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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV emphasized that technological, economic, and military power must be directed toward the common good.

In an address to the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the pontiff discussed authority in the context of Catholic social teaching and described it as grounded not in strength but in moral virtue.

"Catholic social teaching regards power not as an end in itself but as a means ordered toward the common good," the pope wrote in his message. "This implies that the legitimacy of authority depends not on the accumulation of economic or technological strength but on the wisdom and virtue with which it is exercised."

Leo's message follows his remarks at a Vatican prayer vigil for peace on April 11, where he denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" among global leaders amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. In his letter, he criticized the imbalance of economic and military power among nations, calling it a threat to democracy.

"The concentration of technological, economic, and military power in a few hands threatens both democratic participation among peoples and international concord. Divine power does not dominate but rather heals and restores. It is precisely this logic of charity that must animate history, for human activity inspired by charity helps to shape the 'earthly city' in unity and peace," Leo wrote.

Referring to Centesimus Annus, St. John Paul II's encyclical on Catholic social teaching, Leo stated that legitimate power "finds one of its highest expressions in authentic democracy," a democracy that recognizes human dignity and is not dominated by "economic and technological elites."

"Far from being a mere procedure, democracy recognizes the dignity of every person and calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good," Leo wrote. "Reflecting this conviction, St. John Paul II affirmed that the Church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices and 'the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate.'"

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THRISSUR, India — People from all walks of life paid tribute to Father Francis Alappatt, the priest-physician who galvanized public support for medical service to the poor, at a memorial gathering in Thrissur in the southern Indian state of Kerala on April 13.

"It was Father Francis who recommended that all the charitable and welfare programs of the archdiocese be named under 'Sathwanam' (Compassion). His aim was to provide the best treatment with the least expense, and he worked hard for that," said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur, inaugurating the memorial at the Jubilee Mission Medical College (JMMC) that Alappatt established at the archdiocesan hospital in the heart of Thrissur.

Alappatt, who died of complications from diabetes at the age of 72 on April 8, was a singular figure in the Catholic Church in India: He was ordained in 1995 at the age of 41 after joining the seminary to fulfill a childhood dream, having already earned a medical degree from Kozhikode Medical College.

'Half priest'

"Even when he was a medical student, he was called 'padi achan' (half priest) for his lifestyle, and I was also touched by him," recounted Dr. Susheela Jacob, who was a professor at Kozhikode Medical College when Alappatt was a medical student in the 1980s, during the memorial.

"Scenes of trade in blood around the hospital prompted him to launch a blood donation campaign with batchmates [classmates], and he founded the Kerala Blood Donors Forum as a medical student," Jacob recalled.

"I was regularly in touch with him, and when he started the medical college, he invited me, and I gladly joined in 2005," said Jacob, a pathologist who is presently lab director at the JMMC Hospital. She spoke to EWTN News on April 14.

After his ordination, Alappatt transformed even remote parishes into centers of blood donation awareness and paved the way for the Kerala state government to record the blood group of each student in school certificates.

As director of Jubilee Mission Hospital, he expanded it into a medical college — approved by the central government — in 2004 and doubled the hospital's beds to more than 1,500, making it one of the largest hospitals in Kerala. The facility is known for subsidized treatment for the poor and free medicines for snakebite victims.

Interreligious tributes

"Father Alappatt had a special doctorate in human relations. He knew how to move people," said K. Rajan, a Hindu and minister in the Kerala state government, at the memorial. "Whenever he invited me for a program, I could not decline."

"Father Francis was my classmate in school and surprised me [in the late] 1990s coming back to me as a priest. Then he turned my guru (teacher) in life," said T.S. Pattabhiraman, a leading Hindu businessman of Thrissur.

"He became a family friend and had a unique marketing strategy [to get financial support]. Whenever I went to invite him for a family marriage or other functions, he would seek support for his free dialysis, treatment for snakebite victims. Whenever he needed help, he would call me. I could never say 'no' to him," recalled Pattabhiraman, who is one of the trustees of the interreligious forum Alappatt founded to promote religious harmony.

Popular for his pioneering blood donation movement in Kerala — as well as his interreligious and health awareness programs, in addition to his role as founding director of the Catholic medical college — Alappatt was named chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society.

"In honor of Father Alappatt's compassion for those affected by kidney disease, I am happy to announce today that Jubilee Mission has decided to set up a renal transplant center, and it will be called the Father Francis Alappatt Memorial Renal Transplant Centre," announced Auxiliary Bishop Tony Neelankavil at the memorial, evoking thunderous applause.

Free dialysis and parish support

"Father Alappatt introduced and motivated parishes and families to support free dialysis as part of parish feasts and family celebrations like marriage or baptism. We got support for more than 12,000 free dialysis [treatments] in 2025," Father Reny Mundankurian, the JMMC Hospital director, told EWTN News.

After leaving Jubilee Hospital in 2010, Alappatt served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Thrissur and also helped improve smaller diocesan hospitals and health care initiatives in the archdiocese.

A prolific writer, he authored 50 books on health, social harmony, the environment, and human relations. A dozen of these were written after he became seriously ill, restricting his movement.

'He showed God to the world'

"Father Alappatt showed God to the world through his loving service," said Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in his homily during the April 10 funeral service at the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours parish in the heart of Thrissur.

"He never worked in mission centers, but he showed with his life how life can be turned into missionary work," said Thattil about his fellow parishioner, as both of them hail from the Dolours Basilica parish, which is celebrating its centenary year.

True to his commitment to health care, Alappatt donated his eyes, and after the funeral service — attended by half a dozen bishops — his body was not taken to the cemetery but placed in the JMMC mobile ambulance to be transported to the hospital's anatomy department.

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Thousands of pro-life marchers filled the streets of Prague on Saturday, April 11, for the Czech Republic's annual March for Life, though organizers say police restrictions on crowd access to the event's main gathering point significantly depressed turnout.

The event began with a Mass in St. Vitus Cathedral, where around 2,000 people gathered before joining the pro-life march. Archbishop Emeritus Jan Graubner of Prague said in his homily that "the path to the revival of the Church and society is not possible without the revival of families."

Graubner praised a culture based on love, "which does not live for itself," on the acceptance of the Holy Spirit, interior freedom, and forgiveness.

Some resist this culture, Graubner acknowledged, saying that they "consider their own self to be the center and summit of everything." Such a perspective "encloses in bubbles and creates boundaries," he said, adding that it also "causes poverty because there is a lack of love that can divide."

It "threatens peace because there is a lack of love that seeks the good of others," he continued. Finally, it "leads to depression because there is a lack of hope for eternity and the disappointed person experiences" that "he is not the omnipotent god he had" thought, Graubner concluded.

Counterprotesters and police response

Pro-abortion protesters attempted to block the marchers, screaming and accusing them of denying women the right to choose. Police arrested five people, but no serious incident occurred. Last year, pro-abortion demonstrators blocked the march at one point, so this time participants walked through the city in separate groups to avoid a repeat disruption.

Typically, the number of marchers doubles once they reach Wenceslas Square (Václavské námestí), one of the city's main squares, where the program's final portion takes place. This year, however, police blocked the square and allowed entry only to those who insisted on getting in — a barrier that was especially difficult for families with small children. As a result, the total number of participants was hard to estimate, and the turnout in Wenceslas Square was much lower than expected.

The organizer, Hnutí Pro život CR (Movement for Life of the Czech Republic), told EWTN News that it is considering a legal complaint against the police department.

"The leadership of local police disabled a public gathering for which the public has a right," the organizer said. The group stressed that the march is held to show support for women facing unexpected pregnancies, adding: "We welcome among us even those with another viewpoint."

However, those responsible lacked the "political will" to secure the march by blocking the square, while letting "the radicals run wild and intimidate the participants," the organizer said.

The press office of the Police of the Czech Republic wrote to EWTN News that it has "no information suggesting that the police officers acted improperly in any way." The Regional Directorate of Police in Prague did not respond to an enquiry for comment.

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Catholics across the United States are once again invited to support the annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal, with most dioceses scheduled to take up the collection the weekend of April 25–26.

The nationwide effort provides essential financial assistance for dioceses and eparchies that are unable to sustain core pastoral and evangelizing ministries on their own due to limited financial resources, small Catholic populations, or communities spread across wide geographic areas.

Coordinated by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB), the appeal supports nearly 75 Latin-rite dioceses and Eastern Catholic eparchies in the United States and its current and former territories. These mission dioceses are often located in rural regions or small cities where priests often serve multiple parishes separated by long distances.

Seasonal employment, economic challenges, and shifting demographics can further complicate efforts to maintain consistent parish life and diocesan ministry.

The appeal is intended to help bridge those gaps by supporting core areas of diocesan life, including priestly formation, catechesis, evangelization, and parish-based ministry. Grants also assist with practical needs that vary by region, such as transportation for clergy serving remote communities and resources for dioceses responding to changing cultural realities. 

In announcing this year's appeal, Bishop Chad W. Zielinski, chair of the bishops' Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, pointed to the missionary pattern of Christ's own ministry.

The Catholic faithful who give to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal are mirroring Jesus, who "spent little time in cities but built his ministry in fishing villages and rural areas," Zielinski said in an April 9 statement.

He also highlighted the spiritual dynamic at the heart of the mission, drawing on the Gospel account of the Samaritan woman at the well, commonly known in Eastern Christian tradition as St. Photina.

"The work of the Catholic Home Missions Appeal reflects Jesus's encounter with the 'woman at the well,' whom Eastern Christians call St. Photina," Zielinski said. "She was an outcast in a community that was considered heretical and that many of Jesus' followers avoided. After talking with him, Photina evangelized her neighbors (John 4)."

He added that many of today's mission dioceses reflect the same openness to the Gospel despite difficult circumstances.

"Most of our mission dioceses are in remote, rural areas, or communities with economic and social challenges," he said. "Yet they are filled with people like St. Photina, who thirst for the Gospel and are eager to spread its life-changing message."

Recent funding from the Catholic Home Missions Appeal has provided more than $8.1 million in assistance to mission dioceses, the USCCB noted. The grants support a wide range of pastoral needs that reflect the diversity of Church life across the country and its territories.

In Alaska, assistance helps cover the cost of fuel for seaplanes used by priests traveling to island villages, enabling access to the sacraments in remote communities. According to the release, in the Diocese of Dodge City in Kansas, funding has supported the expansion of Spanish-language ministry, including printed resources, diocesan retreats, and bilingual personnel serving growing Hispanic populations.

Other dioceses have used grant support to strengthen targeted pastoral initiatives. For instance, the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, has deepened its outreach to vulnerable expectant mothers through the USCCB's Walking with Moms in Need initiative, engaging parishes in local support. The Diocese of Belleville in Illinois has supported a full-time college campus minister who accompanies students in faith formation and vocational discernment, including encouragement toward the priesthood.

In American Samoa, the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago continues to operate five Catholic schools across seven islands, providing educational opportunities in a territory where geographic isolation and economic pressures remain significant challenges.

As parishes prepare for the collection, Church leaders are encouraging Catholics to see the appeal as a practical expression of solidarity with mission dioceses that depend on shared support to sustain parish life and evangelization efforts.

"Your generosity shows Catholics in remote areas that the Church stands with them," Zielinski said, "and that Jesus is calling them to embrace his mercy and share his message as St. Photina did."

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The Polish Bishops' Conference is working with national authorities to prepare an action plan for potential armed conflict, reflecting growing security concerns in the region.

The initiative follows discussions held during the 404th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference. On March 17, Poland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwinski met with bishops at the conference's general secretariat in Warsaw.

In an April 7 interview with the Polish Press Agency, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, president of the Polish Bishops' Conference, said the preparations were driven by widespread concern over regional instability.

"There are fears that the war will reach Poland, which is understandable," Wojda said. "Fortunately, we are not standing idly by, waiting for events to unfold."

Coordinated Church-state response

At the center of the effort is a newly established working group within the bishops' conference composed of representatives from multiple institutions, including Caritas Poland. The group is collaborating with both the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of the Interior to develop coordinated responses to crisis scenarios.

According to Wojda, the plan includes provisions for assisting civilians, supporting refugees, and ensuring access to essential resources such as generators, water, medical supplies, and hygiene products. Government authorities have indicated that such materials would be made available to parishes in the event of a national emergency.

The working group is also developing protocols for the evacuation of cultural and religious heritage sites, the establishment of humanitarian corridors, and the identification of safe locations where civilians could seek shelter.

Role of parishes on the front line

Church leaders expect that parishes will play a critical role in any crisis response. Poland has more than 10,000 Catholic parishes nationwide, making the Church one of the country's most extensive and trusted local networks.

Wojda explained that the Polish government realizes that in a crisis situation, "most Poles will first turn to the Church for help, and only then to municipal institutions and offices." Therefore, it is important to have access to resources that will allow civilians to survive in a crisis.

To prepare for this responsibility, the conference is developing practical guidelines for clergy. Training sessions and workshops are already underway in some dioceses, often in collaboration with Caritas Poland, which has extensive experience in humanitarian aid.

Wojda stressed that priests are aware of the potential challenges. "They understand the problem they may have to face," he said, adding that bishops are being kept regularly informed of the preparations.

Broader regional context

The initiative reflects heightened awareness in Poland of security risks linked to the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine and broader geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe.

While Poland has not been directly involved in armed conflict, its proximity to the front lines and its role as a key NATO member and logistical hub for Ukraine have heightened concerns about potential spillover effects.

Church and state officials have framed the preparations as a precautionary measure aimed at safeguarding civilians and maintaining social stability. Observers have largely viewed the development positively, noting that the Catholic Church's extensive parish network and centralized structure position it as a uniquely effective partner in crisis response.

This evolving role raises broader questions about the place of religious institutions in modern European societies: whether the Church can serve not only as a moral authority but also as a stabilizing force in times of crisis, and how such cooperation between ecclesial and state structures may shape future responses to conflict and humanitarian emergencies.

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ANNABA, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV traveled Tuesday from Algiers to Annaba — ancient Hippo — in what for the Augustinian pontiff amounted to a return to the roots of his faith and vocation.

After a flight of about an hour, Leo arrived in the city most closely associated with St. Augustine, who served as bishop of Hippo from 396 to 430. For the pope, a son of St. Augustine, the visit marked a homecoming of sorts.

It was in Hippo that St. Augustine died at about age 75 while the city was under siege by the Vandals. His remains were first buried in the basilica there. To protect them from desecration, Augustine's body was later moved first to Cagliari and then, around 723, transferred to Pavia by the Lombard king Liutprand. His relics are now venerated in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, which Pope Leo is scheduled to visit on June 20.

Over the centuries after Augustine's death, Annaba — once Hippo — was conquered first by the Byzantines and later destroyed by the Arabs in the seventh century, before being rebuilt under the name Annaba.

Among the surviving remains from the Roman era are the paved forum surrounded by columned porticoes, the theater, the market, Severan baths, cisterns, and figurative mosaics. Christian-era elements also remain, including the Basilica Pacis, where St. Augustine carried out his episcopal ministry, and its adjoining baptistery.

Upon arriving at the archaeological site, Pope Leo XIV was greeted by a local official. Despite driving rain and a shorter visit than originally planned because of the weather, the pope walked through the ruins and, at the end of the route, laid a wreath of flowers.

The choir of the Annaba Institute of Music then performed songs in Latin, Berber, and Arabic based on texts by St. Augustine dedicated to peace and fraternity. After a brief prayer, the pope departed the archaeological site.

Leo was then set to continue to the Little Sisters of the Poor's home for the elderly, where he was to stop briefly to greet residents.

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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Vice President JD Vance on Monday defended President Donald Trump's decision to post and later delete an AI-generated image that critics said depicted the president as Jesus Christ, calling it a joke that people misunderstood.

"I think the president was posting a joke and, of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren't understanding his humor in that case," Vance told Fox News' Bret Baier on "Special Report."

"I think the president of the United States likes to mix it up on social media," Vance added. "And I actually think that's one of the good things about this president, is that he is not filtered."

Earlier Monday, the president told reporters at the White House that the image depicted him as "a doctor" and "a Red Cross worker," not as Jesus, as many understood it. He added: "Only the fake news could come up with that one."

"I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with the Red Cross as a Red Cross worker there, which we support," Trump said.

The deleted post

The apparently AI-generated image, posted to Trump's Truth Social account on Sunday evening on Orthodox Easter, showed the president in a white robe and red sash. Both hands emitted a golden light, with one resting on the forehead of a man in a hospital bed. The American flag, the Statue of Liberty, military jets and floating human figures in the sky filled the background. The post contained no caption.

Trump shared the image shortly after publishing a series of posts attacking Pope Leo XIV, calling the pontiff "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy" over his opposition to U.S. military operations in Iran.

The now-deleted image drew swift backlash from across the political spectrum, including from prominent conservative and Christian commentators who are typically supportive of the president. The post was deleted later on Monday.

Vance addresses U.S.-Vatican tensions

In his Fox News appearance, Vance — a Catholic convert — also addressed the broader friction between the White House and the Vatican.

"When it comes to the disagreements with the Vatican, look, we're going to have disagreements, from time to time," Vance said. "I think it's a good thing, actually, that the pope is advocating for the things that he cares about."

He added: "We can respect the pope. We certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican. But we're also going to disagree on substantive questions from time to time. I think that's a totally reasonable thing. It isn't particularly newsworthy."

Pope Leo XIV, speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday, responded to the controversy: "I have no fear neither of the Trump administration nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel," the pope said.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, said he was "disheartened" by Trump's remarks about the pope, calling Leo "the vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."

It is not the first time a Trump social media post depicting himself in religious imagery has caused controversy.

In May 2025, the president posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope shortly after the death of Pope Francis. That post drew condemnation from Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Vance at the time dismissed that controversy as well, saying he was "fine with people telling jokes."

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The U.S. State Department confirmed active enforcement of visa restrictions for individuals responsible for religious persecution abroad.

Mark Walker, U.S. principal adviser for global religious freedom, said the U.S. is following through on its commitment to restrict visas for perpetrators of religious persecution abroad.

In December 2025,?Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced restriction of U.S. visas under the Immigration and Nationality Act for "those who have directed, authorized, funded, significantly supported, or carried out violations of religious freedom," Walker said in an April 10 post. "We have already executed on this policy and we will continue to subject perpetrators to additional scrutiny."

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"If you engage in persecution, you are not welcome in America. The United States is safer when we keep those responsible for?religious persecution from entering our homeland," he said.

Rubio said in a Dec. 3, 2025, statement: "The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond."

Rubio said the policy would hold accountable "individuals who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom and, where appropriate, their immediate family members."

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Two U.S. Catholic bishops sent a letter to newly-confirmed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin asking him to prevent immigration authorities from detaining pregnant women and nursing mothers.

"No matter one's immigration status, there is no overarching justification for separating nursing infants from their mothers or endangering the health and safety of pregnant women or their preborn babies," Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Diocese of Victoria, Texas, Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration, said in a letter.

"In this regard, we urge you in the strongest possible terms to extend the administration's commitments on life to all vulnerable mothers, infants, and children in the womb," the Ohio and Texas bishops added.

The bishops said they wrote the letter due to "alarming reports of pregnant mothers not getting the medical care they need while in immigration detention, tragically resulting in miscarriage in some cases, as well as reports of nursing mothers being separated from their babies" during detentions by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE), which DHS oversees.

No matter one's immigration status, there is no overarching justification for separating nursing infants from their mothers...

Bishop Daniel Thomas and Bishop Brendan Cahill

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

In the letter, the bishops said they are writing "as pastors compelled by the Gospel's call to uphold the dignity of human life."

"Agency policy still recognizes the vulnerability of these women and their children by generally discouraging their arrest and detention; unfortunately, that policy seems to no longer be followed in practice," they wrote.

The bishops asked that ICE adhere to Directive 11032.4 on the "Identification and Monitoring of Pregnant, Postpartum, or Nursing Individuals," which states that ICE should generally avoid the detention of pregnant women and nursing mothers for an administrative violation of immigration laws.

"[Following this directive] would be consistent with this administration's recent pro-life actions, including those explicitly welcomed by the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities in January," the bishops wrote.

The bishops also reiterated their concerns from last year when they said U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rescinded certain protections for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Last May, both committees wrote that the CBP change was "deeply troubling and inexcusable."

The USCCB has been at odds with President Donald Trump on immigration policies throughout his presidency. Trump has voiced support for mass deportations of immigrants who entered the country unlawfully, while the bishops have echoed Pope Leo XIV's calls for immigration policies that are less harsh.

In November, the bishops voted 216-5 to approve a message that opposes "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people." In February, the USCCB urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship, calling the Trump administration's efforts to take it away "immoral."

Mullin is replacing former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was removed from her post and given a role as special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas." In March, the USCCB told EWTN News that the bishops planned to advocate for "just immigration policies that recognize the God-given dignity of all involved" when Mullin took over as secretary.

In their letter on concerns for pregnant women and nursing mothers in detention, the bishops also congratulated Mullin on his confirmation.

"We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your continued service to our country," the bishops wrote.

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