Catholic News

More than 60 bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople participated in the first Caribbean abuse prevention meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the aim of strengthening the culture of care within the Church.

The event, held April 19–22 at the Manresa Ignatian Spirituality Center, brought together participants from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Haiti in addition to the Dominican hosts.

The meeting served as an opportunity to discuss the prevention of abuse, taking into account its pastoral, psychological, and legal dimensions, according to a statement from the Dominican episcopate.

Archbishop Héctor Rafael Rodríguez of Santiago de los Caballeros, president of the Dominican Bishops' Conference (CED, by its Spanish acronym), emphasized that "as evangelizers, we must ensure safe environments where every person, especially the most vulnerable, is respected."

"Written protocols are not enough unless they are embodied in concrete attitudes," the prelate emphasized.

Furthermore, Auxiliary Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera of Cusco, Peru, secretary-general of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops' Council (CELAM, by its Spanish acronym), stated that "the prevention of abuse in the Church is neither a strategy nor an option; it is a commitment of the Gospel."

Therefore, the bishop added, "it is fundamental that we commit ourselves to working together on prevention and on the protection of the most vulnerable."

Auxiliary Bishop José Amable Durán Tineo of Santo Domingo, president of the Dominican bishops' National Commission for Pastoral Ministry for the Culture of Care, encouraged continued work in the region, "applying the knowledge acquired under the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

The Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Culture of Care is composed of bishops and delegates from the offices, commissions, and councils of bishops' conferences as well as other Latin American ecclesial bodies, the statement from the CED noted.

It was formed during the first meeting held in Chile in 2023. Its second meeting was held in Colombia in 2024, and its third meeting took place in the Dominican Republic in 2025. The network serves as a vehicle to coordinate abuse prevention within the Church.

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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A coalition of pro-life groups urged the U.S. Senate in a letter to extend the defunding of abortion providers into 2026 and beyond.

The Trump administration defunded Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers for one year; this letter asks the Senate to continue this defunding for 10 years.

Signed by Live Action Founder Lila Rose, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser, March for Life Action President Jennie Bradley Lichter, and more than 30 others, the letter urges the Senate to ban abortion funding in the 2026 budget reconciliation package.

"Without further congressional action, federal funding for the abortion industry will resume after July 4, 2026, and taxpayer dollars will once again flow to organizations whose core business model relies on abortion," the letter read.

"The financial stakes are significant," the letter continued. "Planned Parenthood alone receives over $830 million annually in taxpayer funding, primarily through federal health programs. Ending this funding would represent one of the most meaningful pro-taxpayer reforms Congress can enact."

Pennsylvania court rules state Medicaid program must cover abortion

A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that the state constitution guarantees a right to abortion and that state Medicaid funds must cover abortion.

The April 20 decision struck down a decades-old law that protected taxpayer money from being used to cover abortion through Medicaid.

The case could still be appealed to Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.

In addition to Pennsylvania, 21 states in the U.S. use Medicaid funds to cover abortion, and an additional seven states sometimes do in certain circumstances.

Pennsylvania joins 12 other states that have enshrined a right to abortion in their state constitutions.

In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal through 23 weeks of pregnancy.

U.S. senator urges Federal Trade Commission to investigate 'misleading' claims by abortion drug groups

Sen. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate abortion drug manufacturers' claims that the drugs are "safer than Tylenol."

In an April 20 letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Banks asked the commission to investigate "misleading" claims made by those selling abortion drugs, as the trade commission can intervene in "deceptive trade practices."

"Many online clinics — including online clinics that ship to women in Indiana — explicitly state on their websites that abortion drugs are safer than Tylenol," Banks said. "Others claim that abortion drugs almost never cause serious complications."

"At best, these statements are misleading," Banks continued.

"Emerging evidence indicates that abortion drugs are more dangerous than manufacturers and dispensers claim and cause serious medical complications in a concerning number of cases," Banks said.

Banks urged the commission to "act swiftly and without delay," noting that "companies that profit from abortion drugs should be honest about their risk."

Thousands gather for Virginia March for Life

Thousands of Virginians gathered for a March for Life on Wednesday in Richmond, Virginia.

Speakers included national March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter, leaders from the American Association of Pro-Life OB-GYNs, and the Catholic dioceses of Richmond and Arlington, among others.

On the day of, The Family Foundation Action, which partnered with other organizations to host the March for Life, also held a training session for pro-lifers designed to equip them to talk about abortion.

"We had about 1,000 people attend the training, which is remarkable," Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, told EWTN News. "We had four different trainings: one for ministry leaders, students, medical professionals, and pro-life activists. Attendees were thrilled to be equipped to be more than just a voter but an influencer."

Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout led the closing prayer of the rally before the march.

"Father, we ask you for grace today, for all those entrusted with the responsibility of leadership in our commonwealth, that they have the courage to turn away from the darkness of the culture of death and turn toward the light of the Gospel of life," Knestout prayed.

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During this year's National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead, who personally carries the cross of infertility, spoke about the difficult topic with the hope of making others experiencing it feel less alone.

NIAW runs from April 19–25, bringing attention to the high numbers of people — now 1 in 6 globally — who experience infertility at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organization.

Snead, a fellow at The Catholic Association, tackles the topic in her book "Infertile But Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can't Conceive." Through her story and the stories of other women, she wrote the book to be "the voice of a friend who has been where you are now and made it through in one piece."

Snead said the book was "a chance for me to add to the growing conversation and awareness about infertility, especially among Catholics for whom in vitro fertilization (IVF) (the standard 'cure' for infertility) is not an option."

In an interview with EWTN News, Snead shared her perspective and offered encouragement and advice for couples navigating the grief of infertility.

EWTN News: What might people not know about infertility?

Leigh Snead: For sure, how many people are suffering from it. For good reasons, this is a particularly private cross — it involves the most intimate parts of your marriage, for one. But marriage is public, and people can easily see if you do or don't have children, or, in most cases, whether or not you're expecting.

There is a lot of hard stuff experienced in silence and even shame. It might be hard to understand if you haven't been through it, but it can feel almost humiliating when you can't conceive and so you tend to slap on a smile and pretend nothing is wrong.

It's too bad when we give in to this temptation to isolate ourselves from others who really only want to help. Yes, their concern can feel like even more pressure on top of what you may already be feeling internally, but you should open yourself up to their prayers.

In the same way, pray for married couples and couples you think might be carrying the cross of infertility, even before they ask you.

What do you wish you knew when you began navigating infertility, and what would you tell couples who are going through it now?

I wish I hadn't overlooked and underestimated the relief and comfort I could have received by being more open about my physical and emotional struggles when facing infertility. The more I kept it a secret, the more shameful it all felt, which led to isolation and even more secrecy and shame.

Privacy is one thing, but purposefully forgoing the love and prayers of those who only care for you out of shame over something you have little to no control over — nothing good can come of that.

What steps can couples who are going through infertility take?

Seek good medical care that aligns with your values. Learn and develop a good understanding of what the Church teaches, especially about the prohibition of IVF. Understand the "why" — not just the fact that it's "not allowed." Communicate with each other and make time to enjoy your marriage even though you're struggling.

Bear this burden together. Find parish support groups or a group online. Pray together and choose a saint to accompany you. You're probably going to feel and think some dark things, so frequent confession, spiritual direction, and counseling is a good idea.

What does the Catholic Church offer couples who struggle with this? What do you think the Church can do to further help them?

The teachings on marriage, sexuality, and procreation the Church gives us are such a gift, but we need to be reminded of them regularly. I'd like to see more priests and seminarians become fluent in the language of Catholic infertility. I think making a discussion about the possibility of infertility should be included in marriage prep courses.

The Catholic infertility ministry Springs in the Desert is a great resource not only for those carrying the cross of infertility but for those, like priests, hoping to support them.

What advice do you have for couples who are being pushed to try IVF and other methods that do not align with Church teaching?

Seek medical care from a doctor who respects or, even better, shares your views on marriage, sexuality, procreation, and human dignity. This is true for whatever type of medical care you may be seeking and is not limited to fertility care. If you feel mistreated by your physician, just walk out. There is another doctor out there who will provide you with the care you deserve.

You and your husband eventually became parents though adoption. What would you want people to know about adoption?

I think it's important to keep in mind that infertility and adoption are not to be lumped together, and I try to not conflate the two in my work. That's not always easy for me because I have four beautiful sons through the great gift of adoption.

Not everyone with a diagnosis of infertility will be called to adopt a child. There are so many ways to be fruitful! We shouldn't limit our idea of a fruitful marriage to the raising of children, and no one should feel obliged to adopt because they're unable to conceive. And if they don't hear that call to adopt it does not mean that they didn't "really" want a child, or that they aren't suffering.

In a similar fashion, adoption fulfilled my call to motherhood but the arrival of my sons did not "cure" my infertility, nor did it take away the scars infertility can leave behind. It's one of those messy parts of life where you feel all the feelings at once.

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The Diocese of Rome shared the testimonies of eight seminarians who, on April 26, Good Shepherd Sunday, will be ordained priests by Pope Leo XIV. Among them is Christian Sguazzino, who as a child was once kicked out of Mass by a priest because he was causing "chaos."

Sguazzino, together with Deacon Danilo Defant and Sister Ester Maddalena Iapenna, will share their testimonies on Friday, April 24, at St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of Rome, during the prayer vigil for vocations.

Sguazzino discovered his vocation at St. John of the Cross Parish. "When I was a child — after having made my first Communion — I would go play soccer and then attend Mass every day, always bringing a friend along," the future priest recounted.

"At that time, there wasn't even a proper church building; instead, services were held in tents. My friends and I, naturally, caused a bit of chaos. So, one day the assistant pastor kicked us out and told us we would be excommunicated!" he shared with a smile.

Recalling that time of mischief, Sguazzino said that "even then — despite everything — I felt the joy of being in church; I loved looking at the altar and the tabernacle." Along his journey, he emphasized, it was crucial to meet "so many priests who were happy to be priests. Their witness was fundamental."

An uncle who was a priest always supported him

Yordan Camilo Medina is Colombian and has an uncle who is a priest. As a child, he recounted, "I used to accompany him to take Communion to the mountain communities, and the joy of the faithful upon receiving the body of Christ was incredible."

"Now he, too, is in Rome, and I have followed him here on my path of priestly formation. He has always supported me," he added.

He dreamed of becoming a friar

Giovanni Emanuele Nunziante is 32 years old. He was born in Rome but spent part of his childhood in England. "If I had to tell you how my vocation began, my earliest memory dates back to when I was a child," he said. "I didn't yet fully understand what it meant to be a priest, but I dreamed of being close to the Lord and toyed with the idea of ??becoming a friar. Then, it all faded into oblivion!"

The call returned with force in 2016, during the Fourth Sunday of Easter. "Upon hearing the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, that desire to be close to the Lord in a special way returned ... I realized that my deepest desire was to offer my life just as Jesus did — the Good Shepherd," he said.

The influence of the Neocatechumenal Way

Antonino Ordine, 27, related that his vocation was born within the faith formation program known as the Neocatechumenal Way: "I was born and raised in a very practicing family, and this led me to appreciate the beauty of the work the Church carries out on a daily basis. I was fortunate enough to meet priests and missionary families especially during a mission in Sweden who were fundamental to my discernment."

He had wanted to become a doctor and after having served on missions in Latin America, the Middle East, and India, he realized that God was calling him to give himself completely out of love for him.

He was born in Africa into a non-Catholic family

Jos Emanuel Nleme Sabate was born in Cameroon. "My father was Protestant and we often prayed at home," he said. "When I was 11 years old, I entered the minor seminary of my home diocese because it had a reputation as an excellent school. It was there that I learned about Catholicism."

"I was baptized at the age of 12 and I believe it was during that rite, which was unfamiliar to me at the time, that I decided to become a priest," he shared. He is now studying sign language and helping people with disabilities.

He was a pianist of international stature

"I come from a Catholic family," Daniele Riscica related, "and I have always participated in parish activities; however, I studied at the Frosinone Conservatory and completed my piano studies in classical music. From there, I continued my career as a concert pianist."

Regarded as a rising star of the international piano scene by the age of 24, he said, "I had already achieved many goals in life, yet I was not satisfied. I felt that God was calling me to something more. So I tried entering the seminary — almost as a test ... and there I felt happy."

He is grateful for his parents' faith

Giorgio Larosa is 30 years old and said that his "vocation was born out of attending the parish, thanks to the faith my parents instilled in me."

His parents' example, as well as "the example of other Christians, laypeople and priests, was also very powerful. In their stories, I saw the power of the Gospel," he recounted.

He left his job and entered the seminary

Guglielmo Lapenna is 35 years old and worked in a liquor factory before beginning his formation for the priesthood.

"During World Youth Day 2016 in Kraków, I decided to leave my job and enter the seminary," he shared, adding: "And the Lord has reaffirmed my vocation every day."

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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A Dominican nun from New York recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living nun celebrated her 113th birthday this week.

Sister Francis Domenici Piscatella was born on April 20, 1913, on Long Island.

"My whole mind is [on] God. He has kept me going all these years," she told Fox 5 News.

"God gives us a certain amount of years to live, and we try to live out that number of years," the nun told Fox News. "I've given up counting my years. I never really thought I would get to be that age."

Sister Piscatella, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville since 1931, has dedicated 94 years of her life to the service of the Church. "I wanted to be someone important to the sisters," she remarked, although those who know her attest that she has had a profound influence on generations of students and religious alike.

A life marked by faith and resilience

The nun lost part of her left arm at the age of 2 in an accident, but it did not prevent her from pursuing her vocation. "I had to show them that the fact that I had only one arm didn't in any way impede me," she told Channel 7 Eyewitness News.

"No one ever had to help me. If anyone helped someone else, I was the one who did the helping," she said.

"I always ran to church and prayed all the time," she recalled, highlighting the role of faith in her life.

She was a teacher for 52 years. At Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York, she taught geometry, drawing perfect circles on the blackboard with her one good arm.

A testimony that inspires generations

Those who know her highlight her tireless spirit. Even at the age of 110, she continued performing household chores and attending Mass daily. "I hope you saw something good about this old lady," she said humbly.

During Sister Piscatella's lifetime, there have been 10 popes, 20 U.S. presidents, two world wars, and several pandemics. According to Guinness World Records, she became the world's oldest nun following the passing of the Brazilian religious Inah Canabarro Lucas.

During the celebration of her 113th birthday, she said: "It's very kind of everybody who came and made this such a lovely day." She even received a proclamation from Pope Leo, the 10th pontiff to be elected in her lifetime.

With a life that continues to bear fruit, Sister Piscatella has become a living symbol of persevering faith and quiet service, leaving an indelible mark on the Church and on those who have passed through her classrooms.

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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Pope Leo XIV departed Africa and returned to Rome on April 23, concluding an 11-day visit to several countries that marked his first visit as pope to the continent.

The Holy Father departed Equatorial Guinea after saying Mass at the coastal nation's Malabo Stadium. He had earlier visited Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola throughout mid-April.

Here's a look at Leo XIV's departure from Africa and return home:

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Catholics of Jewish descent shared their faith journeys and urged renewed dialogue and theological clarity to counter antisemitism at a Benedictine College panel.

The panel was part of an April 22 event, "Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Jewish-Catholic Friendship at a Moment of Crisis," cosponsored by the college and the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism.

Featured speakers on the panel included Yarden Zelivansky, an active reserve sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a Jewish convert to Catholicism; Gideon Lazar, an American Jewish convert to Catholicism; and Aviva Lund, a Catholic of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

The panel was moderated by Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism founding member Simone Rizkallah and Peter Wolfgang, president of the Family Institute of Connecticut Action.

Gen Z and Jewish-Catholic Relations

Observing an uptick in antisemitism among Catholics online, Lazar pointed to Gen Z's reticence to accept arguments rooted in "brotherhood" or theological similarities between Catholics and Jews.

Lazar said Gen Z men are looking for answers related to theological and political differences, and that when arguments fail to address these differences, "what they're hearing is you don't have answers to their questions."

"Gen Z men in many ways see a culture that has failed them, and they're looking for answers and feel that because the older generations failed them, they don't have those answers," Lazar said.

"When Gen Z men don't get those real answers," he said, "they're going to get them from random antisemites online who have quote-mined a bunch of random Church fathers to make the Church fathers and the tradition look antisemitic."

He further condemned the weaponization of the phrase "Christ is King," saying "one of the worst things that's happened is this beautiful message, the kingship of Christ, has been corrupted by people who are fundamentally opposed to Christ."

"How are we possibly supposed to tell our Jewish brothers and sisters that Jesus is their Messiah when we tell that to them, they think that means you hate us?" he said. "This should be a message of love."

Being a Jewish Catholic convert in Israel

Zelivanksy, who co-hosts "The Voice of Jacob" podcast with Lazar, shared that his experience being a Jewish convert to Catholicism living in Israel has been "mostly surprisingly benign."

"It seems to me that especially since Oct. 7, [2023], there's been a shift in how Israelis view what kind of makes you a part of the nation of Israel," Zelivansky said, explaining even if Israelis disagree with your theological position, he said, it is more important to them that "you do what everybody else does to be a part of the nation of Israel."

"I can't say life is too complicated for me as a Christian. Generally, people seem to just not really care," he said, noting that his IDF gear and car are marked with the Jerusalem cross.

"A lot of the problems people speak of in Israel are kind of centered in Jerusalem," said Zelivanksy, who lives just outside Tel Aviv. "My friends who live in Jerusalem do experience some of the spitting and the cursing that you hear about, but I've never experienced it anywhere else."

Zelivansky, who attended the conference virtually after his flight was delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, also offered his view as a Catholic regarding the war.

"Faith comes first. Faith informs morals. Morals inform politics," he said. "And serving in a certain country's military certainly does not entail agreeing with every single policy."

"I wouldn't say it's my place to comment on politics," he said. "I would say that we all need to inform ourselves on current events that are relevant to us and examine them in the light of faith and not examine faith in the light of politics, which is something that tends to happen a lot, left and right, these days."

Jewish-Catholic identity

During her remarks, Lund said embracing her Jewish roots as a cradle Catholic among her extended Jewish family has been a mostly positive experience, noting: "From my experience, Jews are not evangelical. They just care about their own people."

"For me it's honestly kind of been an evolution," she said. "The way I approach it now is basically our Jewish brethren are our brethren, they're our older siblings, and so, we might as well just enjoy them as fellow human beings."

Lund said her Jewish roots have influenced her Catholic faith, because "the more I meet Jewish brethren, the more I deepen into the mystery of Jesus, especially with evangelizing."

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), called assisted suicide laws "abhorrent" during budget discussions this week.

During HHS budget discussions on Wednesday, Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, pressed Kennedy about assisted suicide, noting that in several states, disability groups have filed lawsuits saying that their assisted suicide laws are discriminatory.

"Disability groups are filing against some of the assisted suicide laws because it seems to target those with disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990: That act has worked to protect those with disabilities, not incentivize them to take their own life," Lankford said.

"We've now seen a rise of people with eating disorders that are given access to assisted suicide, and this is just wrong a multitude of ways," Lankford added.

"What is HHS doing to protect those with disabilities that may be targeted by those assisted suicide laws?" Lankford asked.

"To me, I think those laws are abhorrent," Kennedy responded. "And we just see in Canada today, I think the No. 1 cause of death is assisted suicide, and as you say, it targets people with disabilities and people who are struggling in their lives."

Euthanasia is the fifth-leading cause of death in Canada, accounting for an estimated 1 in 20 deaths in Canada. The country is currently considering expanding medical assistance in dying (MAID) to individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

In the United States, assisted suicide is legal in 12 states and Washington, D.C. A recently-compiled database found that at least 14,000 Americans have died by assisted suicide since 1997; the actual number is likely much higher because not all states provide data.

"I don't think we can be a moral society — we can't be a moral society around the globe if that becomes institutionalized throughout our society," Kennedy told Lankford. "So, I am happy to work with you in whatever way we can."

Three ongoing lawsuits allege that their state's assisted suicide laws are discriminatory against people with disabilities.

Most recently in December 2025, several disability and patient advocacy groups filed a lawsuit alleging that Delaware's new assisted suicide law discriminates against people with disabilities.

The Delaware lawsuit maintained that "people with life-threatening disabilities" are at "imminent risk" because of the new law.

"Throughout the country, a state-endorsed narrative is rapidly spreading that threatens people with disabilities: Namely, that people with life-threatening disabilities should be directed to suicide help and not suicide prevention," the lawsuit read.

"At its core, this is discrimination plain and simple," the lawsuit continued. "With cuts in health care spending at the federal level, persons with life-threatening disabilities are now more vulnerable than ever."

In another recent lawsuit in July 2025, United Spinal v. Colorado, a coalition of advocacy groups claimed that Colorado's assisted suicide law is unconstitutional because it allegedly discriminates against those who suffer from disabilities.

In 2023, a similar California lawsuit challenged California's assisted suicide law, saying it puts people with disabilities at greater risk.

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A Pew Research Center study found that more adults leave the Catholic Church than enter it in most countries, but Catholics still make up the majority of the population in a number of countries analyzed.

The research released April 23 found that Christianity has experienced some of the largest losses of followers due to religious switching, when people identify with a different religion in adulthood than they were raised in as a child, compared with other faith groups around the world.

The U.S. data in the report, "Catholicism Has Lost People to Religious Switching in Many Countries, While Protestantism Has Gained in Some," comes from the Center's 2023-24 U.S. Religious Landscape Study (RLS). The international data comes from surveys conducted by Pew in spring 2024.

The global data that analyzed 24 countries was from Pew's international surveys conducted via telephone or face-to-face interviews. Pew has conducted more than 800,000 interviews in over 110 countries. The margin of sampling error is based on individual countries' research.

Religious switching impact on Catholicism

Religious switching has affected Catholicism and Protestantism, two of the largest Christian subgroups, in differing ways. Catholicism has lost more people than it has gained in almost all the countries surveyed, whereas Protestantism has seen a net gain from religious switching.

Despite losses from religious switching, Catholics still make up the majority of the population in eight of the 24 nations Pew surveyed, including Poland (92%), the Philippines (80%), Italy (69%), Mexico (67%), Peru (67%), Hungary (63%), Colombia (60%), and Argentina (58%).

In 12 of the 24 surveyed countries, most of the population was raised Catholic and many adults still identify with the faith today. For example, 96% of Polish adults were raised Catholics. Of the group, 92% still identify with the religion, with 4% reporting they have left Catholicism.

Hungary also experienced a slight loss with 57% of the population identifying as lifelong Catholics and only 2% reporting that they left the Church.

But overall, more people left Catholicism than joined it in 21 of the countries. People who leave Catholicism tend to join Protestantism or disaffiliate from religion altogether, the report said.

Disaffiliation was found to be especially common in parts of Europe and Latin America, including Chile, where 19% of all adults who are former Catholics identify as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular."

In comparison, in Kenya, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Philippines, former Catholics are more likely to have joined Protestantism than to have become religious "nones," the report said.

Other adults have left the Church, with former Catholics making up 10% or more of the total population in 15 countries.

In Italy, 22% of adults said they were raised Catholic but no longer identify as such, and an additional 1% were not raised Catholic but entered the Church. The nation's Catholic population experienced a net loss of 21% due to religious switching.

In the United States, 30% of adults surveyed reported they were raised Catholic and only 17% remain Catholic. An additional 2% who were not raised Catholic reported they entered the Church, for a total of 19% of U.S. adults who are Catholic.

Impact on other religions

Similar to Catholics, former Protestants also make up a large share of the population in many countries. In nine of the 24 countries analyzed, the group was found to make up 10% or more of the population.

In several countries, more people have joined Protestantism than have left it, with the religion having a net gain from switching in almost as many places as it has seen a net loss. Adults who leave Protestantism tend to become religiously unaffiliated, the report said.

Most of the countries where Protestantism has had net gains are in Latin America, including in Brazil where 15% have joined Protestantism and 6% have left. Most Brazilians who reported switching into Protestantism were former Catholics.

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo XIV spoke bluntly about war, migration, same-sex blessings, and the Holy See's relations with authoritarian governments during a roughly 20-minute in-flight press conference with journalists traveling with him from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Rome after his apostolic journey to Africa.

Before taking questions, the pope stressed that the primary purpose of a papal trip is pastoral rather than political.

"When I make a trip — speaking for myself, but today as pope, bishop of Rome — especially an apostolic, pastoral trip, it is to find, accompany, and come to know the people of God," he said.

He added that such journeys should be understood above all as "an expression of wanting to announce the Gospel, proclaim the message of Jesus Christ," and as a way "to draw close to the people in their happiness, in the depth of their faith, but also in their suffering."

Asked about the chaotic state of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the pope called for a new mindset rooted in peace rather than violence.

"Certainly, I would like to begin by saying that we need to promote a new attitude, a culture of peace," he said. "Many times when we evaluate certain situations, the immediate response is that we must enter with violence, with war, by attacking, and we have seen that many innocent people have died."

Leo said the key question was not simply whether a regime should change but how to defend important values without more innocent victims.

"Regime change or no regime change, the question is how to promote the values in which we believe without the death of so many innocent people," he said.

Describing the situation as "very complex," the pope said the back-and-forth of negotiations had created "this chaotic and critical situation for the world economy," while innocent people in Iran were suffering because of the war.

"Rather, I would encourage the continuation of dialogue for peace," he said. "As Church, I say again, and as a pastor, I cannot be in favor of war, and I would like to encourage everyone to make every effort to seek responses that come from a culture of peace and not of hatred."

Later in the exchange, responding to a question about reported executions by the Iranian regime, the pope issued an unequivocal condemnation.

"I condemn all actions that are unjust, I condemn the taking of people's lives. I condemn capital punishment," Leo said. "I believe that human life is to be respected, and that all people from conception to natural birth, their lives should be respected and protected. So when a regime, when a country, takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned."

On migration, a major topic ahead of his next international apostolic journey to Spain, the pope said governments have the right to regulate their borders but insisted that wealthier nations must also address the deeper causes driving people to leave poorer countries.

"Evidently, the issue of migration is very complex and affects many countries, not only Spain, not only Europe, but also the United States; it is a global phenomenon," he said.

Leo continued: "I personally believe that a state has the right to establish rules at its borders. I do not like the idea that everyone enters as if there were no order, and at times creating even more unjust situations than those they had left behind."

At the same time, he challenged richer countries and multinational corporations to do more for developing nations, especially in Africa.

"But having said that, I ask: What are we doing in richer countries to change the situation in poorer countries?" he said. Referring to Africa, he added that for many people it is seen as "a place where one can go to take minerals, to take its riches, to enrich others in other countries."

The pope insisted that migrants must always be treated with dignity.

"When people arrive, they are human beings and they deserve the respect that every human being deserves because of human dignity," he said. "We need to treat human beings in a humane way and not treat them worse than household pets, animals, etc."

A French journalist asked Leo how he avoids lending moral legitimacy to authoritarian rulers when he meets them during papal trips. The pope said such encounters can be interpreted in different ways, but he returned to the pastoral purpose of travel and the diplomatic mission of the Holy See.

"Certainly, the presence of a pope with any head of state can be interpreted in different ways," he said. "I would go back to something I said in my initial remarks about the importance of understanding the primary purpose of the travel that I do, that the pope does to visit the people."

He also defended the Vatican's continued diplomatic engagement even with difficult governments.

"We don't always make great proclamations, criticizing, judging, or condemning," he said. "But there's an awful lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to promote justice, to promote humanitarian causes."

That work, he said, can include efforts to free political prisoners and respond to hunger and sickness. "So the Holy See, by maintaining if you will, a neutrality, and looking for ways to continue our positive diplomatic relationship with so many different countries, we're actually trying to find a way to apply the Gospel to concrete situations, so that the lives of people can be improved."

Questioned about the blessing of same-sex couples after a decision by German Cardinal Reinhard Marx in Munich and Freising, Leo said Church unity should not be reduced to sexual ethics.

"First of all, I think it's very important to understand that the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual matters," he said. "We tend to think that when the Church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual, and in reality, I believe there are much greater and more important issues, such as justice, the equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, that would all take priority before that particular issue."

Leo said the Holy See had already made clear to the German bishops that it does not agree with the "formalized blessing of couples," including homosexual couples or couples in irregular situations, beyond what Pope Francis had permitted.

Invoking Francis' well-known statement of "Tutti, tutti, tutti," Leo said: "All are welcome, all are invited. All are invited to follow Jesus, and all are invited to look for conversion in their lives."

"To go beyond that today, I think that the topic can cause more disunity than unity," he added, "and that we should look for ways to build our unity upon Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches."

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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