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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 2, 2025 / 13:33 pm (CNA).

Police in Croatia's capital city of Zagreb suspect that a nun stabbed herself and then falsely reported that she had been attacked, according to a report published by the Zagreb Police Department.

The department is filing a criminal complaint against the 35-year-old nun, Sister Marija Tatjana Zrno, after a four-day investigation into the allegations. The initial incident made national headlines, with many people first speculating it was a religiously motivated attack.

According to the report, Zrno told police that an unknown perpetrator approached her with a knife and stabbed her, after which she was treated at the Sisters of Charity Hospital in Zagreb for minor injuries.

However, police allege their investigation confirmed that Zrno purchased the weapon herself at a store in the Zagreb area. The police allege that their investigation determined that she inflicted the injury on herself.

The report alleges that Zrno falsely reported the criminal offense with the intent of misleading the police, despite being aware that filing a false report carries a penalty. The police are filing a criminal complaint with the Municipal State Attorney's office.

The Archdiocese of Zagreb and the Episcopal Conference of Croatia, which represents the country's Catholic bishops, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zrno, who belongs to the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Croatia and teaches religion at an elementary school in Zagreb, was hospitalized with the injuries on Nov. 28 after she said she was stabbed in the city's Malešnica neighborhood.

The Sisters of Charity Hospital said in a statement to Net.hr that Zrno entered the surgical ward around 3 p.m. with an injury inflicted by a sharp object in the abdominal wall area. The injuries were not life-threatening, and the hospital provided medical treatment and alerted the police, according to the statement.

According to the police report, she was discharged on Dec. 1.

The Croatian government's official X account posted that police and health workers took all necessary measures and actions and launched an investigation. The Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth had contacted the school principal to provide a psychological crisis intervention team to assist colleagues and students.

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomaševic told local media at the time that his primary focus was on Zrno's recovery but asked police to fully investigate the incident and publish their findings as soon as possible, noting that many people in the country were upset about the news.

Initial speculation on social media and in some media reports asserted that unnamed sources had claimed an attacker was a migrant who shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the stabbing. 

The police report said the department's criminal investigation found those claims to be false and said the department fully refutes those claims.

Amid the media speculation and aggressive discourse surrounding the incident initially, a Croatian priest named Father Stjepan Ivan Horvat posted on Instagram that Catholics are called to grow in love for God and man and warned against calls for vengeance that he had seen.

He quoted the words of Jesus Christ in John 15:18-20: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first." 

"If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 2, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) allocated more than $7.8 million to strengthen American mission dioceses, which are dioceses that cannot sustain themselves without additional funds.

The USCCB Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions announced the grants on Dec. 1, which will provide 69 dioceses and eparchies with funds for the 2025-2026 budget year, according to a news release. The subcommittee reviewed the grant requests in the fall.

Per the news release, the funds were generated through collections from parishioners during the Catholic Home Missions appeal, which is taken up annually throughout the country. Many mission dioceses are in regions with small Catholic populations and in rural areas that are affected by economic hardship, the bishops said in the announcement.

"When parishioners contribute to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, they bring faith, hope, and love where it is most needed, regardless the amount of their gift," Bishop Chad Zielinski of New Ulm, Minnesota, subcommittee chair, said in a statement.

"Their gifts have a profound, positive impact on Catholics who face poverty or the isolation of being a small, minority faith," he said.

The recipients include the Diocese of Rapid City's Standing Rock Reservation Ministry, which serves the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Three Franciscan sisters and one priest lead the team to provide home visitations and faith formation, which cares for 500 Catholics at four parishes and offers social support and accompaniment to 8,000 other residents, according to the bishops.

Recipients include the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, for its Office of Deliverance Ministry, which provides prayers of deliverance for those with spiritual struggles. 

Another recipient is the Syro-Malankara Eparchy of St. Mary Queen of Peace, which has 24 priests that serve 11,000 parishioners but has no paid lay staff. The grant supports a youth summer camp, retreats, family conventions, and vocational discernment.

"These stories reveal the wide range of spiritual and financial needs that the Catholic Home Missions Appeal addresses," Zielinski said. 

"Parishioners in mission dioceses already give sacrificially from their limited means," he added. "My prayer is that their example of faith will inspire the rest of us [to] dig deeper to help our neighbors carry out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to us," Zielinski said. 

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ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 2, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).

The Puerto Rican Bishops' Conference has expressed its opposition to the militarization being carried out by the United States on the island, an unincorporated U.S. territory, and in the Caribbean Sea region and warned of the "possible escalations" of a war with Venezuela.

The Puerto Rican bishops noted various calls for peace from popes Leo XIV, Francis, and St. John XXIII, and denounced the "adverse effects" of militarization, such as "the restriction of airspace and maritime routes and military maneuvers in different towns in Puerto Rico, with their collateral consequences on fishing activity."

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has sent some 15,000 troops to the Caribbean Sea region, 5,000 of whom are in Puerto Rico. According to CNN, a dozen ships have also arrived in the area, and U.S. forces have sunk several vessels allegedly loaded with drugs, causing the deaths of more than 80 people.

Trump's objective is reportedly to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he accuses of being the leader of the Cartel de los Soles, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization. In this context, on Nov. 30, Trump told reporters that he had a phone call with Maduro, although he did not provide further details.

"We are aware of the structural injustices that plague some political systems in neighboring countries and we condemn the trafficking of drugs and weapons in our Caribbean region. But dialogue between societies and government diplomacy must always prevail over conflict to avoid war at all costs," states the communiqué signed by all the bishops of Puerto Rico.

"War should never be the solution to conflicts; war does not bring peace, but death. It always brings death and causes grave harm to countries, sometimes to the most defenseless," they emphasized.

After encouraging efforts for peace, the bishops expressed their concern about "the possible escalations that a war against Venezuela could entail, with a potential reaction from its allies in Latin America, such as Russia, China, and Iran."

"We unite in prayer and express our solidarity with our brother bishops of Venezuela, and together with them, with their beloved Venezuelan people. We know that they have been living through difficult times for years, with division, tension, and political uncertainty, which this military mobilization has intensified," they stated.

The bishops also encouraged everyone "to join in prayer for peace in our land, in Venezuela and neighboring countries, as well as throughout the world."

In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, the governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González, a Republican, said: "I support and back the actions of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump's policy regarding dealing with Venezuela." She also charged that "much if not most" criminal activity on the island comes from "Venezuela and Colombia."

The governor expressed approval of the U.S. attacks on the crews and boats allegedly loaded with illegal drugs destined for the U.S. She labeled Maduro a "narco-dictator" not recognized by the U.S. as the legitimate president of the country because of massive election fraud by his government.

González said that according to various surveys, "82% of the citizenry" in Puerto Rico supports the arrival of American troops because their presence "provides security" and that she has no fear that Venezuela would attack the island if a war breaks out.

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

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CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Rome after his first apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

Note: CNA has concluded this live blog. Please visit our main website for ongoing coverage and other Catholic news.

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Rome, Italy, Dec 2, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has begun conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to halt violence and seek solutions in the Middle East, the pope told journalists on his Tuesday flight from Beirut to Rome.

The wide-ranging news conference also touched on Ukraine, the Catholic Church in Germany, and Leo's own election as pope, among other topics.

In response to a question referring to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed political party and militia that holds significant influence in Lebanon, the pope said that during the trip he also held personal meetings with representatives of unnamed political groups involved in regional conflicts. "Our work is not something we announce publicly," he said. "We try to convince the parties to put down the arms and violence and come together to the table of dialogue."

Leo also addressed concerns about Islam in Europe, saying fear is often "generated by people who are against immigration." He said the Middle East offers an alternative model. "One of the great lessons that Lebanon can teach to the world," he said, "is showing a land where Islam and Christianity are both present and respected, and where there is a possibility to live together."

On Ukraine, Leo repeated his appeal for a ceasefire. He acknowledged that the United States is seeking to promote a peace plan, but "the presence of Europe is important," noting that the administration in Washington modified its first proposal after European concerns. He suggested that Italy could play "a very important role" as an intermediary.

Asked about his own election, he said he had once imagined retiring. He affirmed his commitment to conclave secrecy but recalled telling a reporter the day before his election that "everything is in the hands of God." When the reality of the vote became clear, he said, "I took a deep breath. I said, here we go, Lord, you are in charge." Leo added that he is often amused by journalists' interpretations of his expressions. "You think you can read my mind or my face," he joked, "and you are not always correct."

Leo said he hopes his next trip will be to somewhere in Africa and said he wants eventually to go to Algeria to visit sites associated with St. Augustine and continue building bridges with Muslims. He said he would also like to visit Argentina and Uruguay, which have been waiting for a papal visit. He added that other Latin American countries, including Peru, are being considered, but "nothing is confirmed."

On Venezuela, Leo said the Holy See is working with the national bishops' conference and the nuncio to calm tensions after recent threats from the United States. "We are looking for ways to calm the situation," he said, "seeking above all the good of the people, because so often those who suffer are the people, not the authorities."

Responding to a question about the German Church's Synodal Way, a controversial series of meetings of bishops and laity that have proposed major changes to Catholic doctrine and governance, Leo noted concerns among many German Catholics that "certain aspects of the Synodal Way … do not represent their own hope for the Church." He stressed the need for "dialogue and listening … so that the voice of those who are more powerful does not silence or stifle" others.

"I suspect there will be some adjustments made on both sides in Germany, but I'm certainly hopeful that things will work out positively," Leo said. He added that the ongoing meetings between German bishops and the Roman Curia aim "to try and make sure that the German Synodal Way does not, if you will, break away from what needs to be considered as the pathway of the universal Church."

Asked what the Middle Eastern Church can offer the West, Leo reflected on the value of unity in an individualistic age. "Young people ask, why should I want to be one?" he said. "But unity, friendship, human relationships, communion are extremely important and extremely valuable." Recalling the testimony of Christians and Muslims who helped one another after their villages were destroyed, he said such gestures show how "authentic peace and justice" can take root when people overcome distrust.

In response to a question about how he is learning to be pope, Leo recommended a book that he said has shaped his own life by the 17th-century Carmelite friar known as Brother Lawrence. "If you want to know something about me," he said, "read 'The Practice of the Presence of God.' It describes a way of prayer where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead. That has been my spirituality for many years."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 2, 2025 / 12:03 pm (CNA).

Bishop Patrick Neary of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, has been appointed as the chair of Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) board. 

Neary was appointed by Archbishop Paul Coakley, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) president. Neary succeeds Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia. 

Neary assumes responsibilities for the role immediately, and the term runs until November 2028. 

"It is a profound honor to serve as chairman of the Catholic Relief Services board," Neary said, according to a press release. "My years in Africa and in parish ministry have shown me the face of Christ in the poor and the vulnerable, and I carry those encounters with me into this role."

Neary praised CRS for embodying the Church's mission of compassionate accompaniment of those in need and lauded his predecessor, Pérez, for "his commitment to advocating for the dignity of the poor and amplifying the voices of the vulnerable."

"I hope to lead with a heart of mercy, listening and working alongside our partners to uphold the dignity of every person," Neary said. "Together, we will continue to bring the light of Christ to communities around the world, especially those most in need."

Neary has served as bishop of Saint Cloud since he was appointed by Pope Francis in December 2022. He served in Kenya and Uganda for eight years before returning to the U.S., then served as rector of Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon. 

"We are delighted for Bishop Neary to join as CRS chairman of the board of directors," said Sean Callahan, president and CEO of CRS. "We are certain that he will bring strong leadership and help CRS continue our mission of lifesaving work and advocacy for our sisters and brothers around the world."

Neary was ordained a priest in 1991 at the University of Notre Dame, where he was also rector for many years. 

According to its website, CRS serves 225 million people across 122 countries annually and has 1,735 partners around the world. 

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CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2025 / 01:11 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV concludes his visit to Lebanon on Dec. 2. Watch LIVE the major events of Pope Leo's first apostolic journey Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 at youtube.com/@ewtnnews and follow our live updates of his historic visit:

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Jal el Dib, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 02:07 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV told hospital patients and caregivers in Lebanon that he had come to "where Jesus dwells," adding that Christ is present "in you who are ill, and in you who care for the ailing." He delivered the message during a Tuesday morning visit to De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, one of the final stops of his trip to Lebanon as the country continues to struggle with the wounds of conflict and economic collapse.

The Holy Father addressed staff, patients, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross who operate the institution. Pointing to the hospital's founder, Blessed Yaaqub El-Haddad, Pope Leo described him as a "tireless apostle of charity" whose devotion to the suffering shaped the institution's identity.

"Your presence is a tangible sign of the merciful love of Christ," Leo told the healthcare workers, comparing their service to the Good Samaritan who stopped for the wounded man. He urged them not to lose heart when fatigue or discouragement take hold. "Keep before your eyes the good you are able to accomplish. In God's eyes, it is a great work."

Pope Leo also offered a pointed appeal to Lebanese society. A community focused only on achievement and wellbeing, he warned, risks abandoning its most vulnerable members. "We cannot conceive of a society that races ahead at full speed while ignoring so many situations of poverty and vulnerability." Christians, he insisted, are called to make the poor a priority because "the cry of the poor," heard throughout Scripture, continues to demand a response.

Jal el Dib, a town in Lebanon's Matn district with a largely Maronite Catholic population, grew from a small Ottoman-era stop on the Beirut–Tripoli route into a commercial hub during the French Mandate, the period of French-administered rule that shaped much of modern Lebanon after World War I. In that setting, the De La Croix institution, founded in 1919 by Blessed Yaaqub, developed into one of the region's most significant centers for psychiatric care and mental disability services. Operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, it now includes five patient pavilions and serves more than 2,200 people each year.

Turning to the patients, the pope emphasized their dignity and their place in the heart of God. "You are close to the heart of God our Father. He holds you in the palm of his hand," he said. "Today, the Lord repeats to each one of you: 'I love you, I care for you, you are my child. Never forget this!'" At times during the visit, Leo seemed to be holding back tears.

After the public event, Pope Leo was scheduled to visit one of the hospital's pavilions privately to meet patients and staff.

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Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 03:15 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV paused on the final morning of his trip to Lebanon before the ruins of the Beirut port explosion, praying in silence and placing a wreath in memory of the victims. He also met families of those killed and survivors still carrying the wounds of the 2020 blast.

The pope lit a candle and laid down a wreath of red flowers at the site, and seemed at one point to hold back tears. Afterwards, he spoke with family members of victims, some of whom who were holding photographs of their relatives killed in the blast.

The pope's silent prayer at the port unfolded against an unresolved search for justice, a grief still felt across Lebanon.

Five years after the August 4, 2020 explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, families of the 236 people killed and more than 7,000 wounded say they are still waiting for truth and accountability. Vast neighborhoods of Beirut were shattered, yet justice remains elusive. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam greeted the pope at the site.

Lebanon's investigation has been marked by political interference and long periods of inactivity. Although the probe formally resumed in 2025 after a two-year halt, it remains stalled. Successive governments have failed to ensure an independent and impartial process, leaving families of victims facing what they describe as a prolonged denial of justice.

Several senior officials summoned by lead investigative judge Tarek Bitar have resisted cooperation, invoking immunity or filing legal challenges that repeatedly froze the inquiry.

Some movement returned in early 2025. Judge Bitar resumed work in February after new public commitments by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Salam to uphold the rule of law. The following month, interim top prosecutor Jamal Hajjar reversed earlier measures that had paralyzed the investigation. A number of figures, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Major General Abbas Ibrahim, responded to summonses, while others, including members of parliament, continued to refuse cooperation.

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Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 04:52 am (CNA).

Beirut heard a different kind of voice on Tuesday morning. In a city still marked by the sounds of the 2024 escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanon to rise above violence and division. "Lebanon, stand up. Be a home of justice and fraternity. Be a prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant," he said at a Mass attended by about 150,000 people at Beirut Waterfront.

The liturgy closed the final day of the pope's visit to a nation strained by intermittent political paralysis, economic freefall and persistent instability. The Waterfront itself carries symbolic weight. Built on land reclaimed from the sea with rubble from downtown Beirut destroyed in the civil war, it has come to represent both loss and reconstruction.

In his homily, Pope Leo spoke of praise, hope, beauty and responsibility, calling for unity at a moment of national fracture. He acknowledged the burdens carried by the Lebanese people and said praise becomes difficult "when life is weighed down by hardship." Lebanon, he added, has suffered "many problems" and "difficult situations" that leave people feeling powerless.

The pope urged the country to rediscover gratitude. Lebanon, he said, is "the recipient of a rare beauty," even though that beauty is often obscured by suffering. The country is also, he noted, a witness to how "evil, in its various forms, can obscure this splendor."

From the open coastal space, he recalled biblical images of Lebanon. He then pointed to the nation's present wounds: poverty, political instability, economic collapse and renewed fear after conflict. He mentioned his prayer earlier in the day at the Beirut port, the site of the 2020 explosion, and connected that visit to the broader national trauma. In such circumstances, he said, praise and hope can give way to disillusionment.

The pope invited the faithful to look for "small shining lights in the heart of the night." Jesus, he said, gives thanks not for extraordinary signs but for the faith and humility of "little ones." He spoke of the "small signs of hope" found in families, parishes, religious communities and lay people who remain dedicated to service and to the Gospel. These lights, he said, promise rebirth.

He urged the country not to yield to "the logic of violence" or the "idolatry of money," and asked all Lebanese to work together. "Everyone must do their part," he said. He called for a "dream of a united Lebanon" where peace and justice prevail and where all recognize one another as brothers and sisters.

At the end of Mass, the pope offered a spontaneous prayer for peace in the region and the world, calling on "Christians of the Levant" to be "artisans of peace, heralds of peace, witnesses of peace."

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