atmosphere created by a government circular that uses the ... school setting where children have little agency to opt out without fear of stigma or exclusion," said the Rev. Akhilesh Edgar, general secretary of the Evangelical Churches in India, in the statement issued on behalf of the educational wing of the PCA.

"We organized protests in several places including Raipur against this move to enforce Hindutva [Hindu nationalist] agenda," said Pastor Simon Digbal Tandi, coordinator of the PCA.

"This court order has come even as we were preparing to move the court," said Tandi, who heads the PCA's Chhattisgarh chapter.

Tandi also said "the government is hypocritical and playing double talk." While the government had told the court the order drew no objections, he said, it had already begun allotting 25,000 rupees (about $260) per village school to install sound systems to carry out the prayers.

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When MacKenzie Warrens spent weeks crossing the country with Jesus in the Eucharist during the 2024 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, she had already discerned her vocation as a consecrated virgin. What she did not expect was how profoundly the experience would deepen that calling.

"I already knew what I was called to," Warrens told EWTN News. "Any lingering doubts that may have been in my mind were completely gone with the pilgrimage. It was just even more clear… 'This is, without a doubt, my vocation.'"

Months after completing the pilgrimage, Warrens took vows as a consecrated virgin in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. For Warrens and many others who walked thousands of miles with the Eucharist, the pilgrimage became more than a journey across America. It became a path toward discovering or confirming the vocation God had prepared for them.

Forty-five young adults have served as perpetual pilgrims since the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began in 2024, and organizers told EWTN News that 26 of them are discerning or pursuing forms of consecrated life.

Growing harvest of vocations

In the interest of transparency, organizers noted that eight of the men discerning priesthood were already seminarians during their time on pilgrimage and continue to feel called to the priesthood.

Among the former pilgrims are current seminarians, men newly discerning diocesan priesthood, women preparing to enter the Sisters of Life and the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, and several others discerning religious life or consecrated vocations.

Organizers also said one former pilgrim has taken a private vow of celibacy, while another is discerning a yearlong private vow of consecration.

Pilgrims' perspective

For Mason Bailey, a seminarian for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, the pilgrimage became an unexpected lesson in what priestly ministry looks like. Already in seminary when he joined the 2024 Marian Route, Bailey said traveling through the Midwest with the Eucharist introduced him to the breadth of the Church and strengthened his vocation.

"I was blessed to see the American Church in a new way," Bailey told EWTN News. "I encountered a lot of amazing priests — diocesan priests and religious — that affirmed my vocation along the way."

Bailey said one of the most memorable aspects of the pilgrimage was visiting small rural parishes that many Catholics never see.

"We went to parishes that probably nobody visits," he said. "These beautiful Polish Catholic churches hidden away in the farm communities of the Midwest… I got to meet the priests there and stay in rectories with them. They were beautiful witnesses of what the priesthood is."

Reflecting on the journey, Bailey said the pilgrimage revealed a profound connection between the Eucharist and the priesthood.

"The Eucharist is taken, blessed, broken, and given," he said. "That's also an image of the priesthood — and indeed every Christian life. ... Doing this difficult thing, but doing it for others so that they can encounter Jesus."

Cheyenne Johnson, who participated in both the 2025 Drexel Route and the 2026 Cabrini Route as a team leader, said the pilgrimage gave her the freedom and peace to continue discerning a call to religious life.

"Being around the Blessed Sacrament all the time and just having that time of really close intimacy with him," Johnson told EWTN News, "was a very important time for me to continue to pray and see if he was still calling me."

Johnson said the opportunity to spend weeks with priests, religious sisters, and fellow pilgrims living out different vocations helped her recognize where she experienced the deepest peace.

"Getting to see happy religious was super important for me," she said. "It was beautiful to speak with them, as well as see how the Lord was shaping my own heart and to be like, 'Yeah, this is where I find the most peace and fulfillment' in pursuing being a bride of Christ forever."

A vocation strengthened

For Warrens of Galveston-Houston, who served as team leader on the Marian Route while completing a doctorate in physics, accompanying fellow pilgrims became an unexpected source of vocational clarity.

"I really got to tap into my spiritual motherhood in a way that I'd never gotten to before," she said. "My role as a team lead was to serve my team so that my team could then serve the public."

By the end of the pilgrimage, Warrens said her professional aspirations had shifted. Although she had been uncertain how she would use her doctoral degree, she realized: "I really just want to do ministry." She has since completed the Encounter School of Ministry and is halfway through spiritual direction training, saying the pilgrimage confirmed that "this is where you're definitely called."

Looking back on two summers of pilgrimage, Johnson said the experience taught her the importance of making space for God to speak.

"I really encourage people to take that time to make a pilgrimage," she said. "Allow him to do the unexpected in your heart because he really does. He wants to wow us with how good he is."

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U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, passed away on July 11 after a "brief and sudden illness," his office said in a statement in the early hours of July 12.

No further details were immediately given regarding the senator's passing. Graham's family "appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement said.

Graham was 71. He had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003.

Tributes poured in for the late senator overnight through July 12. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Graham was "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known."

"He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!" Trump said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote on X that his "heart is heavy" after Graham's passing. He described Graham as "a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe."

"He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause," Thune said.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described him in a media statement as "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America" and "a loyal and steadfast friend."

International tributes poured in as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife, Sara, "grieve with the American people" over Graham's passing.

"Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance, and standing up for the free world," Netanyahu said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said Graham was "a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer."

"He visited Ukraine 10 times during the years of Russia's full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed," he said.

Born July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, Graham attended the University of South Carolina, where he ultimately obtained a juris doctor degree from the university's law school in 1981. He served in the JAG Corps of the U.S. Air Force before working as a lawyer in his home state.

His political career began in 1992 when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He rose to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 and began serving in the U.S. Senate eight years later.

A staunch ally of Trump, Graham was initially a sharp critic of the Republican president before backing him after his victory in the 2016 election. He was a fixture on political news television shows in the later years of his career.

A lifelong bachelor, Graham wrote in his memoir that he "never found time to meet the right girl, or the right girl was smart enough not to have time for me."

A Southern Baptist, Graham was a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina, where he lived. He is survived by his sister Darline and extended family.

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From the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, where he moved on July 5 to enjoy a period of rest, Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to make time for "meaningful moments of silence and prayer" during the summer.

The pontiff's remarks were made during his Sunday Angelus address on July 12 at Castel Gandolfo, where he will remain until July 27.

Reviving a summer papal tradition

This summer, Leo XIV decided to spend part of it on vacation at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, becoming the first pope to do so since 2012. The residence has been used by the popes as a countryside retreat for over 400 years, and was a preferred vacation spot of Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.

Pope Francis, however, never left the Vatican during the summer of his 12-year papacy, choosing instead to remain at the Casa Santa Marta and repurpose the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo as a museum.

The palace itself is a 17th-century building on the shores of Lake Albano. Although it will be closed to the public during the pope's vacation, the nearby papal gardens will remain open to visitors.

During Leo's vacation, all private and public audiences, including the Wednesday general audience, are suspended. His only public audiences will be the Sunday Angelus, with the only exception so far being his lunch with the poor in the gardens on July 11.

The parable of the sower

Commenting on the Sunday Gospel for the day, which contains the parable of the sower, Leo XIV highlighted "the generosity and trust" with which God puts his word and power in the hearts of believers.

"Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, who gave his life for our salvation, is the seed that the Father continues to sow throughout the world so that, by dying, he may bear much fruit," Leo said in his address.

The pope also explained that, just as in the parable where the seed is planted in different soils, the faithful do not each receive this gift in the same way.

"It is true that sometimes [God] finds in us hard and unresponsive soil, at other times distracted soil, like the beaten path, the rocky ground, or the thorny bushes. Yet there are also moments when he finds receptive and fertile ground, and then miracles of love are set in motion that have the power to transform everything — as we ourselves have no doubt experienced in our own lives."

Leo also reminded the faithful present that God's love "is stronger than our weakness" and that he never stops sowing and believing in them. He also invited them to take advantage of the summer holidays to experience God through silence and prayer.

"Let us therefore resolve, especially during these summer days of vacation, to make room for listening to, reading, and meditating on the Word of God, thereby fostering — together with rest and wholesome recreation— meaningful moments of silence and prayer,"  Leo said.

A renewed appeal for peace

After praying the Angelus, Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in war-torn regions, lamenting that "the winds of war are blowing once again in the Middle East, in Ukraine and in many other parts of the world, sowing violence, terror and death."

The pope also urged political leaders to resume dialogue and opt for diplomatic means to stop the escalation of conflicts.

Leo's words come at a time of rising international tension, after the United States and Iran once again became embroiled in a dangerous spiral of attacks. The United States launched new airstrikes against Iranian territory following the Revolutionary Guard's attack on a Cypriot-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Finally, the pope, recalling that July 12 is "Sea Sunday," gave a special greeting to sailors, fishermen, and port workers. He praised them for their work despite being "marked by separation from their loved ones and sometimes by fear of the conflicts [that] occur on the seas."

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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Marriage is one of the Catholic Church's greatest paths to holiness. From the first Christian missionaries to modern-day martyrs, married couples have shown that a shared life rooted in faith, sacrifice, and love can become a powerful witness to the Gospel.

Throughout the month of July, the Church celebrates the feast days of several holy husbands and wives whose lives continue to inspire Catholic families today.

Here are four of those couples:

Blessed Joseph and Wiktoria Ulma (Feast day: July 7)

Blessed Joseph and Wiktoria Ulma were a young married couple living in the small Polish village of Markowa during the Second World War. Devout Catholics, they were raising six young children and were expecting a seventh when they made the decision to shelter eight Jewish people in their home after Nazi Germany occupied Poland. They knew the penalty for helping Jews was death, but their Christian faith compelled them to protect their neighbors despite the grave risk.

On March 24, 1944, German police discovered those they were hiding. Joseph and Wiktoria, along with the eight Jews they had sheltered, were executed. The soldiers then murdered each of the Ulmas' six children. During Wiktoria's execution, she went into labor with her seventh child, who also died, making the entire family martyrs.

While they are not saints yet, the Ulmas were beatified together on Sept. 10 2023, becoming the first entire family — including an unborn child — to be beatified as martyrs. Today, they are honored as patrons of families and unborn children.

Sts. Priscilla and Aquila (Feast day: July 8)

Priscilla and Aquila, close collaborators of St. Paul, were among the earliest Christian married couples. Jewish converts to Christianity, they were forced to leave Rome after Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from the city around A.D. 49. The couple settled in Corinth, where they met Paul, who shared their trade of tent-making. They welcomed him into their home, and together they worked while spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

The New Testament frequently mentions the couple together, highlighting the strength of their marriage and shared mission. They traveled with Paul to Ephesus, where they hosted a church in their home, which is also referred to as a "house church." Paul also writes that the couple "risked their necks" for his life — however there is no biblical record of the occasion.

The couple is perhaps best known for mentoring the gifted preacher Apollos, gently explaining the fullness of the Christian faith so that he could become an even more effective evangelist.

Priscilla and Aquila are the patron saints of marriage, love, and strong Christian families.

Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin (Feast day: July 12)

Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin are best known as the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, but their own path to holiness began long before the birth of their famous daughter.

Both initially considered religious life before discerning that God was instead calling them to marriage. They were wed on July 12, 1858, in Alençon, France — the date that would become their feast day.

The Martins endured both profound joy and deep suffering. Of their nine children, four died in infancy or early childhood, while the remaining five daughters all entered religious life. Throughout these trials, Louis and Zélie remained steadfast in prayer, trusting God's providence and making the practice of their Catholic faith the center of family life.

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the time of their beatification in Lisieux in 2008, said in his homily: "Louis and Zélie understood that they could sanctify themselves not despite marriage but through, in, and by marriage, and that their nuptials would be considered as the starting point for a mutual rise."

Canonized together on Oct. 18, 2015, by Pope Francis, Louis and Zélie became the first married couple in Church history to be declared saints together.

Sts. Joachim and Anne (Feast day: July 26)

Sts. Joachim and Anne are honored by the Church as the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. Although they are not mentioned in the canonical Gospels, their story has been preserved through ancient Christian tradition, particularly through the second-century "Protoevangelium of James." According to tradition, the couple was advanced in age and had long suffered the sorrow of childlessness before God answered their prayers with the miraculous conception of Mary.

Today, Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents, married couples, and families. Their feast is a reminder of the indispensable role parents and grandparents play in passing on the faith to future generations.

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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, passed away on July 11 after a "brief and sudden illness," his office said in a statement in the early hours of July 12.

No further details were immediately given regarding the senator's passing. Graham's family "appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement said.

Graham was 71. He had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003.

Tributes poured in for the late senator overnight through July 12. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Graham was "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known."

"He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!" Trump said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote on X that his "heart is heavy" after Graham's passing. He described Graham as "a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe."

"He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause," Thune said.

And South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described him in a media statement as "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America" and "a loyal and steadfast friend."

International tributes poured in as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara "grieve with the American people" over Graham's passing.

"Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world," Netanyahu said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said Graham was "a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer."

"He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia's full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed," he said.

Born July 9, 1955 in Central, South Carolina, Graham attended the University of South Carolina, where he ultimately obtained a Juris Doctor from the university's law school in 1981. He served in the JAG Corps of the U.S. Air Force before working as a lawyer in his home state.

His political career began in 1992 when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He rose to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995 and began serving in the U.S. Senate eight years later.

A staunch ally of Trump, Graham was initially a sharp critic of the Republican president before backing him after his victory in the 2016 election. He was a fixture on political news television shows in the later years of his career.

A lifelong bachelor, Graham wrote in his memoir that he "never found time to meet the right girl, or the right girl was smart enough not to have time for me."

A Southern Baptist, Graham was a member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina, where he lived. He is survived by his sister Darline and extended family.

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Beginning July 13, a new travel show by EWTN Studios will take viewers on a journey to key places where Christianity began. The series, "The Road Less Traveled," is hosted by Dave Stotts and its first season takes place in Türkiye.

Viewers will get a unique look into places like Antioch, the birthplace of Christianity, the underground cities of Cappadocia, Ephesus, Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), and other key spots where the early Church was formed.

Stotts is a longtime on-location storyteller who has spent more than 20 years exploring the world, most notably in his series "Drive Thru History" aired on TBN. With a deep passion for the story of Christianity and how it has spread across the world, he brings viewers face-to-face with the places that have shaped the faith and invites audiences to rediscover the important figures and saints who impacted modern Christianity.

In an interview with EWTN News, Stotts explained that during his time doing "Drive Thru History" he "experienced firsthand the impact that Christian history can have."

"In 'The Road Less Traveled,' we go even further — down forgotten roads and off the beaten path — to come face-to-face with the lives of saints, martyrs, and heroes of the Catholic past. Seeing their witness has the power to ignite our own faith in powerful ways today," he said. "We wanted to explore this history on location and inspire viewers through a fast-paced, adventurous learning experience."

The travel-show host explained that the first season of "The Road Less Traveled" begins "where the Gospel first spread — Syrian Antioch, where believers were first called 'Christians' and where the Cave Church of St. Peter still stands."

"From there, we follow the roads to the underground churches of Cappadocia, then to the breathtaking ruins of ancient Ephesus, where St. Paul's preaching turned the city's paganism upside down. Next, we travel to the seven churches of Revelation and explore each of the letters St. John wrote to them in the Book of Revelation," Stotts explained.

While in ancient Myra, the show uncovers the story of St. Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop whose legacy lives on today as Santa Claus.

Viewers are then taken to ancient Nicaea, where the Church formulated Christianity's most foundational creed.

"Finally, we end the series in ancient Constantinople — present-day Istanbul — where we stand in the breathtaking Hagia Sophia and discover how the Christian faith helped shape history itself," Stotts said.

Recalling one of the most impactful moments he had while recording the series, Stotts spoke about descending nearly 200 feet to the lowest level of Derinkuyu in ancient Cappadocia.

"There we explored what was once a hidden, rock-hewn, cross-shaped church— carved entirely out of volcanic rock," he recalled. "It was inspiring to see the lengths, and depths, that persecuted Christians were willing to go to practice their faith. I came away challenged to live my own faith with that same kind of courage today."

He added: "It can be easy to take the faith we've inherited for granted. But exploring history has the power to give us a fresh appreciation for the faith we practice today."

Stotts said he hopes viewers "will not only see the world-shaping impact of the early Christians but also be inspired to pattern our own lives after their courageous witness."

"The Road Less Traveled" debuts on July 13 and can be watched for free on EWTN+ and on EWTN.com.

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Auxiliary Bishop Carlos Márquez of Caracas, Venezuela, this week underscored the Church's commitment "to be with people" as Venezuela recovers from earthquakes.

"First of all, we are committed to being with people," Márquez told "EWTN News In Depth" on July 10. "Bishops and priests and deacons and religious personnel of all different congregations, we are on the street talking to people, conveying hope, and giving them consolation from all the pain and distress that they are suffering."

"We accompany the pain of our people," he said. "We don't leave them alone."

Márquez said that in Caracas, where he serves, around 20 to 25 churches and parish houses have been destroyed. While he said Caracas has seen "a lot of damage in many buildings," the more heavily affected area is La Guajira.

"La Guajira is the poor diocese of Venezuela," he said. "It's the sister diocese of Caracas. La Guajira was hit really, really bad and they have much, much more damage than we suffer here."

"Though we've been hit by nature, we don't lose our hope because our hope is set on Christ the Lord, and he had victory over death and destruction, and we know that we join him in this pain," Márquez said.

The auxiliary bishop's remarks come as Catholic aid organizations, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Venezuela, are working together to mobilize relief efforts across the country.

CRS Senior Technical Adviser for Humanitarian Operations John Service told "EWTN News Nightly" on July 10 that CRS and Caritas have channeled their assistance "down to the most affected area, which is La Guajira."

"We've been sending food, water, hygiene materials, and medical supplies," he said. "It's been a massive mobilization, a big effort, and we've been able to get a lot of trucks going. And it's nonstop. Literally in this place where I'm standing right now, which is their main office, we get the materials, we process them, we put them into packages that are easy to deliver, and then the trucks go out daily to these different sites."

Service described the mood on the ground in Venezuela as "sad, frustrated, angry together, and determined."

"The reality is there's quite a big trauma that's hit these populations. They've lost loved ones. They still have loved ones they can't find. So it is a very difficult process for them to come to grips with what's happened," he said.

Service said many Venezuelans faced financial hardship before the earthquakes, depleting the resources they might have used to offset the present crisis.

"People don't have a big safety net," he said.

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The Colombian Bishops' Conference called for the will of the people expressed in the results of the June 21 presidential elections, which saw Abelardo de la Espriella emerge as the winner, to be respected and accepted as a sign of peace for the country.

In the final message of their 121st plenary assembly, the bishops noted the "robust and peaceful participation of the Colombian people" in the elections, describing it as a "clear sign of democratic maturity and of appreciation and respect for institutions."

"We regard respect for and acceptance of the will of the Colombian people, as expressed in the election results, as conditions and signs of peace," they stated in their message, published on July 9.

The bishops lamented that, following the elections, confrontation and division continue to be fueled by violent words and attitudes.

After calling for a "culture of encounter," the bishops' conference urged government leaders to assume "their constitutional responsibility to safeguard and foster unity, the pursuit of the common good in truth and justice, and a national project that includes us all without disregarding what has been built and received as both a legacy and a task."

The bishops' call comes amid the political conflict sparked by President Gustavo Petro's decision on July 6 to reject the runoff election results, citing cyber fraud and claiming that the true winner was his candidate, Iván Cepeda.

On June 25, the National Electoral Council declared de la Espriella the winner of the presidential runoff election.

De la Espriella responded by suspending his team's participation in the official transition process, that is, the handover of information between the outgoing government and the one set to take over the leadership of Colombia on Aug. 7.

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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Pope Leo XIV on July 11 expressed a "hunger for justice [and] authentic charity" while attending a lunch with poor people at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome.

"[I have] a hunger for a Church that truly knows how to open its doors and receive everyone — where there is love for all and no one is an enemy, where we all know how to live out reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace," the pope told the crowd at the lunch, hosted in the gardens of the Borgo Laudato Si'.

Leo pointed out that the historic papal title of "pontiff" means "a builder of bridges."

"Today, we too wish to build a bridge with all of you, with your families, and with the society in which we want to live — but to live with justice, to live where the causes of poverty can be eliminated, where the causes of the injustices that still exist in our world can be removed," he said.

"This is the Church we want to be," he said while thanking the organizers of the lunch, the second such event the pope has hosted since his pontificate began.

"When we gather together, when we experience this spirit of encounter around the table — the very table where Jesus is present with us — we are truly building a different world, a world of hope. Let us strive always to embody this experience of a Church of justice, peace, and love," he said.

Before the pope spoke, Cardinal Fabio Baggio — the incoming pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development — had addressed the gathering.

"At a time when the 'throwaway culture' risks relegating many people to the margins, this place seeks to be a small sign of hope," the cardinal said. "Here, we wish to remind everyone — through our lives rather than just our words — that no one is superfluous in the eyes of God and that every person is a gift to the entire community."

About 200 people facing social vulnerability from the Diocese of Rome attended the lunch with the pope.

On Aug. 17, 2025 the pope hosted a similar lunch with people living in poverty from the Diocese of Albano; he held another such luncheon on Nov. 16 of that year.

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

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