Catholic News

A conference in Rome last week brought together clergy, pastoral workers, and mental health professionals to discuss how to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health in the Church.

The conference, "A Healing Presence: The Church's Call to Mental Health Ministry," held in Rome from Oct. 9–10, responded to Pope Leo XIV's October prayer intention for mental health. Organized by the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, the conference also coincided with World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

The conference was also under the patronage of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Among those present were Bishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Bishop John Dolan of Phoenix, and Deacon Ed Shoener, a founding member of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers.

'The Church is a safe space, not a replacement for psychologists'

Among the themes discussed at the conference was the Church as a place where individuals can seek spiritual remedies for their mental health challenges.

Shoener clarified that the Church and those dedicated to mental health ministry complement medical professionals rather than replace them.

"Our goal is that someday, when someone faces a mental health challenge, the first place they think to turn is the Catholic Church as a safe space, Shoener told EWTN News. "We are not psychologists or psychiatrists providing medical care; rather, we provide the spiritual and social support that is so often missing due to stigma, discrimination, and fear."

"We work closely with professionals because faith and science must go together," he added.

Shoener also shared the personal tragedy of his daughter's 2016 suicide, which prompted him to help establish the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers in hopes that others with similar challenges would be heard.

"Katie had bipolar disorder, lived with it for 10 years, went to college, had friends, and did not fit the stereotypes people often have about mental illness. Sadly, she died by suicide in 2016," Shoener said.

"Her obituary went viral because we clearly stated that she had a mental illness, was not defined by it, and was a beautiful child of God."

Speaking about the stigmatization of mental health in the wider culture and the Church, he also cited several reasons for it.

"In the U.S., we often avoid talking about it because we fear it makes us look weak or inadequate, potentially jeopardizing our success or employment. What brought me into this ministry was that overwhelming response from people longing for the Church to comfort them rather than push them aside," Shoener said.

An epidemic hidden by happiness in Sweden

One participant, Samuelle Falk, discussed opportunities for the Church to minister to those with mental health challenges, particularly in her native Sweden, which is noted for its high Happiness Index.

"To the outside world, Sweden often appears as a model of security and comfort; we even rank fourth in the 2025 World Happiness Report," Falk said. "Yet, beneath this surface of prosperity, we are facing a profound crisis of youth mental health, driven by a silent epidemic of loneliness."

"Yet, I believe God has been using this inner suffering to lead a generation back to himself. The Catholic Church in Sweden is experiencing a clear influx of new members. The Church does not stand on the sidelines of the youth mental health crisis; she stands right in the middle of it," Falk added.

Falk, a psychiatrist in training, began working in mental health ministry with the Diocese of Stockholm. Reflecting on her experience, she spoke of the unique offering the Church can give young people seeking help.

"The Church offers what medicine cannot: a home for the soul, a framework of meaning, and a sense of true belonging," Falk told EWTN News. "Where youth are increasingly isolated behind digital screens, the Church offers a physical and present community. We proclaim the one truth the secular world cannot offer: Your worth does not lie in your achievements but in being unconditionally loved by God. We remind them that they are never walking alone."

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Oct. 12, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of the death of St. Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who captivated a generation of young Catholics with his love of the Eucharist and passion for technology.

Acutis' journey to sainthood has unfolded alongside the lives of the last four popes, each of whom has marked a different chapter in the teenager's short life and legacy.

Carlo went on pilgrimage to see John Paul II, offered up his suffering from cancer for Benedict XVI, and was later beatified during the pontificate of Pope Francis. Finally, Pope Leo XIV canonized him, along with Pier Giorgio Frassati, on Sept. 7, 2025, making him the first millennial to ever be made a saint.

A childhood inspired by John Paul II

Born in 1991 during the pontificate of John Paul II, Carlo Acutis grew up at a time when the Polish pontiff was inspiring millions with his travels and teaching. It was Carlo's Polish nanny, herself devoted to the pope, who helped cultivate Carlo's early faith.

In October 2000, the Acutis family traveled to Rome to attend a landmark moment of the Great Jubilee: Pope John Paul II's act of entrusting the new millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Standing in St. Peter's Square, the then-9-year-old Carlo witnessed a crowd united in prayer, gathered beneath Bernini's colonnade and in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fátima.

"The Church today, through the voice of the successor of Peter, in union with so many pastors assembled here from every corner of the world, seeks refuge in your motherly protection and trustingly begs your intercession as she faces the challenges which lie hidden in the future," John Paul II prayed to Our Lady.

Offering his suffering for Benedict XVI

When white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel in April 2005, 13-year-old Carlo Acutis watched closely as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI. According to his mother, Carlo was "fascinated" by Benedict XVI.

The following year, Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia. Before he died of cancer in October 2006, he offered up his suffering for Benedict XVI, saying: "I offer all the suffering I will have to endure to the Lord for the pope and for the Church, in order not to go through purgatory and to go straight to heaven."

Beatification under Pope Francis

Pope Francis declared Carlo Acutis' heroic virtue in 2018 and recognized the two miracles attributed to Carlo's intercession that made possible his beatification and canonization.

Francis frequently cited Carlo as a model for youth in the digital age. In Christus Vivit, his apostolic exhortation to young people, Francis wrote that Carlo's life stood as a witness against the temptation of "self-absorption, isolation, and empty pleasure" in the digital world.

"His witness indicates to today's young people that true happiness is found by putting God in first place and serving him in our brothers and sisters, especially the least," Pope Francis said the day after Carlo's beatification in 2020.

Pope Francis had been scheduled to preside over Carlo's canonization on April 27, 2025, during a jubilee event expected to draw 80,000 teenagers to Rome. Instead, with Francis' death on April 21, 2025, Carlo's canonization awaited a new date until a new pope was elected.

Carlo Acutis and Pope Leo XIV: A witness to young people

Carlo Acutis' canonization on Sept. 7, 2025, was one of the first major acts of Leo XIV following his election to the papacy in May 2025. In his homily at the canonization, the pontiff hailed Acutis and Frassati as models for youth seeking holiness.

"Dear friends, Sts. Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces," Leo said.

Their example, the pope explained, is the "type of witness we are called to follow, in order to enjoy life to the full and meet the Lord in the feast of heaven."

Ishmael Adibuah contributed to this report.

This story was first published on April 27, 2025. It was updated on Oct. 12, 2026.

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Fifteen-year-old Carlo Acutis died within a week of being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, offering his suffering for the pope and for the Church. Following his beatification on Oct. 10, 2020, his doctors and hospital chaplain recalled their memories of his final days.

Father Sandro Villa was the hospital chaplain of St. Gerald Hospital outside of Milan, Italy, who gave Carlo the anointing of the sick and holy Communion on Oct. 10, 2006, the day before Carlo went into a coma due to a brain hemorrhage caused by the M3 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia.

Villa shared at an event in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 13, 2020, that he was touched by Carlo's "composure and devotion" in receiving the sacraments in the hospital room.

"In a small room, at the end of the corridor, I found myself in front of a boy. His pale but serene face surprised me — unthinkable in a seriously ill person, especially an adolescent," he said.

"I was also amazed by the composure and devotion with which, albeit with difficulty, he received the two sacraments. He seemed to have been waiting for them and felt the need for them."

Before his cancer diagnosis, Carlo had a great devotion to the Eucharist. From a young age, he expressed a special love for God, even though his Catholic parents had stopped attending Mass.

As he grew older, he started going to daily Mass, often dragging his family members along with him. He made Holy Hours before or after Mass and went to confession weekly.

With his aptitude for computer programming, Carlo built websites to inform others about Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions around the world. On his site, he told people: "The more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven."

For Villa, this administration of the sacraments would be his only encounter with Carlo, but he said the look of serenity on Carlo's face was something that stayed with him.

"After a few years … I learned that he was declared 'venerable.' I was amazed that the Lord had allowed me to meet him, if only for a few moments," he said.

Villa continued: "I decided to learn about his life. I discovered that he was in love with the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and I therefore began to better understand some of his words."

Dr. Andrea Biondi and Dr. Mòmcilo Jankovic, who treated Carlo in the pediatric clinic of St. Gerald Hospital, recorded their memories together in a paper that was read aloud at the event.

They said: "Carlo was like a meteor with a quick passage through our ward; leukemia took him away before we could get to know him even a little. However, his sweet eyes remain engrained [in our memories]. His gaze was full of attention … of courage, of love, of strong empathy."

"His faith in God, which he had wanted and still wanted to pass on to others, to his neighbor, shone through him … His gentle eyes … taught us a lot: life, whether short or long must be lived intensely for oneself, but also and above all for others."

Carlo's heart stopped beating on Oct. 12 — a date that is now celebrated as a local feast in the Diocese of Assisi and Archdiocese of Milan. His parents had desired to donate his organs, but they were too compromised by leukemia to be donated.

Today St. Carlo's heart is a relic and is contained in a reliquary in Assisi that is inscribed with his words: "The Eucharist is my highway to heaven." He was canonized on Sept. 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

This story was first published on Oct. 16, 2020, and has been updated.

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The news that Pope Leo XIV will have surgery next week left many asking what a lung nodule is.

He confirmed at the Angelus in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that the lesion was caught early and is well localized. "The doctors consider it advisable to intervene. I have decided to have the operation to remove it, following their advice," he said.

Many are asking how nodules are found, how they are evaluated, and what leads doctors to recommend removing them.

The condition, commonly called a "spot on the lung," shows up on imaging as a white opacity against normal lung tissue and is generally up to 30 millimeters in diameter.

Dr. Bruno Vincenzi, head of the oncology service at the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital in Rome, told ACI Prensa, the sister service of EWTN News, that a nodule can be found because a patient has symptoms that lead to tests.

"A persistent cough that has just appeared, expectoration — that is, producing phlegm with traces of blood — or chest pain can be reasons the patient undergoes studies," he said.

He added that these findings are now increasingly accidental. Patients may be scanned before an operation or a hospital stay, or as part of a screening program, especially if they are older or have been smokers.

Asked why a doctor would recommend surgery, as in the pope's case, Vincenzi said certain features on the images can raise concern. Spiculated margins — irregular or jagged — can suggest a more worrying lesion and make removal advisable. Well-defined margins, perhaps with calcifications inside, more often suggest a benign nodule.

Dr. Elmer Huerta, a Peruvian oncologist based in the United States and the first Latin American president of the American Cancer Society, said the operation the pope is expected to have is usually done with minimally invasive techniques. "The old thoracotomies, which meant opening the chest, are no longer done. What is done now is minimally invasive robotic surgery, in which a half-centimeter opening is made between the ribs, the robot is introduced, and the operation is done with that," he said.

Huerta said it is not yet possible to say how long the pope will need to recover fully, because the specific features of the nodule, and therefore the exact extent of the surgery, are not public. Depending on what is found, doctors may remove a wedge of lung that includes the nodule, a segment, or a whole lobe. That will determine the recovery.

On how soon the pope can resume his usual commitments, Huerta said it depends on the extent of the operation. A wedge removal is simpler, and he could fly in two or three weeks and make his planned trip to Latin America. Removing a lobe would be more complicated. The key is the nature of the nodule, which has not been made public.

Huerta also stressed that most lung nodules are not cancerous. A 2022 study found that 95 percent are benign and only 5 percent are cancer. Cancerous nodules have certain features on X-rays, CT scans, and PET exams.

Vincenzi said a histological analysis is needed to determine what a nodule is. When a nodule is removed because its features suggest a suspicious lesion, the pathologist's final examination of the cells can give a clear indication of whether it is benign or malignant.

Both experts declined to speculate on the pope's case without precise clinical details. Vincenzi said it is better to stop at the diagnostic stage, because saying more risks creating needless reassurance or needless worry. Huerta said the same thing he tells his patients: go step by step.

The hospitalization planned for next week will force the pope to cancel all commitments on those days, Vatican press office director Matteo Bruni told ACI Prensa. Among them is the closing Mass of an international meeting on the family, held for the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which Leo XIV was to preside over on Wednesday with the presidents of episcopal conferences gathered at the Vatican.

In principle, the surgery would not affect the trip to South America planned for November 6–17, judging by the pope's own words at the Angelus. Greeting members of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in St. Peter's Square, he said, "Thank you for your prayer for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru."

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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Bishops from around the world asked for prayers for Pope Leo XIV after he announced on Sunday, Oct. 11, that he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule on one of his lungs in the coming days.

In the United States, Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. bishops' conference, said the prelates would join "the faithful and all people of good will in praying for his good health." He also prayed for those who will perform the operation: "May the hand of Pope Leo's surgeons be guided by the divine physician, Jesus Christ."

Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York joined the prayers as he finished a week-long pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. "I join with the bishops, priests, faithful, and all people of good will of the Archdiocese of New York in praying for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as he prepares for his surgery later this week," he wrote. He also asked Jesus, "the divine physician," to care for the pope and guide "the hands of his surgeons, nurses, and other health professionals."

Prayers from Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru

Cardinal Daniel Sturla, archbishop of Montevideo, also wrote about the news. Uruguay is one of the countries expecting Pope Leo XIV on his upcoming visit to Latin America. "Let us pray for his speedy recovery and continue with greater spirit the preparation for his visit to our land," he wrote.

In Peru, which also expects the pope later this year, the Archdiocese of Lima entrusted his health to the Lord of Miracles, a devotion that draws millions of Peruvians each year. "We ask the Lord of Miracles for his speedy recovery," the archdiocese said on social media.

The Peruvian bishops' conference issued a message titled "United in prayer for the health of the Holy Father Leo XIV." It noted the :serenity and humility" with which the pope shared the news and asked that his health be entrusted to the Lord of Miracles.

"Lifting to God, Lord of life and source of all health, our supplications that he strengthen him and grant him the health that the fulfillment of his mission requires," the Peruvian bishops said. They also urged communities, families, and the faithful to place the Holy Father under the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that in the fullness of his strength he may continue his mission in service of the Church and all humanity, as a messenger of peace and hope and a witness of unity, fraternity, and encounter among all peoples.

The Argentinian bishops said in a statement: "We ask the Lord to grant him strength and peace at this time, that the operation may go well, and that he may make a swift and full recovery."

Prayers from Spain

The Spanish bishops' conference also invited prayer for the pope. Its president, Archbishop Luis Argüello, asked "the whole Spanish Church — dioceses, institutes of consecrated life, communities and lay associations, all members of the People of God, and our fellow citizens — to pray for the health of our beloved Pope Leo XIV."

The conference's secretary general, Bishop Francisco César García Magán, recalled the welcome Leo XIV received on his recent visit to Spain and said the faithful can now show him their closeness in another way: "Now we show it by uniting in prayer."

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The conference's secretary general, Bishop Francisco César García Magán, recalled the welcome Leo XIV received on his recent visit to Spain and said the faithful can now show him their closeness in another way: "Now we show it by uniting in prayer."

Prayers from Poland, Great Britain, Malta

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the president of the Polish Bishops' Conference, issued an appeal to the Polish people, asking them to "pray for the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, asking God for a successful operation and a speedy recovery."

Bishop John Keenan, on behalf of the Scottish bishops' conference, said: "We invite Catholics across Scotland, and all people of goodwill, to join us in praying for Pope Leo, for the medical team caring for him, and for a successful operation and a full and speedy recovery."

Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster and the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, assured Leo of the prayers of the faithful.

"We pray that following the procedure and a period of recovery, he will soon be restored to health," Moth wrote.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote on X: "The Church in Malta is united in prayer for the Holy Father, wishing him well for the surgery he will be undergoing."

Leo XIV asks for prayer

The pope announced the operation after Sunday's Angelus. Doctors found a nodule on one of his lungs and recommended removing it. In sharing the news, Leo asked the faithful to accompany him spiritually in the coming days: "I entrust myself to your prayer."

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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Churches and monasteries around the world vary in their architecture and size, as well as in how easy they are to reach. Some stand in the heart of cities, while others are reached along daunting mountain roads or rocky trails. For pilgrims who enjoy hiking and exploring, these sites combine Christian history with outdoor adventure. The walk or climb to reach them can be as memorable as the visit itself.

Here are seven destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe where the road itself becomes part of the pilgrimage.

Sumela Monastery, Turkey

Sumela Monastery rises from a sheer cliff above the forested Altindere Valley near Trabzon, roughly 300 meters (984 feet) above the valley floor. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the former Greek Orthodox monastery was an important pilgrimage destination for the region's Greek Christian communities.

The buildings include a rock church, chapels, monks' quarters, and a sacred spring. Frescoes depict biblical scenes and episodes from the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

The setting reveals how the community adapted its buildings to the mountain, with rooms and balconies extending along the cliff face.

St. Catherine's Monastery, Egypt

At the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt's southern Sinai Peninsula, St. Catherine's Monastery preserves a monastic tradition that has continued since the sixth century. Built under Emperor Justinian, the Orthodox monastery stands at the site traditionally identified with the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses.

Its principal church, the Basilica of the Transfiguration, retains a sixth-century mosaic showing Christ with Moses and Elijah and the apostles Peter, James, and John. The complex also preserves early Christian icons and a library containing thousands of manuscripts in languages including Greek, Arabic, and Syriac, evidence of the many Christian cultures connected with Sinai.

The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

Meteora's monasteries crown towering sandstone formations that made the area a place of retreat for generations of Orthodox monks. Hermits began settling here by the 11th century, and monasteries were later built on the summits. By the end of the 15th century, there were 24; six remain in operation today.

Access once depended on rope ladders and nets used to lift people and supplies. At Holy Trinity Monastery, visitors now descend toward the base of the rock and then climb a staircase of about 140 steps carved in 1925. The ascent opens onto views of Kalambaka, the Peneios River, and the surrounding mountains.

Sevanavank Monastery, Armenia

Above Lake Sevan, Sevanavank stands on a peninsula that was once an island, giving its early monastic community a more secluded setting. Its two principal surviving churches were built in 874 through the patronage of Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot Bagratuni, under the spiritual guidance of the monk Mashtots, who later became Catholicos of All Armenians, the chief bishop and supreme spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The churches were dedicated to the Holy Apostles and the Mother of God. Their cruciform plans and central domes reflect medieval Armenian church architecture.

The road is gentler than a cliff climb: Visitors ascend the hillside steps to reach the churches and views across the lake. The site also has a link to Armenian Catholic history: Mekhitar of Sebaste, who later founded the Mekhitarist congregation, studied at the monastery in the late 17th century.

Abuna Yemata Guh Church, Ethiopia

Carved into a sandstone pinnacle in the Gheralta Mountains of Ethiopia's Tigray region, Abuna Yemata Guh requires one of the most demanding approaches among these destinations: Reaching its entrance involves scaling a steep rock face.

The church is named for Abuna Yemata, one of the Nine Saints traditionally associated with the spread of monasticism in northern Ethiopia around the beginning of the sixth century. Its interior preserves wall paintings that art historians generally date to the second half of the 15th century, although local tradition assigns them an earlier date.

The Monasteries of Wadi Qadisha, Lebanon

In northern Lebanon, Wadi Qadisha, or the Holy Valley, contains monasteries, cave churches, and hermitages set among steep cliffs and cultivated terraces. Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1998 together with the nearby Cedars of God, the valley bears witness to centuries of Christian monastic life and has a particular place in the Maronite Church's history.

Our Lady of Qannoubine served as the residence of Maronite patriarchs from 1440 to 1823. Its history reflects the valley's role as a refuge during periods of persecution. Beneath the church, a narrow crypt provided a hiding place for patriarchs; surviving wall paintings include a depiction of the Coronation of the Virgin.

Mor Mattai Monastery, Iraq

On Mount Alfaf, also known as Mount Maqlub, northeast of Mosul, Mor Mattai Monastery overlooks the Nineveh Plain. The Syriac Orthodox monastery takes its name from St. Matthew the Hermit. Tradition dates its foundation to A.D. 363 and links it to the monk's flight from persecution under the Roman emperor Julian.

The monastery became an important center of Syriac Christian religious life and learning. Its complex includes churches, chapels, and memorials, while caves in the surrounding mountain recall the hermits who once lived there.

The mountain setting has offered refuge. In 2014, as Islamic State forces advanced in the region, Christians from nearby villages temporarily sheltered at the monastery.

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

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Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule from one of his lungs that was recently detected during medical examinations.

Speaking to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square after the Angelus prayer on Oct. 11, the pontiff personally disclosed his medical condition, explaining that the nodule had been discovered at a very early stage.

"Dear brothers and sisters, recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a well-defined nodule in one of my lungs. It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized," he said.

Leo XIV said doctors had recommended surgery to remove the nodule and that he had decided to follow their advice.

"The doctors believe it is advisable to operate. I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it, following their advice," he said.

The pope also confirmed that the operation has already been scheduled and will take place in the coming days. He did not provide further details about the exact date or the surgical procedure.

"The operation has already been scheduled for the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers," he said.

According to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, who spoke to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, the pope's surgery is scheduled for early this week, although an exact date has not yet been announced.

Bruni also said the pontiff is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he will continue his recovery following the operation.

The hospitalization will require the pope to cancel all engagements scheduled for the coming days.

Among them is the closing Mass of an international meeting on the family marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The pope had been scheduled to preside at the Mass on Wednesday, with the presidents of bishops' conferences gathered at the Vatican.

However, the pope's upcoming surgery is not expected, at least for now, to prevent his planned trip to South America from Nov. 6–17, judging by the pontiff's own remarks during the Angelus.

Leo XIV explicitly referred to his upcoming visit to Peru while greeting members of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru," he 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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Many Catholics in Australia who do not regularly go to Sunday Mass still pray, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and say their faith matters, according to a study released Oct. 7 by the country's bishops.

The report, "Absent from the Table: Catholics in Australia Who Do Not Regularly Attend Sunday Mass," was commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference and carried out by its National Centre for Pastoral Research. Researchers surveyed 1,973 self-selected adult Catholics online in 2024 and interviewed 67 of them from March to July 2025.

"Despite their irregular attendance, most participants remained deeply connected to their faith," the executive summary states.

Around two-thirds of respondents said faith was very important to them, 77% said Jesus is the Son of God, and 64% said they pray regularly. Just over half (55%) affirmed the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, while 24% saw the elements as symbolic and 21% were unsure.

In all, 74% of respondents attended Mass less than weekly: 19% monthly, 36% occasionally, and 19% not at all. The full report notes that the findings, based on a self-selected sample, "are not fully generalisable to all Catholics in Australia."

Why they stay away

The researchers identified 14 reasons for missing Mass. The main ones were Mass not being a priority, a crisis of faith, family or household issues, liturgical issues, challenges with the parish priest or other clergy, and the misuse of power and authority in the Church. Respondents also cited abuse, particularly clergy sexual abuse, as a significant factor affecting trust.

According to the bishops' most recent national count, in 2021, about 8.2% of Australia's Catholics, or 417,000 people, went to church on a typical weekend.

Bishop Greg Bennet of Sale, the conference's vice president and bishop-delegate for pastoral research, said the research is being entrusted to bishops to act on locally.

"The hope is that each diocese will listen carefully to what people have shared and respond with pastoral initiatives shaped by their own communities and contexts," he said in a statement. "We know there are many people who are open to re-engagement with the Church and we need to work harder to find ways of making those re-connections."

Bishop Michael Kennedy of Maitland-Newcastle, in a reflection published by his diocese, urged a different question: "Rather than simply asking why people are no longer coming to Mass, we should be asking what they are looking for, what their experiences of the Church have been and what we can do to help them feel they belong."

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Tom Schwein was mere feet from the finish line of Ride the Rockies in 2015 when everything changed for him.

Earlier that day, he was told that Samaritan Cycling USA, a ministry he helped start in 2011 to support Catholic Charities' Samaritan House, had raised a cumulative $250,000 in just over four years. He was rightfully excited. He couldn't wait to high-five an injured teammate at the finish line.

Then came a dip in the pavement.

"The wheel went 90 degrees, and I went face-first into the pavement," he recalled. "I was out cold. I don't know for how long."

When he woke up, saved, he believes, by his helmet and divine providence, he remembers, clear as day, hearing the Holy Spirit tell him, "Peace be with you. You will recover."

He was rushed to the hospital. Two days later, after specialists reviewed the tests, he was told he was a walking miracle.

"You're a very lucky man," Schwein remembers one specialist telling him, shaking his head, incredulous. "You missed a brain bleed by a quarter of a millimeter."

That's roughly the size of a fine grain of table salt. To say it was a close call might be underselling things.

"I was never going to ride a bike again. I was done," Schwein said. "We raised a quarter million, and that's it. There's no way I'm riding again."

He prepared to sell his bikes and move on. But the Holy Spirit had other ideas, Schwein said.

"I'm not yet done with you here on Earth. Continue your ministry," he recalled hearing.

He prayed about it. He called his wife. He took a long bike ride, and hasn't stopped riding since.

"I said, 'God, I'm all in,'" he said. "That was 38,000 miles ago and a few million dollars ago."

Since then, Samaritan House Cycling has grown considerably, welcoming new teammates and raising more than $2.2 million for Northern Colorado's Samaritan House shelters.

This fall, the ministry is taking that mission farther than ever before: a 45-day, nearly 3,000-mile ride across the United States.

"God has called me to do this, which is why we're riding across America," Schwein said, choked up with emotion. "We're raising national awareness for the crisis of homelessness. God said, 'Go big or go home.' We're going big."

The 12-member team began their ride on Sunday, Oct. 4, two days after arriving in San Diego. Their 45-day trek will take them through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, where they will finish the ride in St. Augustine, Florida, where the first Catholic Mass of Thanksgiving in what is now the United States was celebrated in 1565.

The mission? Raising awareness and funds to provide shelter, stability, and hope to the homeless in Denver, in Colorado, and across the country.

"There are nearly 1 million people who are homeless every night in the United States, and no one pays attention to them. People walk by them," Schwein said. "So we're raising awareness to increase the attention of the United States to this national crisis. We have to do something about it, more than just raising money. It's about raising awareness so people understand what to do when they get to the corner of an intersection and they see a homeless person."

And it's already bearing fruit. Feet haven't hit pedals yet, and the team has already raised $350,000 to support Catholic Charities' five Samaritan House locations in Denver, Fort Collins, and Greeley, which provide emergency shelter, support services, and pathways toward stability for individuals and families.

Additionally, the Samaritan Cycling team is partnering with local Catholic Charities along their route to fundraise for ministries serving the homeless nationwide. As they ride across America, the team will also volunteer at Catholic Charities locations, helping shine a spotlight on local efforts to lovingly serve neighbors nationwide.

The timing is all the more meaningful: the ride comes as the United States marks 250 years, Catholic Charities of Denver approaches its 100th anniversary, Samaritan House in downtown Denver celebrates 40 years, and Samaritan Cycling USA marks 15 years.

"What began in 2011 as a small step of faith through Samaritan Cycling has become a lifelong commitment to serve," Schwein said. "Through cycling, we put faith into action —?transforming physical endurance into meaningful impact and heartfelt passion into real provision. We ride because we are called to be bearers of hope, and every mile is a testament to that calling."

First and foremost, Schwein said, the team needs prayer. Knowing firsthand just how dangerous a ride like this can be, Schwein specifically asked people of goodwill nationwide to pray for riders' safety and perseverance.

Then, those who feel called to give can donate per mile, with options beginning at 1 cent per mile, or offer a one-time gift. Supporters can give to a particular rider or to the general fund.

For Schwein, though, the most meaningful gift came from a father and his 12-year-old son.

After hearing Schwein speak about the effort after Mass at a local parish, the father approached him and pulled out his wallet, saying he wished he could make a donation but did not think he had anything to give. Surprised to find two dollars, he handed them to his son, who gave them to Schwein.

"This is for you, sir," the boy said. "Good luck on your ride!"

"We had been getting lots of donations, but the most meaningful one was this man," Schwein said, pointing to the widow in the Gospels who gave all she had.

This story was first published in Denver Catholic and is reprinted here and adapted by EWTN News with permission.

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