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Vatican City, Nov 4, 2025 / 08:15 am (CNA).

The Vatican's doctrinal office said Tuesday the titles of "Co-Redemptrix" and "Mediatrix" are not appropriate ways to describe Mary's participation in salvation.

In Mater Populi Fidelis ("The Mother of the Faithful People of God"), the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) said when an expression requires frequent explanation to maintain the correct meaning, it becomes unhelpful.

"In this case, the expression 'co-redemptrix' does not help extol Mary as the first and foremost collaborator in the work of redemption and grace, for it carries the risk of eclipsing the exclusive role of Jesus Christ," according to the doctrinal note, released Nov. 4.

Pope Leo XIV approved the document, signed by DDF prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, on Oct. 7.

Mary's contribution to human salvation, specifically the title of "Co-Redemptrix" ("Co-Redeemer"), has been a point of theological debate for decades, with proponents calling for Mary's role in redemption to be declared a dogma but critics saying it exaggerates her importance and could damage efforts for unity with other Christian denominations.

In a preface to the note, Fernández wrote that the document responds to questions the dicastery received in recent decades about Marian devotion and certain Marian titles, and clarifies which are acceptable.

"There are some Marian reflection groups, publications, new devotions, and even requests for Marian dogmas that do not share the same characteristics as popular devotion," the cardinal wrote, adding that some Marian devotions, expressed "intensely through social media," can sow confusion among Catholics.

"This text also aims to deepen the proper foundations of Marian devotion by specifying Mary's place in her relationship with believers in light of the mystery of Christ as the sole mediator and redeemer. This entails a profound fidelity to Catholic identity while also requiring a particular ecumenical effort," Fernández wrote.

In addition to "Co-Redemptrix," the document also addressed at length the Marian title "Mediatrix" or "Mediatrix of All Graces," analyzing related Church teaching on Mary's role as intercessor.

The DDF concluded that "some titles, such as 'Mediatrix of All Graces,' have limits that do not favor a correct understanding of Mary's unique place."

The dicastery encouraged the use of other expressions for Mary, specifically titles referring to her motherhood, including "Mother of God" and "Mother of the Faithful People of God."

"She is the mother who gave the world the author of redemption and of grace, who stood firm at the foot of the cross (cf. John 19:25), suffering alongside her son and offering the pain of her maternal heart pierced by the sword (cf. Luke 2:35)," the document said. "From the Incarnation to the cross and the Resurrection, she was united to Christ in a way that is unique and that far surpasses any other believer."

Emphasizing that Mary was saved by her son, Jesus Christ, "in a particular and anticipatory way," the document explained that "Mary's incomparable greatness lies in what she has received and in her trusting readiness to allow herself to be overtaken by the Spirit."

It warned that "when we strive to attribute active roles to her that are parallel to those of Christ, we move away from the incomparable beauty that is uniquely hers."

Presentation in Rome

Experts on Mariology have have held different positions on the title "Co-Redemptrix," as have different popes.

At a presentation at the Jesuit Curia in Rome on Nov. 4, Fernández emphasized Pope Leo XIV's support for the doctrinal note but said "there is no doubt that this document will not please some people."

He explained that note was intended to help Catholics avoid either exaggerating or underrating the importance of devotion to Mary.

"We care for the people's faith without complicating it with issues that are not among the concerns of the vast majority and that add nothing essential to their love for Mary," he added.

He also called debates online defending Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" evidence of the "maximalism" the dicastery wants to avoid.

The cardinal's approximately 40-minute speech was interrupted on several occasions, including in response to this claim, by an Italian man who called himself Gianfilippo (he declined to give his last name to reporters after the event).

The man, who claimed to be part of a Marian study group of about 30 people, appeared to object to some of Fernández's arguments, shouting that the document "does not please God" and the title of Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" is "is God's eternal truth … which the Church has approved for centuries."

"You must also listen to the laity," the man claimed in a raised voice. "Documents cannot be made like this without listening to the people."

"You are not the people," the cardinal answered. "If you want to write, write to the dicastery."

Fernández added that the dicastery would listen to his position with respect, "but it's not the only one. I recommend [you read] the document."

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Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov 4, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).

The destruction of an image of Our Lady of Luján, the patroness of Argentina, and the burning of a chapel has shocked two communities in Argentina. Authorities are currently investigating the acts of vandalism. 

Father Lucas Arguimbau, a priest at St. Cajetan Shrine, a church in Buenos Aires, announced Nov. 2 that the outdoor small shrine to the Blessed Mother located down the street was the target of vandalism this past weekend in which the image of Our Lady of Luján kept there was smashed to pieces.

The news shocked the community, as the small shrine is located in a busy area monitored by security cameras and near a police station. A woman who lives in the neighborhood found fragments of the destroyed image and brought them to the shrine.

After the 11 a.m. All Souls' Day Mass on Nov. 2 at St. Cajetan's, the parochial vicar said: "A neighbor brought us the hands of the statue of Our Lady of Luján, which someone had attacked at the shrine at the corner of Juan B. Justo and Cuzco streets," as reported by the news site La Nación.

The image of the patroness of Argentina was kept in an outdoor shrine protected by a grille and glass, and served as a gathering spot for the community on special occasions.

After Mass, Arguimbau, accompanied by the parochial vicar, a seminarian, and some laypeople, went to the scene of the incident where, in addition to the broken glass and the destroyed statue of Our Lady, they found a statue of St. Cajetan lying on the ground. A crucifix was undamaged.

Although no report had been filed in previous attacks, this time the priest decided to file one at Police Station 10B, where he also took the remains of the statue.

Arguimbau led a simple act of reparation at the site: "We are going to ask God to bless this place again, and we pray especially for those who come to the shrine, for those who broke the image of the Virgin. We ask that God bless us, protect our neighborhood, and grant us peace in our hearts, as St. Cajetan always did, in good times and bad, sowing good," he said. He then blessed the site with holy water, and those present prayed a Hail Mary.

Following the incident, St. Cajetan Shrine is studying ways to reinforce the security and protect the nearby small shrine, while the investigation continues to identify the attackers using images captured by security cameras.

Chapel fire

The attack on the small shrine was not the only one reported in Argentina last weekend, which coincided with Halloween. In the city of Pehuén-Co, in southern Buenos Aires province, Holy Family Chapel was completely destroyed by a fire, the cause of which is under investigation.

In an interview with El Rosalenio, Father Adán Caraballo, who is in charge of the Sacred Heart community and Holy Family Chapel in Pehuén-Co, explained that they are still assessing what happened, especially since graffiti with the number "666" among others were found after the fire.

"The church could have burned down at any other time of year, and it just so happens on this day, and the graffiti appears on this very day. Of course, we understand it from a faith perspective, as too delicate of a situation that has become so widespread globally, trivializing something that should never be trivialized like the night of the witches, like Halloween and all that," he pointed out.

"We understand it as something serious, but we hope it's just a prank by someone who saw the church burning and said, 'Let's put this on it,'" he said, referring to the graffiti.

"The people who have served so much over the years at the chapel are now saddened to see it destroyed," he lamented, indicating that the fire started from inside, although the investigation is still underway.

While the community is deeply saddened, the priest highlighted the support and "incredible generosity" of those who have come forward to help restore the chapel.

He also reported that the tabernacle "was intact, Jesus was intact, the Eucharist was intact," which he considered "a miraculous sign."

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 3, 2025 / 17:08 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump's administration will partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown as Catholic nonprofits are working to accommodate people's needs through charitable giving.

Food stamp benefits from SNAP came to a temporary halt Nov. 1 after Congress failed to reach an agreement to end the government shutdown or approve a stand-alone SNAP funding bill.

Several states sued, which led a federal court to order the administration to fully or partially fund the program. According to a Nov. 3 court filing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to drain the SNAP contingency fund to ensure some benefits are received this month.

The contingency fund can supply Americans on food assistance with about $4.6 billion in funds, which is about half of the $9 billion that was expected to be given. It is unclear when the benefits will show up on recipients' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

Neither the USDA nor the White House responded to a request for comment.

As the shutdown reached its 34th day on Nov. 3, lawmakers were still disagreeing over extending taxpayer subsidies that lower health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and providing funding for a wall on the southern border, food assistance, and military pay. Most of the 2.9 million civilian federal workers are not receiving paychecks.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, questioned the USDA inspector general nominee John Walk on Oct. 30 about why the contingency fund wasn't being used, which prompted the litigation from states.

"There's nothing legally stopping the administration from making emergency food assistance funds that they're just sitting on available for Georgia kids and families in November," Warnock said. "But even as we debate what to do about these ACA subsidies, it is indisputable that the USDA under the Trump administration is choosing to pull hungry children into this fight."

Filling the gap

Catholic organizations that provide food assistance to low-income people have been trying to fill the gap amid the funding losses. Catholic Charities USA launched a national fundraising effort Oct. 30 to "come to the aid of our vulnerable brothers and sisters during this time of dire need," according to a news release.

Donations made through the new portal "will be used to buy and ship food directly to Catholic Charities agencies throughout the country that operate food pantries, soup kitchens, food delivery programs and a variety of other initiatives to support those facing hunger or food insecurity," the news release noted. 

Some local Catholic Charities affiliates told CNA last week that they were committed to helping families in need access food but expressed concern that their organizations may be unable to fully supplement the billions of dollars in lost funding.

John Berry, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States, said in a statement on Oct. 31 that the funding loss was "a bipartisan moral failure" and alleged that both parties "weaponized the defenseless."

"This crisis is not a distant tragedy: It is right in front of our face in the look in a mother's eyes as she worries that her innocent children may soon feel the ache of an empty stomach," Berry said.

"Its roots run deep in the decisions of policymakers who have chosen partisan brinkmanship over human dignity, and the consequences demand an urgent moral critique through faith and reason," he said. "This is not a partisan failure. Ironically, it's one of the few times that both sides of the political aisle have managed to do something together — morally fail in their efforts to appeal to their supporters."

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in an Oct. 28 statement urged lawmakers to find a solution that reopens the government and funds SNAP.

Broglio called the funding loss "unjust and unacceptable" and "catastrophic for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to put food on the table." He said it "places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward." 

The shutdown is already the second-longest government shutdown. Unless it is quickly resolved, it will likely surpass the longest government shutdown, which was 35 days long and occurred during Trump's first term.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 3, 2025 / 17:52 pm (CNA).

The Heritage Foundation is receiving backlash after Kevin Roberts, its president, defended Tucker Carlson's recent controversial interview with Nick Fuentes. 

Roberts said in a video message on social media Oct. 30 that "the venomous coalition attacking [Carlson] are sowing division" and that "their attempt to cancel him will fail." While the Heritage Foundation president said he disagreed with and abhorred Fuentes' views, he said "canceling him is not the answer." 

"When we disagree with a person's thoughts and opinions, we challenge those ideas and debate," Roberts said. "And we have seen success in this approach as we continue to dismantle the vile ideas of the left." 

During the interview, Fuentes, who said he is Catholic, at one point said he admired Joseph Stalin and lamented against "organized Jewry in America." For his part, Carlson at another point said he disliked Christian Zionists "more than anybody" and referred to Christian Zionism as a "brain virus" and a "Christian heresy." 

Reports also surfaced that the Heritage Foundation had spent roughly $1.2 million sponsoring Carlson's show, for about $75,000 per episode for a 12-month period beginning in June 2024. 

Fallout ensued after Roberts' video, with Heritage Foundation staffers posting a meme with the caption "Nazis are bad" in reference to Fuentes' antisemetic views and self-professed admiration of Hitler. 

The Hill initially reported further dissatisfaction among staffers and that Ryan Neuhaus, Roberts' chief of staff, had been relocated Friday to another position within the organization. This came after Neuhaus reposted multiple statements in defense of Roberts' video. Neuhaus has since resigned. 

Legal scholar and moral philosopher Robert P. George weighed in on the debate surrounding Carlson's interview Nov. 1, writing: "Engaging and forcefully arguing against people who deny the inherent and equal dignity of all is one thing, welcoming them into the movement or treating their ideas and ideologies as representing legitimate forms of conservatism is something entirely different."

He said American conservatism faces a challenge from those like Fuentes "seeking acceptance in the conservative movement and its institutions" with the ultimate goal of subverting "our commitment to inherent and equal human dignity." 

"It is incumbent upon those of us who maintain the 'ancient faith' (to borrow a phrase from Lincoln) to make clear to friend and foe alike that we will not permit the integrity of our movement and its institutions to be compromised," George concluded. 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 3, 2025 / 18:30 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action against Nigeria if it fails to end Christian persecution.

"If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now-disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities," Trump said in a social media post Nov. 1.

The commander-in-chief further revealed he has instructed the Pentagon to "prepare for possible action."

"If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!" he added: "WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the post on Saturday, writing: "The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

The post alluding to possible military action comes after Trump announced he would designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) on Oct. 31.

Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U.S president must designate countries that engage in or tolerate "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" as CPCs. Violations include torture, prolonged detention without charges, and forced disappearence, according to the State Department.

"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN,'" Trump said Oct. 31.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 3, 2025 / 14:49 pm (CNA).

After Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, a city in the Mexican state of Michoacán, was assassinated Nov. 1, the Mexican Bishops' Conference strongly condemned the act, calling for the government to address the root of the violence plaguing the country.

The murder occurred during the Day of the Dead celebrations in the city's main square, when an armed man approached the mayor and shot him at point-blank range. The assassin was killed at the scene.

Manzo, who died minutes later, had repeatedly denounced the presence of criminal groups in the area and requested support from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch to curb organized crime.

In a September interview, Manzo had denounced the fact that the violence is caused not only by gangs but also primarily by "criminal groups, very powerful cartels."

The mayor said at the time that he felt afraid. "I don't want to be just another mayor on the list of those executed, those whose lives have been taken from them. I don't want the municipal police to continue becoming statistics, nor the honest and honorable working citizens who are victims of this social cancer," he stated.

According to the Mexican new outlet Notus, 10 mayors have been assassinated in the country since Sheinbaum was elected on Oct. 1, 2024.

The security cabinet, headed by Harfuch, reported on Nov. 2 that the mayor had been assigned a security detail since December 2024; however, "the assailants took advantage of [Manzo's]  vulnerability during a public event to plan the attack."

Manzo's murder follows that of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, which occurred on Oct. 19. Bravo was president of the Citrus Growers Association of the Apatzingán Valley and had spoken out about the pressure exerted by organized crime on agricultural producers.

Combatting the roots of violence

In a Nov. 2 message, the Mexican Bishops' Conference denounced the presence of "armed groups that control public life" in certain communities across the country.

"Gang-controlled checkpoints on roads, land seizures, and constant threats against producers, merchants, and government officials reflect a serious weakening of the constitutional order that governments at the municipal, state, and federal levels are obligated to guarantee," they stated.

The bishops demanded "determination and astuteness" from the authorities to stop not only the murders of public officials but also the threats against the lives of "thousands of citizens whose freedoms are violated daily as they move about and carry out their commercial and recreational activities."

They urged authorities to "confront the lack of rule of law" in the country. "Today, it is no longer enough to apprehend the murderer: We must combat with determination the cause of all these murders," they stated.

The conference also expressed its solidarity with those who, "even amid contexts marked by violence, remain faithful to their mission of proclaiming the Gospel." 

Their "silent and courageous dedication," the statement continued, "is a living sign of Christ's presence among his people, reminding us that light is never extinguished in the face of darkness."

Finally, the prelates prayed that Our Lady of Guadalupe "would guide our hearts and intercede for us so that together we may achieve the peace, freedom, and development that our Mexico deserves."

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

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Vatican City, Nov 3, 2025 / 11:04 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Monday presided over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in suffrage for the late Pope Francis and for deceased cardinals and bishops.

One day after celebrating Mass for all the faithful departed at Verano Cemetery in Rome, the Holy Father led the Church's commemoration for his papal predecessor and 142 other bishops who died in the past year.

In the presence of members of the Roman Curia and hundreds of Catholic faithful, the pope said his first Mass commemorating the Church's deceased cardinals and bishops had the "savor of Christian hope" because their ministry had guided many "on the path of the Gospel."

"Dear friends, our beloved Pope Francis and our brother cardinals and bishops for whom we offer the Eucharistic sacrifice today have lived, witnessed, and taught this new paschal hope the Lord called them to," Leo said in his Nov. 3 homily.

"The Lord called them and established them as shepherds of his Church," he said. "Through their ministry they — to use the language of the Book of Daniel — have led many to righteousness."

Though saddened by their deaths, Leo said their guidance and teaching helped transmit Christ's "wisdom, justice, sanctification, and redemption" to the Church's faithful spread throughout the world.

"We are saddened, of course, when a loved one leaves us," he told the congregation. "As Christians, we are called to bear with Christ the weight of these crosses."

"But we are not saddened like those without hope, because even the most tragic death cannot prevent Our Lord from welcoming our soul into his arms and transforming our mortal body, even the most disfigured, into the image of his glorious body," he said.

Entrusting the souls of Pope Francis and the deceased prelates to God, Leo prayed for their intercession and "spiritual encouragement" for Christians "who are still pilgrims on earth."

Using the Book of Psalms, Leo at the end of his homily prayed: "Hope in God; I will still praise him, the salvation of my face and my God."

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CNA Staff, Nov 3, 2025 / 11:37 am (CNA).

The Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday, Oct. 31, making it the 41st U.S. diocese to seek court-supervised reorganization in the wake of clergy sexual abuse claims.

Bishop Robert Marshall Jr., who has led the 50-parish diocese in central Louisiana since 2020, announced the petition in a letter and video posted to the diocese's website. 

"As your bishop, I apologize to abuse survivors for the harm, pain, and suffering they experienced and continue to experience in their lives," Marshall wrote. "This action is occurring because some past priest-perpetrators sexually abused minors, actions that are evil, sinful, and go against everything the Church and the priesthood represent."

Eighty-five survivors have already filed claims, according to the diocese, with more expected after the court sets a bar date. More than half the allegations date to the 1970s or earlier; nearly every named perpetrator is deceased. 

A 2021 Louisiana law temporarily lifted the statute of limitations, triggering the surge in claims. The law allows victims to pursue civil damages indefinitely for abuse occurring on or after June 14, 1992, or where the victim was a minor as of June 14, 2021, with a three-year filing window (which ended June 14, 2024) for older cases.

The diocese lists $16.7 million in assets and $9.5 million in liabilities. It pledges $4 million plus limited insurance proceeds to a victim compensation trust. "The diocese believes it can contribute $4 million to a plan trust that will be used to compensate abuse survivors," according to the frequently asked questions section of the diocese's website.

Chapter 11 will freeze all pending lawsuits and funnel them into one court-supervised settlement. "Without a structured process of this kind, funds would be exhausted in the first settlements or cases that go to trial, leaving nothing for all the other claims waiting to be heard," the diocese explained.

Parishes, which are separately incorporated from the diocese, remain untouched by the bankruptcy filing. Restricted donations, including the annual diocesan appeal and seminarian funds, are protected, and daily Masses, parish schools, and charities continue uninterrupted.

The bankruptcy filing comes as the diocese, experiencing declining numbers of priests, seminarians, and Mass attendance, is in the midst of a reorganization plan launched in 2024 titled "Together as One Church: Embracing the Future of Hope." The plan will entail "closures and reconfigurations" of parishes and missions, according to the diocese.

In this context, Marshall, after consulting the priest council, finance council, and the Vatican, called the Chapter 11 filing "the most prudent course."

The case, filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana, is projected to last 18 to 24 months and cost $1 million to $2 million in fees — far less than larger dioceses.

In 2019, the diocese published names of credibly accused clerics and has adopted the U.S. bishops' safe environment policy. "We remain committed to transparency," Marshall said.

The Alexandria filing follows the Archdiocese of New Orleans' $230 million settlement last week.

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CNA Staff, Nov 3, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

On Nov. 3, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian Dominican brother who lived a life of humble service and charity and became the first Black saint of the Americas.

Here are seven fascinating facts about this inspiring saint:

1. His father refused to acknowledge him.

De Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579. He was the son of a Spanish nobleman and former Panamanian Black slave. His father, Don Juan de Porres, refused to publicly acknowledge the boy as his own because Martin was Black, like his mother. Being biracial would prove challenging for Martin de Porres throughout his life. 

2. He started practicing medicine before he was 13.

De Porres served as an apprentice to a doctor, and before the age of 13 he began to learn the practice of medicine. He would eventually become a barber, which at the time performed minor medical and surgical procedures like pulling teeth or emptying abscesses. 

3. He faced discrimination as a Dominican.

De Porres entered the Dominican order in 1603. Becoming a Dominican brother proved to be challenging for de Porres because a Peruvian law at the time prevented people of mixed race from joining religious orders. Therefore, he lived with the community and did manual work, earning himself the nickname "the saint of the broom" for his diligence in cleaning the Dominicans' quarters.

Eventually he was allowed to enter the order, despite the law, and worked in the infirmary tending to the sick and among the impoverished of Peru. "I cure them, but God heals them," de Porres would say when curing the sick. He also had the task of begging for alms that the community would use to clothe and feed the poor. He also established an orphanage and planted an orchard from which those in need could freely take a day's supply of fruit. 

4. He levitated and bilocated.

De Porres was deeply prayerful, so much so that many of the brothers witnessed him levitating in intense prayer and embracing the crucified cross. De Porres reportedly also had the gift of bilocation, and some of his contemporaries said they encountered him in places as far off as Japan even as he remained in Lima. Some claimed he had appeared to them supernaturally behind locked doors or under otherwise impossible circumstances. 

5. He refused to eat meat.

De Porres loved animals. He refused to eat meat and ran a veterinary hospital for sick animals that seemed to seek out his help. Portrayals of the saint often include cats, dogs, and even the rats to whom he showed compassion.

6. He is the patron saint of multiple manual labor occupations.

De Porres was known for the various assignments he carried out and which earned him the title of patron saint of barbers, the sick, and street cleaners. On the 50th anniversary of St. Martin de Porres' canonization, Father Juan Anguerri, director of the St. Martin de Porres Home for the Poor, said: "These are often thankless tasks, but yet through his humble service, St. Martin sent a message to revitalize these jobs."

7. He was canonized more than 300 years after his death.

Martin de Porres died on Nov. 3, 1639, at age 60. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 16, 1962. At his canonization Mass, John XXIII called him "Martin of Charity." 

This story was first published on Nov. 3, 2021, and has been updated.

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Rome, Italy, Nov 2, 2025 / 12:40 pm (CNA).

Celebrating Mass for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed at Rome's Verano Cemetery, Pope Leo XIV invited Catholics to contemplate death "not so much as a recollection of the past, but above all as a hope for the future."

The pope said the Christian vision of death is not one of despair or nostalgia but of confident expectation rooted in the resurrection of Christ. "Our Christian faith, founded upon Christ's Paschal mystery, helps us to experience our memories as more than just a recollection of the past but also, and above all, as hope for the future," he said in his homily.

He encouraged the faithful not to remain "in the sorrow for those who are no longer with us," but instead to look forward "towards the goal of our journey, towards the safe harbor that God has promised us, towards the unending feast that awaits us."

"This hope for the future brings to life our remembrance and prayer today," the pope continued. "This is not an illusion for soothing the pain of our separation from loved ones, nor is it mere human optimism. Instead, it is the hope founded on the Resurrection of Jesus who has conquered death and opened for us the path to the fullness of life."

Pope Leo emphasized that love is the key to this journey. "It was out of love that God created us, through the love of his Son that he saves us from death, and in the joy of that same love, he desires that we live forever with him and with our loved ones," he said.

He urged Christians to anticipate eternal life by practicing charity in their daily lives. "Whenever we dwell in love and show charity to others, especially the weakest and most needy, then we can journey towards our goal, and even now anticipate it through an unbreakable bond with those who have gone before us."

"Love conquers death," he said simply. "In love, God will gather us together with our loved ones. And, if we journey together in charity, our very lives become a prayer rising up to God, uniting us with the departed, drawing us closer to them as we await to meet them again in the joy of eternal life."

Concluding his homily, the pope invited those mourning loved ones to turn to the Risen Christ as their sure source of comfort and promise. "Even as our sorrow for those no longer among us remains etched in our hearts, let us entrust ourselves to the hope that does not disappoint," he said. "Let us fix our gaze upon the Risen Christ and think of our departed loved ones as enfolded in his light."

"The Lord awaits us," he added. "And when we finally meet him at the end of our earthly journey, we shall rejoice with him and with our loved ones who have gone before us. May this promise sustain us, dry our tears, and raise our gaze upwards toward the hope for the future that never fades."

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

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