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Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov 20, 2025 / 12:48 pm (CNA).

The world's tallest monument dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima was inaugurated and blessed on Nov. 13 during the closing Mass of the Marian Jubilee in Crato, located in Ceará state in northeastern Brazil.

The 177-foot-tall statue was created by the artist Ranilson Viana, inspired by the replica of the pilgrim image venerated in the cathedral of Our Lady of Penha, a work by the Portuguese sculptor Guilherme Ferreira Thedim.

"Our hearts overflow with joy and faith because in this blessed land of Crato, this magnificent image of Our Lady of Fátima stands thanks to the presence of the pilgrim image, coming directly from Fátima, in Portugal, a sign of our spiritual communion with that Marian shrine, a beating heart of prayer, penance, and hope for the whole world," said Bishop Magnus Henrique Lopes of Crato, who celebrated the Mass.

The pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fátima arrived in Juazeiro do Norte on Nov. 10, 72 years after its first visit. Its pilgrimage concluded on Nov. 13 during the closing Mass of the Diocesan Marian Day.

In his homily, Lopes said that "from Fatima to Crato, we travel the same path of faith and tenderness." He recalled that in Portugal "Mary appeared as a lady brighter than the sun" and that in Crato "she arrives as a loving mother who welcomes her suffering children. Poor, but full of trust."

The bishop also noted that in blessing "this image of Our Lady of Fátima," we can hear "the same maternal invitation" that Mary made at the wedding at Cana, when she said to the servants: "Do whatever he tells you."

'Fátima is a school of listening and obedience to the Gospel'

"In this simple gesture" of Our Lady at Cana "is all the theology of Marian intercession," he explained. "Mary does not take the place of Jesus. She reveals him. She does not create grace. Mary leads us to the One who is grace itself."

As the bishop explained it, "Fátima is a school of listening and obedience to the Gospel."

"Mary called the little shepherds Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to conversion, to praying the rosary, to penance, and to trust in God's love," he added.

"Today, many Franciscos and many Lucias and countless Jacintas no longer listen to the call to prayer, to catechesis, to the sacred moment" but instead "so often listen to other voices" that "destroy dreams, families, and hope," the bishop lamented.

"We live in times when faith, the sacred, are being snatched from the hands of children, from the hearts of our young people, from our sons and daughters," he warned. "And this void manifests itself in violence, in self-destruction, in a loss of meaning, and in dehumanization at an early age."

"We, laypeople, consecrated men and women, and authorities, are witnessing how these dreams are being stolen. We are perceiving with indifference, even contributing to it because it's easier that way, to the destruction and disintegration of the future of our children," he pointed out. "That is why the message of Fátima is so urgent here in our land, in our diocese, and in so many other dioceses where the faith of the people is profound and Marian devotion is an integral part of [their lives]. 

At the end of the Mass, Lopes imparted the apostolic blessing with a plenary indulgence to the faithful present and then went to the new monument in Crato with the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fátima, where he blessed the new statue.

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

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CNA Deutsch, Nov 20, 2025 / 13:18 pm (CNA).

The Federal Association for the Right to Life, an umbrella organization for numerous pro-life organizations, has condemned the "glorification" of the assisted suicide of the 89-year-old Kessler twins.

Alice and Ellen Kessler were German singers and performers who were famous in Europe, especially in Italy, in the 1960s. The twin sisters decided to die together by assisted suicide at their home near Munich on Monday. 

Alexandra Linder, the pro life association's chairwoman, said: "There is widespread media coverage of this, with many praising the 'self-determination' of choosing the time and manner of death oneself rather than waiting for death and perhaps suffering."

This is "dangerous," Linder emphasized, because it could cause "people in suicidal situations" to "to kill themselves or have themselves killed. This so-called Werther effect was sadly evident in the suicide of soccer player Robert Enke: After his suicide became known, the number of suicides rose sharply. The media should take much more responsibility when reporting on such incidents."

On Nov. 17, Tagesschau in Germany reported: "The Kessler twins Alice and Ellen, who became internationally known as singers, actresses, and entertainers, are dead. A spokesperson for the Munich police confirmed an operation in Grünwald near Munich. He did not provide any background information."

"It was a case of assisted suicide, the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS) told Bavarian Radio," the Tagesschau continued. "'The Kessler twins had been considering assisted suicide for a long time,' said a DGHS spokeswoman. 'Alice and Ellen Kessler had been members of the association for some time and had set the date of death themselves as Nov. 17.'"

"A lawyer and a doctor had held preliminary talks with them and came to the sisters' house in Grünwald on Monday to accompany them as they died," it said.

The chairwoman of the Federal Association for the Right to Life called for "critical questions about ethics and background" to be asked: "Can a lawyer who does not know the individuals, without appropriate specialist training, assess their mental and physical condition, their history, and their autonomy? Did the two 89-year-old women make this decision without outside influence, without acute pain, without the influence of medication, without fear of loneliness, of the future, of suffering, etc.? Were alternative courses of action sufficiently explained to them, for example, palliative care, attention, therapy options? What role might the people in charge of the euthanasia association have played, given that their interest lies in promoting 'positive' examples of death, from joining the organization to deciding to die?"

Linder explained that it is important to know "that the psyche, mood, and will to live can change almost daily, depending on circumstances, the level of pain, and the prospects for recovery. Even who comes to visit on a given day plays a role: a grumpy nurse or a granddaughter with a picture of the sun she painted for her grandmother."

In Germany, as a wealthy country, "no one has to die alone, in severe pain or suffering, if they do not want to. It is inhumane to abandon people in difficult situations who are contemplating suicide to their fate and to declare their intention to commit suicide as autonomy."

Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, president of the German Caritas Association, also expressed concern that "the extensive reporting and romanticization of the sisters' assisted suicide reinforces a social pressure that we have been observing for several years: Older women in particular feel a responsibility not to be a burden on anyone and perceive offers of assisted suicide as a necessary option to consider."

"Instead of promoting the supposedly easy way out, we need to improve suicide prevention and expand hospice places," Welskop-Deffaa demanded. "We strongly call for the legal anchoring of suicide prevention measures, such as a ban on advertising for organizations that assist in suicide, along with other legal regulations on assisted suicide."

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

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CNA Staff, Nov 20, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The second season of Martin Scorsese's docudrama series "The Saints" premiered on Fox Nation on Nov. 16. The series highlights the extraordinary lives of men and women who embodied their faith and became saints in the Catholic Church. The new season includes episodes on St. Patrick, St. Peter, St. Thomas Becket, and St. Carlo Acutis.

Created by Matti Leshem and developed by Scorsese, himself a Catholic, the show's new episodes will be released weekly from Nov. 16 to Dec. 7. The first season included episodes on St. Mary Magdalene, St. Moses the Black, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Joan of Arc, St. John the Baptist, and St. Sebastian.

Leshem, who co-founded a production company focused on Jewish history and Judeo-Christian dialogue, spoke to CNA in an interview about the inspiration behind the series and how his own Jewish faith has been impacted by diving into the lives of Catholic saints.

The filmmaker shared that he was introduced to the lives of the saints from a young age and was "really moved by them."

From the ages of 10 to 15 Leshem attended a Catholic school in Copenhagen that was run by Assumptionist nuns. Despite his father being an Israeli ambassador and having a Jewish school available to them, his father "prized education over all things … and he sent me to a Catholic school because that was the best school."

"I was really exposed to all those stories and I was really taken with it … And I think in adulthood, as I kind of became a filmmaker and told different stories, I thought these are incredible stories of humanity, the story of the saints, and what is it like to be someone who's actually willing, in many cases, to die for the thing you believe in," he said.

He added: "I also felt that there was a strong need at this moment, especially, to tell stories about faith. And that really is where the inspiration came from."

Leshem explained that he believes a series like this is needed right now because "social media has really fragmented society in every way — spiritually, politically, I think especially for young people — I think we're kind of suffering a spiritual crisis."

"It's really been a struggle for young people who are constantly being faced with the comparative ego on social media and this is a time for people to go inwards and to try to find their faith, and the great monotheistic faith traditions are really the thing that we've always gone back to time and time again," he shared.

One saint who will be featured in the second season who Leshem believes is a relatable figure for many today is St. Carlo Acutis — the first millennial saint who was canonized on Sept. 7.

"I think what's beautiful about Carlo is that he was a regular teenager in some ways, but he also had this deep, spiritual connection from a very early age. He knew that his relationship with Christ was very special," Leshem shared.

The filmmaker recalled going to Assisi to visit the body of Acutis at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation and witnessing hundreds upon hundreds of schoolchildren lined up to see the beloved saint.

"It was an incredible experience to see that," he added. "So, we wanted to tell the story of a relevant, modern saint. And I do think that Carlo is a really good example of that resurgence of faith that I hope that we're seeing."

In regard to how his Jewish faith has been impacted by delving into the life of Catholics saints, Leshem said: "I feel privileged to be having the most important conversation I think there is to have every single day because I work in the world of saints."

"I revere the saints and I understand their holiness," he added.

He pointed out that "a lot of our saints are Jews" — referencing Sts. Peter and Paul, for example —  and with this in mind he tries "to bring a kind of authenticity from my own tradition around that."

"For me, I'm very comfortable living in a world where I understand the covenant of Judaism and I understand the expression of Christ's message. It just all feels like a continuum," he said.

As for what he hopes viewers will take away from the series, Leshem said: "I want believers to be reignited in their faith and I want every atheist that watches the series to be interested and to kind of lean towards the ability — everybody needs to believe in something. I think it's really hard to be a believer, but I think it's much harder to be an atheist. And so I am hoping that our series inspires everyone wherever they are on the spectrum of belief."

Editor's notes: Due to the content and context of the saints' stories, including graphic violence and gory details of war, the series is recommended for an adult audience. Additionally, each episode ends with a short discussion between three panelists: Jesuit priest Father James Martin, author and poet Mary Karr, and author and senior fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs Paul Elie.

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Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.

Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.

The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican's Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny. 

Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development "for their friendship and shared work over these years" and prayed for ??the grace to carry out his new role with the Secretariat of State with "joy, passion, and dedication," Vatican News reported on Wednesday.

"My desire is to be able to collaborate with the superiors and employees of the dicastery, to advance the vision of the dicastery and the mission of the Church," Ekpo told Vatican News.

Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, in 2011, Epko continued his theological training abroad. 

In 2013, he obtained a doctorate in systematic theology from the Australian Catholic University as well as a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2021.

He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and the Nigerian language Igbo.

Earlier this month, Pope Leo appointed Nigerian priest Father Edward Daniang Daleng as vice regent of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).

In reply to journalists' questions last night as he left Castel Gandolfo, which he now regularly visits, Pope Leo XIV described what his typical Tuesday day off is like.

The pontiff shared that he does "a little reading, a little work. Every day there is correspondence, phone calls; there are some matters that are perhaps more important, more recent. A little tennis, a little swimming."

A passionate tennis fan since childhood, the Holy Father in May received at the Vatican Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked second in the world (behind Carlos Alcaraz) and at that time was ranked first.

When asked why he needs these moments of rest, Leo XIV emphasized on Nov. 19 that "to take good care of yourself, human beings… everyone, should do some activity for the body, the soul, all together."

"I think it does me a lot of good. So it's a time, a break during the week that helps a lot," he said.

The Holy Father also addressed other topics with the journalists, such as the situation in Ukraine; his possible travel destinations, which include Peru, Portugal, and Mexico; the situation of migrants in the United States and the American bishops' call to respect them; the massacres of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria; and the abuse allegations against a Spanish bishop, who insists on his innocence.

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

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Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).

Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg has served as Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See since 2015 and described his post at the Vatican as "the greatest 10 years of my life."

First presenting his credentials to Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2015, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has "seen it all" and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents.

"I felt that 10 years is a good term. It's far longer than ambassadors usually have here," he said in the exclusive interview.

"I think I've seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments," he added. "In a way, I'm going to miss it but also family is important." 

Though his term at the Vatican is drawing to a close, the outgoing ambassador said he will likely continue to represent Hungary at future international events organized by the Church and pro-family groups.  

"I'll keep a foot in that world, so to speak, so I'm not going to totally give it up," he said.

Reflecting on his initial surprise at being asked to be Hungary's ambassador to the Holy See, Habsburg, who belongs to the prominent 850-year-old European Catholic dynasty, said he "hit the floor running" when he arrived in Rome for his first post.

On Pope Francis and his love for Hungary

Describing his relationship with Pope Francis as "incredibly positive," the outgoing ambassador said the Argentine pontiff had a warm affection for the Central European nation and its people.

"I saw it every time he met a Hungarian," he said. "He would use Hungarian expressions. He would smile. He would be happy. He would take his time with them."

Though Pope Francis had not visited Hungary until 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference, he told Habsburg that he "learned everything" about Hungary through three religious sisters who fled their country in 1956, during the Soviet occupation, to a monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   

"They have shaped Pope Francis' outlook on Hungary and that made my work very easy," he quipped. "He was incredibly generous."

Pope Francis visited Hungary a second time in 2023 for his apostolic journey to the country's capital of Budapest from April 28–30.   

On Pope Benedict XVI and his humor

During the 1990s, Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read Habsburg's doctoral thesis on the topic of Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II and told him "he liked it" and that he wanted him to either make a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.

After first meeting with Pope Francis, the ambassador said he later met with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens.  

"He looked at me and said, 'So you're ambassador now?'" Habsburg recalled. "And then he said, 'You know you still owe me a documentary or a thriller about Thomism." 

"That was the first thing he said. I was so blown away," he said. "I still haven't written it."

"That's the one thing many people don't realize about Pope Benedict XVI was the sense of humor that he had that we never got to see publicly," he said.  

Habsburg earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 1999. 

On Pope Leo XIV 

The archduke and ambassador told EWTN News he has briefly met Pope Leo XIV four times this year since his papal election in May.  

"I'm very impressed by him. I feel [he is] a very balanced and just man who is trying to do good," he said of the first U.S.-born pope. 

Noting Pope Leo's fluency in many languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, Habsburg commented that he believes the universal Church's new leader "has several cultures in his heart and in his mind."

"And yes, we will see the things that he'll do. We pray for him every day," he said.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 16:23 pm (CNA).

Bishop Michael T. Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte issued a Mass dispensation for any person who fears he or she may be subject to deportation and called for a day of prayer and fasting for migrants as immigration enforcement ramps up throughout North Carolina.

The bishop published the statement on Nov. 18 telling those "who are afraid to come to church" out of fear they could be deported "are not obligated to attend Mass." These conditions, he said, are "circumstances beyond your control."

Martin said the Church has always taught that the normal Sunday Mass obligation does not apply when a person cannot attend due to situations he or she does not control.

"I encourage you to take consolation in Jesus' refrain when the disciples were in the boat being swamped by stormy seas: 'Do not be afraid!' (Mt 14:27)," Martin added. "Your brothers and sisters are praying with you, and on your behalf, to God who desires our citizenship together in heaven and longs to see us live in harmony with each other on earth."

The diocesan statement comes after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Charlotte's Web late last week, which escalated immigration enforcement in North Carolina.

Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, said in a statement that the operation was launched to "ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed" and said "Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors."

DHS announced more than 130 arrests from the operation as of Nov. 17. A DHS spokesperson said the operation is "removing the worst of the worst." The department published the names of 11 detainees, which it alleged included known gang members and people charged with assault, larceny, intoxicated driving, and other crimes.

President Donald Trump's administration eliminated guidelines that previously treated churches as "sensitive locations" for immigration enforcement in January.

Nate Madden, principal deputy assistant secretary for communications at DHS, told CNA on Nov. 17 that "when we are pursuing the worst of the worst" who have criminal histories, some suspects "run to places where they think they will be able to evade law enforcement or where they think that law enforcement will be afraid to pursue them because of the appearance."

A DHS spokesperson said in a statement to CNA in July that enforcement in houses of worship would be "extremely rare" and "our officers use discretion." She said officers still need approval from a secondary supervisor before taking action at a church.

Nov. 21: Day of prayer and fasting for migrants

In the diocesan statement, Martin asked his diocese to observe a day of prayer and fasting on Friday, Nov. 21, in solidarity with migrants around the world.

The bishop asked people to contact loved ones at risk of deportation to "assure them of our love and care for them" and asked Catholics to contact lawmakers in both parties to encourage them to pass immigration reform that adheres to the common good.

He also asked people not to vilify federal agents.

"While I have no words to practically address the fear and uncertainty that many are feeling with the increased presence of federal immigration officials in the Charlotte metro area, I want to call upon all Catholics and people of goodwill to give witness to the message of Jesus," Martin said.

"Our faith teaches us to come to the aid of the poor, marginalized, and most vulnerable," the bishop continued. "'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me' (Mt 25:35)."

Martin is currently in Rome and said yesterday that he planned to meet with Pope Leo XIV today and ask him to pray for the people of the diocese and migrants, "especially during this challenging time."

"Please be assured that we will get through this together, if we focus our attention on the only one, Jesus Christ, who can save us all," Martin said.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a special message on Nov. 12 at its Fall Plenary Assembly that affirmed: "We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people." More than 95% of bishops approved the message, with 216 voting in favor, just five voting against, and three abstaining.

Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 18 urged Americans to listen to the message from the nation's bishops.

"When people are living good lives, and many of them for 10, 15, 20 years, to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least — and there's been some violence, unfortunately — I think that the bishops have been very clear in what they said," Leo said.

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Los Angeles, California, Nov 19, 2025 / 16:53 pm (CNA).

"The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience," a $5 million, 10,000-square-foot museum on the chancery campus of the Diocese of Orange in Southern California, opened to visitors Wednesday.  

The museum is presented by Papaian Studios in partnership with the Diocese of Orange and Othonia Inc., an international team of specialists dedicated to exploring and sharing the mystery of the Shroud of Turin.

The 90-minute experience introduces visitors to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with a special focus on the Shroud of Turin, which many believe to be the burial cloth of Christ.

Inspired by the advanced technology incorporated in "Van Gogh Exhibition: The Immersive Experience" and the "Immersive King Tut," the museum features 360-degree projection-room theaters as well as shroud replicas, interactive kiosks, a life-sized corpus, and a variety of artwork.  

Jason Pearson of FiveHive Studios, which offers AI special effects and animation services, is a Catholic convert who worked with Othonia, a team of shroud specialists, to design the museum.  Among his movie credits is Mel Gibson's 2004 "The Passion of the Christ." He has long had an interest in the shroud and has been a volunteer guide at the Shroud Center of Southern California located at the Santiago Retreat Center, also in the Diocese of Orange.

"Using technology on display like that of the Van Gogh or King Tut exhibits, we're doing things that have never been done before," Pearson told CNA. "Whether it be Jesus walking on water or through the streets of Jerusalem, or in the tomb at the moment of the Resurrection, we make use of sound and projections so that the visitor feels like he's going back into a time machine and experiencing these things himself."

The museum is designed for everyone, Pearson continued, even those who have no religious background at all. 

Located on the second floor of the campus' Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center, the museum has three theater rooms. Using surround sound and images, including on the floor, the first room introduces the visitor to the person of Jesus Christ through presentation of 12 stories from his life, but each one is selected to show Christ's connection to the supernatural (e.g. the Transfiguration). The next introduces the visitor to the shroud itself, including proof of its authenticity and what it tells us about the sufferings of Christ. The third is devoted to the Resurrection leading the viewer to ponder a pointed question: Who do you believe the man on the shroud is?

The third theater exits into the museum area, which includes displays of reproductions of items that were part of the passion of Christ, including a flagellum (whip), the crown of thorns and nails, as well as a reproduction of what the tomb of Christ might have looked like.

Other exhibits include an AI presentation of Secondo Pia (1855–1941) who, while photographing the shroud in 1898, discovered that its negative image offered a clearer image of the man on the shroud with a detail in his face that could not been seen by the naked eye. Another traces the history of the iconography of Christ, demonstrating how accurate, when comparing it to the shroud image, many of the icons were. And, one compares the Sudarium of Oviedo, or the facial cloth that covered Christ's face after his death, to the image on the shroud.

Pearson hopes that the museum will be a prototype for additional shroud museums in different regions of the country. Inquiries have been made about establishing shroud museums from places as far away as Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

One portion of the museum is dedicated to the science of the shroud, and two kiosks allow visitors to ask questions of a digital Father Robert Spitzer, who has extensively researched the shroud over the past 20 years. Spitzer, who has an office at Christ Cathedral, noted that he was pleased with the museum's opening. "It gets the pedagogy right, it's biblically accurate, and they tell me the visual imagery is amazing." (Spitzer has gone blind in recent years.)

He continued: "And while we welcome anyone, we especially hope many young people will come to learn about the shroud and lead many to come to know more deeply the person of Jesus Christ."

Nora Creech is on the leadership team of Othonia and helped develop content for the museum. "We want people to come with an open mind, explore, and ask questions. We want them to ask, 'Who is the man of the shroud?'" she said.

One special target group of the museum, Creech said, is younger people, "many of whom have not been brought up with knowledge of who Jesus is. That is why we seek first to introduce people to Jesus so that they will become interested in his burial shroud."

Pearson agreed and related the story of two young women who visited the Shroud Center and began weeping, asking: "Why hasn't anyone told us about him?"

But while the shroud is important in showing us what Jesus suffered, Creech continued, we also need the Church and the Scriptures "to learn why he suffered."

Orange Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer, who played a key role in bringing the museum to Christ Cathedral, noted that his favorite feature was the reproduction of the crown of thorns, which, contrary to most artistic renditions, was actually shaped like a helmet or cap. He continued: "I've been impressed with the entire exhibition. It is very engaging, and I believe it will be an important tool in helping visitors come to know Christ better."

Also among those excited to see the opening of the museum was Gus Accetta, a physician who has devoted much of his free time to studying the shroud. In 1996, he founded the Shroud Center in Huntington Beach, since relocated to the Santiago Retreat Center and welcoming 25,000 visitors annually.

"It's a wonderful exhibit," he said. It not only looks at the shroud but the whole life of Christ, of which the shroud is just a part."

The Shroud of Turin experience will be on display at Christ Cathedral at least through 2030. The museum is located on Christ Cathedral campus, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove, California, a few miles away from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center. For more information, visit the website www.theshroudexperience.com.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 17:48 pm (CNA).

Longtime immigrant rights advocate Sister JoAnn Persch died on Nov. 14 at age 91.

Two weeks before her death, Persch attempted to bring Communion to detainees at the Broadview, Illinois, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility where for decades the Sisters of Mercy ministered to migrants and refugees. Officials denied her entry.

Persch and Sister Pat Murphy were founding members of the Su Casa Catholic Worker House in Chicago, serving refugees from Central America who were survivors of war, torture, and political persecution. From 1997 until 2002, the pair ministered at Casa Notre Dame in Chicago, a shelter for women fleeing domestic violence or recovering from addiction.

Beginning in January 2007, the two sisters attended prayer vigils every Friday morning outside the Broadview ICE facility where they encountered migrants scheduled for deportation and followed Murphy's advice that "prayer is powerful, but you also have to put your body on the line."

Through perseverance, Persch said she gained entry to the ICE facility during those years despite initial repeated refusals from government officials.

"Our motto is peacefully, respectfully, but never take no for an answer, so we kept working with ICE," Persch said Nov. 1. "Finally, we got inside."

'It was so traumatic'

Persch said eventually she was allowed to ride the buses to the airport with detainees after working with ICE. The sisters took down names of detainees and their families' phone numbers.

"Then we'd spend the morning at home calling the families," Persch said.

"We always worked with the families," Persch said. "It was so traumatic. But then we were finally able to go in, helping families, meeting those being deported, listening to them, talking, praying."

"We had a good relationship with ICE. We'd talk to each other," Persch said.

U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, said: "These nuns were often the last to see these immigrants before they embarked on their life-changing journeys. Sister JoAnn's passing is the end of a life of kindness and caring. But it is more. It is a reminder and a challenge to each of us to welcome the stranger and choose kindness over hate and fear."

Because of relentless advocacy on behalf of migrants and refugees, including lobbying for a law to provide spiritual care for migrants in state detention facilities, the two sisters were affectionately nicknamed "Rabble" and "Rouser" by friends and fellow advocates.

In 2018, U.S. Capitol Police arrested the pair during the Catholic Day of Action for Action for Dreamers in Washington, D.C., a nonviolent civil disobedience protest in support of immigrants.

Persch's advocacy also won media attention such as from comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee on her television show, "Full Frontal."

Looking for housing

In 2022, the two nuns cofounded Catherine's Caring Cause in response to a request to help a family seeking asylum, a mother from Sierra Leone with five children, to resettle in the Chicago area. Catherine's Caring Cause, named in honor of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, assists refugee families in finding shelter and providing basic necessities.

On Nov. 1, Persch said the organization had found homes for 15 families living in cars and they were looking for housing for a 16th.

Persch entered the Sisters of Mercy in Des Plaines, Illinois, 73 years ago. A native of Milwaukee, she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from St. Xavier College (now University) in Chicago and a master's in religious education from Loyola University. Persch professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1958.

Sister Susan Sanders, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, said: "How will it be when we will miss JoAnn's clear voice — quiet, insistent, regular, and respectful — about the new and daily injustices being perpetrated on already-suffering people? How will it be when we will miss her incisive questions, like those she posed to prison guards about why it would be unsafe to offer the Eucharist to imprisoned immigrants?"

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Long Island, New York, Nov 19, 2025 / 18:38 pm (CNA).

A coalition of Catholic faith leaders filed suit Nov. 19 to seek access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, where clergy have been denied entry to distribute Communion.

The complaint alleged that ICE's refusal to allow clergy to pray with detainees or offer Communion violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Catholic spiritual leaders attempted to bring Communion to detainees at the ICE facility Nov. 1 after making formal requests to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, and officials denied entry.

"Despite the long history of religious access to the Broadview detention center established through the persistence and perseverance of the late Sister JoAnn Persch, RSM, and Sister Pat Murphy, RSM, recent months have brought shifting, contradictory, and often opaque communication from DHS and ICE officials. Faced with this lack of honesty and transparency, we were left with no choice but to file this lawsuit," said Michael N. Okinczyc-Cruz, executive director of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, in a statement.  

Asked Nov. 17 whether it would take a judge's order to get Communion to detainees at the Broadview facility, Nate Madden, DHS principal deputy assistant secretary for communications, told CNA: "I will not engage in hypotheticals about Broadview's policies." He suggested faith leaders contact ICE for entry. 

"What we say is that all religious leaders and religious people who want to come and take pastoral care, and they want to take Communion or Bible studies or anything like that, to come into our detention facilities, they can reach out to ICE," Madden said. 

Federal court continues review of ICE facility

In another case, a Chicago-based federal judge postponed a hearing scheduled for Nov. 19 to assess whether ICE had improved living conditions for migrants detained at the suburban Broadview facility.

As reports of the number of people held at the facility sharply dropped this month, Judge Robert W. Gettleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said he would conduct a hearing on conditions at the facility in December.

Earlier this month, Gettleman issued a temporary restraining order directing DHS and ICE to improve living conditions at Broadview. Detainees alleged they were being held for several days in squalid conditions, with clogged, overflowing toilets, poor-quality food, inadequate sleeping arrangements, and a lack of access to basic hygiene supplies. On Nov. 5, Gettleman — appointed to the bench in 1994 by President Bill Clinton — ordered that all detainees be provided with soap, towels, toilet paper, oral hygiene products (including toothbrushes and toothpaste), and menstrual products.

His Nov. 5 order further specified: "Defendants shall provide each detainee with at least three full meals per day that meet the U.S. recommended dietary allowance … Defendants shall provide each detainee with a bottle of potable water with each meal and bottled water upon request free of charge." The court also directed that paperwork provided to detainees "should include an accompanying Spanish translation."

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin responded to the lawsuit by noting that Broadview is technically a "field office," not a "detention facility." She said religious organizations are welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities.

Class action status

In a significant development for the plaintiffs, Gettleman this week granted the detainees' request to proceed as a class action. The decision could allow the named plaintiffs to represent not only themselves but also potentially hundreds of current and future migrants processed at Broadview.

On Nov. 13, the ACLU of Illinois — one of the legal groups representing the detainees alongside the MacArthur Justice Center and the Chicago office of Eimer Stahl — said they had completed an inspection of the Broadview facility.

"We are grateful that the court gave us an opportunity to inspect the Broadview facility," the group said. "We remain committed to ensuring that any detainees at Broadview are treated with dignity, have access to counsel, and are provided due process."

Religious accommodations not addressed

Gettleman did not address detainee complaints concerning a lack of religious accommodations at Broadview, including the ability to receive holy Communion. The lawsuit alleges that detainees have been unconstitutionally denied access to clergy and faith leaders "who have provided religious services at Broadview for years but are now denied the ability to provide pastoral care under defendants' command."

"For many years, faith leaders and members of the clergy … provided pastoral care to individuals detained inside Broadview," the detainees' lawyers told the court. "Now, no one is allowed inside Broadview. Faith leaders seeking to provide religious services are blocked from providing Communion and spiritual support to detainees, even from outside."

Catholic leaders in Chicago attempted to minister to detainees at Broadview on Nov. 1. Auxiliary Bishop José María García-Maldonado and others were not admitted, despite requesting access weeks in advance and attempting to follow DHS guidelines.

Pope Leo XIV said earlier this month that the spiritual needs of migrants in detention must be taken seriously by government authorities. "I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people," he said. "Many times, they've been separated from their families for a good amount of time. No one knows what's happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to."

U.S. bishops likewise issued a special message Nov. 12 calling for the human dignity of migrants to be respected.

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