Catholic News

Pope Leo XIV sent a moving letter filled with tenderness, understanding, and valuable guidance to an 18-year-old man who had expressed his fears regarding uncertainty of the future and the new chapter he is about to begin in his life at a university.

In just a few weeks, young Pietro from Reggio Calabria in Italy will finish high school and begin his university studies, a major change about which he feels "a great deal of confusion."

The young Italian conveyed his concerns to the Holy Father in a heartfelt letter published May 19 in Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) magazine. Specifically, the young man said he fears losing the friendships he has forged in high school and not knowing which path God desires for him.

Fear of the future

In his letter, he opened up to the pope and shared his dream of "building and realizing the project of a family united in the love of Christ." He also asks for prayers for his future and for the ability to understand how to live with the feelings of "restlessness and longing" while embarking upon his new path with serenity.

Mindful of the weight the young man feels upon his shoulders, Pope Leo XIV congratulated him in his letter for not being easily satisfied and for taking his life seriously.

First, the pontiff reminded him that he is loved by Jesus — personally and just as he is — including his dreams, questions, and fears. "This love precedes you and will always accompany you; it does not depend on the decisions you make or the paths you take," he assured the young man.

'What was authentic isn't lost'

The pope also reminded Pietro that Jesus "knows the experience of friendship well," and for this reason, "he would be the first to understand your fear regarding the friendships that have marked these years."

The Holy Father reminded him that "what was authentic isn't lost; indeed, true love does not dissolve but remains forever; it matures even when it changes form."

Regarding the desires the young man harbors in his heart, the pope encouraged him to focus on those that grant him "a profound peace" and guide him toward good decisions, reminding him of the importance of discernment.

"Do not be in a hurry to understand everything immediately. Time is a patient teacher and heals wounds," he added.

'Not everything that ends is a defeat'

He also advised him to pray every day, listen to the word of God, receive the sacraments, and converse with wise individuals who could help him discern which ties he ought to keep.

"Not everything that comes to an end is a defeat; sometimes, it is merely a necessary step toward growth. Your dream of a family founded upon the love of Christ is a precious gift for the Church as well; preserve it with confidence. The Lord does not disappoint the desires that he himself has kindled within the heart," the pontiff advised.

Before concluding his letter, the pope reminded Pietro that restlessness is not a negative sign but rather represents "the place where God is working on a deep level."

"I ask for you the grace of inner peace, of trust, and of a clear perspective on your life. I entrust you to Mary, who as a young woman learned to trust despite having kept in her heart questions greater than herself," the pope said.

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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The Knights of Columbus received the 2026 Path to Peace Award in recognition of the group's service to the cause of peace, justice, and humanitarian aid.

The award, an international distinction bestowed by the Path to Peace Foundation, was presented May 18 in New York to Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly during the traditional Path to Peace gala dinner, organized in support of the work of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and various urgent humanitarian causes.

The award was presented by the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, president of the foundation and permanent observer of the Holy See to the U.N.

The Knights of Columbus, considered the world's foremost Catholic lay organization for men, carries out initiatives involving charity, humanitarian aid, formation, and support for families in various countries.

The organization states that its mission is to help Catholic men live out their faith and serve their families, parishes, communities, and nations.

"On behalf of more than 2.2 million Knights of Columbus worldwide, it is an incredible honor to accept the Path to Peace Award," Kelly said during the ceremony.

The organization's leader recalled that Blessed Michael McGivney founded the Knights more than 140 years ago "upon the pillars of charity, unity, and fraternity."

"Today, we are proud to continue this mission throughout the world in our parishes and communities, and in nations facing the devastating impacts of war and religious intolerance. We pray that our efforts help bring peace and alleviate suffering, bearing witness to the hope that comes from Jesus Christ," Kelly stated.

An award linked to the diplomacy of the Holy See

The significance of this recognition is closely linked to the diplomatic and humanitarian mission of the Holy See at the U.N.

The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the U.N. was officially established on April 6, 1964, and has since played an active role in promoting peace, justice, human rights, and the social doctrine of the Church within the international community.

As the Path to Peace Foundation explains, the foundation was established with the aim of expanding humanitarian and reconciliation activities beyond the strictly diplomatic sphere, promoting the Catholic Church's message of peace and the pope's teachings on morality, development, and human rights.

Its key initiatives include international seminars on social encyclicals, cultural activities at the U.N., humanitarian projects for refugees and the sick, and the dissemination of documents related to the diplomacy of the Holy See.

Recognition of international leaders

The Path to Peace Award has been presented since 1993 to individuals and institutions whose lives and work have contributed significantly to the well-being of the international community.

Recipients include former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali; Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines; Lech Walesa, former trade union leader and president of Poland; King Abdullah II along with Queen Rania Al Abdullah, reigning Jordanian monarchs; and current U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

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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GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo — The Catholic Diocese of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has issued preventive measures to all Catholic parishes and communities following the declaration of an Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever outbreak as a "health emergency."

In a communiqué issued May 18, the chancellor of the diocese said Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele had directed that all Catholic communities in the diocese observe strict preventive measures aimed at limiting the spread of the deadly virus.

"Given that the Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever epidemic has been declared a 'health emergency,' the Diocese of Goma recommends that all parish, priestly, and religious communities observe preventive measures," Father Christian Kisonia said.

Among the measures announced are avoiding physical contact with persons showing Ebola symptoms, frequent handwashing with soap, the use of hand sanitizers, and avoiding contact with bodily fluids.

Kisonia also urged the people of God to report any suspected Ebola cases to the nearest health facility.

In the communiqué, the chancellor said handwashing before Mass "is mandatory" for all worshippers, directing parishes to prepare washbasins with chlorinated water and soap for use by the faithful.

"Washing before Mass is mandatory for all the faithful," Kisonia emphasized.

He further directed communities to limit visits from outsiders until further notice as part of efforts to contain the outbreak.

The DRC is facing a fresh Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak on May 15 after several deaths were reported in Ituri province. Health officials say investigations and contact tracing are ongoing, and there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain.

On May 16, WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, citing risks associated with cross-border movement, delayed case detection, weak health systems, and insecurity in eastern Congo.

The latest outbreak has equally spread to neighboring Uganda, forcing the government to postpone the 2026 Martyrs' Day.

Uganda's Catholic bishops have urged the people of God in the east African nation to continue commemorating the Uganda Martyrs in prayer and unity.

"Although the national gathering at Namugongo has been postponed, dioceses and parishes are encouraged to celebrate the day with the guidance of the diocesan bishop and the relevant government authorities," members of the Uganda Episcopal Conference said.

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

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Only three weeks remain until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most important national team tournament in soccer, which will bring together 48 participating countries. It is the first time a World Cup is hosted by three countries and spread across 16 host cities: 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

With the arrival of the millions of tourists Mexico is expecting during the event, the Catholic Church there has expressed concern that "risks may increase" with regard to "human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violence."

In this context, the Commission for the Protection of Minors for the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico issued a statement May 19 acknowledging that while sporting events of this magnitude "present an opportunity for encounter, togetherness, fraternity, and cultural exchange," they can also be exploited by "criminal networks that operate through deception, manipulation, coercion, exploitation, and the abuse of individuals."

In the Mexican cities that will host matches  — Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara — the arrival of "more than 5.5 million international visitors" is anticipated, according to Gabriela Cuevas Barrón, the Mexican government's World Cup coordinator.

Reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNICEF, and Amnesty International have warned that this massive movement of people "entails a massive influx of visitors with a potential impact on tourism-related sexual exploitation."

In light of this situation, the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico called upon authorities to "strengthen prevention, early detection, responsible reporting, and the protection of potential victims during this period."

How could a person fall into the hands of these networks?

The bishops' statement reiterated several warnings issued by the Citizen Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City regarding risk factors that require special attention; among them is the use of social media, which has been identified "as a means for recruiting minors."

The council also issued a warning regarding "a growing trend of recruiting individuals of other nationalities — primarily from Colombia, Venezuela, and Honduras — with false promises of obtaining legal immigration status."

The organization drew attention to the lack of awareness surrounding this type of crime and recommended the implementation of "targeted awareness campaigns, particularly in sectors with high exposure during the World Cup."

What can a member of the Church do to help?

The Archdiocese of Mexico urged priests, deacons, men and women religious, catechists, and pastoral workers to "actively join this effort through concrete actions aimed at raising awareness and prevention."

Among the proposed actions, particular emphasis was placed on the need to "speak clearly about this crime within pastoral settings." In this regard, the archdiocese encouraged the "placement of informational materials in visible locations" in parishes and places where people gather at churches.

The archdiocese recommended "guiding parents and guardians regarding the risks present in digital environments" as well as "disseminating protocols for the protection of minors and promoting a culture of caring in catechesis and youth groups."

Likewise, it proposed including "moments of prayer for victims of trafficking, exploitation, abuse, and violence."

The archdiocese further reminded that, in the event of a potentially risky situation, "one must not directly confront the potential aggressor or trafficker, nor publicly expose the potential victim."

The recommended course of action, it stated, is "to act with prudence, safeguard one's personal safety, listen without applying pressure, inform the right people, and refer the matter to the competent authorities."

Various national and international organizations have launched the website Mundialsintrata ("World Cup Without Trafficking") where users can access information and materials related to this initiative, which aims to promote the identification and safe reporting of human trafficking cases.

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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After more than three decades, the Pontifical Academy for Life continues its mission to promote human dignity from the beginning of one's life to its end.

In 1994 Pope John Paul II established the Pontifical Academy for Life, which works with institutions of higher education, scientific societies, and research centers that deal with life-related issues.

Today, the academy is at the forefront of discussions about artificial intelligence, end-of-life care, and public bioethics.

In March, Pope Leo XIV promulgated new statutes for the Pontifical Academy for Life, recalling that its objective is "the defense and promotion of the value of human life and the dignity of the person."

The academy's mandate is to have a center of studies to "research about the new challenges" and "the new problems concerning human life," Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said in an interview with "EWTN Pro-life Weekly."

There is an "important ... interdisciplinary dialogue involving biologists, doctors, but also philosophers, theologians, lawyers — all people that could help to analyze the new questions, the new problems, sometimes very urgent and very complicated issues," he said.

The Pontifical Academy for Life is composed of a presidency, a central office, members, also called academicians, and supporters. Pegoraro has been serving as the president for nearly a year, following his appointment by Pope Leo XIV on May 27, 2025.

Prior, Pegoraro was the chancellor of the academy. He is also a bioethicist who earned a medical degree before entering the seminary.

Pegoraro and the team work to tackle issues that often stem from "the development of medicine" and "the development of science or biology."

They find ways "to define the ethical responsibilities to protect human life and to promote human life with the respect of the dignity of all human beings — from the beginning of life to the end of life," Pegoraro said.

Changes and advances at the academy

Prior to 2016, those who wanted to work at the academy had to sign a declaration stating that they were pro-life. Since 2016 they no longer need to sign a statement, but the people who work for the academy still need to conform to Church teachings on matters of human dignity.

"We realized the last 10 years, to have members that are not Catholic," Pegoraro said.

The academy has a "presence of members coming from other religions," including two Jewish members, one Muslim member, and two Greek Orthodox members, Pegoraro said.

"But they confirm to agree with the basic values concerning human life, and they agree with the teaching of the Catholic Church about these topics," he said.

Pegoraro addressed some of the specific projects at the academy including one, "neuroscience." It addresses the "problems [and] risk of enhancement or manipulation of the human being," he said.

There is "an interesting project about … neonatal care," Pegoraro said. It focuses on "before the delivery and immediately after the delivery — particularly for premature children." It addresses "how to guarantee good care of the baby" and "good care for the mother," he said.

"There is also an interesting working group now about ethics and disability," he said.

In the changing times, the academy works to address updated technologies with some of its other projects on artificial intelligence and robots.

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VATICAN CITY — The General Secretariat of the Synod has published a new document to guide the "path of implementation of the Synod" through an ecclesial assembly in October 2028 at the Vatican.

The 18-page document, titled "The Path of Implementation of the Synod: Towards the Assemblies 2027–2028 — Stages, Criteria, and Tools for Preparation," establishes a four-stage process and a common method for local Churches, episcopal conferences, and continental bodies.

The new text follows a letter sent last year to bishops, eparchs, patriarchs, and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches defining the process of accompaniment in the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality, which concluded in 2024 after a three-year process.

The Synod's implementation path will unfold in four progressive stages: Recollecting, in the first half of 2027; Interpreting, in the second half of 2027; Orienting, in the first four months of 2028; and Celebrating, in October 2028.

Each stage will culminate in an assembly and the drafting of materials meant to feed ecclesial discernment ahead of the final assembly.

According to the document, the unity of the process will be guided by a common question at every level: "In light of the journey undertaken after the conclusion of the 2021–2024 Synod, and with a view to offering its fruits as a gift to the other Churches and to the Holy Father: What concrete form of a missionary synodal Church, and what new paths of synodality, are emerging in your community?"

The document says the process is not meant to repeat the consultation stage of the Synod but to help the Churches learn from what has already been lived, recognize fruits and difficulties, recalibrate priorities and processes "in the light of careful discernment," strengthen co-responsibility, and foster an "authentic exchange of gifts among the Churches."

The Synod office also stresses that the implementation phase "does not introduce additional tasks alongside the ordinary life of communities; rather, it orients and renews that life from within."

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod, said the proposal should be understood as a time of ecclesial discernment rather than as another administrative burden.

"What we are proposing to the local Churches," Grech said, "is not an additional task but rather a time of shared discernment and thanksgiving in which to reread together what the Spirit is causing to grow in the Church and to recognize the steps we are called to take."

"The assemblies do not coincide with a sociological consultation or a deliberative process, nor are they a technical assessment," he continued. "Rather, they are a profound ecclesial and spiritual experience of discernment: a moment of synthesis and renewed impetus for the journey, so that the exchange of gifts among the Churches may become a concrete experience and synodality may increasingly take shape as the ordinary style of ecclesial life at the service of mission."

Where this has not already been done, the document says it is "essential to reactivate and support diocesan, national, and continental synodal teams," whose composition is to be communicated to the General Secretariat of the Synod.

The document calls for assemblies with broad participation, including men and women of different generations, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, members of movements and associations, and faithful not belonging to organized structures. It also asks for attention to the presence of "persons living in situations of fragility or marginality."

The text adds that it is important "to value voices not directly traceable to ecclesial structures" and, where appropriate, to provide for the participation of representatives of other Churches and Christian communions or of other religions.

At the diocesan and eparchial level, each local Church will prepare a narrative report before its assembly and a letter to other local Churches during the assembly. National or regional assemblies will prepare a theological-pastoral report and a letter to other Churches.

Continental assemblies will prepare a "perspective report" to help shape the Instrumentum Laboris, the working document for the 2028 meetings at the Vatican.

All materials must be sent to the General Secretariat of the Synod by specific deadlines: June 30, 2027, for the local stage; Dec. 31, 2027, for the national or regional stage; and April 30, 2028, for the continental stage.

The document proposes conversation in the Spirit as the privileged method for community discernment while allowing adaptations for the needs of each context.

The implementation phase began after Pope Francis received the Synod's Final Document in 2024. The new stage, according to the document, was "subsequently confirmed and promoted by Pope Leo XIV" with the aim of helping synodality become an ordinary style of ecclesial life at the service of mission.

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 told a group of ambassadors on Thursday that nations should measure their success by how well they treat those on the margins, not by the level of power or prosperity they have reached.

"Courteous and clear dialogue, essential though it is, must be accompanied by a deeper conversion of heart: the willingness to set aside particular interests for the sake of the common good," the pope said in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on May 21.

"No nation, no society, and no international order can call itself just and humane if it measures its success solely by power or prosperity while neglecting those who live at the margins," he continued. "Indeed, Christ's love for the least and the forgotten compels us to reject every form of selfishness that leaves the poor and the vulnerable invisible."

Leo received in audience the new ambassadors to the Holy See from Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Yemen, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Chad, and Sri Lanka on the occasion of the presentation of their credentials.

Referencing his address to the diplomatic corps in January, the Holy Father emphasized the "urgent need for a return to 'a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus' on all levels — bilateral, regional, and multilateral."

Dialogue motivated by a sincere search for peace, he added, "demands that words once again express clear realities without distortion or hostility."

He urged diplomats and international organizations to be animated by a "spirit of self-giving solidarity … in order to create spaces for encounter and mediation."

The pope assured the ambassadors of the readiness of the Secretariat of State and dicasteries of the Roman Curia to assist them as they undertake their new responsibilities.

"At a moment when geopolitical tensions continue to fragment our world further, it is necessary to make them more representative, effective, and oriented toward the unity of the human family," he said.

"May your mission strengthen dialogue, deepen mutual understanding, and contribute to the peace so greatly needed in our world."

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Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said the baptism of Christ is not merely a historical memory but an eternal event that continues to speak to every believer.

The patriarch made the remarks during a gathering hosted by King Abdullah II of Jordan with Church leaders at the baptism site of Jesus Christ, traditionally known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan on May 18.

Located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho in the West Bank, the site is venerated by Christians around the world as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In recognition of its universal spiritual significance, UNESCO inscribed the baptism site on its World Heritage List in 2015.

King Abdullah announced that the Jordanian government will adopt and support an initiative to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's baptism in 2030. The plan includes upgrading infrastructure and services at the baptism site to welcome pilgrims from around the world while preserving its sacred character.The king also emphasized his personal commitment to overseeing preparations, underscoring Jordan's role in protecting holy sites and supporting the Christian presence in the region.

"This initiative is a call to look forward with faith and responsibility," Pizzaballa said. "The baptism site must remain a living place, where visitors do not simply come to see but encounter God and rediscover the depth of their baptism."

Church leaders in Jordan welcomed the king's support for the Baptism Jubilee 2030, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen Christian unity and renew the meaning of pilgrimage to the baptism site. They stressed that preparations should begin locally, through the development of facilities, the training of staff, and efforts to ensure that the site remains a place of living faith. They also called for engagement with churches and Christian institutions worldwide to encourage broad participation in the jubilee.

For Church leaders, the jubilee is not only a commemoration of a major moment in Christian history but also a global spiritual event inviting believers everywhere to rediscover the depth of their baptism and to see the baptism site as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.

Pizzaballa expressed deep appreciation for Jordan's role in safeguarding the site and promoting peace.

"In this blessed land," he said, "we see in your leadership a living example of how faith can become a bridge between peoples and a foundation for peace in the world."

The baptism site carries profound spiritual and historical significance. Known in Scripture as "Bethany Beyond the Jordan," it is the place where Jesus entered the waters to be baptized by John, sanctifying creation and inaugurating his public ministry.

Archaeological remains of ancient churches and monasteries bear witness to centuries of Christian devotion, while modern pilgrims continue to gather there for liturgies, prayer, and reflection.

Since its recognition by UNESCO, the site has become a major destination for Christian pilgrimage, drawing thousands of visitors each year to the banks of the Jordan River.

The 2030 jubilee initiative is envisioned not only as the commemoration of a milestone in Christian history but also as a global spiritual event. It seeks to renew the meaning of baptism for believers, strengthen Christian pilgrimage, and present the baptism site as a beacon of reconciliation and hope.

As preparations begin, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is preparing to welcome the world, offering a tangible connection to the beginning of Christ's mission and a testimony to faith, peace, and coexistence in the Middle East.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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BRUSSELS — EU lawmakers have agreed to ban AI "nudifier" applications and systems used to generate child sexual abuse material, a move welcomed by faith leaders and ethicists ahead of Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence, scheduled for release on May 25.

'An attack on human dignity'

Speaking to EWTN News, Irish Member of European Parliament Michael McNamara, one of the European Parliament's lead lawmakers on the AI Act, said negotiators pushed for an outright ban on systems used to generate nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated child sexual abuse material, which he described as "an attack on the fundamental rights of real people, particularly the inviolability of human dignity and the right to privacy."

McNamara previously participated in an interfaith Brussels delegation on AI governance led by former Irish ambassador to the Holy See Professor Philip McDonagh.

"We were insistent that these prohibitions sit in Article 5, among the absolute bans in the AI Act," McNamara added.

Following the agreement, he said the new provisions would ensure authorities had "the tools to act if providers do not address AI systems that compromise fundamental rights or human dignity."

Under the agreement, companies will have until Dec. 2 to comply with the new restrictions.

Delays to 'high-risk' AI rules

The legislation also postpones the application of some obligations for "high-risk" AI systems until 2027 and 2028, a move lawmakers say was necessary because technical standards required for implementation were not ready in time.

Under the act, high-risk systems include AI used in healthcare, education, employment, law enforcement, and border management, where algorithmic decisions can directly affect human rights and access to essential services.

"To be frank, my preference would have been no extension," McNamara said, while acknowledging lawmakers faced pressure to ensure the rules could be implemented with legal certainty.

"Certainty matters: for industry, yes, but also for citizens and for the authorities that will enforce these rules," he said.

EU bishops welcome restrictions

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed the ban. Speaking to EWTN News, Friederike Ladenburger, COMECE adviser on ethics, research, and health, said the restrictions are "legally justified" because such systems process biometric and intimate personal data in ways that undermine fundamental rights, particularly human dignity, privacy, consent, and the protection of minors.

"From an ethical perspective, nudifier applications constitute a form of technological exploitation that objectifies the person," she added. Such systems conflict with principles of "dignity, solidarity, and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals" that should guide implementation of the AI Act, she said.

Alessandro Calcagno, COMECE assistant general secretary and adviser on fundamental rights, said the organization has consistently called for stronger protections for children in AI regulation.

"In its 2020 contribution to the EU White Paper on AI, COMECE stressed that children are the most vulnerable in the context of AI use and application," he told EWTN News.

Interfaith and Vatican dialogue on AI

The anticipated papal encyclical follows several years of Vatican engagement on AI ethics through the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Rome Call for AI Ethics, and repeated interventions from previous popes warning against technologies that risk reducing the human person to data, manipulation, or simulation.

McDonagh, who serves as director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations at Dublin City University, said the debate surrounding AI reflects a technological transformation of "profound historical and civilizational significance," comparable to the agricultural and industrial revolutions, which also produced "dramatic new forms of inequality and violence."

Following the provisional agreement, he said the rapid emergence of AI raises deeper questions about human coexistence and the moral foundations of society.

"The anthropological question of how we make sense of our existence and co-existence is more urgent than ever," he said.

Ahead of the encyclical's release, members of the COMECE presidency held private talks with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on AI governance, the future of the EU, and wider global challenges.

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Catholic Charities of Baltimore officially opened its new $35 million intergenerational center on May 21.

The Carolyn E. Fugett Intergenerational Center was created to offer care for all ages — from Head Start to senior care programs. It intends to bring the greater community together through weekly activities, sports teams, art classes, and career guidance.

Kevin Creamer, director of the center, told EWTN News that Catholic Charities of Baltimore has been working to bring generations together through community sites for about 10 years.

The new facility started "as an outgrowth of some of the early childhood supports that we were offering across the agency," he said.

Catholic Charities is "one of the largest Head Start providers in Baltimore City," with "13 unique locations and a little under 700 children and families being served there," Creamer said. "So we have a good grasp on the impact of that early childhood support."

"But we've tried to be intentional as we've grown with families and seen those families age out of Head Start and move on to school and eventually careers and college — the benefit of the wraparound services that Head Start provides."

He continued: "So the question … presented itself: 'How can we be more intentional about bringing services to attach, so that families aren't losing the support structure of Head Start or don't have an ability to connect in-house to services?'"

The facility, named after community leader Carolyn Fugett, was ultimately a way to answer the question.

Catholic Charities acquired the project site, which was previously an elementary school, in 2021. Construction for the project took about three and a half years.

"The center itself is a byproduct of our Centennial and Capital Campaign," Creamer said. "Catholic Charities Baltimore turned 100 in 2023, and a campaign was launched to spearhead three milestone projects for the agency."

The campaign raised a little over $100 million, which, along with the Fugett Center, contributed to the Gallagher Meaningful Day Center, a center for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and the Cherry Hill Town Center, a community gathering space.

The center has also been funded by private fundraising with a number of partners to support activities and programs.

Community engagement all under 'one roof'

The intergenerational model allows for multiple program partners to be present and offer activities to different age groups all under one roof.

"We knew we wanted to bring in what we had already been doing well in the neighborhood: our food pantry program, our Head Start programming, some of our behavioral health services," Creamer said. "But to fill in the gaps around that model, we needed to defer to the expertise of the leaders in the neighborhood."

Creamer began talking with community partners and leaders "to make sure that we got this right and that there was room in the project scope for the interests of the community."

"The loss of recreation centers and access to things like after-school basketball and basketball leagues was something that came up a lot in those conversations," he said.

So basketball became "a big driver," Creamer said. "PeacePlayers is our in-house basketball partner," and "they'll be running youth programming from [ages] 5 to, really, 25" at the center.

Starting this summer, PeacePlayers will use the Fugett Center as one of its locations for a free program for kids and a coaching and leadership development program for teens and young adults.

A "lack of senior programming space and activity space" also came up when leaders spoke with neighbors, especially since the center is "located right next to Rosemont Tower, which is a 200-unit Housing Authority building largely for seniors," Creamer said.

To address this, the facility has "five community classrooms that'll house a rotating curriculum of classes" including "senior dance class, musical theater, chair yoga, candle making — all free of charge to our neighbors."

It will offer community art projects led by outside vendors but will also engage the community with volunteer-led classes, as neighbors hope "to lead crocheting classes or jewelry-making classes," Creamer said.

"We want to empower residents to also give back their gifts," Creamer said.

The space will also provide "access to the internet, to learn computer skills," Creamer said. It has a computer lab to offer "digital literacy instruction, job preparation, resume writing, and interview training."

Named in honor of a lifelong 'community leader'

The center is named after Carolyn E. Fugett, "who is the mother of Reginald F. Lewis ... who was an entrepreneur and a lawyer — widely considered the first Black billionaire in U.S. history," Creamer said.

Fugett "was a community leader throughout her entire life" who "passed about three years ago at the age of 97."

"She did not ask for credit" and "she preferred to operate in the backdrop but was such a wellspring of compassion."

As "a big advocate of child education," she worked with bishops, schoolteachers, and principals to help Catholic schools integrate coming out of segregation.

"So when we thought about the early childhood education piece, the beacon that we want this community center to provide to the neighborhood, she represented all of what we hope to be."

"A handful of the team attached to this project were at her funeral service at St. Edward's Church, which is right across the street from the [center]," Creamer said.

"We came out of that service after hearing the outpouring of love from her family and from the community at large, and the first thing you see walking out of those church doors was the building that was being constructed."

"Sometimes God speaks very clearly, and it's hard not to listen," he said.

"We're honored to bear her name, and we're excited to carry that torch. She's shown us who we have to be, as has the community. We just need to keep listening and keep rising to the occasion," Creamer said.

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