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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 15, 2025 / 18:06 pm (CNA).

The 14-year legal battle against federal contraceptive mandates will continue, with Little Sisters of the Poor and the federal government seeking to reinstate moral and religious exemptions that were established in 2017.

Little Sisters of the Poor have already won religious freedom cases on this subject twice at the Supreme Court level. The high court ruled in 2016 that the federal government must protect religious freedoms for those who oppose the contraceptives and in 2020 ruled that the federal government had the legal authority to adopt the broad exemptions established in 2017.

Those exemptions fully covered employers that had religious or moral objections to providing the contraceptives, some of which can be abortifacient. Under the rules, those employers were not required to include any contraceptive coverage in their insurance plans for employees.

In spite of the prior Supreme Court wins, a federal court in August 2025 struck down the 2017 exemptions on grounds that the Supreme Court had not yet ruled on.

Because the Supreme Court left some questions open, the attorneys general in two states that disapprove of the exemptions — Pennsylvania and New Jersey — continued their legal battle on different grounds. Those legal arguments allege that the adoption of the rules did not comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which the Supreme Court had not ruled on. 

In the August ruling, Judge Wendy Beetlestone found that the rules did not comply with the APA, ruling instead that the rules are arbitrary and capricious. 

"The agencies' actions in promulgating the rule were arbitrary and capricious — in that they failed to 'articulate a satisfactory explanation for [their] action[s] including a 'rational connection between the facts found and the choices made,'" Beetlestone wrote in her opinion.

Little Sisters of the Poor are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, whose lawyers say the appellate court should overturn that decision and bring the legal dispute to an end.

"The 14-year legal crusade against the Little Sisters has been needless, grotesque, and un-American," Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and lead attorney for the sisters, said in a statement. 

"The states have no business trying to take away the Little Sisters' federal civil rights. The 3rd Circuit should toss the states' lawsuit into the dustbin of history and uphold the protection the Little Sisters already won at the Supreme Court … twice," he said.

In the appeal, the lawyers cite the legal precedent from the 2016 and 2020 cases that required religious exemptions and upheld the rules. They warn that the August 2025 ruling could create a "constitutional conflict" because the original mandate cannot legally be reimposed. 

"The appellee states maintain that state governments somehow have an interest in forcing the federal government to force religious objectors to comply with the federal contraceptive mandate — even though the federal government need not have any contraceptive mandate at all, and even though the states themselves have chosen not to have such mandates of their own," the lawsuit notes. 

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ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 15, 2025 / 18:31 pm (CNA).

After being edged out by 2.9% in the Nov. 16 general election by his Communist Party opponent Jeannette Jara, Republican Party candidate José Antonio Kast reversed the result in the Dec. 14 runoff vote to become the new president-elect of Chile.

With 58% of the vote, and in line with the polls that predicted him as the winner with more than 55%, Kast prevailed over Jara, who obtained 42%.

With 99.97% of the ballots counted, showing a difference of more than 2 million valid votes, the runoff election marks a change of political direction for the country, currently led by President Gabriel Boric of the political left.

Kast is slated to take office as president of Chile on March 11, 2026. On the same day, the legislators elected in November will also take office.

"Democracy has spoken loud and clear. I have just spoken with president-elect Kast to wish him success for the good of Chile," Jara wrote on X, acknowledging her defeat.

"To those who supported us and were mobilized by our campaign, rest assured that we will continue working to advance toward a better life in our country. Together and standing strong, as we have always done," she added.

Kast's victory speech

"It's a special day. It's a day that stays with us, a day that stands out among the different days when things happen. And this is a day of joy," Kast said to thousands of his supporters in Santiago, referring to Gaudate (Rejoice) Sunday, which coincided with election day.

The president-elect thanked his wife, María Pía, "who will be a tremendous first lady," and commented that what he does in politics is not a sacrifice but a privilege that he experiences "with a joy, a passion, that you can't even imagine, and that we want to take together to La Moneda [the presidential palace] and bring about that very important change."

"But nothing would be possible if we didn't have God. And that's something we can't fail to acknowledge," he continued, and prayed that the Lord would give him "wisdom, temperance, and strength, to always be up to this challenge."

"Here, a person didn't win, a political party didn't win; Chile won. The hope of living without fear won. That fear that causes so much anguish to families. The Chile that works, the Chile that gets up early, the Chile that raises its families and its children with great sacrifice — that Chile won."

After stating that he wants the government to regain a sense of responsibility for others, Kast announced that "we will restore respect for the law in all regions, without exceptions and without privileges" of any kind.

The president-elect also thanked other candidates who publicly expressed their support for him, such as Johannes Kaiser, and referred to the Communist Party candidate: "A government has supporters and it has opponents. And that's normal. And it's legitimate. And clearly, we have profound differences with Janeth Jara," he said, and encouraged respect in order to overcome division.

"And we have to burn that into our minds. Someone may have a different ideology, but he or she is a person just like us," he emphasized.

Comments from the bishops of Chile

The bishops of the standing committee of the Chilean Bishops' Conference congratulated the president-elect and noted that, upon his election, the country "entrusts him with the task of leading the nation in times that demand clarity, generosity, and a profound commitment to the common good."

After noting some of the challenging situations in Chile, the bishops emphasized that "the presidential election renews the hope of moving toward a more just, fraternal, and supportive country, where the power of reason always prevails over the rationale of force."

The prelates encouraged Kast to "promote an environment of dialogue, encounter, and respect, which is essential for rebuilding social trust. As pastors of the Catholic Church on pilgrimage in Chile, we reaffirm our vocation to contribute to the common good through the mission that the Gospel entrusts to us."

After expressing their concern about "the growing denigration of migrants and vulnerable people," the Chilean bishops expressed their willingness to collaborate with their prayers and efforts for the common good of the country, and then entrusted Kast to the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of Chile.

Who is José Antonio Kast?

Born in Santiago in 1966, Kast is a lawyer and a seasoned politician. The leader of the Republican Party served as a city councilor, a member of the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) for four consecutive terms, and ran for president three times.

Kast is a practicing Catholic and belongs to the Schönstatt Apostolic Movement. He has been married since 1991 to María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet, with whom he has nine children.

Kast defines himself as "simply on the right" of the political spectrum. Historically, he was a member of the Independent Democratic Union, but he ran for president in 2017 as an independent candidate. After his defeat, he led the Republican Action movement. The current Republican Party was founded by him in 2019, and in 2021 he ran for president as the representative of that party.

New government's approach to abortion, migration crisis

The president-elect has expressed his support for "life from conception to natural death." However, although the Boric government threatened to introduce legislation to eliminate the three grounds under which abortion is permitted in the country, making it legal for any reason up to 14 weeks, Kast's campaign set aside the "values ??agenda" to focus on the crime and violence crisis and the large influx of unauthorized immigrants that the country is experiencing.

In his latest campaign, Kast hardened his stance against migrants residing illegally in the country. His proposal is that the 336,000 migrants who lack legal status in Chile return voluntarily to their countries of origin and contribute to the cost of their return ticket.

If they do not leave voluntarily before his term begins, the president-elect has warned that he will impose penalties: "If someone doesn't leave voluntarily and we have to find them and deport them, they will never be allowed to enter Chilean territory again," he stated, according to the Spanish news outlet El País.

His "countdown" to expel illegal unauthorized immigrants was criticized by the archbishop of Concepción, Sergio Pérez de Arce, who considered that "the response to migrants in an irregular situation (not legally present) in the country cannot be simply 'you leave now, voluntarily, or we will expel you with nothing but the clothes on your back' in 100 days."

"I share your concern," Kast said in the last debate, moderating the tone that had characterized his campaign, and regretted that the migration situation in Chile had been aggravated by the actions of criminal gangs. "Children have been abused, people have been exploited and forced to pay others to bring them into Chile," he stated.

He also indicated that while the Church plays a role of "welcoming, solidarity, and charity," the state "must enforce the law," and he insisted on his promise that those who violate immigration laws will face penalties: "If someone is going to break the law, they must be apprehended if they have committed a crime." 

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 15, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

After a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island over the weekend, Providence Bishop Bruce Lewandowski issued a statement asking for God's guidance and expressing his grief in the wake of the tragedy.

On the afternoon on Saturday, Dec. 13, while approximately 60 Brown students participated in a study session for final exams in the Barus and Holley building, which houses the School of Engineering and the physics department, an unidentified shooter opened fire, leaving two dead and nine injured. 

"As are many, I am deeply saddened and troubled by the senseless shooting today at Brown University in Providence," Lewandoski wrote. "Let us unite in prayer for those who lost their lives, for the injured, for the Brown University community and all affected by this tragedy."

As of Monday morning, Providence police continue the search for the shooter. According to Boston's WCBV-5, a person of interest was released Sunday and the search for the killer continues.

"After a review of the evidence gathered, it was determined the person of interest needed to be released," said Providence mayor Brett Smiley. "But until such time as we have an individual in custody who we are confident is responsible … we're going to continue to leave all doors open until such time that we're in a place where we feel confident we've got the right person," Smiley said.

Other than a short video that did not show the suspect's face that was released to the public on Saturday, authorities said they have no additional images to release.

"There just weren't a lot of cameras in that Brown building," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a press conference. "We have a murderer out there, frankly."

The local station also reported Monday that one of the injured persons has been discharged from the hospital, one remains in critical but stable condition, and the remaining seven are in stable condition in the hospital. 

Brown University canceled classes and final exams for all undergraduate and graduate school students in the wake of the tragedy.

In a statement Dec. 13, Brown president, Christina H. Paxson said: "We have reached out to the families of all the hospitalized shooting victims and are offering any support we can. Our hearts go out to all of them, and we stand ready to give them anything they need. No parent or family member should ever have to endure this pain, suffering, or the continuing fear that we know is very real for so many Brown families right now."

In his statement, Lewandowski offered prayers for law enforcement officials and first responders, and offered the use of the diocese's "resources, clergy and personnel, and charitable assistance wherever needed." 

"May God bless us all and may Our Lady of Providence keep us in her care," the bishop's statement concluded.

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Manila, Philippines, Dec 15, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

A group of Filipino bishops has opposed a proposal to construct a nuclear power plant in Western Pangasinan, about 125 miles north of Manila, citing safety, environmental, and moral concerns. 

On Dec. 4, church leaders from six dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province of Lingayen-Dagupan issued a pastoral letter regarding the government's plan to build a nuclear power plant, expressing their deep concerns about the project. 

"We, your pastors, write to you today with profound concern regarding the recent proposal to construct a nuclear power plant in Western Pangasinan," the bishops said. 

Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan signed the letter along with Bishop Napoleon B. Sipalay of Alaminos; Auxiliary Bishop Fidelis B. Layog of Lingayen-Dagupan; Bishop Jacinto A. Jose of Urdaneta; Bishop Daniel O. Presto of San Fernando, La Union; Bishop Prudencio P. Andaya of Cabanatuan; and Father Getty A. Ferrer, JCD, of the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija. 

Lessons from Fukushima and the Japanese bishops' call 

The Filipino bishops drew their insights from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan. 

The Japanese bishops, in their message for the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, renewed their commitment to "protect life." They reminded all that when faced with such an "unprecedented catastrophe," one must recognize the limits of human wisdom and knowledge. 

Church leaders from Japan also noted that "nuclear power generation is fundamentally incompatible with the vision of a 'symbiotic society' that respects all life without exception." 

Moreover, Japanese and Korean bishops united in opposing the dumping of "treated" radioactive water into the oceans. 

The Filipino bishops acknowledged the stance of the late Pope Francis, who "stressed the paramount importance of safety, prudence, and stewardship for future generations." 

Citing the principle of prudence, the bishops noted that "the potential for a 'huge disaster' demands that we prioritize human safety and environmental protection above immediate economic needs." 

"We are blessed with an abundance of renewable energy potential, and the solution to our energy woes exists in strict and urgent implementation of the Renewable Energy Law, which has been in effect since 2008," the bishops said. 

"We must invest heavily in renewable energy infrastructure that ensures safety, resilience, and true long-term development of our people," the bishops noted. 

"Pangasinan is not ours. We owe it to future generations to keep Pangasinan safe from a nuclear catastrophe. The risks are greater than the benefits," they said. 

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EWTN News, Dec 14, 2025 / 23:02 pm (CNA).

Catholic leaders in Australia have issued strong condemnations of what they described as a "festering" atmosphere of antisemitism, following a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday at Sydney's Bondi Beach that left 16 people dead.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney issued a statement expressing "profound grief and righteous anger" at the violence.

"That a celebration of the Jewish feast of Hanukkah could end in at least 16 dead, including a young child, and many more injured, horrifies ordinary Australians," Fisher said.

"The brazen and callous disregard for human life, and the hatred of some people toward all Jews, is an unspeakable evil that must be repudiated by every Australian."

Personal connection for the archbishop

Fisher warned that an "atmosphere of public antisemitism has festered" in Sydney for more than two years, pointing specifically to inflammatory activity near the city's Catholic cathedral.

"Opposite my own cathedral in Hyde Park there have been weekly demonstrations where inflammatory messages have been regularly articulated, which could only have 'turned up the temperature' and perhaps contributed to radicalisation," he said. "This must stop."

The archbishop also revealed a personal connection to the tragedy, noting his own Jewish ancestry: "My great-grandmother was a Jew… Christians are children of the Jews," he wrote. "And so, an attack on the Jews is an attack on all of us."

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, SDB, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, joined Fisher in condemning "the scourge of antisemitism," saying the violence had "shaken Australians to the core."

"The twisted motives behind those who perpetrated these terrible acts are now clearly linked with the scourge of antisemitism," Costelloe said. "This is a shocking and deeply distressing reality that calls into question our own understanding of ourselves as Australians."

He warned that "blind prejudice and hatred point to a dark and destructive stain in our society that threatens not just our Jewish brothers and sisters but, in fact, all of us."

Fisher announced that the Catholic community would "redouble its efforts" to combat antisemitism through education and preaching. He also offered Catholic educational and counseling services to the Jewish community while their own institutions are "locked down or overwhelmed."

"We love our Jewish neighbors and friends, and we must do all we can to keep them safe," Fisher said.

Terrorist incident declared

Authorities confirmed that a 10-year-old girl was among those killed when two gunmen opened fire on the "Chanukah by the Sea" gathering on Sunday evening. More than 40 others were injured.

New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the attackers were a father and son, identified by local media and police sources as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Naveed Akram had been investigated six years ago by Australia's domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, for his links to a Sydney-based Islamic State cell.

ABC cited an unnamed senior official from the joint counterterrorism task force who said Naveed was believed to have had close ties to Isaac El Matari, an Islamic State member arrested in July 2019 and later convicted of preparing a terrorist act.

The elder Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene. His son remains in critical condition under police guard.

Authorities raided the family's home in the Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg on Sunday night, where police said they discovered improvised explosive devices in a vehicle linked to the attackers. The shooting has been formally declared a terrorist incident.

Costelloe praised the "remarkable courage of the police and other first responders."

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns highlighted the actions of a bystander who tackled one of the gunmen, calling him a "genuine hero" who saved lives.

'An act of evil'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence as a "targeted attack on Jewish Australians" and an "act of evil."

"To the Jewish community, we stand with you," Albanese said. "You have the right to worship and study and live and work in peace and safety. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian."

Last update on Dec. 14 at 11:34 p.m. ET with further details.

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EWTN News, Dec 14, 2025 / 07:02 am (CNA).

Catholic leaders in Australia have responded with prayer and condemnation of antisemitism following what police described as a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday that left 12 people dead and 29 others injured.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney called for prayer and the intercession of the Virgin Mary in the immediate aftermath of the Dec. 14 shooting, which authorities said included one of the alleged gunmen among the dead.

"As we follow the horrific news coming from this evening's shooting at Bondi Beach, let us pray for those who have been killed or injured," Fisher said in a statement released shortly after the attack. "May Our Lady, Queen of Peace, intercede for all affected, and for our beloved city at this time."

The archbishop also offered prayers for the "many who were forced to run for their lives" and for emergency service workers responding at the scene.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, said the violence had "shaken Australians to the core" and condemned what he described as "the scourge of antisemitism."

'Dark and destructive stain'

"The twisted motives behind those who perpetrated these terrible acts are now clearly linked with the scourge of antisemitism," Costelloe said in a Dec. 14 statement. "This is a shocking and deeply distressing reality which calls into question our own understanding of ourselves as Australians."

He warned that "blind prejudice and hatred points to a dark and destructive stain in our society which threatens not just our Jewish brothers and sisters but, in fact, all of us."

"We must rediscover our conviction that nothing can ever justify this destructive violence," he said, urging Australians to ensure that the "justifiable anger we feel does not breed even more violence and hatred."

The attack occurred Sunday evening during the "Chanukah by the Sea" event on the first night of Hanukkah. Authorities said two gunmen opened fire on the Jewish community gathering shortly after sunset. One alleged shooter was killed at the scene, while a second was taken into custody. Police said they were investigating whether a third person may have been involved.

'Genuine hero' praised

Costelloe praised what he described as the "remarkable courage of the police and other first responders, and individual acts of bravery as people sought to protect each other."

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns highlighted the actions of a bystander who wrestled one of the gunmen to the ground and removed his shotgun, calling him a "genuine hero" who helped save lives, according to local media reports.

Explosives found at scene

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities had found improvised explosive devices in a vehicle linked to the deceased attacker. He declared the shooting a terrorist incident, citing the timing on the first night of Hanukkah, the nature of the weapons used, and the discovery of the explosives. A bomb disposal unit was deployed to the scene.

Among the 29 people hospitalized were two police officers who were injured while responding to the attack, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the shooting as a "dark moment for our nation," calling it a "targeted attack on Jewish Australians" and an "act of evil."

"An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian," Albanese said.

Costelloe concluded by urging unity and peace. "We join with all those who condemn such terrible violence and plead with all Australians to reject any impulse towards hatred and violence and instead to recommit ourselves to being peacemakers in our families, amongst our friends and in our wider society," he said.

Last update on Dec. 14 at 7:48 a.m. ET with further details.

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Puebla, Mexico, Dec 14, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The perennially popular representation of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, held every Holy Week in the Iztapalapa sector of Mexico City, has been declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The decision was made during a UNESCO meeting in New Delhi, India, where the nomination of the Iztapalapa Way of the Cross was reviewed and approved.

Speaking at the event, Edaly Quiroz, deputy director of Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, said that Holy Week in Iztapalapa is not merely a theatrical performance but a manifestation "of unity, faith, and resilience that brings together thousands of people in a collective exercise of memory, identity, and participation."

On its website, UNESCO states that this list includes "practices, knowledge, and expressions that communities recognize as part of their cultural identity" and emphasizes the need to protect them for future generations.

Juan Pablo Serrano, custodian of the image of the Lord of the Little Cave in the Iztapalapa Cathedral, explained in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that this tradition is closely linked to the origin of the image and a 19th-century promise made by the community.

He recounted that in 1687, an image of Christ was being transported from Oaxaca to Mexico City for restoration. During the journey, those carrying it rested in a cave in the Hill of the Star, and when they tried to resume their trip, "they could no longer move the image."

"It was understood that the image representing Christ in the tomb wanted to remain there. [Being in a cave] a very particular devotion began to develop," he noted.

Serrano explained that the direct connection with the depiction of the Stations of the Cross arose in 1833 during a cholera epidemic. Faced with the high death toll, the inhabitants carried the image in procession and asked for Christ's intercession. After several days of prayer, the plague ceased, an event that was interpreted as a miracle.

Approximately 2 million attendees in 2025

Following that event, the community vowed to reenact the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ every year as a sign of gratitude, and each year the tradition has grown, both in the number of participants and the audience. In Holy Week 2025 alone, it drew approximately 2 million people.

Serrano expressed his joy at the recognition, which he said "is something we [the residents] always boast about with pride and honor."

He noted that during the years he has been in charge of the image he has witnessed the arrival of thousands of visitors, including people who do not identify as Catholic, who "when drawn by the representation, visit the image, visit the church, and experience a true reflection in their hearts and a real conversion."

Serrano emphasized that this new status represents a greater commitment for the community so the celebration can continue to be "an expression of gratitude to God. Everything done as an offering to God ultimately becomes [a form of] catechesis and evangelization."

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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Vatican City, Dec 14, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced deep concern over renewed fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, urging an immediate end to violence and a return to dialogue in line with ongoing peace efforts.

After leading pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square in praying the Angelus on the Third Sunday of Advent, the pope said he was "following with deep concern the resumption of fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo."

"While expressing my closeness to the people, I urge the parties in the conflict to cease all forms of violence and to seek constructive dialogue, respecting the ongoing peace process," he said.

The pope's appeal came amid reports of intensified clashes involving the M23 rebel group in the mineral-rich eastern region, despite a recently signed peace agreement between Congolese and Rwandan leaders.

Pope Leo also recalled recent beatifications of martyrs in Spain and France, praising their fidelity to the faith amid persecution. "Let us praise the Lord for these martyrs, courageous witnesses to the Gospel, persecuted and killed for remaining close to their people and faithful to the Church," he said.

Earlier, in his catechesis before leading the Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent, which presents John the Baptist imprisoned for his preaching yet still seeking the truth about Jesus.

From prison, John hears "about the works of Christ" and sends his disciples to ask whether Jesus is truly the one who is to come, the pope noted. Jesus' response, he said, points not to abstract claims but to concrete signs.

"Christ announces who he is by what he does. And what he does is a sign of salvation for all of us," Pope Leo said. Encountering Jesus, he explained, restores meaning to lives marked by darkness and suffering: "The blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear… Even the dead, who are completely lifeless, come back to life. This is the Gospel of Jesus, the good news proclaimed to the poor."

"The words of Jesus free us from the prison of despair and suffering," the pope said, adding that Christ "gives voice to the oppressed and to those whose voices have been silenced by violence and hatred" and "defeats ideologies that make us deaf to the truth."

Concluding his reflection, Pope Leo said that Advent calls Christians to unite their expectation of the Savior with attentiveness to God's action in the world. "Then we will be able to experience the joy of freedom in encountering our Savior," he said, echoing the Church's celebration of Gaudete Sunday.

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

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Vatican City, Dec 14, 2025 / 05:25 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday presided over the final major celebration of the Holy Year, calling for renewed commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and hope as he celebrated a Jubilee Mass dedicated to prisoners in St. Peter's Basilica.

About 6,000 pilgrims from some 90 countries took part in the Jubilee of Prisoners, including detainees and their families, prison chaplains, correctional officers, police, and prison administrators. Participants came from across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, the United States, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Australia.

In his homily, the pope said that as the Jubilee Year drew to a close, significant challenges remained within prison systems worldwide.

"While the close of the Jubilee Year draws near, we must recognize that, despite the efforts of many, even in the penitentiary system there is much that still needs to be done," he said. Quoting the prophet Isaiah — "the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing" — Leo said the passage recalled that "it is God who ransoms, who redeems and liberates."

The pope acknowledged the harsh realities of incarceration, saying prison was "a difficult place and even the best proposals can encounter many obstacles." For that reason, he said, people must not "tire, be discouraged or give up," but continue "with tenacity, courage, and a spirit of collaboration."

Leo stressed that justice should not be reduced to punishment alone. "There are many who do not yet understand that for every fall one must be able to get back up, that no human being is defined only by his or her actions and that justice is always a process of reparation and reconciliation," he said.

Reflecting on the meaning of the Jubilee, the pope said that even in difficult conditions, the preservation of compassion, respect, and mercy could bear unexpected fruit.

"When even in difficult situations we are able to maintain and preserve the beauty of feelings, sensitivity, attention to the needs of others, respect, the capacity for mercy and forgiveness, beautiful flowers spring forth from the 'hard ground' of sin and suffering," Leo said, adding that "gestures, projects, and encounters, unique in their humanity, mature even within prison walls."

The pope also recalled the hopes expressed by his predecessor, Pope Francis, for the Holy Year. Leo said Francis had wanted Jubilee celebrations to include "forms of amnesty or pardon meant to help individuals regain confidence in themselves and in society" and to offer "real opportunities of reintegration" to all.

"I hope that many countries are following his desire," the pope said, noting that in its biblical origins the Jubilee was "a year of grace in which everyone was offered the possibility of restarting in many different ways."

Addressing both prisoners and those who work in the penal system, Leo said the task entrusted to them was demanding. He pointed to challenges such as overcrowding, insufficient educational and rehabilitation programs, and limited job opportunities, as well as personal burdens including past wounds, disappointment, and the difficulty of forgiveness.

"The Lord, however, beyond all this, continues to repeat to us that only one thing is important: that no one be lost and that all be saved," he said. "Let no one be lost! Let all be saved! This is what our God wants, this is his Kingdom, and this is the goal of his actions in the world."

According to organizers, delegations attending the Jubilee included inmates and staff from several Italian prisons, including Rebibbia, Casal del Marmo, Brescia, Teramo, Pescara, Rieti, Varese, and Forlì, as well as international groups coordinated by prison chaplaincies in Portugal, Spain, Malta, and Chile. A group of 500 pilgrims was accompanied by the General Inspectorate of Chaplains of Italian prisons.

The Hosts used for the Mass were produced by prisoners through the "Sense of Bread" project run by the Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti. Since 2016, the initiative has involved more than 300 inmates each year in making Communion Hosts for more than 15,000 dioceses, religious communities, and parishes in Italy and abroad.

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

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CNA Staff, Dec 13, 2025 / 14:25 pm (CNA).

Curtis Martin, who founded the Catholic student ministry group FOCUS nearly 30 years ago, announced this week that he will step down from his management role there while continuing to serve in the long-running campus ministry organization.

In a Dec. 12 letter announcing his retirement from the role of CEO, Martin said that after nearly three decades, the organization now numbers "more than 1,000 FOCUS missionaries … in over 250 locations," reaching "nearly 60,000 students and parishioners" in 2025 alone. 

Since 2008, meanwhile, missionaries with the group have led "over 1,200 mission trips" that have sent more than 20,000 people to more than 50 countries. 

Martin said the "ever-increasing time demands" of his multiple roles at the company, coupled with several years of prayer with the organization's board of directors, led him to step into an "expanded-public facing role" of "Founder," one that will allow him to continue to work at the organization, including serving on its board.

"My desire is to do what is best for the institution I love so dearly," he said. 

Longtime board member Tim Thoman will serve as interim chief executive as the organization launches a search for a permanent CEO, Martin said, adding that he felt "extraordinarily blessed that [Thoman] agreed to lead FOCUS … during this time of transition."

Describing his work at FOCUS as "one of the deepest privileges of my life," Martin urged the organization to "be who we are meant to be, so that through us, God can set the world on fire." 

In a video announcing the transition, meanwhile, Thoman said FOCUS is marked by "tenacity and professionalism, but mostly the love of Jesus and the trust in God." 

"The idea of working with people who wake up and come to work with a love for Jesus and a desire to do his will and live authentically their faith and also fulfill the Great Commission — I can't imagine better people to work with, or a more worthy cause, than FOCUS," he said.  

The Martins last year were awarded EWTN's 2024 Mother Angelica Award for what EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Warsaw called their "passion for the new evangelization" and their work at transforming "countless lives" through evangelization. 

Curtis Martin had announced FOCUS's founding in 1997 on an episode of "Mother Angelica Live." Michaelann Martin last year described receiving the Mother Angelica Award as "a humbling honor for both of us." 

"We are grateful to Mother Angelica for her example of faith and courage, and to EWTN for continuing her work of evangelization," she said. 

"But this is not about us. It is about the countless missionaries who have given their lives to this work and the students whose lives are being transformed by the Gospel," she added.

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