Catholic News

Dioceses nationwide are observing National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Cardinal Blase Cupich and Bishop Barry Knestout are urging renewed vigilance and commitment to the protection of children.

In a video message on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cupich reflected with gratitude on the bishops' adoption of the 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," while Knestout separately emphasized April as a time for prayer, education, and recommitment to the well-being of the young.

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Cupich described the bishops' enactment of the 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" in the video as "something important and that I'm really proud of."

"When I look back at the 50 years of being a priest and 27 years as a bishop, one of the things that I am so pleased happened during my time was a means by which the Church would come together in this country and protect and defend those who suffered abuse," the Chicago archbishop said. 

"I was the chair of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People but also was involved in the 2002 moment in which, in Dallas, we enacted the charter," Cupich said.

"And then, of course, when we released the studies by the John Jay School of Criminal Justice, I was the chair of that committee," he said.

"So, I think that is an important contribution for the life of the Church that I really embrace as something important and that I'm proud of," he said.

Cupich was serving on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse in 2002 when the abuse crisis hit and was part of the group that helped draft the charter. The Ad Hoc Committee was established in 1993 by the then-National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) after the conference had been "dealing with the subject of sexual abuse by clergy since the mid-1980s."

The 2002 charter mandated the creation of a permanent USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, which Cupich led from 2008 to 2011.

A call for vigilance

"In the protection of children and young people from abuse, it is important for all of us who work or minister to youth to remain vigilant in our efforts of protection and education," Knestout, who serves as chair of the committee, told EWTN News.

"This annual reminder to recommit and refocus our attention on the physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being of the young is also an important reminder that, as we continue to walk with survivors in their healing, we are called to continual improvement," he said.

Knestout noted that each April, dioceses are called to observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month "by praying for victim survivors and their families."

"We do this in different ways, such as at Mass, or with a special rosary with these intentions," he said. "Protecting children and youth is a vital part of the Church's ongoing ministry throughout the year, but April provides us with an occasion for our diocesan safe environment office to share information about our child protection practices with the people of the diocese, ensuring that it remains a core value for our ministry."

The USCCB's poster from the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection for National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026 includes messages such as "Every Child Matters — Make a Difference," as well as "Let's stand up for children!" and "Learn how we can all keep children safe."

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The president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym), Archbishop Luis Argüello, addressed the problem of polarization and its effects as he opened the bishops' 129th plenary assembly.

In addition to offering a reflection on the pope's upcoming June 6–12 apostolic journey to Spain, the archbishop of Valladolid devoted a large portion of his address to analyzing the issue of polarization, which carries significant consequences both within and outside the Catholic Church.

Drawing upon a doctrinal note published by the CEE in March, which warned of the dangers of emotivism, a phenomenon he defined as fundamentally based on emotions. Argüello said that "reductionism based on emotivism poses a genuine risk," one that spreads to social, ecclesial, and political coexistence through polarization.

This polarization based on emotions "transforms opinions into identities," such that fear becomes "the strongest factor undergirding polarization. One's opponent is no longer viewed as someone with whom one disagrees, but rather as a threat," which leads to dehumanization.

Argüello emphasized that this phenomenon "denies the polarities that constitute us and make us fruitful," namely, the Trinitarian polarity, which is "foundational to all others"; the anthropological polarity, male and female; the polarity of "you and I, ourselves and society"; and the polarity of "history and eternal life."

Polarization affects the life of the Church

The prelate addressed how this phenomenon affects the life of the Catholic Church, alluding to a "typically polarizing controversy" that arose in various media outlets regarding a conversation held by members of the CEE executive committee with Pope Leo XIV in November 2025.

The controversy surrounded leaked comments from the meeting attributed to Pope Leo, who purportedly said that his greatest concern in Spain is the "far right," according to some media outlets. The CEE explained, however, that "in the dialogue, the Holy Father reflected, among other things, on the risks of subjecting faith to ideologies, without mentioning any specific group."

"Ideologies in postmodern societies participate in the interplay of identity, belonging, and polarization, serving the struggle for power. Theological thought — and, stemming from it, ecclesial life and pastoral action — are also affected by ideological reductionism," Argüello noted.

The consequence is that these positions "wound the deposit of faith, cause division within the Church, and anesthetize the missionary power of the Gospel," he added.

Polarization and synodality

Argüello also listed other negative fruits of polarization in various spheres, such as human anthropology, attitudes toward immigrants, the Church's role in public life, whether Spain is a single nation or a nation composed of nations, and ecclesiology.

Argüello pointed out that "democracy, when lived as an ideology, seeks to be applied to all dimensions of existence; it disrupts genuine synodality — a shared discernment aimed at being more faithful to the missionary mandate of the Lord — and transforms it into an exercise in the distribution of power based on the theological-pastoral preferences of the participants."

"By way of contrast, clericalism, both ideological and emotional, views every form of participation with suspicion and rejects synodality under the pretext that it threatens legitimate authority, yet this merely masks the ambition to retain absolute power over the Christian community," he stated.

Government forcing agreements

The president of the CEE also addressed relations with public authorities and denounced certain attitudes on the part of the government. Although the Spanish state is defined in its constitution as "non-confessional," the prelate remarked ironically that the executive branch "tends to adopt 'confessional' stances" — for instance, in matters of anthropology.

"It also adopts a confessional perspective on history, and a selective one regarding victims," he added. Furthermore, it "manifests an excessive desire to intervene in civil society and to control institutions," as well as "double standards, depending on who is affected by matters of abuse of power or corruption. All of this is done in an effort to secure control over the media."

Argüello stated that "several of these characteristics would apply to almost all governments" and renewed his commitment to cooperation, though not without first noting that despite having engaged in dialogue with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez regarding various matters, "this government's priority interest, the only one on which it has sought to force agreements, has been the issue of the abuse of minors committed solely within the Church, and the re-signification of the Valley of the Fallen," the monumental complex dedicated to combatants on both sides of the 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War.

The prelate further took issue with Justice Minister Félix Bolaños' assertion made following the signing of the protocol to assist victims of abuse, that "the government decides and the Church pays," pointing out that the Church "has provided compensation, in many cases, without any government or court ruling having imposed it."

Regarding the situation of the Basilica of the Holy Cross at the Valley of the Fallen, Argüello invited "the government and the monks of the Abbey of the Valley of Cuelgamuros to reach a reasonable and satisfactory agreement for both parties — one that, moreover, serves as a testament that it is possible to overcome polarization and find paths for reconciliation.

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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Israel Defense Forces (IDF) helped a Catholic village in southern Lebanon replace a crucifix that one of its soldiers destroyed with a sledgehammer and punished two soldiers who took part in the desecration.

"In full coordination with the local community of Debel in southern Lebanon, the damaged statue was replaced by IDF troops," the Israeli military announced in an April 21 post on X.

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"The Northern Command worked to coordinate the replacement of the statue from the moment it received the report of the incident," they said. "The IDF expresses deep regret over the incident and is working to ensure that it does not happen again in the future."

The response comes after a photo circulated on social media that showed an Israeli soldier striking the face of Christ on a damaged crucifix with a sledgehammer. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, called the act "a grave affront to the Christian faith."

In a separate post, the IDF confirmed that the soldier depicted with the sledgehammer and the soldier who took the photo will receive 30 days of military detention and will be removed from combat duty.

Six other members of the IDF were present and did not act or report the incident, according to the IDF. Those soldiers were summoned for "clarification discussions" and further actions might be taken.

The IDF's inquiry determined that the conduct of the soldiers involved "completely deviated from IDF orders and values."

According to the IDF: "Procedures regarding conduct with religious institutions and symbols were reinforced to the troops prior to their entry into the relevant areas and will be reinforced again for all troops in the area following the incident."

The post stated that the chief of general staff "condemned the incident and stated that it constitutes unacceptable conduct and a moral failure, far exceeding any acceptable standard and contradicting IDF values and the expected conduct of its troops."

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In a statement through the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land on April 20, Pizzaballa said even amid the destruction of the statue, "the cross remains unassailable in its meaning."

"As St. Paul the Apostle declares, 'Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14)," his statement read. "For believers, the cross endures as a source of dignity, hope, and redemption, and as a summons to overcome violence through sacrificial love."

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MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said the inauguration of a new university campus in Equatorial Guinea is "an act of trust in human beings," praising investment in the education of young people during the final stop of his Africa trip.

Speaking at the opening of the Pope Leo XIV University Campus in Basupú, part of the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE), the pontiff said the new institution represents more than new buildings.

"This inauguration is an act of trust in human beings, an affirmation of the fact that it is worth the effort to continue wagering on the formation of new generations and on the task, so demanding and yet so noble, of seeking the truth and putting knowledge at the service of the common good," Leo said.

The new campus, in the northern part of Bioko Island, is the country's largest academic facility. The government chose to dedicate it to the pope in conjunction with his visit. Founded in 1995, the National University of Equatorial Guinea was established to help form national leaders and align academic and professional training with the country's development needs.

Leo was welcomed by Rector Filiberto Ntutumu Nguema Nchama and the archbishop of Malabo, Archbishop Juan Nsue Edjang May. A bust of the pope was unveiled before he met with students and professors gathered in the square outside the main entrance.

Students appealed to the pope for encouragement in becoming "a generation characterized by discipline, respect, responsibility, and commitment to the common good," one aimed not only at personal success but also at contributing to the development of Equatorial Guinea.

Faculty members, for their part, pledged themselves to academic excellence, innovation, and the integral formation of students. University officials also stressed that science and technology are powerful tools whose value depends on how they are used and that Christian moral tradition offers essential guidance in that task.

In his address, Leo turned to an image deeply resonant in Equatorial Guinea: the ceiba, the country's national tree.

"For the people of Equatorial Guinea, the ceiba, the national tree, has a great symbolic meaning," he said. "A tree puts forth deep roots and ascends slowly with patience and strength to the heights, embodying in itself a fruitfulness that does not exist for itself."

The pope said the tree offers "a parable of that which a university is called to be": an institution rooted in serious study, living memory, and the persevering search for truth.

Leo then drew on biblical imagery to reflect on the relationship between faith, reason, and knowledge. Referring to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis, he said the biblical account is not a rejection of human intelligence.

"It should be emphasized that this story is not about a condemnation of knowledge as such, as if faith was afraid of intelligence or looked with suspicion upon the desire for knowledge," he said.

Instead, he warned against knowledge detached from truth and goodness and reduced to self-interest or domination.

"The problem, therefore, does not rest with knowledge but in its deviation towards an intelligence that no longer seeks to correspond to reality but rather to twist it for its own purposes," he said.

Leo said Christian tradition points to another tree — the cross — as the redemption, not the negation, of human intelligence.

"Christian tradition contemplates another tree, that of the cross, not as a denial of human intelligence but as a sign of its redemption," he said.

"At the cross, human beings are invited to allow their desire for knowledge to be healed: to rediscover that truth is not fabricated, not manipulated nor possessed like a trophy but welcomed, sought with humility, and served with responsibility."

For that reason, he said, Christ is not an escape from intellectual effort.

"From a Christian perspective, Christ does not appear as a religious escape in the face of intellectual endeavors, as if faith began where reason ended," Leo said. "On the contrary, in him the profound harmony between truth, reason, and freedom are manifested."

The pope said the Church's concern in education is that young people be formed integrally, "rather than giving the mere appearance of success."

He added that the university should be judged less by its size or number of graduates than by the quality of the people it forms for society.

"Here on this campus, the ceiba of Equatorial Guinea is called to bear fruits of progress rooted in solidarity and of a knowledge that ennobles and develops the human being in an integral way," he said. "It is called to offer the fruits of intelligence and uprightness, of competence and wisdom, of excellence and service."

"If generations of men and women are profoundly shaped in this place by truth and are capable of transforming their own existence into a gift for others, then the ceiba will remain an eloquent symbol rooted in the best things of this land, elevated by wisdom and abounding in fruits that pay tribute to Equatorial Guinea and enrich the entire human family."

Before the university event, the pope also made a brief visit to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Cathedral in Malabo, built in 1897.

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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Thousands of people gathered in Poland's capital on April 19 for the National March for Life, a large public demonstration organized under the slogan "Faith and Fidelity 1966–2026," commemorating the 1,060th anniversary of the Christianization of Poland.

The event combined religious observance, civic participation, and pro-life advocacy, drawing families, clergy, activists, and public figures to central Warsaw. The day began with Mass celebrated in two of the city's major churches.

In the Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Bishop Piotr Jarecki presided over the liturgy, while Bishop Tomasz Sztajerwald celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian in Warsaw-Praga.

Participants later gathered at Castle Square, where the march officially began. Organizers described the event as a public expression of support for life and family, rooted in Poland's Christian tradition. Metropolitan Archbishop Adrian Galbas of Warsaw encouraged participation ahead of the event, framing it as a testimony to human dignity. "We want to testify that we are lovers of life. Bring your family along! Life triumphs over every death," he declared.

March through Warsaw highlights pro-life message

The procession moved through central Warsaw streets under the historic slogan marking Poland's Christian heritage. As participants approached the Presidential Palace, Polish President Karol Nawrocki spoke, linking the march to broader social concerns.

"I support initiatives that serve Poland, and this initiative certainly serves Poland," he said. "It is also a response to the deep demographic crisis. Today, the answer to many Polish problems lies precisely in Polish families, in our identity, in remembering where we come from and where we are going."

Organizers said the march was intended not only as a demonstration of pro-life conviction but also as a broader reflection on national identity and social cohesion.

A prominent symbol carried during the march was a copy of the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, which has been traveling internationally for 14 years as part of the From Ocean to Ocean pilgrimage in defense of life. The icon has traveled more than 220,000 kilometers (almost 137,000 miles) and visited 32 countries across five continents.

Shifting abortion attitudes among younger Poles

The National March for Life is organized by the St. Benedict Foundation alongside dozens of pro-life groups from across Poland and takes place under the honorary patronage of the Polish Episcopal Conference.

Patrycja Michonska-Dynek, director of the Press Center of the Archdiocese of Warsaw, told EWTN News that there are shifting public attitudes toward abortion in Poland, including growing societal acceptance and increased calls for liberalization, attributing these changes to secularization, cultural pressures, and differing interpretations of freedom.

Michonska-Dynek also observed that while pro-life values remain important in Polish society, younger generations often approach the issue with more nuanced perspectives, particularly in complex or exceptional situations. Fostering a "culture of life" must include practical support for families, such as assistance for single mothers and couples in crisis, Michonska-Dynek said.

Not a single-issue agenda

Lidia Sankowska-Grabczuk, one of the organizers of the National March for Life, told EWTN News that the pro-life movement in Poland extends beyond a single-issue focus on abortion.

"In a nutshell, the pro-life movement is [often] the anti-abortion movement. In our view… it's a bit different. We don't reduce it to a single-issue agenda," she said, warning that such a narrow framing "strips it of its true meaning." While protecting unborn life remains central, she described it as part of a broader vision rooted in what she called "the public voice of Polish Christianity."

She outlined three core pillars underpinning the movement. The first is "respect for life," encompassing not only the unborn but also solidarity with the elderly, families, and those in need. The second is the family as society's foundation, grounded in the traditional understanding of marriage and its role in Poland's social stability. The third pillar is "a state serving the common good," reflecting a view of politics as service and a call for greater social solidarity.

Sankowska-Grabczuk also discussed the importance of Poland's historical and Christian identity in shaping the movement. She noted that recent marches have intentionally marked major national milestones, including the 1,000th anniversary of Poland's first royal coronation in 2025.

These commemorations, she said, highlight how the movement sees its mission as inseparable from Poland's historical development, where Christianity has long informed both national identity and social values.

Pro-life voices and public participation

Among international participants was Tonio Borg, president of the European Federation One of Us. He urged participants to remain steadfast in their convictions despite criticism or public pressure.

"Do not be afraid of being slandered and ridiculed because you seek to protect life from the moment of conception," he said, encouraging continued public engagement and advocacy.

He also called on supporters to make their voices heard in the public sphere, stressing the importance of influencing lawmakers and demonstrating that "the unborn child is one of us."

Marcin Perlowski, director of the Centre for Life and Family, said participants gathered at the march out of a shared conviction that "human life begins at conception" and must be defended. He stated that the National March for Life serves as a public demonstration of that belief, describing it as a stand "against all those who raise a hand against unborn children."

Pro-life activist Emilia Medrzecka told EWTN News that her position is grounded in a belief in universal human dignity. "Children in the womb are as human as we are… they are more dependent and need time to grow," she said while adding that the march reflected a strong presence of families, young people, and older generations united in support of life.

While official attendance figures have not been released, estimates provided to EWTN News suggested more than 10,000 people participated, with organizers placing peak attendance between 25,000 and 30,000.

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MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — Visiting a psychiatric hospital on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV said a truly humane society is measured not by how it hides weakness but by how it surrounds the vulnerable with love and stressed that God loves each person "just as we are" while desiring their healing and restoration.

"Whenever I visit a hospital, I have mixed feelings: on the one hand, I feel sorrow for the patients and their families. On the other, I admire and am comforted by all that is done there each day to serve human life," the pope said in an address delivered in Spanish. "I feel the same way here, but today, I find — and I hope the same is true for you — that joy prevails. It is the joy of meeting in the name of the Lord and of caring for those who are in frail health."

The late-afternoon event was marked by songs, dancing, and testimonies from both the hospital's director and a patient, Pedro Celestino Nzerem Koose. A moving poem by a former patient was also recited.

The Jean-Pierre Olié Psychiatric Hospital, with its six pavilions, represents a major development in the treatment of mental illness in Equatorial Guinea, where psychiatric disorders were historically neglected. Founded in 2014, it is the country's first modern center of its kind and has become a symbol of the national commitment to integrating patients into society, with large green spaces and rehabilitation areas built into the complex.

At the end of 2025, the hospital formalized a cooperation agreement with Sainte-Anne Hospital in Paris. In December of that same year, the complex inaugurated a new pavilion and was subsequently named posthumously after the noted French psychiatrist Jean-Pierre Olié, who died in 2023 and whose contribution was instrumental to the project's development.

The pontiff was welcomed by the hospital's director, Bechir Ben Hadj Ali, and the facility's deputy director, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers. Together they proceeded to the main courtyard, where patients and staff had gathered.

"Our mission is clear: to provide care grounded in science, founded on ethics, and guided by a profound respect for the human person. We work to combat stigma, strengthen professional training, support families, and integrate mental health into our country's public policies," the director said in the pope's presence.

In his own remarks, patient Pedro Celestino also expressed gratitude, saying: "We especially thank the first lady of the nation, Mrs. Constancia Mangue Nsue Okomo, patron of our hospital and of the most vulnerable people in the country."

Leo then cited the director's earlier words.

"The director said: 'A truly great society is not one that hides its weaknesses but one that surrounds them with love.' Yes, that is true," the pope said. "This is a principle of a civilization with Christian roots, for in the course of human history Christ came to redeem and restore to full dignity those who suffer from the stigma of disability."

"However, the Savior does not wish to, nor can he, save us without our cooperation, both on a personal and a social level. Therefore, he asks us to love our brothers and sisters not just in words but also in deeds. A facility such as this, with God's help and everyone's commitment, can become a sign of the civilization of love," he said.

Referring to Pedro Celestino's testimony, Leo highlighted the patient's final words: "Thank you for loving us just as we are."

"Thank you for your witness!" the pope replied. "Yes, God loves us just as we are. In reality, only God truly loves us just as we are, but he does not intend for us to stay that way! No, God does not want us to remain sick forever; he wants to heal us!"

"This is seen in the Gospel time and again. Jesus came to love us just as we are, yet he does not want us to stay that way, but rather to care for us!" he continued. "A hospital, especially one with a Christian mission, is a place where a person is welcomed just as they are and respected in their frailty, so that they can be helped to get better according to a holistic vision."

Leo added that the spiritual dimension of care is essential and said he was pleased that the director had emphasized that point.

He also thanked former patient Tarcisio for his poem, saying that in a place like the hospital, many hidden "poems" are composed every day "not with words, but with small gestures, with thoughtfulness and kindness in your relationships with one another."

"It is a poem that only God can fully read and which consoles the merciful heart of Christ," he said.

The pope closed by asking those present to convey his closeness to all the sick in the hospital, "especially those who are most seriously ill and most alone," and entrusted patients, health care workers, and staff to the protection of Mary, Health of the Sick.

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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MANAOAG, Pangasinan — For Salvacion Peralta, devotion to the Blessed Mother has been a constant companion beginning in her childhood in San Carlos City in the Philippines to her new life thousands of miles away in San Diego, California.

A native of Pangasinan, Peralta grew up with a deep love for Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, affectionately called by devotees "Apo Baket," a local term that literally means "Old Lady" but conveys deep reverence for the Blessed Mother as a venerable matriarch.

After marrying her husband, a serviceman in the United States Navy, Peralta relocated to California, where they began raising their family. Despite the distance from her homeland, Peralta said her Marian devotion remained central to her life, especially during moments of suffering.

Her faith was put to the test when doctors diagnosed her with malignant tumors in her thyroid. During that difficult period, she turned constantly to prayer before a replica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag enshrined at her parish church in San Diego.

"There was no single day that I didn't pray to Our Lady of Manaoag and to Our Lord Jesus, who is really our healer," Peralta recalled.

After undergoing a series of medical tests, she said her physician was surprised when a subsequent biopsy showed no trace of cancer.

According to Peralta, she initially kept both her diagnosis and her healing private. But her story eventually came to light when a fellow Filipino-American parishioner approached her one day after Mass saying she had dreamt of the Blessed Mother inviting her to visit her shrine in Manaoag.

The parishioner shared that she had purchased a plane ticket to the Philippines for the visit. Peralta, who had also quietly arranged a trip with her husband to give thanks for her healing, was struck by the unexpected confirmation.

News of her recovery quickly spread within the close-knit Filipino Catholic community in San Diego, and she soon found herself sharing her testimony with fellow Marian devotees.

On April 22, Peralta and her husband will be among the millions of pilgrims in Pangasinan marking the centenary of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, enshrined at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

A canonical coronation is a formal act of the pope typically expressed through a papal decree or bull that bestows the pontifical right to "crown" a specific, highly venerated image of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Joseph.

A devotion rooted in centuries of faith

The devotion to the Lady of Manaoag traces its origins to a reported apparition in 1605 when a farmer is said to have seen the Blessed Mother holding the Child Jesus atop a tree located on the present-day site of the basilica.

According to long-standing tradition, the farmer heard a voice calling him by name. Following the sound, he saw a radiant cloud resting on a leafy tree. From there, the Blessed Mother identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary and asked that a shrine be built in that place so that the faithful could come to seek her maternal protection.

Word of the apparition spread quickly among neighboring communities, drawing pilgrims to the site. Over time, the area came to be known as "Manaoag," a term derived from the local expression "Dimad Virgen ya Mantataoag," meaning "to the place where the Virgin calls."

Missionary activity in the region was first undertaken by Augustinian missionaries who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan's expedition. Later, administration of the mission was entrusted to the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), whose members eventually built the church dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

The centuries-old ivory image of the Virgin Mary housed in the basilica has since become one of the most beloved Marian images in the Philippines. Devotees widely attribute to her powerful intercession countless testimonies of healing, protection, and answered prayers.

The image was solemnly crowned in April 1926 by Archbishop Guglielmo Piani, then the apostolic delegate of Pope Pius XI to the Philippines, in recognition of the deep and enduring devotion of the faithful.

Centennial celebration of faith

The centenary celebration marks a historic milestone for Filipino Catholics and Marian devotees worldwide.

Father Felix Legaspi III, OP, basilica rector, said in a statement that the celebration commemorates a century of faith and grace experienced by pilgrims who continue to entrust their lives to the Blessed Mother.

"This historic celebration marks 100 years of faith, devotion, and grace for countless pilgrims and devotees who frequent the shrine of the Blessed Mother, asking for her unwavering help and intercession," he said.

A series of novena Masses is being held in preparation for the April 22 commemorative liturgy marking 100 years since the 1926 canonical coronation.

The solemn pontifical Mass will be presided over by Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, and concelebrated with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas. Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop of Manila, will be the homilist. National and local dignitaries are also expected to attend the celebration.

A devotion shared across oceans

Devotion to the Lady of Manaoag continues to flourish not only in the Philippines but also among Filipino communities abroad.

Peralta is one of many Filipino-American devotees who helped establish associations in the U.S. dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag, including the Devotees of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag-San Diego.

The group gathers annually to celebrate the Blessed Mother's feast in May at San Rafael Parish in San Diego as well as during October, the month traditionally dedicated to the holy rosary.

This year, many Filipino-American pilgrims have traveled to Manaoag to join people from across the Philippines and around the world to honor "the lady who calls."

For Peralta, returning to the shrine is more than a pilgrimage — it is an act of gratitude.

Her story, like those of countless others, reflects a faith rooted in trust and sustained by prayer — a devotion that continues to draw generations of believers to the shrine where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary once called her people to come.

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Equatorial Guinea is the only country on Pope Leo XIV's current African itinerary where he will be able to speak Spanish, due to that country's historical ties to Spain.

Until 1778, Equatorial Guinea was part of Portugal. However, following the Treaties of San Ildefonso and El Pardo, it became part of Spain within the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, which had been split off from the former Viceroyalty of Peru in 1776.

The Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata encompassed the African continental territories of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea along with their islands of Bioko (known to the Spanish as Fernando Poo) and Annobón, as well as the territories of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, and certain areas that today belong to Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

Viceroyalty control began to break down in 1810 amid the process toward independence in Spain's overseas territories. Between 1827 and 1843, the British had a significant presence in the territory of Equatorial Guinea. From that point onward, the Spanish became more actively involved in the Spanish territories of the Gulf of Guinea.

The turbulent political processes throughout the 19th century in the Spanish metropolis hindered the territory's further development, despite the existence of a major cocoa industry.

In 1959, Spanish Guinea was recognized as a Spanish territory comprising two provinces. In 1963, it was granted autonomous status, and five years later, its independence was proclaimed.

Alberto Fernández, a contributor to EWTN News and former U.S. ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, explained to "EWTN Noticias," the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News, how Spain's legacy in the country endures to this day, including the role of Spanish as an official language, along with the Catholic faith.

"It's an overwhelmingly Catholic country. The vast majority of people in Guinea are Catholic," he said, unlike other countries visited by the pontiff during his African trip, where there is greater diversity of creeds.

Furthermore, in Equatorial Guinea, "one buys Spanish wine, chorizo ??imported from Spain, and nougat from Spain. There is a strong cultural presence, as well as an Equatorial Guinean enclave in Spain that persists to this day," the former ambassador noted.

A country rich in oil, with vast social disparities

Fernández described Equatorial Guinea as "one of the smallest countries in Africa, with a population of between 1 and 2 million people, and rich in natural resources, primarily oil and natural gas."

This energy wealth allows for "major highways, modern airports, and investment in infrastructure," yet the country is no stranger to "the problem of poverty — the disparity between the rich and the poor" much like other oil-producing nations, such as Venezuela.

"It's a Spanish-speaking country, very Catholic, very African, but with certain touches of old Spain," Fernández noted.

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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ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, opening the final leg of his trip to Africa after a flight of about 2.5 hours from Luanda, Angola.

Speaking in Italian to reporters aboard the papal flight, Leo marked the first anniversary of Pope Francis' death with an extended remembrance of his predecessor, highlighting his witness, his closeness to the poor and suffering, and his appeals to mercy and fraternity.

"I would like to remember, on this first anniversary of his death, Pope Francis, who gave and offered so much to the Church through his life, his witness, his words, and his actions," Leo said.

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The pope said Francis gave much to the Church by living "closeness to the poorest, the smallest, the sick, children, and the elderly," and by the example of his life and preaching.

Leo also pointed to Francis' emphasis on universal fraternity, saying he sought to promote authentic respect for every man and woman and to foster a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood rooted in the Gospel.

He further recalled Francis' message of mercy, from his first Angelus to a March 17, 2013, Mass before the formal inauguration of his pontificate, when he preached on the woman caught in adultery and spoke "from the heart" about the mercy of God.

Leo said Francis shared with the whole Church the message of God's love, forgiveness, and mercy, and pointed in particular to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as part of that legacy.

"Let us pray that he is already enjoying the mercy of the Lord, and let us give thanks to the Lord for the great gift of Francis' life to the whole Church and to the entire world," Leo said.

Leo then took questions from journalists about the Church in Angola, where he had just completed a visit.

Asked about cooperation between Church and state, the pope said the two can work together for the good of the people while maintaining distinct roles. He said he had discussed health care and education with Angola's president, including ways to improve public services and expand hospitals and other institutions.

He added that the Church also has a duty to defend the rights of all people through its witness and preaching.

Asked whether Angola could one day receive a cardinal, Leo said no decision had been made on the creation of new cardinals and that the issue would have to be considered in a broader global context. Still, he said such a possibility could be considered in the future.

On whether new dioceses might be established in Angola, Leo said the Church's growth there was encouraging and underscored the need for continued evangelization. He said local bishops, working with the apostolic nuncio, could help determine where new dioceses might be needed so pastors can be closer to the faithful.

Equatorial Guinea is the last stop on Leo's Africa tour, which has also included Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola.

His first scheduled event in the country was an address to the president and civil authorities at the Presidential Palace. He is also set to visit the university campus named for him, where he will address representatives of the cultural world, as well as the Jean Pierre Olie psychiatric hospital and the country's bishops.

On April 22, Leo is scheduled to travel to Mongomo to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and visit the Pope Francis Technological School, named for his predecessor. He will later travel to Bata, the country's political capital.

In Bata, Leo is expected to visit a prison, pray at a memorial for the victims of a March 7, 2021, arms depot explosion that killed 20 people and injured about 500 others, and meet with young people and families.

The pope is scheduled to conclude the trip on April 23 with a final Mass before returning to Rome.

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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The life and conversion of Mayra Rodríguez, from running an abortion clinic to becoming a pro-life leader, as well as her legal battle against Planned Parenthood, form the central theme of a new book being released this month titled "Mayra Rodríguez vs. Planned Parenthood."

"God's timing is perfect," Rodríguez shared in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. Following various setbacks, she will embark on a promotional book tour April 23–26, visiting four Mexican cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puebla, and Xalapa.

On April 25, she will also participate in the March for Life organized by the "Pasos por la Vida" (Steps for Life) platform in Mexico City, drawing tens of thousands to the streets of the Mexican capital.

"The book is about my story. I speak briefly about my childhood in Mexico and how I arrived in the United States," she said, adding that the book also discusses "the mindset of a Catholic within the reproductive rights movement," saying it is something "that is profoundly impacting our Hispanic culture."

Rodríguez clarified: "How many people do we know who call themselves Catholic yet support contraception, abortion, and things like that?"

Rodríguez, who worked for the abortion provider for over 15 years, sued Planned Parenthood Arizona in 2017 for "retaliatory employment termination" after she was fired for reporting to her superiors a series of practices at the facilities that were dangerous to women.

In 2019, a jury ruled in Rodríguez's favor and awarded her $3 million in damages.

"Throughout the entire trial, we didn't ask for a single cent," she emphasized; "we left everything to the jury," which "decided everything and delivered its verdict. Our sole focus was on proving that I was telling the truth."

She initially hesitated over the book's title but ultimately settled on "Mayra Rodríguez vs. Planned Parenthood." She feared it might face a legal challenge, but after consulting with her attorney, they concluded that "that's the name of the case," a case that "is a matter of public record; anyone can look it up online. Thanks to that, I am the only person who can afford the luxury of using that name ... because they are the defendants."

Her intention, she emphasized, is to show "who Planned Parenthood is," because many Mexicans and Hispanics, even within the pro-life movement, are unaware of its impact on politics. She wants people to "see the name and recognize it, and understand that it is synonymous with abortion, synonymous with puberty blockers, synonymous with this entire LGBT movement."

Welcoming 'with compassion' ex-abortion workers

Rodríguez also called upon pro-life advocates not to view those working in the abortion industry "as enemies," encouraging them instead "to view them with love and compassion, understanding that only in this way will we be able to show them the dignity of the human being."

She highlighted the abundance of cases involving abortion clinic workers who have become pro-life leaders such as Abby Johnson, Patricia Sandoval, Ramona Treviño, and Dr. Anthony Levatino, among many others.

Within the organization And Then There Were None founded by Johnson to assist those wishing to leave the abortion industry, and of which Rodríguez is a member, "we have over 750 employees who have left the abortion industry, and more continue to join."

"Our true struggle," she said, "is to focus on changing hearts. And that is done only by getting the word out, by speaking the truth, by talking to people, and by hoping that they listen and that this succeeds in ensuring that even if abortion remains legal, people come to view it as unthinkable," she explained.

'This is just the beginning'

"This is just the beginning. I hope people receive the book well, and ... I hope that many people who believe in abortion manage to open their eyes, or at least that that little seed is planted" that leads to their conversion.

"Mayra Rodríguez vs. Planned Parenthood" is published in Mexico by the publishing house Cristo Misionero. The book will be available for purchase during the tour and at the March for Life in Mexico City on April 25.

Rodríguez is also working on translating the book into English.

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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