The announcement came just two days after Sarah Mullally's installation as archbishop of Canterbury.
Pope Leo XIV is set to meet with Sarah Mullally, the first female archbishop of Canterbury, as part of Mullally's planned visit to Rome from April 25–28.
The announcement of the visit came from Lambeth Palace just two days after Mullally's installation, which made her the first woman to hold the highest-ranking role in the Church of England.
It is also notable that the ascension of Mullally to that post continues to have significant repercussions within Anglicanism. Earlier this month, the Global Anglican Future Conference — which represents approximately 80% of Anglicans worldwide — announced that its member churches should "remove any reference to being in communion with the See of Canterbury."
On the occasion of her March 25 installation as the highest spiritual authority in Anglicanism, Pope Leo sent a message to Mullally in which he underscored the responsibilities of the office, particularly during "a challenging moment in the history of the Anglican family."
The pope also recalled the progress made in ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans and emphasized the need to continue advancing toward Christian unity.
For her part, Mullally expressed her gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his closeness and prayers, and acknowledged the value of ecumenical dialogue between churches as well as unity among Christians.
She also asked the pope for prayers for the Church of England and for the Anglican Communion as a whole, "so that we may be guided by the Holy Spirit in faithfulness, unity, and charity."
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.
On the day we mark the anniversary of Mother Angelica's entry into eternal life, we recall the unusual circumstances of her first procession and her response: "That's the way God works with me."
If you picture a nun's first profession of vows, you probably picture a serene, peaceful affair with the sisters singing harmoniously and everything running joyfully and smoothly.
However, the day of Mother Angelica's first vows was anything but.
Outside, a blizzard spit snow and ice, snarling roads and delaying the guests — including the presiding bishop, James McFadden.
Inside, different storms were brewing.
As then-Sister Angelica knelt behind the grille, trying to pray before taking her vows, the organist sister and the choir director, Sister Mary of the Cross (with whom Sister Angelica had sparred in the past), began arguing about musical technique, within earshot of the already-arrived guests.
Voices slowly escalated. Suddenly the two nuns were at each other: the organist refusing to play, Mary of the Cross threatening to throw her into the snow if she didn't.
"And I'm sitting there trying to re-collect myself for my vows," Mother Angelica recalled. "The people must have thought we were nuts."
Then came the bug, scampering across the wooden floor in front of the sisters.
Mary of the Cross rose up, lifted the kneeler with both hands, and pounded it on the ground, attempting to annihilate the insect. Like a madwoman with a jackhammer, she repeatedly wielded the prie-dieu (kneeler), hurling it and herself at the crawler. The organist, thinking the display an underhanded critique of her playing, pounded the keys all the harder. Sister Angelica could not believe what she termed "the shenanigans." Then the bishop walked in.
Wet and cold from walking several blocks where he had to leave his stalled car, McFadden requested a fresh pair of socks, which Sister Mary of the Cross sent Sister Angelica to get.
When it came time to place the profession ring on Sister Angelica's fingers, the bishop couldn't fit it past her knuckle — her hand was swollen from a shower handle in the convent that had crumbled and cut her hand several days prior.
"With everything going on there, I'm thinking, 'Oh Jesus doesn't love me.' You know? ... I mean, it was a real spiritual experience!" Mother Angelica said. "But that's the way God works with me. As I look back, before anything big that was coming, something happened to me."
Despite "the shenanigans" of the day, Sister Angelica took her vows seriously, writing in a letter to her mother that "the espoused" and "royal couple" (herself and Jesus) "wished to express their gratitude to their friend and member of their personal court ... The spouse has asked the Bridegroom to fill you with his peace and consolation."
She signed the letter: "Jesus and Angelica."
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation died on March 27, 2016, after a lengthy struggle with the aftereffects of a stroke. She was 92 years old.
EWTN Global Catholic Network was launched by Mother Angelica in 1981 and now reaches over 425 million households in more than 160 countries and territories. As the world's largest religious media network, it operates 11 global TV channels 24/7, along with extensive radio, digital, and print platforms, as well as EWTN Publishing. It also offers a religious goods catalogue.
EWTN is the parent company of EWTN News, which operates electronic and print news services, including EWTN News English (a news wire service formerly called Catholic News Agency), the National Catholic Register, and the ACI group (global Catholic news services around the world including Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Germany, and Brazil).
This story first ran on March 28, 2016, and has been updated.
Catholics who are helping those affected by war in Lebanon are calling for peace and diplomatic solutions as more than 1,000 people have died and more than 1 million people are displaced.
Catholic organizations in the Middle East are helping provide aid, food, and shelter to people in Lebanon who are displaced by the ongoing military conflict, and some people remain concerned that a possible full-scale invasion by Israel could exacerbate the crisis.
Lebanon was pulled into the regional conflict when Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters launched missiles into northern Israel and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) returned fire in their strongholds, primarily southern Lebanon.
Monalisa Freiha, associate editor and deputy editor-in-chief at An-Nahar Al Arabi, spoke to "EWTN News Nightly" on March 26 with concerns for Lebanese people, saying they "did not choose this war" and "are not part of the decisions that led to this war."
"[We] are paying the price every single day, living under bombardment, fear, and uncertainty," she said.
Israeli forces launched incursions into southern Lebanon to establish a security zone near the border, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 25 it will move deeper into Lebanon to expand this zone. Hezbollah fighters are scattered throughout the region, but most of their attacks still come from rockets and drones, while ground clashes are limited.
Israeli officials ordered evacuations for areas south of the Litani River, which is primarily Shia Muslim but also home to Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Sunni Muslim minorities. Hezbollah and Iranian leadership are Shia.
More than 1,000 people in Lebanon have been killed. More than 1 million people have been displaced, and tens of thousands of civilians have remained in conflict zones despite evacuation orders.
Situation on the ground
Cedric Choukeir, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) country representative for Lebanon, told EWTN News the evacuations were "very challenging" for people and said the process was "very chaotic" because people did not have "a lot of choice or clarity around when they needed to evacuate, what timeline they were allowed to leave, [or] which routes they should be taking."
During the initial attacks, he said people "found themselves stuck in traffic with airstrikes around them." He said people were ordered to leave villages, but then "you'll find yourself in the next village which was also ordered to evacuate," and said travel to Beirut was taking anywhere between 14 to 24 hours.
The Lebanese government and humanitarian organizations are providing shelter, food, medical services, and other forms of aid to those affected. Some organizations involved include CRS, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), and Caritas Lebanon.
Choukeir, working out of Lebanon's capital Beirut, told EWTN News that CRS and Caritas have assisted 145,000 people who have been affected by the conflict so far.
He said CRS is working closely with Caritas and other faith-based partners to provide food kits, medicine, mattresses, blankets, pillows, and other forms of medical assistance to those housed in shelters. As the conflict continues, CRS is also working to make shelters "more dignified" by improving sanitation, access to hot water, and providing supplies "so people can prepare their own meals," he said.
With many children displaced during the school year, Choukeir said CRS is helping children deal with the trauma of the conflict.
In conjunction with Caritas, he said CRS is also working to provide assistance to the war zones: "We have a stock available of lifesaving assistance and commodities that we are sending to these areas."
Choukeir noted that some people who evacuated their villages remain stuck in southern cities, such as Tyre. Others chose not to evacuate, he said, because "they don't have anywhere to go, they don't have money to go, and they'd rather stay even if it means they're risking their lives."
Although 130,000 people are housed in shelters, Choukeir said most people must find "other solutions," such as staying with relatives, which can mean cramming dozens of people into homes. Many others are "staying in their cars [and] laying out tents in the streets," he said.
"There aren't enough collective shelters to host everyone who is displaced," Choukeir explained.
He said the displacement of people "is very visible around central Beirut," on the sea front, and in any neighborhood with a large Shia population.
Jesuit Father Daniel Corrou, the Middle East and North Africa regional director for JRS, is also based in Beirut, near Choukeir. He told EWTN News that he opened up his parish, St. Joseph, for migrant workers and ethnic minorities who need shelter during the attacks. The building holds about 200 people.
As he spoke about a recent Israeli attack that destroyed a building just 300 meters from the parish, he said: "I can hear Israeli drones flying overhead" during the phone interview, which he described as an everyday occurrence for people living in the city.
In addition to housing primarily migrant workers as a shelter, he said that population makes up most of the congregation and most of the volunteers helping refugees.
Corrou said many of the workers "make very little money," much of which they send back to their families. When speaking about the generosity of the volunteers, he said: "That's where I just stand back in awe."
Concerns about escalation
Choukeir expressed concern about a potential large-scale ground offensive from Israel in southern Lebanon, noting "there's still a significant amount of people there."
He said he is also concerned about Israel's destruction of bridges out of the region, stating that "if they want to evacuate," there needs to be "a way for them to be able to do so." He is worried about "further waves of people being displaced — not for the first time, but for the second time."
Corrou also expressed concerns and some pessimism, saying there's a "general fear" that even if the United States and Iran reach a peace agreement, it "would not end the conflict that's going on here [because] … Israel has different desires in Lebanon."
He said he has concerns for Shia Muslims because some shelters won't house them out of a fear they could "become targets." He also expressed concern for Catholics in the south, some of whom remain in the war zone out of fear "they wouldn't be able to get their land back" if they leave and Israel begins a lengthy occupation.
Corrou attended a security briefing for nongovernmental organizations and said it appears that Israel is not "targeting Christian areas" but that "Christian areas have been hit." He warned: "It's hard to say that they're safe, even if they remained in their Christian village."
He echoed the calls for peace that came from Pope Leo XIV and said "war is not going to solve this."
"This has to be about coming to some sort of conversation — a compromise," Corrou said. "This has to [have] a diplomatic solution."
Choukeir similarly invoked the Holy Father's call for peace and said "we would like to see the violence end and things to be resolved through diplomatic channels."
"We want to make sure that civilians are protected, we want to make sure that humanitarian workers are protected in this conflict, including health care workers and paramedics and unfortunately, I think more can be done on this front," he said.
Pastor Ezra Jin was detained along with dozens of other church leaders in October 2025.
In a bipartisan letter, federal lawmakers from both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urged President Donald Trump to use an upcoming U.S.-China summit to advocate the release of Christian leaders being detained by China's communist regime.
In the March 24 letter, U.S. Sens. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, and Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, and Reps. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, and Thomas Suozzi, D-New York, along with 29 other senators and House members asked Trump to push Chinese President Xi Jinping to release Christian leaders who have been arrested during recent crackdowns on churches not authorized by the communist People's Republic of China's (PRC).
The letter specifically urges Trump to "seek resolution of the case of Ezra Jin Mingri," founder and head pastor of Zion Church, who was arrested on Oct. 10, 2025, alongside other church leaders. He is still awaiting a trial.
"We encourage you to advocate for their release and request the PRC to allow Mr. Jin to leave China," the leader reads.
The lawmakers also urged Trump to raise "concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among other religious and ethnic minority groups across China."
The letter urges Trump to "utilize existing authorities, including target sanctions and visa restrictions" against those in the communist government "responsible for severe violations of religious freedom."
The lawmakers listed abuses such as "arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, and surveillance and intimidation of clergy and congregants."
"Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the administration is empowered to use targeted sanctions and increase reporting and diplomatic engagement to support your efforts to address severe violations of individuals' right to freedom of religion," the letter says.
Jin wanted to 'let Christ be the center of our church'
Jin, 56, served as an ordained pastor in Beijing's state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches from the early 1990s until 2002. In 2002, he moved with his family to the U.S. to pursue a doctoral degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in California.
Two of his three children, all of whom are American citizens, were born during that time, "bucking the one-child policy," said Grace Jin Drexel, Jin's oldest child.
After completing his studies, he returned to Beijing in 2007 and, together with a small group of fellow believers, established Zion Church as an independent Protestant congregation.
Drexel, 31, told EWTN News that her father founded the Zion Church as an unregistered "house church" deliberately outside of the authorized channels.
She said her father and the other leaders chose not to register Zion Church because they wanted "to serve God and let Christ be the center of our church."
China's religious regulations require all Protestant churches to register with the government and affiliate with the state-controlled patriotic movement. Registered churches must accept government oversight, including approval of pastors, monitoring of sermons, installation of surveillance equipment, and alignment with official "Sinicization" policies that subordinate Christian faith to communist party ideology.
"I wouldn't say there are no real Christians in government churches," said Drexel, who grew up in China but now lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and children. "But ultimately, it's a church in captivity. You're always having to split your loyalty between God and the Communist Party."
"They were not being political," she said of her father and the other founders of the underground Zion Church. But after the Regulation of Religious Affairs law started to be enforced in 2018, "the government became less tolerant."
The Regulations on Religious Affairs is the primary national framework governing religion in China. In 2018, it expanded government powers over all aspects of religious organizations.
Key features require all religious groups, venues, and clergy to register with the government; religious activities must not harm national security, social stability, or ethnic unity, and there is a strong emphasis on preventing "foreign infiltration."
The patriotic movement for Protestants and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association operate under government oversight through the State Administration for Religious Affairs, now under the Chines Communist Party's United Front Work Department. Unregistered or independent groups, often called "house churches," operate in a legal gray area or are deemed illegal.
Zion Church began as a small house church meeting in homes or rented spaces. It grew rapidly, reaching about 1,500 members and over 20 pastors by 2018, with its own modern worship space, coffee shop, and bookstore in an office building.
It later expanded into a network of congregations across more than 40 cities in China, with estimates of 5,000-10,000 total participants, including online services.
Though technically illegal under Chinese law, Zion maintained its autonomy for years, until 2018, when the authorities shut down Zion's main Beijing building after the church refused to install government surveillance cameras in the sanctuary.
Drexel said her father's personality "isn't confrontational in general," so after the government's shutdown of the church, "he tried to find a middle road and went to a hybrid online/offline model."
Because of its online presence, the church was already poised to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it grew quickly at that time because "our church was the only one that had that structure, so instead of disappearing, it blew up," Drexel said.
She said the persecution that began in earnest in 2018, resulting in her father's arrest last fall, would have been "unthinkable" in the early 2000s.
"At the time, we in China thought, [after] the cultural revolution, 'We don't do that kind of thing in China anymore.' Now, so many Christians are in prison. It is bizarre that it is happening again."
Drexel has joined with Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned publisher and Catholic Jimmy Lai, to advocate for the release of both their fathers and all unjustly detained Chinese citizens.
The diocese has faced criticism from parishioners over high levels of contribution requirements for some parishes.
The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, will contribute an extra $10 million to its abuse settlement fund while lightening the contribution requirements for some parishes, Bishop Michael Fisher said this week.
The diocese announced a $150 million abuse settlement in April 2025. Insurance contributions have upped the total amount to around $315 million, though the diocesan contribution will remain the same.
The diocese was originally projected to pay $30 million into the settlement, with parishes asked to contribute $75 million. Controversially, parishes that were slated for closure or merger were to be required to contribute up to 80% of their "unrestricted cash" to the settlement.
In a March 23 letter obtained by EWTN News, Fisher told diocesan priests the diocese would up its contribution to $40 million while dropping the 80% cash requirement for merging parishes.
"The requested contribution of parishes will be based on the total available cash for those parishes that are being merged," the bishop wrote.
The prelate said the diocese regards the plan "as a more equitable approach in keeping with essential canonical considerations."
Fisher said the revised plan was developed after discussions with the Vatican, including a meeting with the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome in October 2025.
The adjusted settlement plan comes after protracted and at times bitter disputes between Fisher and local parishioners who have opposed the diocese's plans to close or merge struggling parishes.
In February the preservation group Save Our Buffalo Churches announced that it would appeal to the Vatican over what it claimed has been "ineffective and harmful" leadership from Fisher.
Save Our Buffalo Churches has been at the forefront of opposition to diocesan efforts to close and merge parishes as part of the diocesan "Road to Renewal" program.
Opposition to proposed closures and mergers has gone so far as to reach the New York Supreme Court, which in mid-2025 considered a lawsuit challenging the diocese's payment requirements for merged parishes. The state court ultimately tossed the suit out, ruling that it did not have jurisdiction over Church governance disputes.
Around the same time, Fisher said he would allow Catholics to meet at diocesan parishes while they work to oppose the parish closures, reversing an earlier rule he had established in October 2024.
In addition to merging parishes, the Buffalo Diocese in March 2024 announced the sale of its headquarters in downtown Buffalo.
The audience with participants in an event organized by the Italian National Transplant Network took place March 26 at the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday said organ donation is a noble act that should be governed by fair and transparent criteria, avoiding "any form of commodification of the human body."
He also encouraged the safeguarding of the well-being of patients in his comments to participants of an event organized by the Italian National Transplant Network at the Vatican on March 26.
The Holy Father thanked those who serve human life "in its moments of greatest fragility."
The first donation by Blessed Carlo Gnocchi
In his speech, the pope recalled the first organ donation carried out in Italy, when Blessed Carlo Gnocchi asked for his corneas to be donated after his death.
The pontiff explained that the gesture "sparked widespread reflection within Italian society and helped to set in motion a process of legislative clarification."
Soon afterward, he noted, Pope Pius XII offered early moral guidance on these questions, "recognizing the legitimacy of removal for therapeutic purposes, respecting the dignity of the human body and the rights of the people involved."
Leo emphasized that since then, the Church's reflection has accompanied the development of transplant medicine, "recognizing its value and at the same time setting out the necessary ethical criteria."
The papal audience with the transplant network took place the same week the Vatican published a document addressing ethical issues connected with xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in human patients.
A noble and meritorious act
The Holy Father then stated that organ donation is "an act that combines the generosity of giving with the moral responsibility that accompanies it."
He also recalled that the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that "organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity."
For this reason, he warned that "vigilance is always necessary to avoid any form of commodification of the human body and ensure that transplants are governed by fair and transparent criteria."
Leo also stressed that transplantation medicine highlights how "the relationship of care, trust, and mutual responsibility constitutes an essential condition for a transplant to take place."
He added that "the very possibility of saving lives through transplants depends, in fact, on the generosity of donors."
Recalling the teaching of Pope Francis, he emphasized that donation "must remain a gratuitous act, capable of bearing witness to a culture of help, giving, hope, and life."
Scientific progress and human dignity
At the end of his address, the pope encouraged the development of scientific research, which is "called upon to develop ever more effective solutions to meet the need for organs and the needs of patients, in a context where demand still far exceeds supply."
He stressed that "it is essential that this commitment always goes hand in hand with responsible reflection, so that scientific progress remains oriented towards the integral good of the person and respect for their dignity."
Leo thanked members of the Italian National Transplant Network for their "demanding and often unseen" work and urged them to continue "always keeping the well-being of the patient as your guiding principle."
He also encouraged institutions and volunteers to continue their efforts in information and awareness so that "a culture of donation may grow that is ever more informed, free, and shared, capable of recognizing in this gesture a sign of solidarity, fraternity, and hope."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The Vatican held the "Cardinal Van Thu?n: Witness of Hope" conference at the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran in Rome on March 25.
Asian Catholics paid tribute to Venerable Francis-Xavier Nguy?n Van Thu?n to mark the 50th anniversary of his spiritual writings compiled in the book "The Road of Hope: The Gospel from Prison."
To honor the legacy of the late Vietnamese prelate, the Vatican held the "Cardinal Van Thu?n: Witness of Hope" conference at the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran in Rome on Wednesday. The event was attended by hundreds of people including members of Van Thu?n's family.
While imprisoned by the communist government in Vietnam during the 1970s and 1980s, Van Thu?n, who was coadjutor archbishop of Sài Gòn at the time, wrote a series of spiritual reflections on scraps of paper that were clandestinely sent out to persecuted Christian communities.
"These 1,001 meditations [traveled] from family to family, from prison cells to prison cells, to reeducation camps to reeducation camps, and finally they crossed oceans with the 'boat people' and arrived in different countries in the world," Van Thu?n's sister Élisabeth Nguy?n Th? Thu H?ng said at the March 25 conference.
"In a spirit of faith, joy, and gratitude, we all witness the power of God's presence in the story of this shepherd who, while separated from his flock, remained intimately united with all of them through the word of God," she said.
Both Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle spoke at the event and shared personal stories and impressions of the prelate decreed "venerable" by Pope Francis in 2017.
Describing Van Thu?n as a man of "great gentleness, serenity, and inner freedom," You Heung-sik praised him for being "a true model of Christian and priestly life."
"His life was marked by extremely harsh trials, but it was precisely in those trials that the greatness of his faith was revealed," the Dicastery for the Clergy prefect said.
"He drew strength every day from Jesus in the Eucharist when, while in prison, he celebrated holy Mass in secrecy with three drops of wine and a drop of water in the palm of his hand," he added.
Tagle, who recalled first meeting Van Thu?n at a 1995 Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference meeting in Manila, said he was immediately struck by his kindness and warmth.
"There was not a trace of bitterness and hatred in him. I could not get my eyes off his radiant and smiling face," the Filipino cardinal said. "Before going our separate ways, he said, from now on, call me 'uncle.'"
When Van Thu?n died in Rome at the age of 74 due to stomach cancer, Tagle said he attended the funeral at St. Peter's Basilica in the presence of St. John Paul II in September 2002.
"His suffering did not prevent him from making others happy," he said with emotion. "Sadness was palpable in the air but also gratitude for the gift of this servant of God and the Church."
Vietnamese communities abroad also paid tribute to Van Thu?n to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his prison meditations, including from Australia — the country his family fled to as refugees in the 1970s.
Father John Nguyen, OFM Cap, the first Australian-born priest of Vietnamese heritage in the country, told EWTN News Van Thu?n's love for the priesthood and the Eucharist continues to be a source of inspiration for him.
"One of Cardinal Van Thu?n's writings that stood out for me, since I came across it in late 2008 when I just entered postulancy with the Capuchin Franciscans, was 'If you lack everything or have lost everything, but still have the Blessed Sacrament, you actually still have everything,'" he said.
"It is a constant reminder that if one day, despite losing everything around me, be it people, material things, or plans that have fallen through, as long as I have Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, I actually have everything since God is our everything," he added.
On the 10th anniversary of her death, we reflect on how Mother Angelica powerfully shaped modern Catholic media.
When people talk about the transformation of religious broadcasting in the late 20th century, one name stands out: Mother Angelica.
A cloistered nun with no formal media training, she built a global communications network from scratch and reshaped how millions engage with the Catholic faith.
Here are eight powerful ways Mother Angelica shaped modern Catholic media — and why her influence still matters today.
1. She founded a global Catholic media empire.
Mother Angelica launched the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in 1981 from a garage studio in Alabama. What began as a small operation grew into one of the largest religious media networks in the world, reaching hundreds of millions of households.
2. She made Catholic programming accessible.
Before EWTN, Catholic content was limited and often hard to find. Mother Angelica brought the Mass, devotions, teaching series, and discussions directly into people's homes — especially benefiting those unable to attend go to church physically.
3. She revolutionized religious broadcasting style.
Unlike traditional, formal religious programming, Mother Angelica's shows felt conversational and authentic. Sitting in a rocking chair on "Mother Angelica Live," she answered questions with humor, candor, and deep conviction — making theology and Christian spirituality approachable.
Mother Angelica connected personally with viewers. She also broke stereotypes about nuns being distant or overly solemn. Her humor, storytelling, and emotional honesty made religious life relatable and compelling to modern audiences.
4. She embraced technology early.
At a time when many religious institutions were slow to adopt new media, Mother Angelica leaned in. She expanded into satellite broadcasting, radio, and eventually digital platforms, setting the stage for today's powerful Catholic presence online.
5. She empowered lay Catholics.
EWTN didn't just feature clergy — it gave a platform to lay voices, theologians, and everyday believers. This broadened participation helped create a more engaged and informed Catholic audience, and helped launch and grow the ministries of many Catholic leaders.
6. She defended Catholic orthodoxy in media.
Mother Angelica was known for her unwavering commitment to Church teaching. She used media not just to inform but to defend Catholic doctrine clearly and boldly — something that resonated with many viewers seeking clarity.
7. She built a 24/7 faith experience.
EWTN wasn't just a show — it was a continuous stream of Catholic life: daily Mass, the rosary, Eucharistic adoration, catechesis, documentaries, and more — all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This "always-on" model influenced how religious content is delivered across platforms today.
8. She created a legacy beyond her lifetime.
Even after her passing in 2016, EWTN Global Catholic Network continues to grow. Today, EWTN's 11 networks broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 435 million television households in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN also recently launched its first streaming platform, EWTN+, which offers viewers access to Catholic movies, daily Mass, news, and original series without subscriptions.
EWTN News is the global news division of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and oversees electronic and print news services across the world.
Mother Angelica's vision laid the foundation for a digital-era Catholic media presence that today spans television, radio, websites, and social media.
The latest season of the new hit series "House of David" follows David's rise from shepherd to commander in King Saul's army.
The second season of the new hit series "House of David" will be released globally on Prime Video on March 27.
The new season picks up where the last one left off — the battle against the Philistines after David kills Goliath. After this triumph, viewers see David rise from shepherd boy to commander in King Saul's army.
"It's epic and it's thrilling and it's violent and adventurous and filled with romance and politics and everything you can imagine," Michael Iskander, the actor who portrays David, told EWTN News in an interview.
Producer, writer, and director of the series Jon Gunn told EWTN News that the creators of the show felt "a great responsibility" to deliver another great season of the show after the overwhelming response Season 1 received with over 50 million people watching the show.
"The beautiful thing is Season 1 is really just the beginning — David slaying Goliath; no one thinks about what happens the moments after that. He's on a battlefield with 250,000 to 300,000 people crashing into each other and he's not a warrior," he said. "We talk a lot about the show being about the cost of destiny. And so he slays the giant, he's now a hero, but that's just really the beginning of his journey."
A major theme seen in the second season is the friendship between David and Jonathan — King Saul's eldest son.
"This brother bond that he makes with Jonathan, which is this wonderful friendship — and such a complicated one because Jonathan knows he's teaching and training the very man who's going to replace him — and yet, does it because he believes it's God's will. It's a beautiful friendship and a beautiful arc for Jonathan," Gunn shared.
Iskander called the relationship between David and Jonathan "one of the few and greatest examples of friendships in the Bible."
The actor also highlighted the importance of David's love for King Saul.
"David, regardless of who Saul had become, never let go of that love for Saul," Iskander said. "And, obviously, remembering that God chose Saul just like he chose him so because of that he could never raise his hand against the king."
He added: "It's a good reminder for us today [because] God looks at all of us in the same way. He loves us all and wants us all to be with him. And so as Christians we're called to love our enemies… In the same way that David loved Saul, we're called to love each other today."
Iskander shared that portraying Israel's famous king has deeply impacted him, and he has come to see David as a guide for us all.
"David, I think, is one of the best biblical examples of someone who was chosen by God and yet fell so hard to a point where I think nobody would imagine that God would have any forgiveness for this man," he said. "And yet, David's repentant heart and his love for God shows us that there is no limit to God's mercy. There's no limit to his grace. So he's a guide for us when we fall and stumble."
He added: "He is that proof for us and a reminder to us to seek forgiveness, to seek reconciliation with Christ, and that through him we know how far God can reach. We know how far he's able to transform somebody and bring them back home."
Iskander pointed out that through his portrayal of David, he has come to realize that "all of these people in the Bible, all of these saints that we read about, they were all people, just like us. And that it's really about submitting to God and to be humble."
"In every aspect of our life — whether it's through our friendships, in our families — we're called to be humble and we're called to show love and to show Christ to everyone and I think in that way, David has really been transforming my life."
For Gunn, being a part of this show and seeing "how much it's moved audiences [and] how many people tell me that they're reading the Bible more" has had a deep impact.
Iskander shared that he has both believers and nonbelievers reach out to him often to tell him how the show has impacted them and has inspired them to "want to grow closer to God as David is."
With this in mind, he shared a message for viewers: "To those who already know Christ, purify your hearts for the Lord. And to those who don't know Christ, he is calling you. And he has an amazing plan for you and he's got treasure that is waiting for you to open it."
The case "exposes the failure of the euthanasia law. It facilitates suicide without the individual having received prior mental health treatment," a legal representative said.
The administration of euthanasia for 25-year-old Noelia Castillo Ramos took place in Spain on March 26 — an event occurring after she faced immense life challenges since childhood and following nearly two years of a legal battle waged by her parents to preserve her life.
According to Spanish law, to request euthanasia, an individual must be of legal age and be both mentally capable and fully conscious at the time of the request; they must also hold Spanish citizenship or have maintained legal residency for more than 12 months and "be suffering from a serious and incurable disease or a serious, chronic, and disabling condition, as certified by the attending physician."
On March 24 it was reported that the European Court of Human Rights rejected the interim measures requested by Castillo's family to halt her euthanasia, bringing an end to a legal battle spanning nearly two years.
The following day, an interview with Castillo aired on the Spanish television network Antena 3 in which she described how she feels: "I have no desire to do anything — not to go out, not to eat, not to do anything at all. ... Sleeping is very difficult for me; furthermore, I suffer from back pain as well as leg pain."
"I have always felt alone, because I have never felt understood; no one has ever empathized with me, and I have always struggled with interpersonal relationships," she recounted.
"Even before requesting euthanasia, I viewed my world as very dark; I saw a very dark ending ahead of me. I had no goals, no objectives — nothing at all — and I still have no goals, no objectives," she acknowledged.
Life challenges
Castillo's life has been full of many challenges. While under the guardianship of public services following her parents' separation, she was subjected to multiple sexual assaults.
According to Abogados Cristianos (Christian Lawyers) — the organization representing Castillo's father in his efforts to prevent his daughter's euthanasia— at that time, the young woman had been officially recognized as having a 67% disability due to mental illness.
In October 2022, she attempted suicide by throwing herself from a balcony, sustaining injuries that left her in a wheelchair; this increased her disability rating to 74% — a fact that, according to the Christian Lawyers organization, "demonstrates that the underlying issue is psychiatric."
"This is key: The Constitutional Court itself (Ruling STC 94/2023) makes it clear that euthanasia cannot be administered when the source of suffering is a mental illness and that the state has an obligation to protect these individuals from the risk of suicide," Christian Lawyers emphasized to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.
Although reports have circulated claiming she was left paraplegic, Castillo herself refuted this: "I am not bedridden or anything of the sort; I get out of bed. I shower all by myself. As you have seen, I apply my own makeup and manage my own affairs," she stated.
According to her own testimony, Castillo had been admitted to psychiatric facilities at least twice previously, and during those stays, she made several suicide attempts. She was discharged in June 2023.
In April 2024, she requested euthanasia in accordance with the procedure established by law, and it was approved for August 2024. This marked the beginning of a legal battle waged by her father, supported by the Christian Lawyers organization.
During the proceedings, they succeeded in halting the procedure and securing recognition of the family members' right to object to the euthanasia request.
Concurrently, Christian Lawyers filed a criminal complaint against the physician and the lawyer who had initially evaluated Castillo's request in accordance with the protocol.
The organization alleged that, despite agreeing to authorize the euthanasia, the two "feigned disagreement in order to refer the decision to the Guarantees and Evaluation Commission, thereby 'forcing' a supposedly higher level of assurance in the decision-making process" — a point noted by the Supreme Court in a ruling.
In September 2025, Christian Lawyers also filed a complaint against seven members of the guarantees commission for conflict of interest as well as against the former Catalan minister of health, Josep María Argimón, for having appointed them.
Subsequently, in January of this year, the Supreme Court upheld the request for euthanasia — a decision that was appealed to the Constitutional Court, which rejected the appeal in February.
The Christian Lawyers organization also took the case to the European Court of Human Rights, which rejected the request for interim measures without ruling on the merits of the case on March 24.
Following this, it was announced that the euthanasia procedure would be carried out on March 26 at 6 p.m. local time. The procedure lasts approximately 15 minutes and involves the use of three chemical substances. Per Castillo's decision, her parents were not permitted to be present.
'This case exposes the failure of the euthanasia law'
According to Christian Lawyers, "this case exposes the failure of the euthanasia law. It facilitates suicide without the individual having received prior mental health treatment."
Consequently, the legal organization emphasized that "it is imperative to establish protocols mandating an attempt at psychological and psychiatric treatment before authorizing euthanasia. Without treatment, there is no free decision; there is abandonment."
Finally, they hold the health authorities of the Catalan regional government responsible: "Before offering death, they must ensure that they have offered every alternative for life. In cases of mental illness, they should be investing in the most advanced psychiatric treatments and in recovery."
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.
