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A survey by Pew Research Center found that more than three-fourths of Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably and that many Catholics, especially Democratic-leaning Catholics, believe President Donald Trump has been too critical of Pope Leo, with views breaking sharply along party lines.

The survey of 1,848 Catholics between May 26 and June 1, part of Pew's broader American Trends Panel survey, found 78% of Catholics view Leo favorably. This is down from last summer when his favorability was at 84%, mostly due to lower favorability from Catholic Republicans.

Only 12% of Catholic Americans viewed the pope unfavorably, and 10% did not answer or did not know who Leo was.

The survey found Leo's favorability at 84% among Democratic or Democratic-leaning Catholics, which is five points lower than last year. Only 5% of Democrats said they had an unfavorable view. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning Catholics, 72% had a favorable view, which is 12 points lower than last year. About 22% had an unfavorable view.

Leo's favorability is highest among those who attend Mass weekly, at 85%, and lowest among those who seldom attend Mass, at 73%. It was 79% among those who attend monthly or yearly.

Leo and Trump

The survey found that a plurality of Catholics say Pope Leo has struck the right balance in his approach to the Trump administration, while smaller shares say he has been too critical or not critical enough. Views vary sharply by party.

Leo criticized some of Trump's rhetoric about the Iran war and called for a peaceful resolution, and Trump called the pontiff "terrible on foreign policy." The U.S. and Iran are close to a peace deal as of mid-June. On June 18, Trump shared an article on Truth Social about the Holy Father's approval of the ongoing peace negotiations.

Among all Catholics, 51% say Trump has been too critical of Leo, 14% say Trump has struck the right balance in his criticisms, and 4% say he has not been critical enough of the pope. The remaining 31% were either unsure or did not answer.

The survey found that only 19% said Leo has been too critical of Trump, 35% said the pope struck the right balance, and 16% said he has not been critical enough of the president. Another 30% were unsure or did not answer.

It found that 70% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholics say Trump has been too critical of Leo, and 3% said the pope has been too critical of the president. Alternatively, it found that 32% of Republican and Republican-leaning Catholics said Trump has been too critical of Leo, and 39% said the pope has been too critical of the president.

John White, a retired politics professor at The Catholic University of America, told EWTN News the poll results are not surprising, saying "it's very clear that Pope Leo has settled into his role — indeed, he was made for it."

"Pope Leo XIV has bridged the divisions among Catholics with his wise, timely pronouncements — all of which are true to the Gospel," White said. "He is a moral leader for this time."

White said Trump's decision to demean the pope in social media posts are not received well by Catholic Americans or Americans more broadly.

According to an April Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll of 2,560 American adults, about two-thirds of Americans viewed Leo's calls for peace positively and a majority of Americans did not like Trump's criticism of the pontiff.

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A survey of U.S. adults who participated in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) in 2026 found that most were drawn to the Catholic Church either through a search for meaning and purpose or an attraction to the Church's teachings, liturgy, and historical tradition.

"Personal growth in goodness, inner peace, and an understanding of truth emerged as some of the strongest motivations for exploring the Catholic faith," said the report, titled "Why Are So Many People Becoming Catholic?"

About 85% of respondents said desire to grow closer to God was their primary reason for entering the Church and 77% listed "wanting to grow in goodness and virtue," while 76% cited a desire for "a deeper understanding of truth" and 72% said they were looking for "a greater sense of inner peace."

Led by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the survey conducted from Feb. 22 to May 31 included 2,127 responses from participants across 20 U.S. Catholic dioceses. The report did not list a margin of error.

About 68% of respondents named attraction to the Church's sacred liturgy, prayer, ritual, and the sacraments as a significant factor in their conversion, while 65% said they were "attracted to the wisdom of a 2,000-year-old Church to help me navigate life."

Fewer Catholics flirting to convert

Adult converts to the faith were less likely to cite dating or marrying a Catholic as a factor related to their conversion, researchers found.

"About 26% of catechumens and candidates for reception into full communion cited dating or marrying a Catholic as part of their journey to the Church," the survey said. "By comparison, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), using data from Pew Research Center's 2007 Religious Landscape Study (Conversion Recontact Survey), found that 72% of Catholic converts at the time said marriage was an important reason for becoming Catholic."

For respondents who did cite dating or marrying a Catholic as a part of their journey to the Catholic Church, the gender composition varied based on generation. Among Gen Z respondents, women represented a majority at 63%, while men comprised 37%. For millennials, the distribution was balanced, according to the survey, while men "represented a clear majority" among Gen X and baby boomer respondents.

Other motives

A little more than half of respondents identified the desire to belong to a church community or being inspired by the positive example of Catholic family, friends, or other personal connections.

The Church's stance on social issues and its position as a worldwide provider of charitable services were ranked lowest among participants.

Challenges and fears among respondents

OCIA participants listed a variety of obstacles to their conversion, ranging from personal fears and apprehension about Church teaching to difficulty navigating parish systems and fitting OCIA classes into their schedules, according to the survey.

"Many expressed anxiety about navigating the liturgy itself, often feeling unfamiliar with and intimidated by the rituals of Mass. Others feared not belonging in a parish, worrying they would feel like outsiders within an established community," researchers said. "Finally, some held back due to doctrinal uncertainty, unsure whether they could fully embrace all Catholic teachings and fearful of committing to a journey they might ultimately feel unable to complete." 

The study's authors included Chicago archdiocesan employees Betsy Bohlen, chief operating officer; Pat Brown, strategy and research manager; and Tim Weiske, director of the department of parish vitality and mission.

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV presided Thursday over the funeral rites for Cardinal Camillo Ruini, remembering him as a servant of the Church who "knew how to guide the people of God."

The funeral liturgy took place June 18 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, two days after Ruini died late Tuesday, June 16. Several cardinals, archbishops, and bishops were present to bid farewell to one of the most prominent figures of the Italian Church.

"For many years he served the Church, carrying out with the same dedication both the humblest tasks and those most laden with responsibility that the Lord wished to entrust to him," Pope Leo said in his homily.

The pope recalled Ruini's long and influential ecclesial service, pointing in particular to the initiatives that "left a deep mark on the journey of the ecclesial community and also on civil society."

Among them, Leo cited Ruini's "Cultural Project," his efforts to promote the contribution of Catholics in Italian religious, civil, and political life, the diocesan synod in Rome and its implementation, and his "active and dialoguing presence at the various levels of the life of the Church, as well as of the secular world and society."

Reflecting on the readings proclaimed during the liturgy, the pope cited St. Paul's words that neither death nor life, nor angels, principalities, the present, the future, powers, height, depth, or any other creature "will be able to separate us from the love of God."

According to Pope Leo, this was "the truth that also animated Cardinal Ruini in his ministry."

"The love of God is faithful," the pope said. "Nothing can defeat it or separate us from it, because it is his gift, it comes from him, and it is poured out upon us beyond any merit of our own."

Leo also quoted from Ruini's spiritual testament, in which the cardinal, speaking of the many people to whom he felt gratitude for the good he had received, wrote: "From them I received no less than what I tried to give."

"I think these are words that can also help us to live our responsibilities and our various forms of service with the same humility and the same trust in God," the pope said.

The pope then turned to another passage from the day's liturgy, taken from the Gospel of John: "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am."

In those words, Pope Leo said, one can see the summary of a program of life — "the direction and ultimate purpose of a life spent for the good of one's brothers and sisters and lived in the constant search for God's designs for one's own salvation and theirs."

Again citing Ruini's spiritual testament, the pope recalled the cardinal's words: "I hope, Lord, that I have acted not for personal interests but for the goals that were entrusted to me and that I shared from the heart."

Leo's homily was also marked by memories of the popes Ruini served, including St. Paul VI and especially St. John Paul II, in whom — as Ruini himself wrote in his spiritual testament — the cardinal "experienced" the presence of the Lord.

At the end of the homily, the pope reflected on the episcopal motto Ruini chose as a bishop: "The truth will set us free."

Those words, Leo said, "summarize the profound understanding of the person and of freedom that Christ has revealed to us and that the Church teaches: We are made for truth and for goodness, and only in this do we find unity, peace, and full fulfillment, in earthly life and for eternity."

Looking at Ruini's life, the pope concluded, "at how he lived and how he left this world, we can perceive a sign of the strength and solidity with which a person grows and matures when he finds in the truth that comes from God the center and foundation of his existence."

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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Mourners gathered June 16 to bid farewell to Fortune Amaya Losike, a 15-year-old Catholic schoolgirl who died while reportedly rescuing fellow students from a dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 15 other girls in Gilgil within Kenya's Catholic Diocese of Nakuru.

Witness accounts indicated that Fortune had enough time to escape the May 28 inferno at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School yet she chose to save the lives of other girls that night before the ceiling of the dormitory caved in on her.

The grade 10 student, said to be the only child of her mother, was laid to rest in Turkana West, which is served by Kenya's Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.

In his homily at the burial, Father John Nzau said that Fortune, whose body could only be identified by her red-and-white rosary that appeared "almost brand-new" as if untouched by the fire, died "ready."

"Christ should find us ready. He found our sister [Fortune] ready," Nzau said, and added: "I was happy to learn that she was found with her weapon, a rosary. She died wearing the rosary. This means that she was united with Christ in her death and she will rise with Christ."

The Kenyan member of the Salesians of Don Bosco described the young Catholic convert as "a heroine who lived well with others," adding: "Our sister wanted to help others to safety, but the tragedy ended up befalling her. May she rest in peace."

Speaking to local media, Fortune's mother, Pauline Losike, described the aftermath, saying that she was able to identify her daughter by the rosary that hung on her neck. Her daughter also wore the rosary bracelet and wristwatch she had bought her.

"Fortune's head and neck were burnt beyond recognition. But the rest of the body was OK. I was able to identify her by the rosary she was wearing on her neck, her bracelet, and her watch," Losike said.

She recounted the testimony of her daughter's friend who said that Fortune was unable to save her life after helping others to safety.

"She struggled to come out of the building, but something seemed to hold her leg. That's when a ceiling fell on her. She started screaming for help, but the other girls were helpless," Losike said.

Father Casmir Odundo, a Kenyan priest of the Nakuru Diocese studying in Rome, recounted the difficult ordeal Fortune's mother went through, searching for her child at the school and in hospitals near the school after news of the fire broke.

At one of the hospitals, Losike is said to have met a Muslim friend of Fortune who had witnessed her final moments.

The Muslim girl explained that when the fire started, Fortune had an opportunity to escape with her, but she chose to remain behind with a few other girls to help others get out safely.

The fire is said to have continued spreading, trapping Fortune and some other girls inside. The only possible escape route was through the windows. Even then, she allowed other girls to go first.

Her Muslim friend, who had already reached safety, kept urging Fortune to jump. "When Fortune finally attempted to do so, something caught one of her legs and prevented her escape. At that moment, part of the roof collapsed and struck her. Her friend could only watch helplessly and later heard Fortune and others crying out for help — an experience that has left the young girl deeply traumatized," Losike's friend told Odundo.

Speaking about the red-and-white rosary and other items by which Losike identified her daughter, the friend told Odundo: "What surprised her [Losike] was that these items appeared untouched by the fire. Although Fortune's head and neck had been severely burned, the rosary remained intact, looking almost brand-new. This has left Pauline with many questions and reflections."

The friend said that Fortune's spiritual journey was unique.

While attending St. Peter's Girls Boarding Primary School in the Nakuru Diocese, the young girl is said to have been baptized in the Catholic Church.

At home, however, she worshipped with her family at Miracle Church, a Protestant congregation attended by most of her relatives.

Moved by the events surrounding Fortune's death, her family contacted the priest who baptized her, Father Vincent Marube. The priest is said to have confirmed her baptism.

Meanwhile, Odundo described Fortune's witness as moving and explained, in a note he sent to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on June 17: "At an age when many would naturally think first of their own safety, Fortune chose to remain behind so that others might live."

He added: "In a world often marked by self-interest, the story of this young girl reminds us that holiness is not measured by age but by love. Whether in a classroom, a family home, or a moment of crisis, the call of the Gospel remains the same: to love God and to love our neighbor, even at great personal cost."

"May the memory of Fortune Amaya inspire young people to live lives of faith, courage, and service," the Rome-based priest said.

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

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The Diocese of Honolulu is preparing to mark a historic moment as it commemorates 200 years since the arrival of Catholicism in Hawaii.

The diocese announced bicentennial celebrations honoring the July 7, 1827, arrival of the French brothers of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary — the first Catholic missionaries in Hawaii — at a June 17 press conference.

Bishop Larry Silva, who is retiring this summer, said the celebration is "not just about the early missionaries" but also commemorates "the people of Hawaii that embraced the Catholic faith and lived it for generations. They received that faith and wanted to share it with others, as we do today."

Bishop-designate Michael T. Castori, SJ, will be installed as the bishop of Honolulu on July 28.

Kickoff events of the yearlong celebration of 200 years of Catholic life in the islands will take place on July 9, the feast of Our Lady of Peace, who is the patroness of the diocese and of the cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.

Silva said Masses will take place that day at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu and simultaneously at parishes on six other islands.

The bishop told "EWTN News Nightly" anchor Veronica Dudo on June 17 that the celebration is taking place "not only to observe the 200 years but to help us be better evangelizers in this culture in which we live, to be missionaries to not only to the world but to the people right here in Hawaii."

He told EWTN News he hopes that through the yearlong celebration, the faithful will "appreciate the efforts that the missionaries made in coming here."

Silva said he wants the faithful today to be "aware that they, too, are called to be missionaries and that the battle will not be easy at all times. There will be many joys, but there will be many challenges as well. But we can meet those challenges with the help of the Lord."

He explained that the Hawaiian culture at the time of the missionaries' arrival "was a very religious culture," so the missionaries "weren't starting from scratch."

However, native Hawaiians "certainly did not know about Jesus Christ. And so it was an uphill battle, but a battle that was fought valiantly and for much good fruit," he explained, noting that two years after Catholicism's arrival in Hawaii, it was outlawed for 10 years.

"But the faith has thrived" nevertheless, he said.

In preparation for the bicentennial, the historic Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace — where one of Hawaii's best-known saints, St. Damien of Molokai, was ordained — is undergoing renovations.

St. Damien of Molokai, a Belgian priest in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, ministered to lepers in Hawaii from 1873 until his death in 1889.

The rededication of the 183-year-old church is targeted for Aug. 16, 2027, the anniversary of its original dedication in 1843.

A reliquary chapel featuring relics of St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope, a Franciscan nun who also ministered to lepers, will become part of the renovated basilica.

Celebrations will culminate next year, from July 7–9, 2027, anchored by a  closing Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, which Silva described as a "sending forth" for missionaries.

"There are many who have not heard of Jesus Christ here in Hawaii," he said at the press conference. "Who will tell them about him if we don't?"

"It is my hope the celebration … will be a way for all of us to be recommitted and remotivated to go out and share the good news to others, so Jesus may be known, may be loved, may be honored, and may be glorified," the bishop said.

Deacon Mike Browning, chair of the bicentennial planning committee, said at the press conference that the diocese is also planning a heritage pilgrimage to France in October 2027, led by Silva and perhaps Castori, to visit the Sacred Heart community where the first missionaries originated.

He also announced the launch of the bicentennial website, which will be a hub for event information, historical stories, pilgrimage details, and opportunities for the community to participate.

The Diocese of Honolulu became a diocese just months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Today there are 66 parishes and 23 mission churches ministering to Catholics on six islands within the boundaries of the Diocese of Honolulu, making it "a diocese like no other," Silva said.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing a prominent transgender healthcare group for allegedly making false and deceptive claims that misled parents about the risks of transgender medical interventions for children — an issue U.S. Catholic bishops urged them to investigate.

In the complaint, the FTC alleges the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) disregarded evidence and made unsubstantiated claims about cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries that alter "sex traits" to feminize boys and masculinize girls.

Part of the complaint focuses on WPATH's standards of care guidelines for children, which do not set minimum age suggestions for most services. Some surgical interventions include chest surgery, which removes the healthy breasts of girls or adds prosthetic breasts onto boys, and sterilizing surgery on reproductive organs to make the person resemble the opposite sex.

The FTC alleges WPATH's avoidance of recommended age minimums was based on external pressure, including from former President Joe Biden's administration. It alleges WPATH ignored its own reviews of scientific evidence and falsely asserted its final recommendations were based on "rigorous scientific procedures and expert consensus."

In the complaint, the FTC points to email exchanges that were unveiled in court documents in 2024. They show that, in 2021, WPATH's original draft guidance for children included suggested age minimums for certain procedures, but they were removed in the published document amid pressure from Adm. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender four-star officer who was Biden's assistant secretary for health.

Internal emails show WPATH employees saying Levine warned that age-based guidance could be used to justify restrictions on gender transitions for children in Republican-led states. They also show employees noting that setting recommended age minimums is a "consensus-based" guideline before WPATH ultimately removed them from the draft.

One internal email pointed to the lack of evidence for their final published suggestions: "Now that we have reviewed the evidence, we are painfully aware of the gaps in the literature and the kinds of research that are needed to support our recommendations."

In addition to its failure to set minimum age recommendations, the FTC also accuses WPATH of misleading parents by referring to these services as lifesaving despite an absence of evidence that the medicine and surgeries reduce the risk of suicide.

The complaint alleges that WPATH presented these services "as the only alternative to a child's death." It points to examples of clinicians using this rhetoric, which includes providers asking a parent, "Would you rather have a live daughter or a dead son?" The complaint alleges that this false dichotomy induces the purchase of pediatric transition services.

It notes WPATH's membership mostly consists of doctors who profit from the services. It asks the federal court to impose civil penalties on WPATH and to order compliance with consumer protection laws.

"When an organization provides guidance designed to mislead families about the risks, benefits, or medical consensus behind a treatment, it undermines trust in those responsible for providing medical care," FTC Commissioner Mark R. Meador said in a statement.

"Our action today is a straightforward application of the law to ensure that families receive accurate, evidence-based information as they seek to make some of the most important healthcare decisions for their children," he said.

In response to the lawsuit, WPATH issued a statement calling the complaint "baseless" and saying the FTC "is not a medical provider and has no place interfering with the process of individualized medical decision-making."

"The FTC also does not have any jurisdiction over WPATH and its noncommercial speech. The state claims have similar factual and legal flaws," it added.

WPATH accused the FTC of "pure retaliation" to wage a "targeted campaign to undermine gender-affirming care by attacking the First Amendment rights and the independence of professional medical organizations."

Concerns of bishops

In October 2025, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a public comment urging the FTC to investigate "false or unsupported claims" in advertisements for pediatric gender transition services.

The bishops expressed concern that parents were not informed on risks and were being told the services are "lifesaving." The statement also commented on the spiritual dimension, warning against a "rejection of our God-given bodies."

Joseph Meaney, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC), told EWTN News that WPATH operates as "more of a pro-transgender activist organization than an objective healthcare association."

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, a neuroscientist and senior ethicist at NCBC, warned that "when a group of scientists ventures to offer statements about values or ethics, the general public makes the broader assumption that they are offering an 'objective' or 'scientifically informed' viewpoint when in fact it may be little more than raw advocacy masquerading as scientific truth."

"Science itself lacks qualifications to fully address and answer some of the most important ethical questions of our day, especially those related to the dignity of the human person," he said. "Even though scientists are sometimes treated as if they are a new class of 'elite high priests' in our society, they remain just as human as the rest of us and just as subject to the siren calls of various ideologies and misguided viewpoints."

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Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, offered prayers for the victims and families of the victims of a June 15 fatal plane crash at the Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.

"The bishops, priests, religious, and staff of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, join me in offering condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident at Edwards Air Force Base," Broglio said in a statement provided to EWTN News.

"I pray for the repose of the souls of those who have passed away and for the families where an emptiness has been provoked and deep sorrow pierces their hearts," he said. "May the Lord of all mercies bring them consolation."

All eight people aboard the B-52 Stratofortress died when the bomber crashed during a routine test mission. The plane crashed shortly after take off at 11:20 a.m. local time, and the accident is under investigation, according to a statement issued by the base.

The victims included members of the military, government civilians, and contractors. The tests were supporting the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, which seeks to improve the bombers' capabilities of tracking moving surface and air targets.

Col. James Hayes, deputy commander at 412th Test Wing, said in a news conference that first responders immediately attended to the crash, but the bomber had burst into flames on impact and the crash was not survivable.

Hayes offered prayers for the families and said the base "experienced a horrible tragedy and we lost eight great Americans." He said the full review of the accident could take up to six months and, following the investigation, some details will be released to the public.

Rep. Vince Fong, R-California, whose district includes the air force base, said he and his wife are praying for the victims and their families and asked others to pray as well.

"Absolutely heartbreaking," he said in a post on X. "God bless the [eight] crew members on board. Amanda and I are praying for them, their families, and all those in the Edwards community. Rest in peace."

Two of the victims were employees of Boeing, which issued a statement extending condolences to the families and saying the company is in contact with them and offering support.

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Pope Leo XIV on Thursday highlighted the role of universities in an increasingly polarized world, describing them as "privileged places for dialogue."

During a private audience at the Vatican with the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on June 18, Leo said the universities can be promoters of peace at a time "often characterized by violence and pointed rhetoric."

"While not always easy, universities must constantly work to ensure that opportunities for meaningful encounters remain available," Leo said in his remarks. "In an atmosphere where respectful dialogue is possible, everyone can grow in knowledge through learning from the points of view and living testimonies of others, even those with whom they might disagree."

The pope also highlighted the role of the university amid a rise in armed conflicts worldwide. Citing his message for the 59th World Day of Peace in January, Leo encouraged higher education leaders to work for peace within and beyond their academic communities, even if peace seemed impossible.

"Rather than believing peace to be impossible and beyond our reach, we must seek to promote it in our communities and to welcome and recognize it in our own lives," Leo said. "I pray that through forming artisans of peace, the university community may continue to be a beacon of hope and unity in a world that is increasingly divided."

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Pope Leo XIV has declared American religious sister Mary Teresa Tallon venerable.

The pontiff signed a decree on Thursday recognizing the heroic virtue of the foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in New York. He also recognized the heroic virtue of several others, bringing them closer to sainthood.

Just before signing the decree, he met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Mary Teresa Tallon: Making every soul count

Tallon was born on May 6, 1867, in Hanover, New York, as the daughter of Irish immigrants.

In 1887, at the age of 19, Tallon joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross, despite her family's disapproval. She remained part of the congregation for the next 33 years, teaching in Catholic schools in South Bend, Indiana.

During this time, Tallon was inspired to establish a new congregation dedicated to contemplation and to preaching the Gospel to the neglected. In 1920, she left the Sisters of the Holy Cross and, on Aug. 15, established the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate (PVMI). She gave it the motto "Make every soul count."

Considered a gifted scholar, Tallon authored a report documenting the first decade of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in New York for the National Catechetical Congress in 1936.

Tallon died on Feb. 10, 1954, after a prolonged illness.

In 2013, she was declared a servant of God in recognition of her holiness.

Others declared venerable

Pope Leo XIV on June 18 also moved several other servants of God along the path to sainthood.

Two Italians were declared venerable: Maria Agnese Tribbioli, a religious sister who founded the Pie Operaie di San Giuseppe congregation, and Maria Petra Giordano, a Dominican nun.

Others included Spanish nun Clara Andreu y Malferit and Belgian missionary Júlio Maria de Lombaerde.

Leo also recognized the martyrdom of Juan Torres Torres and 19 companions, all Catholic priests, for having been killed "in odium fidei" ("in hatred of the faith") in Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

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Amid a legal dispute, the federal government will be permitted to put down a six-figure deposit as it moves to acquire a large parcel of land from the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to install fencing and other security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales said in a June 15 ruling the government could deposit the $183,071, which he said would "allow for the safekeeping of funds pending resolution" of the dispute.

The order represents a blow for the Las Cruces Diocese, which since May has been fending off the government's attempt to seize the land under eminent domain.

The government says it seeks the land, located northwest of El Paso, Texas, "to construct, install, operate, and maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, and related structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the state of New Mexico."

The diocese had sought to block the deposit of the funds amid the legal fight, but Gonzales said allowing the deposit will "not interfere with, alter, or nullify [the diocese's] right to challenge the validity of the taking."

The judge further argued that "transferring title [of the land] to the United States is in no way a final or irrevocable action that would deprive [the diocese] of an opportunity to contest the validity of the taking."

The disputed land parcel runs along the base of Mount Cristo Rey. Atop of that mountain is a 29-foot-tall statue of Christ, marking a shrine the diocese said in May is the "site of annual pilgrimages" that draw thousands to the mountain.

The diocese had earlier told the government that the land seizure would "constitute a significant infringement on religious freedom and the rights of worship" given the religious significance of the site.

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