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Vatican City, Nov 22, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

St. Cecilia, widely known as the patron saint of music and musicians, is buried in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere where a famous Baroque sculpture of her still puzzles scholars.

According to popular belief, Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman who lived in the third century. Despite being forced by her family to marry, she remained a virgin, as she had vowed to do as a young girl.

Her pagan husband, Valerian, converted to Christianity after their marriage, and Valerian's brother, Tiburtius, was also baptized a Christian. Both men were martyred. St. Cecilia, too, would later be tortured and martyred. It is said she took three days to die after the executioner hit her three times on the neck with a sword.

After her martyrdom, St. Cecilia was buried in the Catacomb of St. Callixtus. The underground burial place of early Christians was created around the turn of the first century A.D. by Callixtus, a deacon who later became pope.

Located under the Appian Way, an ancient Roman road connecting the city to southeast Italy, the Catacomb of St. Callixtus once held the bodies of more than 50 martyrs, including St. Cecilia, and popes from the second to the fourth centuries.

After the end of Christian persecution, the relics of the Christians buried in the city's many catacombs were moved to churches for veneration. St. Cecilia's remains were transferred in the early 800s to a church built on the ruins of her former home.

It is said that hundreds of years later, during a restoration of the church in 1599, her tomb was opened, revealing her body to be, miraculously, incorrupt. Artist Stefano Maderno was commissioned to create a marble sculpture of the saint.

Sources disagree about whether the Baroque artwork, still on display today at Cecilia's tomb in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere, is a depiction of how the saint's body was found in 1599 or an invention of Maderno. Either way, the sculpture — which depicts Cecilia lying on her right side, her hands tied, her face turned toward the ground, and the wound of her martyrdom visible upon her neck — is considered a masterpiece.

There are several widely-told legends about St. Cecilia and her husband. One of the oft-repeated beliefs, dating to the fifth century, is that she sang to God "in her heart" as musicians played at her wedding feast.

This story about the saint comes from a Latin antiphon, but there is a competing interpretation, however.

"Cantantibus organis, Caecilia virgo in corde suo soli Domino decantabat dicens: fiat Domine cor meum et corpus meum immaculatum ut non confundar," the Latin antiphon says. In English it means: "While the instruments played, the virgin Cecilia sang in her heart to the Lord alone, saying, 'Let my heart and my body be made pure, that I may not be confounded.'"

Another version of the antiphon gives a slightly different opening word, "candentibus," instead of "cantantibus," which would change the translation from musical instruments playing to "glowing" instruments of torture.

Scholars continue to disagree about which Latin version is the correct one and which may be a copy error. What is without dispute, however, is St. Cecilia's selfless example of faithfulness to God, even to the point of the sacrifice of her own life.

St. Cecilia's feast day in the Church is celebrated Nov. 22.

This story was first published on Nov. 22, 2024, and has been updated.

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ACI Africa, Nov 21, 2025 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

The Diocese of Kontagora in Nigeria has described as "painful and disturbing" the Friday, Nov. 21, kidnapping of children and staff at St. Mary's Catholic Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Schools.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, the diocesan secretary of the Nigerian episcopal see appealed for intensified national action against insecurity.

Father Jatau Luka Joseph said armed attackers invaded St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger state, in the early hours of Nov. 21, abducting "some pupils, students, teachers, and a security personnel who was badly shot."

"The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., causing fear and distress within the school community," he said.

"The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora strongly condemns the attack and expresses deep concern for the safety of the kidnapped children and their families," Luka Joseph said.

He added that security agencies were immediately informed and had begun coordinated efforts to ensure the safe rescue and return of the victims.

Bishop Bulus Yohana Dauwa assured the public that the Kontagora Diocese is "actively collaborating with security operatives, community leaders, and government authorities."

The diocese called on the public to "remain calm, support security efforts, and continue praying for the safe and quick return of all abducted." It further reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of children and promised to provide further updates as verified information becomes available.

The statement shared by the diocesan secretary reads: "May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect his people from all danger. With prayers and sympathy."

Nigeria has been battling with a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, killing.

Boko Haram insurgency has been a major challenge in the country since 2009, a group that allegedly aims to turn Africa's most populous nation into an Islamic nation.

The insecurity situation in many other parts of the country has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia.

The Nov. 21 attack and kidnappings follow a series of other abductions that have targeted members of the clergy in Africa's most populous nation.

On Nov. 17, Father Bobbo Paschal was abducted from his residence when gunmen attacked St. Stephen Parish of Kaduna Archdiocese. During the attack, numerous people were kidnapped, and the brother of one priest, Father Anthony Yero, was killed.

The archdiocese on Nov. 20 refuted circulating social media reports that Paschal had been killed.

On Nov. 18, Dauwa raised concerns about the safety of children in the West African country following the Nov. 17 abduction of 25 school girls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

In an interview with ACI Africa, he described the incident as a tragic reminder that the country is no longer "safe for its children."

Dauwa described the abduction as part of an escalating wave of violence sweeping across Kebbi and parts of Niger state. "It has never been this bad. People sleep in the bush because they have nowhere else to run," he said.

On Nov. 19, one of the 25 kidnapped girls escaped and is now safe, authorities have confirmed, according to ACI Africa. 

The student who escaped arrived home late Monday evening, hours after the kidnapping, according to the school principal, Musa Rabi Magaji.

As the international community expressed concern, Pope Leo XIV addressed the crisis Tuesday evening while departing the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. 

Responding to a question from EWTN News, the Holy Father lamented the ongoing insecurity and called for renewed efforts to protect all civilians.

"In Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians — but for all people," Pope Leo said, adding: "Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered. There's a question of terrorism, a question tied to economics and control of land."

The pope noted that many Christians have died and emphasized that any long-term solution must involve cooperation between religious communities, civil authorities, and the Nigerian government.

"It's very important to seek a way… to promote authentic religious freedom," he said.

In July, three minor seminarians were abducted during an armed attack on Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria's Diocese of Auchi. All three endured months of torture despite pleas with abductors and the paying of ransoms. Two of the seminarians later regained their freedom, while the third died in captivity.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) — a move that Father Hyacinth Ichoku, the vice chancellor of Veritas University in Abuja, said accords national leaders of the West African nation an opportunity for international collaboration rather than an act of hostility.

"Anyone who can support us with equipment and help our soldiers in their war against bandits should be encouraged. That is what Trump wants for our country," Ichoku told ACI Africa on Nov. 7 during Veritas University's 14th convocation lecture.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 21, 2025 / 17:50 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV spoke to teenagers during a digital encounter at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday in Indianapolis during the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC). 

Five teenagers asked the pope questions regarding using technology, recovering from mistakes, giving worries to Jesus, avoiding distractions, and preparing for the future of the Church. The pope gave guidance to the young crowd with words applicable to both teenagers and the universal Church. 

The Holy Father's advice that Catholics can apply to their lives included:

Sin never has the final word

"All of us struggle," Leo said. "The truth is that none of us is perfect."

"St. Paul teaches that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God … Because of original sin, we sometimes do the opposite of what we know is right. But there's good news. Sin never has the final word," the pope said.

"Whenever we ask for God's mercy, he forgives us. Pope Francis said that God never gets tired of forgiving. We sometimes get tired of asking for forgiveness. So even when we fall again, we should remember St. Paul's words, 'Christ Jesus, came into the world to save sinners.' He came for us, knowing our weaknesses," he said.

"We may struggle to forgive, but God's heart is different. God never stops inviting us back. We experience this mercy of God in a special way in the sacrament of reconciliation," the pope said.

"It can be discouraging when we fall, but do not focus on all your sins. Look to Jesus. Trust his mercy and go to him with confidence. He will always welcome you home," he said.

Give your worries to God

"In his first letter, St. Peter tells us to give all our worries to Jesus because he cares for us," Pope Leo said. "Jesus does not just understand our struggles from a distance. He actually wants us to hand them to him because he loves us."

"That trust starts when we have a real relationship. We cannot give our problems to someone whom we barely know. Think of your closest friends, for example. If they were hurting, you would talk to them. You would listen to them. You would stay close. Our relationship with Jesus is similar," he said.

"He knows when life feels heavy. Scripture reminds us that he is near to the brokenhearted. Even when we do not feel his presence, our faith tells us that he is there. To entrust our struggles to Jesus, we have to spend time with him in prayer. We have to have a relationship with him," he said.

"Daily moments of silence are so important, whether through adoration, reading Scripture, talking to him, looking for those little spaces of time where we can be with him. Little by little, we learn to hear his voice, to feel his presence, both within and through the people that he sends to us," the pope said.

Find real friends 

"It's … important to pray for the gift of true friends," the pope said. "A real friend is not only someone who's fun to be with, oh, that is good, too. But it's someone who helps you grow closer to Jesus, someone who encourages you to become a better person. Good friends also push us to seek help when life gets difficult or confusing."

"Good friends will always tell us the truth, even when that's not easy to do. Scripture says that faithful friends are like a strong shelter and a treasure. I hope you are forming friendships like that, even during this conference. Friendships rooted in faith, rooted in love for Jesus," the pope said.

It's OK to get distracted, but then come back to God

When we get distracted in prayer, "sometimes the best thing to do is to follow the distraction for a moment, see why it's there," Pope Leo said. Then after acknowledging it, "turn back and remember why you're there and why you're in prayer and to say to the Lord, 'Look I'm distracted right now. I know you understand.'"

"But not to allow yourself to be taken too far away, especially during prayer, because there are all kinds of temptations and all kinds of distractions, but there's only one Jesus Christ, and we really need to give our time also in prayer to Christ," the pope said.

Technology should serve your life, not the other way around

"Technology can really help in many ways," and it "can help us live our Christian faith," Pope Leo said. "It lets us stay connected with people who are far away … It also gives us amazing tools for prayer, for reading the Bible, for learning more about what we believe."

"It allows us to share the Gospel with people we may never meet in person. But even with all that, technology can never replace real in-person relationships. Simple things, a hug, a handshake, a smile. All those things are essential to being human," he said.

"Watching Mass online can be helpful, especially when someone is sick or elderly or cannot attend in person. But actually being there, taking part in the Eucharist, is so important for our prayer, for our sense of community," the pope said.

"It's essential for our relationship with God and with each other. There's nothing that can replace true human presence, being with one another. While technology certainly can connect us, it's not the same as being physically present."

Jesus will always protect, guide, and love his Church

"When we face challenges or worries about the future, it might be good to remember that promise that Jesus once made to Peter when he said, 'The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.' Jesus will always protect, guide, and love his Church," the pope said.

"The day I was elected pope, I said, 'God loves us, and evil will not prevail,'" the pope said. "We are all in God's hands. Jesus wants everyone to come close to him."

"The Church prepares for the future by staying faithful to what Jesus asks of us today. He told us not to be overwhelmed by worries but to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that everything else will fall into place. He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us and help us understand what we need to do," the pope said.

Be involved 

Pope Leo encouraged involvement in the Church, especially among youth. "You are not only the future of the Church, you are the present," he said to teens. 

"If you want to help the Church prepare for the future, start by being involved today. Stay connected to your parish, attend Sunday Mass, join youth activities and say yes to opportunities … where your faith can grow," he said.

"Your voices, your ideas, your faith matter right now, and the Church needs you. The Church needs what you have been given to share with all of us," he said.

"The more you come to know Jesus, the more you will want to serve him and his Church. One great way to build up the Church is by sharing your faith, teaching the faith to others, helping others who need you," the pope said.

Your vocation is always connected to the greater mission of the Church

"As you discern your vocation, trust Jesus. He knows how to lead you to true happiness. If you open your heart, you will hear him calling you to holiness," Pope Leo said. 

"As Pope Benedict XVI once said, 'Jesus takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.' When we give ourselves to him, we receive far more than we could ever imagine," he said.

"If you think you may be called to marriage, pray for a spouse who will help you grow in holiness, help you grow in your faith," the pope said.

"Some of you may be called to the priesthood to serve God's people through the word and sacraments. If you feel that tug in your heart, don't ignore it. Bring it to Jesus. Speak with a priest you trust," Pope Leo said.

"Others may be called to consecrated religious life, to be witnesses of a joyful life completely given to God. If you sense this call, that gentle tug, do not be afraid," he said.

We were made for something greater 

"Now is the time to dream big, be open to what God can do through your lives. Being young often comes with the desire to do something meaningful, something that makes a real difference. Many of you are ready to be generous, to help those who love, to work for something greater than yourself," the pope said.

"That is why it is not true that life is only about doing what feels good to yourself, makes you feel comfortable, as some people claim it. Sure, comfort can be nice, but as Pope Benedict XVI reminded us: 'We weren't made for comfort. We were made for greatness. We were made for God himself,'" he said.

"Deep down, we long for truth, for beauty, and goodness, because we were created for them," Pope Leo said. 

Don't use political categories to speak about faith 

"Joy, hope, with creativity, authentic witnesses in the Gospel can help heal and unite humanity," Pope Leo said. "Jesus also calls us disciples to be peacemakers — people who build bridges instead of walls, people who value dialogue and unity instead of division."

"Please be careful not to use political categories to speak about faith, to speak about the Church. The Church doesn't belong to any political party. Rather, she helps form your conscience … so you can think and act with wisdom and love. As you go closer to Jesus, do not fear what he might ask of you," the pope said.

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Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov 21, 2025 / 18:10 pm (CNA).

At a press conference Friday following Pope Leo XIV's historic "digital visit" with 16,000 young people at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, leaders and young participants praised Pope Leo's warmth, humility, authenticity, and pastoral clarity, highlighting his central message: a personal relationship with Jesus is essential.

"Walking up on that stage felt like history. It really did," said Elise Wing, a high school senior from Waterloo, Iowa, and one of the teens selected to ask Pope Leo a question during the live dialogue, which was facilitated digitally by EWTN on Nov. 21. 

"It's beautiful to see somebody so holy really coming to us like that, like Jesus would — like Jesus does," Wing said. 

"Because in the end … we're not excited because we got to talk to the pope. We're excited because this is Jesus working through the Church, working through the pope in this conversation. I just think that knowing that, and feeling that it wasn't just about us in that moment, makes this experience all the more incredible."

Joining the young people on the press conference stage were Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, episcopal adviser to the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM); Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Indianapolis; Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News; Christina Lamas, executive director of NFCYM; and Katie Prejean McGrady, an author, radio host, and moderator for the dialogue with the pope.

Ezequiel Ponce, a senior from Downey, California, said his heart was thumping as he approached the microphone, but the extensive preparation that the teens had received before the dialogue gave him confidence.  

"I was really able to live in a moment. I felt at ease. When I was talking to the pope, I felt like I was talking to my dad or someone close to me. It felt personal because he addressed us. He said my name. He said it right," Ponce said. 

During the dialogue, five teens from around the country asked Pope Leo probing questions about mental health, artificial intelligence (AI), and the future of the Catholic Church, while tens of thousands of their peers in the stadium and at least 50,000 people online watched live. The dialogue was also picked up by several major secular news outlets globally.

If you want to help the Church prepare for the future, the pope told the young attendees, start by "being involved today" — stay connected to your parish, attend Sunday Mass, join youth activities, and say yes to faith-nurturing opportunities, the pontiff advised. 

"I will accept Pope Leo's challenge of really being involved in the Church," Ponce commented. "He talked about finding people that you can really trust … that not only will listen to you, but help guide you with your faith in the Lord, push you to ask questions and push you to better your understanding and be there for you truly."

Wing expressed amazement that the pope addressed the teens by name and engaged directly with their questions during the face-to-face call.

"The pope just kept bringing it back to the Lord. That's why we're here. That's why all of us are doing what we're doing," she said. 

"Jesus is what we're longing for. And I think that that is the message that was really conveyed."

Ponce, who is involved in a Catholic summer camp back home in California, said it was "super refreshing" to hear Pope Leo vocalize a sentiment that Ponce's youth leader has also told him: that young people aren't merely the future of the Church, they are also "the present."

"To hear that basically being put into Pope Leo's words and being shown by him directly nodding and agreeing with us … It felt super, super refreshing to hear that. [And] not only is that message going to be sent across to us, and back home, but all over the world," Ponce said. 

Wing agreed, saying that the pope modeled for young Catholics respectful, non-polemical dialogue that she hopes will shape wider Church and cultural engagement.

"I think that the pope set an amazing example for how we should really communicate with each other. All the bishops and people that are here at NCYC are people who want to talk to teenagers, and who are willing to listen, but not everybody in the world is like that," Wing said. 

"To hear the pope do what he did and talk to us, and be able to not debate but understand each other is, like Ezequiel said, just refreshing."

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, praised the poise and maturity of the teen participants and spoke about how he feels the pope's words, and the dialogue in general, was valuable for all Catholics. 

"I had the impression that it was a 'Church event.' It was not just a 'show' of the Holy Father. It was a Church event," the cardinal said. 

"Because the Church is made of people. The Church is not something above us. We are quite often tempted to put ourselves as the judges of the Church, as if the Church was something else … [but] we are the Church."

Lamas spoke about the fulfillment of her "dream" that the pope would directly address the thousands of young people at the annual conference. 

"I recall myself sitting there and just looking around the stadium, thinking to myself, 'This generation that we're seeing here will now enter into a new phase.' They have now experienced Pope Leo in a way that none of us as Church [have]. And so what's to come into the future? I don't know. But I know hearts have been changed," Lamas said. 

Lamas also said the pope's "yes" to taking the time and considerable effort to have a genuine dialogue with the young people of the United States shows an authenticity that resonates with the youth she works with.

"I saw Pope Leo [being] very authentic, and that's what our young people are craving — authenticity. He said it numerous times in his words and how he answered some of the questions. He wants people to show up … he did that for them," Lamas said. 

For her part, Alvarado noted that the digital encounter included two breakthroughs: a demonstration of cutting-edge Vatican production, and the pope's fluency with tech culture — discussing such topics as "screen time" and AI. 

"That shows you that not just the Vatican, but the Church itself, is encountering the world in a new and different way through the person of Pope Leo XIV," Alvarado said.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 21, 2025 / 18:30 pm (CNA).

The University of Notre Dame has reinstated "Catholic Mission" among its staff values after it opted to drop the language in an effort to reprogram the school's Catholic identity as overarching. 

In a Nov. 21 staff announcement, Notre Dame President Robert A. Dowd, CSC, said commitment to the school's Catholic mission was referenced in the preamble to the new four staff values announced at a town hall meeting last week "as a way to show its overarching importance." 

"Thanks to some constructive feedback we received, we now realize that placement is causing confusion and that some could interpret that not as elevating our mission as we intended but as a sign of diminishing commitment," he said. "To avoid any further confusion, we have now included the language on Catholic mission as the first of our five core values."

"Catholic Mission" is now listed first in the university's staff values, with the description: "Be a force for good and help to advance Notre Dame's mission to be the leading global Catholic research university." 

Dowd emphasized that the school's Catholic mission "guides and informs all that we do and how we work together," adding: "Our Catholic mission has animated our common work from the university's founding, and it will always be our guiding force."

"I could not be more grateful for the many ways you embody the very best of Notre Dame," he concluded, addressing Notre Dame staff. "As I have said on many occasions, you inspire me with your generosity, kindness, and dedication to Our Lady's university."

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Dublin, Ireland, Nov 21, 2025 / 12:09 pm (CNA).

There was immense joy among Catholics in Dublin following a decree from Pope Leo XIV formally designating St. Mary's Pro Cathedral as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Dublin, ending 200 years of the cathedral's "temporary" status and giving the capital its first official Catholic cathedral since the Reformation.

Speaking at Mass in the cathedral to mark the bicentenary on Friday, Nov. 14, Archbishop Dermot Farrell of the Dublin Archdiocese told the faithful of Dublin: "I am pleased to announce that the Holy Father, Pope Leo, has consented to my request and has approved by decree that St. Mary's be designated as the cathedral church of our archdiocese."

Farrell added that the timing could not have been better as it coincided with the cathedral's bicentenary celebrations.

"It is appropriate that this announcement should be made in the context of our celebration of the exemplary service which St. Mary's has given to our diocese over 200 years, but also at a time when we are renewing our focus on our mission as a diocesan family, 'Building Hope and Proclaiming Good News,' affirming the faith of our people and reaching out to the city and beyond," the archbishop said.

The following Sunday, Auxiliary Bishop Paul Dempsey of Dublin warmly welcomed the news and told the faithful gathered in St. Mary's: "In the Catholic tradition, over the centuries, many beautiful places of worship have been built. It is important to return to why they were built. They are not built as tourist attractions or museums; they are places where the Church community gathers to worship the Lord. The beauty and aesthetics are there to help raise our minds and hearts to God and to draw us into the mystery that is God's love," he said.

St. Mary's opened on Nov. 14, 1825. From around that time onward and following Catholic Emancipation, the Irish Church entered a period of strong growth. Many of the churches, parochial houses, and religious houses in Ireland were built in the middle of the 19th century symbolizing the strong presence of the Catholic Church in Irish society. 

"It continued for about 150 years or so. Then we saw the beginnings of change, something that has escalated over the last two to three decades. We find ourselves in a very different place today," he said.

"There can be a temptation to look to the past with rose-tinted glasses when the churches were full, but as we know not all was well and serious issues needed to be faced. This process has been disconcerting for some who have a nostalgia for the past and want to go back to the way it was. However, nostalgia could be described as a looking into the past with the pain taken away."

He continued: "So today, as we reflect upon 200 years of St. Mary's we are left with a choice: Do we lament the past and wish for its return or seek ways of looking forward with hope-filled hearts, responding to the new questions we face in a complex and changing culture? When I reflect upon the life of Jesus in the Gospels, I see someone who was always looking forward! As his disciples we need to do the same, while always learning from the past."

As the penal laws persecuting Catholics were relaxed in the later 18th century, the Pro Cathedral site was bought in 1803. The completed building was dedicated 200 years ago on Nov. 14, 1825, the feast day of St. Laurence O'Toole, who was canonized 800 years ago and who is the Dublin Archdiocese's patron.

The Pro Cathedral was always a "provisional" cathedral; the intention was to build a "proper" one when time and money allowed. In the past, both the Church of Ireland and Catholic archbishops extended claims of ownership over St. Patrick's and Christ Church — the city's two other cathedrals that, since the Reformation, have not been Catholic places of worship. 

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Vatican City, Nov 21, 2025 / 12:40 pm (CNA).

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, joined a delegation of Ukrainian mothers, wives, and teenagers forcibly taken to Russia during the war with Ukraine who met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Friday. The audience highlighted ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic efforts to secure the return of abducted civilians.

In a statement from her Senate office, Klobuchar said: "Pope Leo is a true moral force for peace and justice and a champion for children around the world. It was an honor to meet him as part of our mission to bring home the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and chart a path towards peace and healing for Ukraine."

The senator added: "We cannot accept a world where children are abducted during wartime and used as hostages for negotiations. The United States must remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine's fight for freedom, and we should all heed Pope Leo's example of serving those in need, pursuing the common good, and calling for peace."

According to the official Vatican News outlet, the meeting took place in the Apostolic Palace around midday and lasted about half an hour. Participants included young people who had been forcibly transferred to Russia and recently returned to Ukraine, along with their family members. The Vatican has put a priority on diplomatic efforts to return the children, starting under Pope Francis.

Klobuchar's office noted that more than 19,000 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as unlawfully deported or transferred to Russia or Russian-occupied territory.

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Vatican City, Nov 21, 2025 / 13:10 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Friday met with the leadership and staff of Caritas Internationalis, the Church's global charitable network operating in more than 200 countries, asking them to be "pilgrims of hope" and "artisans of peace" in the world.

During the morning meeting held at the Vatican, the Holy Father thanked Caritas Internationalis president Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi and approximately 70 Caritas workers for their "steadfast service" within the Church and to people throughout the world.

"Caritas Internationalis has long been a luminous sign of the Church's maternal love," he said to the multinational delegation on Nov. 21. 

"The love we receive from Christ is never a private treasure but always a mission entrusted to our hands," he added. "Love sends us forth; love makes us servants; love opens our eyes to the wounds of others."

Repeating his papal predecessor's desire that Caritas uphold Christ's "preference for the poor, the least, the abandoned, and discarded," Leo emphasized their mission, together with the "successor of Peter," is to serve every person with dignity.

3 pillars that sustain the Church's work in the world

"Your mission echoes the vision I shared in my first address to the diplomatic corps, where I spoke of the three pillars that sustain the Church's work in the world: peace, justice, and truth," he said. "These pillars are not abstract ideals."

Besides asking Caritas to continue accompanying local churches and their various initiatives to support the poor, the pope also insisted they also work toward "strengthening the formation of lay leaders" and "safeguarding unity within your diverse organization."

"The Church's mission unfolds only when we walk together as companions along the way, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape our works of mercy," he said during the private audience.

In 2022, Caritas Internationalis' leadership was placed under temporary administration following a decree issued by Pope Francis to revise its statutes and regulations to "improve" its mission of charity and justice.

Before individually greeting each member of the delegation at the end of the meeting, Pope Leo entrusted Caritas' work to "Mary, Mother of the Poor" and asked God to bless them with the "gifts of courage, perseverance, and joy."  

"Quite sincerely, I thank you, each and every one of you, and the many people that you represent, those who work with you," he said.

Before meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Friday, Kikuchi told EWTN News that the 162-member organization is more than a professional "goodwill" agency.

"We are the charitable arm of the Catholic Church," he said in the Nov. 20 interview. "Why are we being charitable? Because we want to spread the Gospel message — the love of God."

During the Church's 2025 Jubilee Year, Kikuchi said Caritas' "Turn Debt Into Hope" campaign is a response to Pope Francis' call for the cancellation of developing nations' international debt, outlined in the papal bull Spes Non Confundit.

"There are many countries who owe money to developed countries," the cardinal said. "We want to turn debt into hope [and] to cancel that debt so people really have the hope to survive."

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ACI Africa, Nov 21, 2025 / 13:40 pm (CNA).

Bishop Bulus Yohana Dauwa of Nigeria's Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has raised concern about the safety of children in the West African country following the Nov. 17 abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

In an interview with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, on Tuesday, Dauwa described the incident as a tragic reminder that the country is no longer "safe for its children."

The bishop told ACI Africa that he had gathered eyewitness accounts of the attack from victims who endured horrific scenes for nearly five hours, from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m., on the day of the attack.

An eyewitness told Dauwa that trouble began on Sunday, Nov. 16, when a suspicious group of men believed to be soldiers entered the school premises. They entered the school at around 4 p.m. — about 15 of them — on motorcycles and a van, wielding guns.

The soldiers ransacked the place without telling anyone what was happening. Staff reportedly retired to their quarters after the soldiers left.

In the early hours of Monday morning, armed bandits stormed the school and began shooting into the air. The attackers proceeded to the residence of a staff member, Mallam Hassan Yakubu, whom they found praying. They shot him dead on the spot. After his wife refused to show them where the students were sleeping, the gunmen seized one of her daughters and forced her to lead them to the hostel.

The gunmen fired repeatedly for nearly five hours, from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m., and left before soldiers returned to the scene. 

It was only after the gunmen had fled that security personnel instructed teachers to conduct a roll call, during which the missing girls were discovered.

The school, a home to around 300 students and normally guarded by a combined team of soldiers and police, has been shut down indefinitely. It remains unclear whether the security personnel normally stationed there were present during the attack.

Dauwa described the abduction as part of an escalating wave of violence sweeping across Kebbi and parts of Niger state.

"It has never been this bad. People sleep in the bush because they have nowhere else to run," he said.

He encouraged the parents of the abducted girls to remain prayerful and hopeful. 

"We are praying that God will guide and protect these girls wherever they are. The government must do everything possible to bring them back. All of them will come back alive," he said.

Beyond the kidnappings, the 54-year-old bishop highlighted decades-long challenges Christian communities face in the region, including what he called "silent discrimination and persecution." 

He said efforts by the Church to buy land, build parishes, or open schools are frequently resisted.

"Christians have been enduring what I call silent persecution. They stopped us from building our school and churches. They claimed our land was too close to their mosque, and every planting season, they would break the boundary," Bulus said.

He revealed that in some instances, communities deliberately built mosques directly in front of donated church sites to frustrate Christian worship. 

"We suffered for more than 10 years trying to open one parish," Dauwa told ACI Africa.

According to the bishop, a breakthrough eventually came after intense prayers to St. Padre Pio. The local emir, bedridden abroad, unexpectedly called and ordered that all withheld land documents be released to the Church. 

"It was a miracle," Dauwa said, recalling the emir's move, and added: "That very day, they gave us every paper they had denied us."

The bishop described the security situation in his diocese as "terrible," citing attacks across Kebbi, Magama, Mariga, and several communities along the River Niger.

"They entered one of our outstation churches, and everybody ran into the bush. There was no time to do anything," he said.

Dauwa faulted government officials for focusing on political debates rather than taking decisive action to protect citizens. 

"If the government had done enough, we would not be where we are today. Instead of facing reality, they are debating whether Muslims or Christians are being killed. That is not the main issue," the bishop said.

He warned that politicians appear more concerned about the 2027 elections than the ongoing violence. 

"They are more interested in 2027. Security is not their problem, but how to win the elections," he said.

The bishop disclosed that he had recently met with the Niger state governor and urged him to tell the president that security must come before politics. 

"Let him do something about the insecurity. That is the best way he can campaign now," Dauwa said.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 21, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).

Human rights advocates told members of Congress that the Armenian government's crackdown on Christians has included the unlawful detentions of clergy, ahead of the country's parliamentary elections in June 2026.

Tensions have escalated between Nikol Pashinyan, the sitting prime minister of Armenia, and the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, reflecting the struggle over Armenia's national identity and future direction. Government targeting of Christians has sparked concern for the loss of the country's heritage as the oldest Christian nation in the world.

Peter Flew, a lawyer and writer, said at a congressional briefing Nov. 20 that he collected evidence and witness statements regarding government persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Flew cited Pashinyan's remarks in a recent press conference in which he said the Armenian Apostolic Church "has no Catholicos," a supreme patriarch and head of the church, saying Karekin II is illegitimate. 

"The attacks on this front must end," he said, calling for the release of political prisoners. 

"I have hope that if we bring this issue to greater prominence," Flew told CNA, "there will be engagement to say that we support Armenia, we support Armenia's future and its peace." 

Flew said: "The situation on the ground is such that anyone countering it is ending up in jail. Churches are not represented here [at the event] because they've been scared, and that's the challenge." 

"I think with the international communities, civil society, international at home, if we can come together and allow people to feel that there's a critical mass raising their voices, that might do something," Flew said. "But at the moment, you're not going to see the church do much because it's under siege." 

Joel Veldkamp, speaking for Christian Solidarity International's mission of campaigning for religious liberty and human dignity, echoed similar concerns for members of the church in Armenia.

"The way I see it, the fact that there are parliamentary elections coming up means that the repression is going to increase," Veldkamp said. "The assault on the church has to be seen as part of this effort to cut off dissenting voices before the election comes."

Veldkamp said the U.S. State Department has been largely silent on Pashinyan's crackdown on the Armenian Apostolic Church with the exception of Asif Mahmood, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. 

"Prime Minister Pashinyan visions a future Armenia where the church has no social or political influence independent of the state," Veldkamp said. "An Armenia with a severely weakened international identity is not an Armenia that's going to be helpful to the U.S. for very long. If the president wants to avoid this outcome, it's time for the U.S. government to break the silence." 

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