The measure adds clearer guidelines and protections requested by school superintendents.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation this week that strengthens parents' ability to have their children briefly excused from public school during the school day to receive religious instruction.
The Republican governor approved Senate Bill 248, known as the Alabama Released Time Credit Act, on April 8. The new law takes effect July 1.
The measure allows parents to choose for their child to participate in a released-time program sponsored by a church or local community-based religious organization. Instruction must take place off school grounds, be privately funded, and require no use of taxpayer money. Schools are not responsible for transportation or liable for students during the released time.
Students may earn elective credit for participating, provided they complete any missed schoolwork and meet state education guidelines. School boards can deny a request only if there is an objective substantial risk of physical harm to the student.
The bill passed the state Senate 32-0 and the state House 88-4 after revisions.
Supporters say it protects parental rights and religious liberty without burdening public schools.
Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Greg Chafuen praised the law in a statement: "The government shouldn't stop families from raising their children in their family's faith. SB 248 respects parents' educational decisions, allowing public school children to be briefly excused from school to receive free, off-campus religious instruction taught by private charitable organizations."
"As the U.S. Supreme Court has explained, respecting parents' decisions for their child to participate in released-time programs 'follows the best of our traditions,'" he wrote.
Chafuen commended the Alabama Legislature as well as Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and Ivey "for their commitment to ensuring that parents remain in the driver's seat when it comes to their children's education."
The legislation updates a 2019 law and adds clearer guidelines and protections requested by school superintendents.
Critics have raised concerns about church-state separation and potential logistical challenges for schools.
Released-time programs have historically been used more frequently by Protestant and evangelical groups, though Catholic parishes could organize similar off-campus faith formation sessions under the new rules.
At least a dozen other states have similar laws allowing students to leave campus for voluntary religious instruction.
A complete schedule of Masses, vigils, and confessions has been prepared for pilgrims and television or online viewers beginning Saturday, April 11, and culminating on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12.
The Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków, Poland — one of the foremost pilgrimage centers in the Catholic world — is preparing to welcome thousands of the faithful for Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12.
According to official information released by the shrine, the celebrations will be marked by liturgical observances and moments of prayer in response to the request of St. Faustina Kowalska, who conveyed the words of Jesus: "I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the feast of mercy."
Mass and vigil celebration
Under this year's theme, "God, the Merciful Father... To You We Entrust the Destiny of the World," the organizers invite the faithful to the commencement of celebrations on Saturday, April 11, with a vigil Mass in the basilica to be celebrated by the archbishop emeritus of Kraków, Marek Jedraszewski.
After the Mass, a prayer vigil will take place, continuing through the early morning hours. At midnight, another Mass will be celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Janusz Mastalski of Kraków. Afterward, the faithful will continue to participate in the vigil until 5 a.m.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, the Mass will be celebrated at the outdoor altar by the archbishop of Kraków, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, who also serves as the honorary patron of the event.
During this celebration, the so-called "Bell of Hope" destined for the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania, will be blessed.
One of the most significant moments will be the solemn hour of mercy, a practice deeply connected to this devotion, which will be observed in the basilica at 3 p.m., coinciding with the hour of Christ's death.
A shrine marked by history and faith
The shrine's current basilica was built from 1999 to 2002 and was consecrated on Aug. 17, 2002, by St. John Paul II, who at that site entrusted the entire world to divine mercy.
The basilica is noted for its symbolism: Its shape evokes an ark, a sign of salvation for those who place their trust in God. Inside, a tabernacle shaped like a globe representing humanity in need of mercy is situated alongside the image of the merciful Jesus.
It also houses depictions of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II — great apostles of this devotion — as well as one of the largest stained-glass windows in Kraków, which symbolizes the light of divine mercy radiating upon the world.
Mass schedule
The shrine has scheduled multiple Eucharistic celebrations throughout the day:
6 a.m. (basilica), celebrated by Father Tomasz Szopa
8 a.m. (basilica), celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Damian Muskus
10 a.m. (outdoor altar), principal Mass with Cardinal Rys
12:30 p.m. (basilica), celebrated by Father Robert Wozniak
4 p.m. (outdoor altar), celebrated by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served as secretary to St. John Paul II for over 40 years.
6 p.m. (basilica), with the participation of young people
7 p.m. (convent chapel)
Broadcasts and global participation
All celebrations will be broadcast on television and digital platforms. The main Mass will be aired on TVP1, while the hour of mercy can be followed on EWTN.
Additionally, the shrine will offer online broadcasts via its official website and YouTube channel, enabling the participation of the faithful from around the world.
The shrine has implemented various logistical measures to accommodate the crowds expected to attend the celebration.
Confessions will be available throughout the night and on Sunday, including in several languages, and Communion will be distributed between Masses.
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.
The Vatican responded to a media report claiming Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then-papal envoy to the U.S., received "a bitter lecture" in a meeting with U.S. defense officials.
The Vatican on Friday said the narrative in some media outlets about a meeting at the Pentagon between senior U.S. defense officials and the pope's then-representative to the U.S. "does not correspond to the truth."
According to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, his meeting with Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby in January was part of the former nuncio's "regular mission and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest," Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement April 10.
"The narrative presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all," Bruni added.
Bruni's statement followed an April 6 report by The Free Press claiming Pierre, then the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., received "a bitter lecture" in a January meeting with defense officials, reportedly because of a speech in which Pope Leo XIV criticized "a diplomacy based on force."
According to The Free Press, the pope's message was interpreted as a criticism of U.S. policy by Pentagon officials, who told Pierre: "America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side."
The U.S. Department of Defense, in a post on X on April 9, said that a "substantive, respectful, and professional" meeting took place on Jan. 22, but "recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted."
"During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics. Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue," the department said. It also shared photos from the meeting.
The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, also commented on the Pentagon meeting on X on April 9. Burch said he had spoken to the former nuncio who "emphatically denied the media's portrayal of his meeting with Colby."
Pierre, Burch wrote, "described the meeting as 'frank, but very cordial' and a 'normal encounter.' He confirmed that the reporting 'does not reflect what happened' and was 'just invented to make a story.'"
Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported April 10 that one senior Vatican official had described the conversation as having moments of tension, with some U.S. officials being "aggressive" and "bullying," though "there was no question of anybody threatening anyone."
Pope Leo accepted Pierre's resignation as nuncio in March for reaching the age limit and appointed Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as his new representative to the U.S.
The synod of Chaldean Catholic bishops is meeting in Rome this week to elect a new patriarch amid complex internal and national challenges.
The bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday as part of their synodal meetings in Rome to elect a new patriarch. The encounter comes after Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako resigned as patriarch last month, prompting the bishops to gather in the Italian capital.
The electoral synod represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Chaldean Catholic Church, as the bishops are expected to choose a new shepherd to lead Chaldean Catholics amid complex internal and national challenges. The meetings also reflect a broader dimension that goes beyond the local framework, highlighting a close relationship with the Holy See.
Leo's hope for the next patriarch
The Holy Father addressed the bishops on April 10, praying that the Holy Spirit would guide them in their election of a patriarch. He expressed the hope that the patriarch would be a father in faith and a sign of unity; a person of the beatitudes who lives daily holiness based on fidelity, mercy, and purity of heart; and a shepherd close to his people, steadfast in prayer, capable of facing difficulties with hope, and working with the bishops in a spirit of unity.
The pope described the Chaldeans as guardians of a living and noble memory, and of a faith transmitted through the centuries with courage and fidelity. He added that their history is glorious but also marked by harsh experiences: wars, persecutions, and trials that affected their communities and scattered many believers around the world.
Leo further stated that it is precisely in these wounds that the witness of faith shines, because a Church that bears the scars of history shows how wounds, in the risen Lord, can become signs of hope and new life. He affirmed his closeness to them in their trials, calling for communion with Christians of other denominations.
He urged the bishops to remain vigilant and transparent in managing Church property, to exercise moderation and responsibility in the use of media, and to be cautious in public statements so that every word contributes to building ecclesial communion rather than harm it. He also emphasized the importance of forming priests, supporting consecrated persons, and accompanying laypeople. He highlighted the importance of believers remaining in their homelands and respecting the freedom of Christians in the Middle East.
He also described those present as signs of hope in a world full of violence, noting that they are called to be peacemakers, since only dialogue creates true peace. He said they have a great mission: to proclaim the risen Christ and keep hope alive.
Pope Leo XIV greets Chaldean Catholic bishops during an audience at the Vatican on April 10, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
Sako bids farewell to his Church
Leo accepted the resignation of Sako on March 10, one day after the patriarch requested to step down to "dedicate himself quietly to prayer, writing, and simple service."
In a farewell letter April 9, Sako expressed his deep gratitude to all those who supported him during his 13 years as patriarch, noting his profound emotion at the messages of solidarity he received from Church figures and believers of different backgrounds. He affirmed his commitment to pray for the Church and the bishops gathered in Rome, calling for the election of a patriarch who embodies unity and serves the people with love.
Sako also emphasized his neutrality in the electoral process, considering his absence from the synod an expression of respect for the bishops' freedom. He also reviewed key aspects of his ministry, through which he sought to balance tradition and renewal, affirming that ecclesial tradition must remain alive and engaged with the times.
Sako noted his influence since the Second Vatican Council, his participation in Catholic Church synods, and his role in the Middle East Council of Churches. These experiences, he said, shaped his efforts to develop Church discourse in liturgy and teaching in a modern and accessible language. He highlighted his efforts to strengthen Christian-Muslim dialogue, unify Church positions, defend the presence of Christians in Iraq, and advocate for a state based on citizenship and equality. He said he considers his resignation not an end but the beginning of a new phase of quiet service.
After the election and announcement of a new patriarch, a holy Mass, an expression of ecclesial communion, will be celebrated by the new leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church with Pope Leo XIV or his representative. The newly elected patriarch will also announce, in consultation with the synod fathers, the date of his enthronement at the patriarchal seat in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.
Rep. Chris Smith and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and human rights advocate Nina Shea criticized the Vatican for hosting China's top organ transplant official at an event in 2017.
A New Jersey congressman sharply criticized the Vatican for giving a platform to one of Beijing's top transplant officials at a 2017 international conference on organ trafficking.
During an April 9 event hosted by the Hudson Institute highlighting new evidence of forced organ harvesting in China, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, called out the Vatican for hosting China's leading transplant official at the Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism in 2017.
Smith was a panelist at the Hudson Institute event with Ethan Gutmann, the author of a new book, "The Xinjiang Procedure," which presents evidence of forced organ harvesting targeting Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim communities on an industrial scale in China.
Gutmann testified during the panel about his findings while on an undercover mission where he secretly interviewed former detainees of Chinese concentration camps, whose testimonies included accounts of gang rape, water torture, and forced organ harvesting.
"I've argued with [the Vatican]," Smith said. "If you're bringing in people who are doing terrible evil, you're giving them a platform."
Participants at the 2017 Vatican conference, organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, signed a statement agreeing to unite in fighting the crime of organ trafficking, submitting 11 proposals for implementation by health care and law enforcement professionals around the world.
China's participation in the conference was the source of controversy at the time, as the advocacy group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting said in a statement that there was "no evidence that past practices of forced organ harvesting have ended" in China.
The group further criticized the Vatican's decision to invite Huang Jiefu, Beijing's top official on transplants, saying that it would compromise the conference's image and objectives, when there was not sufficient evidence that China was changing its ways.
Human rights advocate and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Nina Shea, who also spoke at the April 9 event, echoed Smith's censure of the Vatican for hosting Jiefu.
She told EWTN News the Vatican's first point of leverage to help prevent organ harvesting is to "start by doing no harm."
"What they did was host the public face of the organ transplant sector of China at their conference in Rome," she said, describing Jiefu as a "longtime member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party."
Shea said the Vatican conference helped "open doors" for Jiefu with the World Health Organization (WHO), after which she said he proposed a "task force for best practices on organ transplants."
"That's part of his propaganda," she said. "The Vatican thought that was a great idea and introduced him to WHO, and when he proposed it, they said, 'Yes, at the Vatican's urging we'll create a task force and you're on it.'"
"So, they appointed this Chinese Communist Party Central Committee member, who is the vice minister of health and the public face of their organ transplant sector, to this task force," she said.
"Needless to say, the task force has done nothing," she said.
"I think Pope Leo should pronounce against forced organ harvesting. It's a great human rights issue," she said. "It hasn't been addressed on the world stage, and the pope has the platform to do that and the moral authority to do it."
Legislative efforts in the U.S.
On a policy level, Smith emphasized the need to "seriously criminalize" forced organ harvesting to combat the practice on an international level. He also lamented that the Senate failed to pass the Stop Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 after it passed in the House with nearly unanimously.
The congressman warned that the latest attempt to pass legislation with the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 could face the same fate if the Senate fails to lend its support.
The current legislation, he noted, would require the president to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in forced organ harvesting and authorize the State Department to revoke passports of individuals found complicit in the practice.
"This would have a chilling effect on [organ] brokers," Smith said.
Remembering "the lordship of Christ" over all things, Catholic and Protestant leaders discussed ethical investing.
Remembering "the lordship of Christ is over everything," Catholic and Protestant leaders are prioritizing ethical investing by making their voices heard as shareholders.
At the 2026 Christian Institutional Investors conference in Lakewood, Colorado, on April 8, speakers urged Christian businesses, schools, and apostolates to stand up for their beliefs as investors.
More than 150 attendees from across the country attended the conference, which was hosted by the faith-based investment consulting company Innovest Portfolio Solutions along with the Archdiocese of Denver, Catholic Benefits Association, The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado, AmPhil, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Colorado Christian University, where the event took place.
"This ecumenical gathering brings together Catholic and Protestant leaders to explore portfolio screening, values alignment with asset managers, and the importance of proxy voting and corporate engagement," Innovest principal Sarah Newman said.
"Our goal is for attendees to leave informed, inspired, and equipped to better understand how their portfolios are built and why the partners they choose truly matter to create returns they need for their Christian mission," Newman told EWTN News.
Fighting for Christian values through proxy voting
In the fight to bring Christian values into investing, speakers emphasized the importance of proxy voting — a process where shareholders authorize someone else to vote on their behalf in shareholder meetings.
"As a shareholder, you're sort of a citizen of a company and are entitled to vote on these matters — but most people don't realize that their proxies are being delegated to an adviser and unintentionally support things that are opposed to their own values," speaker Dustin DeVito said.
DeVito is a research director at the 1792 Exchange, a company working to bring "ideological balance back to public corporations."
Nicholas Schmitz, the Traviesa chair of finance at The Catholic University of America's Busch School of Business, noted that Christian investors "need a custom proxy option that actually represents Christian viewpoints" to have a cumulative, widespread impact across corporate America.
Custom proxy options enable institutions to vote according to their own guidelines rather than the default options.
"That would be a huge, huge uptake that would get long-term cultural change," Schmitz said in a panel titled "Leading Change: Bringing Faithful Christian Proxy Voting Rules to Institutional Systems."
In November, The Catholic University of America developed new proxy guidelines that leading companies representing shareholders accepted — giving a faith-based option in line with the Catholic Church's teachings.
"Catholicism ... I joke, we're the most organized religion in America, but the least organized in capital markets. We don't really have an excuse for not getting this right," Schmitz said.
In his talk, "The Post-ESG Landscape: Where Corporate America Is Headed and How Faith-Aligned Capital Can Lead," DeVito also encouraged Christian investors to stand up for their faith.
A panel discusses the Christian Investing Movement on April 8, 2026. Left to right: Jeremy Beer of AmPhil, Richard Todd of Innovest, Derek Kreifels of Prospr Aligned, and Bridgett Wagner of The Heritage Foundation. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Innovest
"As Christians, we want to be the ones boldly leading because the lordship of Christ is over everything," DeVito said. "So if there's any issue in which companies are engaging in something that's biased and that's harming Christians, we need to be willing to have the courage and put ourselves out there and engage on the issue."
As an example, DeVito cited the debanking of Christians and conservatives. In 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting banks and financial institutions from debanking clients based on their political or religious views after Christians and conservatives expressed concern about the controversial practice.
"Even just with a small amount of shares and the willingness to engage these companies and to talk through the research, we end up seeing incredible wins," DeVito continued. "All it takes is just some people willing to fight."
In his research at 1792, DeVito said he has seen a trend away from DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives and "ESG" (environmental, social, and governance) — politically-motivated standards that large companies subscribed to but that recently fell out of favor after criticism from conservatives.
DeVito pointed to the work of Robby Starbuck, an influencer known for raising awareness of DEI policies at companies like Tractor Supply, as well as the Trump administration as defining moments in the decline of DEI and ESG.
"For the first time in over 20 years, corporate America is headed back in the direction of depoliticizing and focusing on business," DeVito said. "And this is good because the companies are supported for the value they bring in, the goods and services they provide, not for identifying and solving all the world's problems."
Organizers of the "Muistamme" vigil lit one candle for each of the 8,645 abortions performed in Finland in 2024, drawing Catholic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian clergy together in central Helsinki.
HELSINKI — Thousands of candles illuminated the steps of Finland's Parliament in Helsinki on March 21 as pro-life advocates held a public vigil commemorating children lost to abortion.
Organized by the Finnish pro-life group Oikeus elämään ry, the "Muistamme" ("In remembrance") event featured 8,645 candles, one for each abortion performed in Finland in 2024.
Johannes Laitinen, one of the event's organizers, said approximately 100 preselected participants were invited to light the candles, chosen because of their personal connection to the loss of children through abortion. Members of the public were also given the opportunity to take part in the candle lighting during the vigil.
Johannes Laitinen, one of the organizers of the "Muistamme" pro-life vigil held outside Finland's Parliament in Helsinki on March 21, 2026. | Credit: Miika Soininen
After the candles were lit, participants observed a minute of silence, while volunteers remained through the night as the display continued glowing in central Helsinki.
A public witness in the heart of Helsinki
Speaking to EWTN News, Kirsi Morgan-MacKay, chairman of Finland's Right to Life Association, said the vigil sought both to honor the unborn and to confront the public with the scale of abortion in the country.
"The event created a visual that touched people's hearts and perhaps made them stop and think about how many children are actually lost every year through abortion," she said.
Morgan-MacKay added that the vigil also aimed to acknowledge the often-unspoken grief experienced by women and families affected by abortion.
The full display of 8,645 candles glows on the steps of Finland's Parliament in Helsinki on the night of March 21, 2026. | Credit: Jaakko Haapanen
She noted that leaders from multiple Christian denominations attended the event, which organizers viewed as an encouraging sign of broader ecclesial engagement.
"We have always hoped that churches would come together to defend the lives of unborn children," she said, explaining that abortion is not merely political but "a spiritual, ethical, and moral issue."
A prayer gathering was also held in connection with the vigil at Luther Church in Helsinki, where clergy from Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Catholic communities offered prayers. Representing the Catholic Church, Jean Claude Kabeza, vicar general of the Diocese of Helsinki, conveyed greetings from Bishop Raimo Goyarrola.
Finland's welfare state and the limits of social support
While happy about Finland's reputation for its strong social welfare system, Morgan-MacKay noted that many women facing crisis pregnancies still experience profound isolation. "Many women and families are still left alone in the midst of a crisis," she said, adding that loneliness and lack of support often persist even within families.
She also observed that in Finland, the lives of unborn children often go unvalued when a pregnancy is unwanted. She pointed out that women confronted with an unplanned pregnancy, sometimes in shock, may see abortion as an "easy" way out, particularly since medical abortion is frequently presented as a simple "procedure."
Pro-life advocates carry the "Muistamme" banner through central Helsinki during the candlelit vigil on March 21, 2026. | Credit: Miika Soininen
Morgan-MacKay also drew attention to Finland's liberalized abortion framework, particularly the increased accessibility of medical abortion, arguing that women may be pressured into rushed decisions without adequate counseling.
"Sometimes the health care system offers abortion as the only option," she said. "Many times, these women need space to pause, think everything through, and receive real support."
She added that while Finland's pro-life movement remains relatively small, it is gradually growing, with increased awareness of abortion's broader social and personal consequences. She expressed particular encouragement at the involvement of younger supporters, especially young men, saying she believes "God is raising up a new generation of pro-lifers" as more Finns begin speaking openly about the issue.
A bishop's medical perspective on abortion
EWTN News also spoke with Goyarrola, who said he remains hopeful that Finland can become more receptive to pro-life values, despite abortion remaining a sensitive and often taboo topic in public life.
Goyarrola's comments carry added weight in Finland's abortion debates because of his medical background. Before entering the priesthood, he trained as a physician, graduating with a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Navarra in Spain in 1992, and has pursued doctoral research in palliative care at the University of Eastern Finland since 2022.
Drawing on his medical knowledge, he has also written extensively on social issues for general audiences, authoring "Ihmiselämää äidin kohdussa" ("Human Life in the Womb"), on abortion, and "Arvokas kuolema" ("A Dignified Death"), on euthanasia. Both books were widely praised for making complex bioethical questions accessible to ordinary readers.
Reflecting on his experience, Goyarrola said that with regard to discussing abortion, conversations require clarity and compassion rather than confrontation.
"I believe that positive language is what truly reaches people and opens hearts to reflection," he said. "The Church speaks in defense of life by offering real solutions to real problems and proposing ways to prevent abortion."
"No one celebrates abortion as a joyful experience," he added.
Signs of change among younger Finns
Assessing the broader cultural climate, Goyarrola said abortion has historically remained difficult to discuss openly in Finnish society. "Abortion has long been a taboo subject in Finland, and to a large extent it still is," he said, noting that public discourse is often narrowly framed around "the woman's right to her own body."
Yet the bishop said younger generations appear increasingly willing to engage the issue more thoughtfully. "Among young people, the topic is beginning to be discussed more openly, and with many serious questions," he noted.
Participants light some of the 8,645 candles on the steps of Finland's Parliament in Helsinki on March 21, 2026, one for each abortion performed in Finland in 2024. | Credit: Jaakko Haapanen
Goyarrola explained that because over 90% of abortions in Finland are carried out for social rather than medical reasons, the underlying causes must be addressed socially as well. He called for "better education, access to information, healthier lifestyles, and more personal responsibility and support for marriage and family life."
He added that the Church must continue promoting a concrete vision of family and human dignity, saying: "We aim to promote a culture that values life, family, and hope." He also noted that the Catholic Church in Finland tries to speak about the "need for more children in society," not for economic or labor-related reasons but rather for the future of Finnish society itself.
"I hope that we can speak about abortion and about life in the mother's womb without prejudice, in a rational and thoughtful way," Goyarrola added. "Only through open and respectful conversation can we better understand the complexity of the issue and seek humane and responsible solutions."
Bishops' conferences in the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, Italy, and Spain have urged their faithful to join Pope Leo XIV on April 11 in praying for peace.
Several bishops' conferences around the world have echoed Pope Leo XIV's call to pray for peace on April 11.
During his "urbi et irbi" ("to the city and the world") message on Easter Sunday, the Holy Father called for a prayer vigil for peace to be held Saturday at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
Responding to that call, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, made "a special plea to my brother bishops, the priests, the laity, and all people yearning for true peace to join the Holy Father's Vigil for Peace, whether virtually or in parishes, chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts to join with our Holy Father as we pray for peace in our world."
The pontiff encouraged the faithful to join together to make heard "the cry for peace that springs from our hearts" and warned against growing indifference: "We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent."
"Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people," he continued, "indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel."
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, issued a statement urging priests, religious, and all believers to participate in the vigil led by the pope or to gather in prayer within their local communities to "implore the gift of reconciliation."
"Let us halt the whirlwind of pain, suffering, and devastation; let us say our 'no' to war, and let us not grow accustomed to the horror," the cardinal said.
Together with the Society of Jesus and the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious in Mexico, the Mexican Bishops' Conference issued "an urgent call to society" to join the pope's campaign of prayer for peace with the theme "Let Us Make Heard the Cry for Peace That Springs from the Heart!"
"The peace that Christ offers us is both a gift and a mission. This peace is built by learning to transform conflicts into opportunities for forgiveness rather than into excuses for violence. Therefore, peace within the family and community is a daily task that requires a generous heart, willing to forgive," the Mexican bishops stated.
The bishop of Huesca, Spain, Pedro Aguado Cuesta, has also called upon the faithful there to participate in the prayer vigil.
The prelate will lead the vigil at San Vicente el Real Church at 9 p.m. local time in communion with the initiative promoted by the Holy Father.
"Peace lies at the heart of the Gospel and at the center of human aspirations," said Aguado, who urged the faithful to make a personal commitment to be builders of peace.
Likewise, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, invited local churches to participate in the day of prayer.
"In a world increasingly marked by conflict and the 'globalization of indifference,' the Holy Father has invited the entire Church to unite in prayer, exhorting everyone to implore the gift of peace and to renew our commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and nonviolence," he said in a statement.
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.
The diocese clarified that the decision expresses "no moral judgment regarding the life, virtues, and pastoral ministry" of the bishop, who remains a servant of God.
The Diocese of Quilmes in Argentina announced that by decision of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the "nihil obstat" granted to the cause for the canonization of the Servant of God Bishop Jorge Novak has been revoked.
The decision, communicated by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the dicastery, stems from "a possible canonical procedure not carried out by Bishop Jorge Novak, SVD, regarding the conduct of a priest of the diocese," the Diocese of Quilmes clarified.
Furthermore, the diocese clarified that this decision expresses "no moral judgment regarding the life, virtues, and pastoral ministry" of Novak and that consequently he is still recognized as a servant of God even though his cause will not proceed.
The Diocese of Quilmes and the Society of the Divine Word — co-sponsors of the canonical cause initiated on Dec. 11, 2017 — announced the news "with sorrow," while simultaneously expressing their confidence that "God, in his immense goodness, has granted the beloved and fondly remembered Father-Bishop Jorge Novak, SVD, the joy of eternal life, even if he is not inscribed in the canonical register of the blessed and saints officially proclaimed by the Church."
Novak, who died in 2001, was the first bishop of the Diocese of Quilmes, which was established in June 1976. His episcopal consecration took place on Sept. 19, 1976, and he remained at the helm of the diocese until his death.
He is remembered for his staunch defense of human rights during the military dictatorship in Argentina and for his care for the poor. Novak also promoted the "Mass of Hope," which continues to be celebrated to this day.
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.
The report reflects the ongoing gradual decline in U.S. births that has persisted for most of the past two decades, only interrupted by a modest uptick in 2024.
The number of births in the United States fell by 1% in 2025, according to provisional data released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There were 3,606,400 live births last year, down from 3,628,934 in 2024, the National Center for Health Statistics reported.
The general fertility rate dropped 1% to 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15–44, continuing a long-term decline of 23% since its 2007 peak.
The most notable decline came in teenage births, which reached another historic low. The birth rate for females ages 15–19 fell 7% to 11.7 births per 1,000 — the lowest rate ever recorded.
In total, 125,933 babies were born to teen mothers in 2025, an 8% decrease from the previous year.
Rates dropped for both younger teens (ages 15–17) and older teens (ages 18–19), with both age groups setting new record lows.
The provisional figures are based on nearly all (99.95%) birth records received and processed by the CDC as of early February. Final 2025 numbers, expected later this year, are not anticipated to change significantly.
The report reflects the ongoing gradual decline in U.S. births that has persisted for most of the past two decades, interrupted only by a modest uptick in 2024.
Experts continue to link the broader trend to factors such as abortion, biotechnology, economic pressures, and shifting social and political priorities.
"There is no single driver of declining birth rates, and yet what is undeniable is that due to anti-life technologies, economic pressures, bad policies, and cultural movements such as girl-boss feminism, more and more women are delaying or forgoing children," said Emma Waters, a senior policy analyst in the Center for Technology and the Human Person at The Heritage Foundation.
"Increasingly, it is women without a college degree who are opting out of children, in part because it feels like a luxury or elite enterprise to get married and have kids, and sadly our elite class only continues to fuel this lie," she said.
Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, also expressed concern about the broader trend.
"The continuing decline in birth rates in the U.S. is very worrisome," Mosher said. "We seem to be going the way of Old Europe, that is, entering an extended period of low fertility that puts us, as a country, in danger of entering into an irrecoverable demographic decline."
He pointed to multiple possible factors, including "the increasingly widespread use of the abortion pill" and high numbers of abortions reported by Planned Parenthood.
According to the group's 2024-2025 annual report, Planned Parenthood performed an all-time high of 434,450 abortions in 2023-2024.
The record number of abortions is an 8% increase, or about 32,000 more abortions, from the previous year. The number does not include telehealth chemical abortions, which are a growing percentage of all abortions, especially for teenagers and young adults.
A recent report, published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, found that young adults (ages 18–24) order abortion medication at much higher rates than older adults and that more teenagers order abortion pills in states with parental notification or consent laws around abortion.
The report found a "growing demand among adolescents and young adults in legally constrained environments."
Mosher also attributed part of the decline in births to stricter immigration enforcement.
"Another part of the decline is surely related to the now-closed border and the crackdown on 'birth tourism,' which means that fewer and fewer babies [of foreign-born parents] are being born in the U.S.," he said. "Ten percent of all births in the U.S. in 2024 were to illegal aliens, a percentage that is undoubtedly lower in 2025 as deportations and remigration reduce their numbers."
The CDC also found that the cesarean delivery rate rose slightly to 32.5%, the highest since 2013, while the preterm birth rate held steady at 10.41%. Early preterm births (less than 34 weeks) saw a small 1% decline.
