Catholic News

LOS ANGELES — When God told St. Francis in the early 13th century to "go and repair my house" — the Portiuncula chapel near Assisi, Italy, that had fallen into disrepair — who could have guessed that the ripples caused by that action would one day reach Southern California.

Francis, a rich man who embraced poverty and had a heart for the poor, begged and sold items for materials to rebuild the Portiuncula.

But that's not all of what was refurbished.

The saint asked God and Pope Honorius III for a special indulgence for those who visited the chapel. It was also there that St. Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor and later died in a small room that still exists today.

Now, as Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed 2026 as the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, Archbishop José H. Gomez has declared 15 sites in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as pilgrimage destinations, ensuring that L.A. Catholics don't have to travel all the way to Assisi to participate in the commemoration.

In a letter released on March 25, Gomez encouraged local Catholics to take part in the archdiocese's official jubilee events marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, including pilgrimages to area Franciscan parishes and sacred sites, prayer services, and community activities throughout the year. The archdiocese set up a special site for the observance: lacatholics.org/year-of-st-francis.

"During this time of grace, the Holy Father invites us to reflect on the witness of St. Francis and to grow in holiness through prayer, conversion, and works of charity," Gomez wrote.

"In this way, may this year deepen our love for Jesus Christ, strengthen our care for creation, and renew our commitment to peace."

As part of this observance, those who embark on the pilgrimages and meet certain spiritual conditions may receive a plenary indulgence, which removes the time a person might have spent in purgatory due to his or her sins, which have already been forgiven by God.

Many of the pilgrimage sites were chosen because of their ties to St. Francis or his Franciscan order. Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, the oldest California mission in the archdiocese, was founded by St. Junípero Serra, the Spanish missionary priest who was a Franciscan.

The Monastery of Poor Clares in Santa Barbara is the religious order named after Francis' "spiritual sister," St. Clare of Assisi, while St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church in Watts is run by the Capuchins and named after the Franciscan saint.

The altar at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles features a relic of Francis sealed into it.

In a recent Angelus column, the archbishop noted the "deep spiritual ties that connect us with St. Francis" and how he can still bring us peace in a divided world.

"St. Francis used to greet people with a little prayer: 'May the Lord grant you peace,'" Gomez said. "As we reflect on his witness and teachings during this jubilee year, let us renew our commitment to bring the Lord's peace into all of our relationships and to work to promote reconciliation and understanding among our neighbors."

With a papal decree in January, Leo proclaimed a "Special Year of St. Francis" that will extend through Jan. 10, 2027. In his remarks, Leo hoped that the special jubilee year would promote a spiritual calm in a world currently tormented by war, starvation, and persecution.

"I wish to join spiritually with the entire Franciscan Family and with all those who will take part in the commemorative events, hoping that the message of peace may find a profound echo in the Church and society today," Leo wrote.

As part of the jubilee, the remains of St. Francis were moved from his tomb and exposed for public veneration from Feb. 22 to March 22 at the basilica bearing his name in Assisi, Italy — a rarity considering the saint's bones have seldom been publicly displayed. Hundreds of thousands signed up and waited in lengthy lines to get an up-close and personal view of the saint.

On Oct. 4, Francis' feast day will once again be a national holiday in Italy after lawmakers reinstated the celebration, which was repealed in 1977.

"It's an exciting year; I don't think any of us would have anticipated that Pope Leo would have declared this," Father Jonathan St. Andre, vice president for Franciscan Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, told OSV News. "We figured the pope would go to Assisi; there would be different events. But to make this a jubilee, and to offer an indulgence ... is just remarkable."

Full list of archdiocese jubilee sites

Santa Barbara Region

• St. Mark's University Church: 6550 Picasso Rd., Isla Vista
• St. Francis of Assisi Church: 1048 W. Ventura St., Fillmore
• Old Mission Santa Barbara: 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara
• Mission Santa Inés: 1760 Mission Dr., Solvang
• Poor Clare Monastery: 215 E. Los Olivos St., Santa Barbara

San Fernando Region

• Poverello of Assisi Retreat Center: 1519 Woodworth St., San Fernando
• Provincial House and Chapel (Glory to God): 13367 Borden Ave., Sylmar
• Mother Gertrude Balcazar Home: 11320 Laurel Canyon Blvd., San Fernando
• Poor Clare Missionary Sisters: 13026 Angeles Trail Way, Kagel Canyon

Our Lady of the Angels Region

• St. Francis of Assisi Church: 1523 Golden Gate Ave., Silver Lake
• St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church: 10122 Compton Ave., Watts
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels: 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles

San Gabriel Region

• Mission San Gabriel Arcángel: 428 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel
• San Francisco de Asís Church: 4800 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles

San Pedro Region

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Church: 440 Massey St., Hermosa Beach

This story was first published by Angelus, the multimedia news platform of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It has been reprinted here with permission.

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Thursday praised athletes from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games, saying sport "can and must truly become a space for encounter" in a world marked by "polarization, rivalry, and conflicts that escalate into devastating wars."

Speaking in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican on April 9, the Holy Father welcomed the athletes "with joy" shortly after the conclusion of the Winter Games and thanked them for their witness.

"Thank you for what you have shown," the pope said. "Truly, sport, when lived authentically, is not merely a performance: It is a form of language, a narrative made up of gestures, of effort, of anticipation, of falls, and of new beginnings."

Leo XIV said the games revealed not only athletic achievement but also "stories of sacrifice, of discipline, of tenacity."

"In particular, in Paralympic competitions we have seen how a limitation can become a source of revelation: not something that holds a person back but something that can be transformed, even transfigured into newfound qualities," he said. "You athletes have become life stories that inspire a great number of people."

The pope also emphasized the communal dimension of athletic success, saying: "No one wins alone."

"Your team spirit reminds us that no one wins alone, because behind every victory there are many people involved — from family to teams — as well as many days of training, pressure, and solitude," he said.

Quoting Psalm 18, he added: "It is often precisely in these moments that God reveals himself, as the psalmist sings: 'Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.'"

Leo XIV said sport helps mature the human person by fostering discipline, humility, and right relationships.

"Sport contributes to the maturing of our character, requires a steadfast spirituality, and is a fruitful form of education," he said. "By training the mind, along with the limbs, sport is authentic when it remains humane — that is, when it remains faithful to its first vocation: to be a school of life and talent."

"A school in which one learns that true success is measured by the quality of relationships: not by the amount of prizes but by mutual respect, by shared joy in the game," he continued.

Referring to his Feb. 6 apostolic letter "Life in Abundance," written for the occasion of the Olympics and Paralympics, the pope said the Gospel's vision of abundant life points to harmony between the physical and interior dimensions of the person.

Turning to the present global situation, Leo XIV said the athletes' witness carries special importance.

"At the present time, so marked by polarization, rivalry, and conflicts that escalate into devastating wars, your commitment takes on an even greater value: Sport can and must truly become a space for encounter!" he said. "Not a show of strength but an exercise in relationship."

Recalling the value of the Olympic truce, he thanked the athletes for making visible "this possibility of peace as a prophecy that is by no means rhetorical: breaking the logic of violence to promote that of encounter."

The pope also warned against distortions in sport, including doping, commercialism, and the reduction of athletes to mere spectacle.

"We are well aware that sport also brings with it certain temptations: that of performance at any cost, which can lead to doping; that of profit, which transforms the game into a market and the athlete into a star; that of spectacle, which reduces the athlete to an image or a number," he said. "Against these excesses, your witness is essential."

Leo XIV concluded by thanking the athletes for showing "an honest and beautiful way of inhabiting the world" and urged them to keep the human person at the center of sport in all its forms.

Following the audience, several of the athletes spoke to journalists about their experience of the audience and competing in the Winter Games, including speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won two gold medals at Milan-Cortina this year.

"My goal was just to show that in my sport; I was able to combine, you know, being a mother and a top athlete," Lollobrigida told EWTN News. "I'm just doing this for the other women, you know, that maybe at some points during their career they want to stop to focus on the family and then to come back."

Nikko Landeros, an American-born Catholic who lost both his legs in 2007, represented Italy in ice hockey at the latest Paralympic games. He described to EWTN News the role of Catholicism in his athletic journey.

"At home, I started pretty much Catholic. You know, I went to Catholic school in the U.S. We've been going to church now... not as much as I should, but, you know, I still pray every day, and I'm thankful to be here. You know, if it weren't for God, I wouldn't be alive. So, you know, I'm super thankful," Landeros said.

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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Two long-standing religious communities of San Diego are joining together, according to a recent announcement by the Order of St. Augustine in California.

The Sisters of Nazareth will be aggregated into the Augustinian family, a step that requires both Vatican approval and consent of the local bishop. The union enables the Sisters of Nazareth to keep their autonomy while being a part of the Augustinians.

"This union, formalized by a decree from Rome, establishes a deep spiritual bond between the two institutes while allowing the sisters to maintain their canonical autonomy," said Cindy Luyun, a spokesperson for the order.

Father Barnaby R. Johns, OSA, prior provincial of the Province of St. Augustine in California, told EWTN News that "this aggregation will only strengthen the present unity."

"Together, the Sisters of Nazareth (1925) and the Augustinians (1924) share over 200 years of service to the Church and the people of God of the Diocese of San Diego," he said. "Over those many years we have forged support and unity with each other and our ministries."

Johns noted several preexisting ties between the two groups.

"The sisters educate young children at Nazareth School in San Diego and many of their eighth grade graduate boys continue their education and faith journey at St. Augustine's High School run by the Augustinians," he said.

"In our assisted living home also in San Diego, we have received the spiritual support of the Augustinians for our residents and sisters while supporting Augustinians who need assisted living," Johns continued. "A number of Augustinian priests and brothers have spent their last days in the care of our Nazareth House."

The ties are present around the world. The motherhouse of the Sisters of Nazareth is based in Hammersmith, London, within an Augustinian parish. According to Johns, local Augustinian Bishop Michael Campbell prompted the aggregation, and the sisters agreed.

"The hope of the Sisters of Nazareth going forward is to strengthen and continue the spiritual bond we already share, as 'brothers and sisters in Christ,'" Johns explained.

The sisters will add the word "Augustinian" to their institution while also adopting the Augustinian liturgical calendar and other liturgical books and rituals belonging to the order, according to a March 18 press release shared with EWTN News.

"At the practical level, we remain autonomous religious congregations but share a close Augustinian bond of spiritual goods and indulgences, privileges under the patronage of our holy father, St. Augustine," Johns said.

The sisters will be in good company, as Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian.

"We are of one soul and one heart turning towards God, to the same purpose of his rule, to build up the body of Christ," Johns said.

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"It's not about vengeance," said Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, while reflecting on Venezuela's future following the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro by a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3.

The prelate made his remarks during an interview with Venevisión on Sunday, April 5. Porras acknowledged that, although there is much debate surrounding the legality of Maduro's capture and whether it violated Venezuela's sovereignty — "the important thing is to look forward."

Vengeance always "causes greater division" within a society, because "everything done through violence, war, or death invariably leaves wounds," he emphasized, noting that the Church's primary task in Venezuela now is to help heal those wounds.

Porras urged people to seek shared solutions and to strive for that which unites. Otherwise, he said, "we'll get nowhere."

"We must learn to foster fraternity. We must learn to be brothers and sisters," he said. "Learning how to coexist, learning the meaning of friendship; I believe this can subsequently lead us toward other expressions of love."

Justice and forgiveness in a post-Maduro Venezuela

Since Maduro's arrest on Jan. 3, Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly characterized this as a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, the cardinal said. In February, Venezuelan lawmakers passed an amnesty law that has benefited thousands of political prisoners, according to various independent organizations.

Porras emphasized that the amnesty process "has proceeded very slowly," however, because those who pushed for the legislation and those charged with approving the prisoner releases are often the same people "who committed, condoned, or were complicit in" the abuses by the socialist regime.

The prelate lamented that there is no separation of powers in the country. Freedom, he continued, is not a gift but rather "a matter of justice."

He said recent events in the country have opened a window of opportunity for Venezuelans to "seek ... balance" in a society that, if it wishes to maintain hope for the future, must do so by "moving beyond a scale that tips in only one direction."

Fundamental freedoms in the country

Porras noted that freedom of expression must be restored in Venezuela, "because we're not slaves," nor are people obliged to simply "do what others tell us to do."

He said this is necessary so people can conduct their own analysis and exercise personal discernment. Today, many lack that ability simply because they don't have enough information — or because the information they receive is manipulated by various interests, he noted.

The cardinal also pointed out that all authority "finds its raison d'être in service to the people," and its ultimate mission must be to seek the common good. "It is undoubtedly necessary to have regulations that ensure those services, which are fundamental to the development of a society … to serve precisely that common good which enables us to have a better life," he stated.

A possible transition to democracy

When asked his thoughts about interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Porras recalled words once spoken to him by St. John Paul II: "Do not speak to those in power, for they do not listen. Speak to the people."

The cardinal explained that the country must move toward a transition while simultaneously creating the conditions necessary to hold truly free elections.

"To move toward having elections, the first prerequisite is that citizens be able to decide for themselves, rather than simply accept what is dictated by those currently in power," he said.

The archbishop emeritus also emphasized the urgent need to improve the country's economy, a goal that can only be achieved through real and effective policies that guarantee legal certainty for investors.

"We are the ... ones who have gotten ourselves into this deep ditch, and together, we must figure out how to climb out of it," he said.

The cardinal pointed out the necessity of having hope and joy in the process, emphasizing that Venezuelans will have to shed "sweat and tears" in order "to envision a better future. He prayed: "May the Lord and the Virgin bless the entire Venezuelan people."

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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Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku of the Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expressed sorrow following a deadly attack by rebels that reportedly left 43 people dead in the northeastern province of Ituri, raising concerns about insecurity in the region.

The attack occurred overnight from April 2 to April 3 in the village of Bafwakao in the Mambasa territory.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State, reportedly stormed the village around 8 p.m., setting fire to nearly 60% of the homes.

Bodies were reportedly found along the main road and in burned houses, some mutilated with machetes and others shot.

By Thursday afternoon, local authorities reported at least 10 bodies discovered, while civic groups counted 32 deaths. The Congolese army later confirmed a total of 43 victims.

In his homily for Easter on Sunday, April 5, Paluku called for prayers for peace and urged authorities to ensure the protection of lives and property amid ongoing insecurity.

The bishop expressed solidarity with those affected by conflict, both within the region and beyond.

"I share the pain of the brothers and sisters of parishes such as Masoy, of Christians in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, as well as of countries like Israel that are unable to celebrate Easter in proper conditions due to the lack of peace and security," he said during the Mass on Easter.

"I therefore call on the authorities to invest in the search for peace to ensure national unity; they must protect citizens and their property," he said.

"The passion of Christ was not his defeat; he was not overcome. It is the greatest manifestation of his boundless love," the bishop said, encouraging believers to turn away from actions that diminish human dignity, noting that rising with Christ does not mean abandoning the world but fulfilling one's responsibilities faithfully.

"Each person must do their duty as it should be done," he said.

Human rights defender John Vuleveryo Musombolwa confirmed cases of kidnappings during the attack and highlighted the mass displacement of the population. Residents fled in panic to safer neighborhoods, including Afrique du Sud, Darsalam, Pays-Bas, and Hewabora.

Musombolwa praised the intervention of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) but urged authorities to strengthen security measures in the area.

"The enemy is already at the center of Mambasa. The chief town risks being emptied if the authorities do not take the situation seriously," he warned.

The attack in Bafwakao is unprecedented, as the village had previously been spared from jihadist incursions.

It comes amid a resurgence of violence since early March 2025 in the Bandaka chiefdom, to which the village belongs.

The ADF, originally from Uganda, has been operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the 1990s, continuing to terrorize local communities despite joint military operations with the Ugandan army.

The effectiveness of the FARDC response has been questioned. While the territorial administrator said the army intervened the same night, civil society representatives denounced a delayed response that occurred the next morning without any exchange of fire. This discrepancy has fueled distrust between local communities and the military, highlighting long-standing concerns about government protection in rural areas.

In the wake of the attack, angry residents reportedly lynched a suspected ADF fighter in the Arua II neighborhood, located two kilometers (1.24 miles) from the center of Mambasa. The individual had allegedly been hiding in a residential house following the assault.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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This Easter dioceses and archdioceses across the nation welcomed thousands of people into the Church with some noting elevated numbers of conversions compared with recent years.

The growth of people joining the Catholic Church is widespread, spanning across dioceses of all sizes and regions. Dioceses welcomed both catechumens (unbaptized people preparing for full initiation into the Church) and candidates (those already baptized who are entering into full communion through confirmation). The numbers are beginning to align more with pre-pandemic numbers after a decrease in conversions around the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on a survey completed before Easter by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, most dioceses and archdioceses expected to see increases in those entering the Church in 2026 compared with last year. Of the 71 U.S. dioceses in the survey, only five expected drops this year.

On average, American dioceses had 38% more people joining the Church in 2026 compared with 2025, according to an analysis of data by Hallow.

The four largest dioceses in the United States that witnessed significant increases were the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (139% increase), the Diocese of Phoenix (23%), the Archdiocese of New York (36%), and the Archdiocese of Chicago (52%).

Smaller dioceses also noted significant increases including the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota (145%); the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida (85%); the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota (96%); the Diocese of Honolulu (37%); and the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska (40%).

Archdiocese of Detroit

This year in the Archdiocese of Detroit there were 583 catechumens and 845 candidates received into the Church on Easter. A spokesperson for the archdiocese told EWTN News that 2026 was its largest class since 2005, when it received 584 catechumens and 905 candidates.

At the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on April 4, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit welcomed the newest members. Along with the dozens of individuals who entered the Church at the cathedral's Easter Vigil, at least 1,428 people were received into the Church across the archdiocese.

The archdiocese has been witnessing increases the past few years, with 793 people in 2024 and 977 in 2025.

Diocese of Boise

The Diocese of Boise, Idaho, is still compiling numbers to determine exactly how many people the city welcomed into the Church on Easter this year but said it could confirm that there was "a meaningful increase in the number of both catechumens and candidates who have been fully initiated into the Church," a spokesperson for the diocese told EWTN News.

The demographics of people differ across dioceses, but in Boise the growth was "especially evident among young people, many of whom are drawn to the transcendent beauty, clarity, and orthodoxy of the Catholic faith," the spokesperson said.

The "broader reality is already clear: The Holy Spirit is at work, and the Church in the Diocese of Boise is experiencing a renewed vitality through those responding to the call to discipleship," the spokesperson said.

Los Angeles

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reported that it welcomed more than 8,500 people into the Church this Easter, with a 139% increase from last year.

In 2023, the city welcomed a combined 3,462 catechumens and candidates, including both children and adults. The following year, there was a slight growth to 3,596 people, and then the number jumped to 5,587 in 2025.

In 2026, the archdiocese had a large surge with 2,452 catechumens and 6,146 candidates for a total of 8,598 people.

While there is no clear answer to the large increase in the city or other areas, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reported individuals in the archdiocese said it was God himself who brought them to their conversions.

Other notable numbers

While many areas saw increases, some did report slight decreases. The Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, and the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, were among the dioceses that experienced decreases this year, according to the Register's survey.

The Diocese of Shreveport, Louisiana, welcomed about 257 combined candidates and catechumens this year. This was a decrease from 329 in 2025. But, its 2026 numbers are up considerably from 2021, when it only welcomed 89 people.

In the Diocese of Helena, Montana, diocesan officials believe this year's group of those entering the Church is the largest that the diocese has had since the Rite of Election was restored after Vatican II. It also witnessed a notable 60% increase from last Easter, Hallow reported.

Many dioceses saw record-breaking classes in 2025 but still managed to surpass the numbers this year. In 2024, the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, welcomed its largest group of candidates and catechumens in a decade. Both last year and this year it surpassed that number, even witnessing a 36% increase in 2026 from 2025.

The fastest-growing diocese was found to be the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, which grew 145%, with 186 combined catechumens and candidates in 2026, compared with just 76 last year.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh experienced a growth of 108%. The increase is especially notable after the diocese announced the permanent closure of seven churches, which went into effective March 12.

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Following a federal judge's dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the Johnson Amendment, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have announced that they plan to issue additional guidance on the law's application to religious organizations.

The case, National Religious Broadcasters v. Bessent, was filed in August 2024 by the National Religious Broadcasters, two Texas churches, and Intercessors for America.

Plaintiffs argued the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which bars 501(c)(3) nonprofits from endorsing political candidates, violated the First Amendment and other protections.

On March 31, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker dismissed the case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, citing the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act.

The forthcoming guidance "will provide clear, administrable standards for houses of worship, including how the law applies to certain communications made within the context of religious services," according to an April 3 press release from the Treasury Department.

"Religious liberty is foundational to our Constitution ... Treasury and the IRS will provide additional clarity and guidance to houses of worship that reflect these ideals and uphold the First Amendment," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, noting the administration's commitment to protecting religious freedom.

In July 2025, the Trump administration had agreed to a proposed consent judgment with the plaintiffs that would have allowed certain religious communications about electoral politics from the pulpit.

That agreement was never approved by the court, however.

Last summer the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reiterated that, despite that agreement, the Catholic Church will continue its long-standing policy of not endorsing or opposing political candidates.

The Johnson Amendment remains in effect for now, though the new guidance, which is expected later this year, could offer churches more clarity on permissible political speech during religious services.

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Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, expressed relief that the United States and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire but maintained concerns about Lebanon's exclusion from the deal.

"Obviously I'm happy for anything that might lead us toward peace," Broglio told anchor Veronica Dudo in an April 8 interview on "EWTN News Nightly" prerecorded at 11:30 a.m. ET.

"I'm happy that at least the two sides are talking to each other and perhaps looking for a solution to avoid any sort of armed conflict and perhaps pull back on the tensions in the area," he said.

President Donald Trump announced on April 7 that he would hold off on further attacks as both countries negotiate long-term peace.

Part of the ceasefire agreement is that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Reports from Iranian media Wednesday afternoon claimed that Iran had again closed the strait because of Israeli strikes on Lebanon. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the reports "unacceptable," but as of the time of publication the ceasefire continues.

The ceasefire suspended Trump's plan to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges just hours after he threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again."

Although he expressed some relief for the potential progress, Broglio said in the interview there is "genuine concern" about Lebanon's exclusion, and it is "problematic that it isn't a whole vision of the entire area," as the Middle East has been "a tinderbox for a long time."

"It would be helpful that any sort of peace dialogue involve all of the participants and all of those who might be either belligerents or victims of any sort of military action," Broglio said.

The archbishop said the dialogue "should have taken place before any sort of military action was taking place" and noted that the United States was not directly attacked before it launched the military strikes on Iran, and he believes some elements were missing to justify the American attack, based on Catholic just war doctrine.

"It's a long process because the tensions are so extreme and also the emotions in that part of the world are so strong," he said. "But I think that certainly what Pope Leo has said … is that we really have to sit down and dialogue rather than see men and women sacrifice their lives for an armed conflict. And I think it's essential to enter into a process of negotiation, which of course means that everyone's going to have to cede something."

Broglio said he hopes, in these negotiations, religious figures "could bring the notion of dialogue, the notion of understanding, the attempt to listen to one another."

"I think it would be a valuable contribution to the discourse because the three great monotheistic religions are all involved in that area," he said. "I think we could bring something to bear."

Broglio said the archdiocese is united with Pope Leo XIV's calls for Catholics to pray for peace in the region. The Holy Father announced on Easter that he will lead a prayer vigil for peace on April 11 at St. Peter's Basilica.

"We'll certainly encourage people to pray for peace," Broglio said. "We are more interested than most in peace because the men and women that I'm privileged to serve know what warfare costs firsthand."

Spiritual needs of the soldiers

With many American soldiers stationed throughout the Middle East as negotiations continue, Broglio said the archdiocese is working "to meet the spiritual needs with the chaplains who are actually in the Middle East right now."

"I know that they are working very hard to answer some of the questions that men and women might have," he said. "They're bringing the sacraments to them. And at the same time, most of the families that were in the area, such as the ones who were in Bahrain, have been brought home. So [families of the soldiers are] either in Europe or they're back in the United States."

"But obviously they're separated from their loved ones. So that is another area where there has to be some ministerial assistance," the archbishop said. "And there also has to be some, some ability to listen and to try to comfort them in this time of separation. If you think about people who have moved to a place and then are completely uprooted, it's a very drastic situation for them. And so they certainly need the comfort of the sacraments and also the counsel that chaplains can bring."

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LAHORE, Pakistan — The head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan has expressed a guarded response to government committees formed to review a recent ruling by the country's top constitutional court that upheld the marriage and conversion of a Christian minor.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar announced on Easter Sunday, April 5, that the government had constituted a committee to examine the March 25 judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court validating the marriage of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz to 30-year-old Shaheryar Ahmad.

Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference (PCBC), voiced skepticism about the initiative.

"These issues often subside by the time such committees make their reports public. The process is deliberately delayed so that people forget," he told EWTN News.

"This is fundamentally a religious freedom issue. Consent is often coerced from minors. We await a genuine response from the government. Many Muslim clerics support us but have avoided joining public protests," he added.

A father's account

According to Maria's father, Shehbaz Masih, his daughter was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married without consent.

A certificate issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) submitted by the family states that Maria was 13 at the time of the marriage — below the legal minimum age of 18. The family has since taken refuge in a shelter and was unavailable for comment.

The case dates back to July 2025, when Masih, a resident of Lahore, reported that his daughter had been abducted by a Muslim man after stepping out to a nearby shop.

Dismissing a petition filed by the father seeking custody, the court ruled that the marriage was valid under "Muhammadan law" and that the husband held lawful guardianship.

Protests and backlash

The judgment triggered widespread reaction on social media, along with protests, press conferences, and conventions across the country. At least three Catholic bishops, along with the PCBC, issued statements urging authorities to review the ruling.

The backlash prompted government engagement with the concerns of the country's Christian minority, estimated at 1.37% (3.28 million people).

Addressing an interfaith Easter gathering in Lahore, Tarar assured Christian leaders of his support, saying the committee's recommendations would be submitted to the Ministry of Law and Justice within a week.

Legal dimensions

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora said his department was forming a parallel committee to examine the legal dimensions of the case.

Mary James Gill, a Christian lawyer, former lawmaker, and executive director of the Center for Law and Justice who serves on the committee, welcomed the move as a "genuine concern to find a way forward."

"It is highly encouraging that a state representative personally took up the issue. However, we are still in a consultative process," she told EWTN News, noting shortcomings in both the lower courts and within the affected community.

"The petition was filed under Section 491 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which pertains to habeas corpus, and not to determining the exact age of the girl — a question that remains disputed," Gill said.

"Regrettably, no such verification was carried out in the lower courts. In cases where documentation is ambiguous, magistrates and sessions judges tend to rely on in-person statements, consent, and their own observations."

She noted that the Christian Marriage Act of 1872 governs the solemnization of marriages involving one or more Christians.

"Similarly, the personal laws of both Christianity and Islam in Pakistan remain silent on the age of conversion. Church leaders need to revisit and update these frameworks. At the same time, parents must place greater emphasis on the ideological and moral formation of their children," she added.

In an April 6 letter to the law ministry, Anthony Naveed, deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly, urged the federal government to address "serious legal gaps" exposed by the ruling and called for uniform amendments aligning provincial laws with Balochistan's legislation, which explicitly invalidates child marriages.

A pattern of abuse

For decades, rights advocates have called for stronger legal and administrative measures to prevent the abduction and forced religious conversion of girls from minority communities.

At least 515 cases of abduction and forced conversion of minority girls and women were reported between 2021 and 2025, according to the Center for Social Justice. Hindu girls accounted for 69% (353 cases), followed by Christian girls at 31% (160 cases). Most victims were under 18, with cases concentrated in Sindh and Punjab.

Shukardin said courts in the Muslim-majority country are not consistently applying laws prohibiting marriage under 18.

"The Church is not in favor of marriages involving conversion under such circumstances. We demand safety for our daughters and will continue to raise our voice for underage brides of any religion," he said.

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French friar Jean-Claude Chupin, OFM, co-founder of the Community of the Lamb, passed away at the age of 95 on Easter Sunday, April 5, at Saint-Pierre, the order's motherhouse in France.

Born on Sept. 29, 1931, he founded the public association of the faithful, which is characterized by a Dominican spirituality, in 1981 together with "Little Sister Marie." The community is composed of missionary brothers and sisters who live out a contemplative vocation and an evangelizing presence, particularly among the poor.

He entered the Franciscan novitiate at the age of 21 and professed his first vows on Sept. 17, the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis.

While serving as a parish priest in the villages near the French town of Vézelay, he met a group of Dominican sisters from the Roman Congregation of St. Dominic, to whom he preached during a retreat in 1974.

That encounter was providential: Among those attending the retreat was Sister Marie, with whom he shared a conviction regarding the urgency of returning to the Gospel, a sentiment in harmony with the spirit of renewal of the Second Vatican Council.

As a result of this experience and encouraged by his Franciscan brothers, who encouraged him to attend to the spiritual needs of the sisters, the foundations were laid for what would, over the years, become the Community of the Lamb.

Living with the poor on the streets

Nevertheless, Chupin never ceased to be a Franciscan. In fact, he was known as "the little brother who wears brown," as he continued to wear the habit of the Franciscan friars. It was not until 1994 that he assumed an official role within the Community of the Lamb.

His love for the poor played a decisive role in his life. After repeatedly requesting permission from his superiors, from 1982 to 1993 he was sent on mission to the streets alongside two Franciscan brothers.

During the 11 years he spent preaching and living alongside the poor of the streets, he never failed to attend the chapters of the Community of the Lamb in the French Pyrenees, becoming for the brothers and sisters a true spiritual father.

The community noted that his health had been in decline since last January, which allowed many brothers to accompany him, including spiritually, during this final stage of his life.

"Until the very end, in a way that edified us all, Brother Jean-Claude laid down his life, drawing on his last reserves of strength to offer each and every one of us his smile, a word of friendship, his kind gaze, and his fraternal and paternal attention," read the statement released following his passing.

The brothers and sisters of the Community of the Lamb highlighted their deep union with Jesus and the Gospel as well as their love for St. Francis of Assisi. "Gospel, Gospel, Gospel!" the friar used to say.

They also gave thanks for his life, which was "filled with the light of the Gospel," and for the gift "that he was and will always continue to be, for all those he accompanied with his faithful friendship: a father, a brother, a friend."

Currently, the Community of the Lamb consists of approximately 170 sisters and 40 brothers, present in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Argentina, Chile, and the United States. Currently, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop emeritus of Vienna, is the bishop responsible for the community.

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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