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Luanda, Angola, Dec 12, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Catholic journalists in Angola received from one of the country's leading bishops an impassioned charge about their vocation that transcends borders.

Speaking during a thanksgiving Mass for the 70th anniversary of Radio Ecclesia, Angola's Catholic Radio, Bishop António Francisco Jaca of the country's Diocese of Benguela emphasized the need for Catholic journalists to adhere to their profession's code of ethics. 

"A Catholic journalist cannot be allied with the powerful of this world. You must not be bought; you must not lose your freedom. Journalism is a vocation that requires commitment, dedication, the ability to give, and sacrifice," Jaca said during the Dec. 8 Eucharistic celebration at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Major Seminary Chapel in the Archdiocese of Luanda.

Jaca called upon Catholic journalists to act as "heralds of truth," fostering integrity in their journalism practice and advocating for justice. 

"Your commitment to truth is the key for society to trust in the future," said Jaca, who is also president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communication and Culture of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST).

'Remain impartial and pluralistic'

He went on to describe Catholic journalism as a "tool to promote justice, truth, and peace" and encouraged Catholic journalists to "remain impartial and pluralistic" in their reporting, resisting manipulation and external influences.

"Catholic journalism must always be impartial and plural, free from the interference of powers that seek to distort the truth. Investigate deeply, listen to all sides, and respect the diversity of voices," Jaca said.

He urged Catholic journalists to uphold ethical principles in reporting, saying: "You must not use your power to extort, defame, or manipulate. Truth must be your compass as we build a more just and fraternal society. Avoid selfishness and the allure of power, and instead focus on serving the common good."

Dual role of 'communicators and evangelizers'

Reflecting on Radio Ecclesia's 70th anniversary, the Angolan Catholic Church leader emphasized the dual role of Catholic journalists as "communicators and evangelizers."

The mission of Catholic journalists extends beyond informing the public to include the proclamation of the good news of hope, justice, and peace, he said.

"The journalist must be the voice of the voiceless, advocating for the marginalized and those excluded from public discourse. Your work should sow hope and instill confidence in a better future, even in difficult times," Jaca said.

Called to be 'beacons of clarity'

He cautioned against misinformation and propaganda, and called upon Catholic journalists to be "beacons of clarity and impartiality."

"In a world where information can be misused for selfish purposes, journalists must act as forces of change, committed to truth and justice in its purest form," Jaca said. 

The Angolan Catholic bishop, who has been at the helm of the Benguela Diocese since June 2018 following his transfer from Angola's Diocese of Caxito, where he started his episcopal ministry in July 2007, also reminded Catholic journalists to foster public interest and human dignity. 

"The Catholic journalist's work must be guided by a deep sense of vocation and dedication, prioritizing the collective good over personal interests. This is a form of priesthood in the field of journalism," Jaca concluded.

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

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CNA Staff, Dec 11, 2024 / 12:40 pm (CNA).

Bishops in Quebec are expressing alarm after a prominent government official said he wanted to end prayer in public spaces in the Canadian province.

Quebec Premier François Legault said last week that praying in public parks and streets "is not something we want in Quebec." The premier said he wished to "send a very clear message to the Islamists" who he suggested were a danger to "the values ??that are fundamental to Quebec."

"When we want to pray, we go to a church, we go to a mosque, but not in public places," he said. "And yes, we will look at the means where we can act legally or otherwise." 

In a Monday letter, Trois-Rivières Bishop Martin Laliberté, the president of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec, said the bishops there were "deeply concerned about the erasure of people and believing communities from Quebec's public space."

The suggested ban, the bishop argued, "would be inapplicable" under Canadian law.

"Public parks welcome all kinds of practices that require temporarily limiting access to a given sector: think of a ball or ballgame," Laliberté wrote. "That some of these practices claim a more or less assertive spiritual or religious dimension is just as legitimate."

Arguing that "praying is not dangerous," the bishop asserted that the effects of the proposed ban would fall on "minority religious groups that are perceived as different and, for this reason, threatening to Quebec identity." Catholicism, they noted, has long been an integral part of Quebec's identity.

"For their part, like Pope Francis, the Catholic bishops are of the opinion that sincere and benevolent interreligious dialogue is now essential to build a resilient society in these times of environmental and socio-economic crises," Laliberté said.

The bishop pointed to the U.N.'s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of religion. That document demonstrates the "very real risk that authorities try to confine the association to the private sphere for religious or spiritual purposes," he said. 

It is "essential to act with great caution, in order to respect the rights and dignity of all people," the prelate said. 

Tensions have arisen in Canada in recent years over the country's relatively high level of Muslim residents. Data indicate that the share of the population identifying as Muslim more than doubled from 2001 to 2021. 

Reported attacks on Canadian Muslims have allegedly skyrocketed in recent years. Among the more shocking incidents, in January 2017, six people were killed and 17 injured after gunmen opened fire inside the Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec.

Pope Francis at the time "strongly condemned" the violence, asking God "for the gift of mutual respect and peace" amid the tragedy. 

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CNA Staff, Dec 11, 2024 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

The chief architect of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris shared in an interview with EWTN that he felt Our Lady guided the restoration of the 861-year-old cathedral following the fire that ravaged the building in April 2019.

In an interview with Colm Flynn on "EWTN News In Depth," architect Philippe Villeneuve said that he was a believer with a "particular devotion to Mary."

When asked if he was "a man of faith," Villeneuve explained that he had kept this private during the rebuilding, but now he is ready to reveal it.

"I spent five years saying nothing about this because I'm a civil servant in a secular republic, and therefore, I couldn't say something like this," Villeneuve told Flynn. "But now, I have to reveal that yes."

"I have a particular devotion to the Virgin Mary, and at the risk of sounding totally crazy — or like Joan of Arc — I never stopped feeling support coming from up there," he said. 

The architect shared that without Mary's guidance, he didn't think the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris would have been possible. 

The reconstruction of Notre Dame was no small undertaking. A team of more than 2,000 people worked on the 800 million euro (about $840 million) restoration. The original building had taken nearly 200 years to build, but Villeneuve had only five years to restore it. 

"I don't think this project would've been possible otherwise, and I think that's what gave me the strength and determination to move forward because I knew I was supported from up there," Villeneuve said.

The fire had destroyed the cathedral's roof, spire, and three sections of the vault — but the organ, paintings, stained glass, and furniture were intact. 

With pressure from the French government and the 340,000 private donors from around the world, Villeneuve had to ensure that original techniques and materials were used as much as possible. 

"It was an enormous amount of work," he continued. "I realize it now looking at where we came from. I'm really amazed by the beauty — amazed by the work, by the quality of work."

Villeneuve has long had a love for the historic cathedral. 

"I've been madly in love with Notre Dame de Paris since I was little," he said. "Growing up, it was inside the cathedral where I felt good." 

Villeneuve shared that he had made a model of the cathedral when he was 16 years old.

"I was really captivated by it, moved by it," he said. "And little did I know as a kid when I was building the cathedral out of card and paper that one day I would be working on the real cathedral."

The doors of the newly restored cathedral were officially reopened to the public Saturday evening, Dec. 7, just over five years after a blaze ravaged the iconic structure's roof, frame, and spire. More than 1,500 people attended the opening ceremony, including about 40 world leaders such as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as 170 bishops. The archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, celebrated the first Mass and consecrated the altar on Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 

"When I laid the last stone of the vault in the north transept, it brought me back," the architect recalled. "And I saw myself as a kid again building this vault with paper and cardboard." 

The cathedral has a deeper spiritual meaning, not just for its architect, but for those across France and even around the world.   

Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector and archpriest of Notre Dame Cathedral, called the building "the soul of France." 

"Because this cathedral is something of the soul of France, the history of our country is intimately linked with the history of the cathedral," Dumas told Flynn.

But its "influence extends far beyond France," the rector noted. 

"The cathedral does not belong to Parisians, nor to Catholics, nor to the French, but it is the common good of all humanity," Dumas continued. "And its stones speak of God because they have been animated by prayer for more than 800 years." 

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CNA Staff, Dec 11, 2024 / 15:05 pm (CNA).

Parishioners in a small Wisconsin city have launched a GoFundMe as part of an effort to save a nearly 150-year-old church from permanent closure. 

Advocates for St. Boniface Church in Manitowoc are hoping to raise $8,000 to bankroll an appeal at the Vatican to stop the Diocese of Green Bay from shuttering the church. The parish itself dates to the 1850s while the current building was constructed in 1886. 

The diocese ordered the parish to merge with several others in 2005, with the last regularly scheduled Mass taking place there that year and the most recent Mass taking place in 2013. 

Bishop David Ricken issued a decree last year ordering that the 137-year-old building be relegated to "profane but not sordid use," meaning it can be sold and used for nonreligious purposes so long as they are not immoral or offensive to the Catholic faith.

The bishop said in the decree that the building had not regularly been used since 2005 and was "no longer necessary for the care of souls in the community." He also cited the building's physical decline and the accompanying financial burden, as well as a decline of Catholics in the area.

John Maurer and Emily Baumann, who are leading a GoFundMe fundraising effort, told CNA that they hope to preserve St. Boniface's status as a church. 

The present GoFundMe campaign — which aims to raise $8,000 — is small by the standards of many church preservation efforts. Mauer said the funds are meant solely to help pay for attorney's fees at the Vatican where the parish's advocates are currently arguing their case. 

"We've been going back and forth at the diocesan level," he said. "The bishop sustained his decree two years ago. That's why it went to Rome."

"We went to the Court of the Dicastery for the Clergy. They ruled in favor of Bishop Ricken's decree," he continued. "We then went to the Supreme Tribunal. They sided with the lower court. Now we're at the Congresso of the Apostolic Signatura."

Though the $8,000 campaign will go toward the attorney at the Vatican, Baumann noted that advocates have already raised a considerable amount of money to help fund a church restoration.

"We can't quite do anything with restoration until we get approval to be in the church and use the church," she said. "But we already have secured all the money necessary for a full restoration. We've had it for a few years now. We just haven't had the permission."

In his decree, Ricken said the structure of St. Boniface is "in danger of decay and damage." Baumann, on the other hand, argued that the church is in good physical shape and mostly requires cosmetic updates.

"We had contractors in to assess the roof and structure, and they said this building is in really good shape," she said.

"That's part of the reason we're fighting so strongly. If most of the parish were able to walk through the doors today, they'd be shocked at what a good condition it's in."

A diocesan spokesperson declined to comment directly on the present fundraising effort. Mauer said there is "definitely huge support" throughout the local Catholic community to see the church restored.

"It's not some small fringe group," he said. "People are pledging money. We have to turn them away because we can't take the money now. But they want to see it restored."

Baumann said she has observed similar eagerness from community members to see the church preserved. "There's really a deep-seated desire as a whole to see that building used," she said.

"Our hope is with all we're doing, maybe it deserves a second look," she added.

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Madrid, Spain, Dec 11, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Father Juan Miguel Ferrer Grenesche, a Spanish priest and an expert in liturgy and popular piety, explained in anticipation of Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Corsica on his 47th apostolic journey that the pontiff "has highly valued popular piety" throughout his life.

Popular piety, in this sense, means the piety characteristic of a people, often manifested in public expressions of faith. 

On Dec. 15, the pope will visit the city of Ajaccio, the capital of the French island, to close a conference on popular religiosity in the Mediterranean in which Ferrer will participate, speaking about processions and popular faith in Spain.

In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Ferrer explained how he believes the pope will approach his participation in this conference, since "in Latin America he has greatly valued popular piety," especially with his participation in the meetings of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops' Council (CELAM, by its Spanish acronym).

After the Second Vatican Council, the priest explained, the Latin American bishops decided at a conference held in Medellín, Colombia, in 1968 to distance themselves in some way from popular religiosity, considering that it was "too contaminated by pagan elements, superstitions, witchcraft, and other things."

This reluctance changed at the conference held in Puebla, Mexico, in 1979, Ferrer explained, noting that "if care is taken, there are many elements that can be helpful and complement the great contribution of the liturgy, which the council said did not exhaust the spiritual life of the Church."

Pope Francis was consecrated as a bishop in 1992 and six years later he became archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001, St. John Paul II made him a cardinal. In that capacity, he participated in the CELAM conference held in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007.

"As cardinal of Buenos Aires he played a key role in the final document, because in it popular religiosity is clearly seen as an element that expresses the inculturation of Christianity in the masses of people on the entire continent," Ferrer explained.

Pope Francis "wants the Church to present what remains of popular religiosity as a platform for encounter, as an Areopagus for evangelization," the Spanish priest summed up.

Popular piety, 'last lifeline' for many

Regarding the content of the conference that Pope Francis will close, the Spanish priest explained that, in a secularized society, popular piety is for many people "the last lifeline to connect with transcendence and not to completely break with the Christian religious tradition."

He also commented that the Church likes to talk more about "popular piety" than "popular religiosity" because understood in this latter sense it can be considered "excessively aseptic or disconnected from Christian sources or roots."

In evangelization, popular piety also allows us to reach those who don't know the depth and richness of formal liturgy and through "a cultural adaptation" is able to "preserve the connection between the human heart's thirst for God and the sources of revelation: the word of God, the life of Christ, the sacraments, the Church itself."

Preserving the religious sense of life

Ferrer also pointed out that "where there is a strong popular religiosity, the religious sense of life is preserved," despite sins, "doctrinal lapses," neglect, or laziness.

In this context, it's possible that "someone who has a religious sense of life can receive the Christian message more easily. On the contrary, where all manifestations of popular religiosity or popular piety have been eliminated, we could say that people's souls have dried up."

In this regard, the expert pointed out that psychologist Victor Frankl discovered that even more pathologies "arise from the repression of the religious instinct" than from the repression of the sexual instinct, as his teacher, Sigmund Freud, maintained.

"In societies where people's souls have dried up, where everything has to be rational, where everything has to be empirical, where there is no room for the religious or the transcendent, then phenomena of crises, we might say, arise and sowing the Gospel becomes very difficult," the priest observed.

Ferrer also explained that popular piety, expressed through processions, with their statues, music, etc., attracts many people of different ages in whom different emotions are awakened.

However, "for a Catholic Christian that's not enough, but it's also true that if we then add to the mixture with skill and pastoral art, with presence, liturgical celebration and formation, it becomes a source of volunteers for any task in the parishes or, in the dioceses, a source of vocations for our religious communities and for our seminaries."

Popular piety in Corsica

When asked about the particularities of popular piety in Corsica, Ferrer said that Corsica "has a strong tradition of confraternities and brotherhoods [that typically sponsor and organize processions]," with influences from Italy and southern France, "coming very much from the Dominicans and Franciscans who preached and looked after these areas of the Mediterranean."

Over the years, "people took it up as something very much theirs and very much their own, and in addition, much of the singing has been preserved, which is very important in Corsica" and is characterized by being "very peculiar, nasal, very striking."

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

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Vatican City, Dec 11, 2024 / 10:25 am (CNA).

Pope Francis told thousands of pilgrims attending his general audience on Wednesday that "the strength of arguments" is not enough to convince people about Jesus Christ and his Church.

Concluding his 17-part catechetical series on "The Spirit and the Bride" this week, the Holy Father said "the first and most effective form of evangelization" is the love we show others. 

"The apostle Peter exhorted the first Christians with these words: 'Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you' (cf. 1 Pt 3:15)," the pope told his listeners gathered inside the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

"But he added a recommendation," he continued. "'Do it with gentleness and respect.'"

During this week's catechesis, the Holy Father explained that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are inseparable "in the economy of salvation."

Describing the Holy Spirit as "the ever-springing source of Christian hope," the pope added that the theological virtue of hope "is the most beautiful gift that the Church can give to all humanity." 

Using the analogy of the Church as a boat, the Holy Father described the Holy Spirit as the "sail that propels it forward through the sea of history today as in the past." 

"Hope is not an empty word or a vague wish that things will turn out well," the pope told his listeners on Wednesday. "No, hope is a certainty because it is founded on God's faithfulness to his promises.

"That is why it is called a theological virtue, because it is infused by God and has God as a guarantor," he added. 

Prayers for peace, stability in Syria

Following the recent developments in Syria with the fall of the five-decade-long Assad regime in the country on Dec. 8, Pope Francis invited his audience to pray for the intercession of Our Lady to bring peace in the Middle East. 

"I follow what's happening in Syria at this delicate moment in our history," he said. "I hope that we will reach a political solution that will not add to the division and conflict but will establish stability in the country."

"I pray for the intercession of Our Lady that the Syrian population will live in peace, in security in their homeland and [that] the different religions can walk together in friendship in mutual respect for the good of the nation, afflicted by so many years of war," he continued.

Before imparting his papal blessing to the thousands of international pilgrims inside the hall, the pope also asked for prayers for those suffering injustice in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Myanmar. 

"War is always a defeat. Let us pray for peace," he said. 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 10, 2024 / 15:15 pm (CNA).

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi criticized Pope Francis for the Vatican's deal with China regarding bishop appointments during an interview with the National Catholic Reporter published on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

The congresswoman from California and former speaker of the House of Representatives told the outlet that she is "not too happy" about the Vatican-China agreement, saying: "I don't know what they have achieved" and adding: "Do you know of any success?"

"We have, for decades, seen the suffering of Catholics in China," Pelosi, who is Catholic, told the Reporter. "I have a completely different view [from Francis]. … Why should the Chinese government be having a say in the appointment of bishops? I've talked to some folks here and they're, 'Well, we have to keep up with the times.' What?! I don't get that."

In January 2018, Pope Francis and Chinese officials entered into a deal that gives the Chinese Communist Party input on bishop appointments. Most of the details of the deal and how it functions have not been made public, but the pontiff revealed in September 2023 that the agreement created a joint China-Vatican commission on the appointment of bishops.

The agreement has been renewed three times, most recently in October. The most recent renewal extends the deal into October 2028. Despite the appearance of friendlier relations on the surface, a report published in October by the Hudson Institute found that the "religious repression of the Catholic Church in China has intensified" since the deal went into effect. In November 2022, the Vatican accused China of violating the terms of the deal. 

In her interview with the Reporter, Pelosi referenced the Gospel of Matthew in her critique of the Vatican-China agreement. 

"Let me say it this way: 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,'" Pelosi said. "Every bishop has sprung from that rock. And now, the Chinese government?"

The congresswoman said she had spoken to the papal nuncio about "what our concerns were," and commented that those concerns were bipartisan: "This brings a lot of us together because, over time, even bishops were being killed. I mean, this is like martyrs."

Pelosi also showed solidarity with Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and staunch critic of the Chinese Communist Party and Vatican-China deal. In 2022, Hong Kong police arrested the cardinal for his role in assisting pro-democracy protesters for their legal fees, but he was later released on bail.

"With all the respect in the world for His Holiness, Pope Francis, my point of view is closer to the cardinal of Hong Kong, Joseph Zen," Pelosi told the Reporter.

In 2020, Zen told CNA that he had not seen any positive changes for the Church following the deal with China. 

"Is there any choice between helping the government to destroy the Church or resisting the government to keep our faith?" Zen said.

According to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in October, China has continued its persecution of Catholics and other religious faiths through its policy of the "sinicization of religion," which means to make the religion conform to Chinese culture.

The report noted that, in practice, the policy essentially subordinates faiths to "the [Chinese Communist Party's] political agenda and Marxist vision for religion." This includes censorship of religious texts, forcing clergy to preach the party's ideology, and requiring the display of Chinese Communist Party slogans in the churches.

In her interview with the Reporter, Pelosi also spoke about a wide variety of other issues, which included the decline of Catholic support for the Democratic Party in the 2024 elections and her feuds with Catholic bishops over her adamant support of abortion.

Although her bishop, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, prohibited her from receiving Communion within the archdiocese because of her support for abortion, Pelosi told the Reporter that she "received Communion anyway" and said: "That's his problem; not mine." 

"My Catholic faith is: Christ is my savior," Pelosi said. "It has nothing to do with the bishops."

Pelosi won her reelection by a more than 60-point margin in the heavily Democratic 11th Congressional District in California. The congresswoman, who turns 85 in March 2025, resigned from her leadership position within the Democratic Party in 2016 and was replaced by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who currently serves as the House minority leader.

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CNA Staff, Dec 10, 2024 / 15:45 pm (CNA).

A pair of former Vatican officials has been found guilty of embezzlement and abuse of office as part of a long-running investigation into financial irregularities at a prominent choir there. 

Monsignor Massimo Palombella, who previously directed the Sistine Chapel Choir in Vatican City, and Michelangelo Nardella, who was the choir's manager, were both found guilty in the Vatican City State Tribunal on various counts of embezzlement, laundering, and abuse stemming from their time leading the choir.

Nardella's wife, Simona Rossi, was also convicted of embezzlement in connection with the scandal.

News of financial improprieties at the choir first broke in 2018 amid reports that Palombella and Nardella used choir concert proceeds for personal expenses. The Vatican launched an investigation that year.

Palombella resigned his position at the choir in July 2019. In January of that same year, Pope Francis issued a motu proprio that among other things moved the Sistine Chapel Choir under the administration of the Office of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.

Palombella was sentenced to just over three years in prison as well as a fine of 9,000 euros (about $9,500); Nardella will spend four years and eight months in prison and pay 7,000 euros (about $7,400) in fines. Nardella was also served with "perpetual disqualification from holding public office."

Rossi, meanwhile, will serve two years in prison and pay 5,000 euros (about $5,300) in fines, along with a similar disqualification from public office. 

All three defendants will further be subject to the confiscation of tens of thousands of euros as part of restitution for the embezzlement crimes, and all will be required to pay legal fees.

Known officially as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, the Sistine Chapel Choir is composed of 20 professional singers from around the world as well as a treble section made up of 35 boys aged 9–13 called the Pueri Cantores.

With a 1,500-year history, the Sistine Chapel Choir is believed to be the oldest active choir in the world.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 10, 2024 / 16:30 pm (CNA).

The Papal Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that provides funding for Catholic projects around the world, recently announced that it has awarded $800,000 to recipients of its scholarship fund.

The awards were distributed across 42 countries and helped enable 110 priests, brothers, sisters, and laypeople to pursue their studies at 14 pontifical universities in Rome as participants in the foundation's St. John Paul II Scholarship Program. 

"Since its founding, the program has provided nearly $14 million in scholarships to more than 1,700 individuals, known as Saeman Scholars, to advance their education and prepare them to return home and serve in leadership positions in their own countries," the foundation stated in a recent press release. 

Eustace Mita, president of the Papal Foundation's board of trustees, in the release invoked the foundation's establishment at the request of Pope John Paul II.

"We are inspired by, and committed to, St. John Paul II's vision to prepare Catholic leaders and educators for service," she said. "These scholarships help train those called to lead in developing nations, where resources for ongoing leadership formation are limited."

Dec. 5 marked 25 years since the foundation launched its John Paul II Scholarship Fund after John and Carol Saeman — a couple from Denver — made a gift of $5 million that was matched by the Papal Foundation. 

The Papal Foundation is "the only charitable organization in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to fulfilling the requests of the Holy Father for the needs of the Church" and has dedicated more than $225 million to causes designated by popes since its inception. 

The foundation receives its funding from personal money donated by its Stewards of St. Peter, while the Holy Father designates the use of funds based on recommendations from his nuncios or ambassadors around the world. 

Cardinal Seán O'Malley, chairman of the foundation's board of trustees, praised the foundation's stewards, stating that "in a society where the gap between rich and poor continues to grow," they "recognize their responsibility to prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable." 

"These grants, scholarships, and charitable initiatives are our organization's gift to the Catholic Church," the foundation's executive director, David Savage, stated. 

In the past year alone, the foundation has successfully supported 118 projects in over 60 countries and announced in April that it would distribute nearly $10 million in 2024. Among the beneficiaries include efforts at "providing for basic needs such as access to clean water," "constructing schools and renovating classrooms," and "translating Church teachings for evangelization."

One scholarship recipient, Sister Anna Kapounamai of India, is quoted in the release stating that her studies in Rome are aiding her efforts to help guide young people toward healthy use of social media.

"Today, the influence of social media is growing among youth and children ... My vision is to help young people become literate and responsible social media users while preserving their personal and social values," she said, thanking the Papal Foundation for its support.

During an audience with Pope Francis in April, the Holy Father commended the foundation for "enhanc[ing] the integral development of so many, including the poor, refugees, immigrants, and nowadays the increasingly large numbers of those affected by war and violence."

"Through these various worthy initiatives," Francis addressed the group, "you continue to help the successors of Peter to build up many local Churches and care for large numbers of the less fortunate, thus fulfilling the mandates entrusted to the apostle by Our Lord."

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ACI MENA, Dec 10, 2024 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

In the wake of the Assad regime's fall in Syria, the streets of Lebanon were alive with celebration. Church bells rang out as Lebanese Christians gathered en masse, uplifted by the seismic political shift. Flags waved triumphantly as sweets passed from hand to hand and fireworks filled the sky, casting light over a nation long shadowed by turmoil. 

But why have Lebanese Christians reacted so fervently to this news from a neighboring country?

A dark history

Lebanese Christians have long harbored animosity toward the Assad regime, which occupied their country for 29 years. This occupation came to an end in 2005 following the Cedar Revolution, where Lebanese from all sects united in protest. 

Despite the formal end of Syrian control, the regime's influence lingered, and the ghosts of the past never truly departed. Both under Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, Lebanese Christians endured significant suffering.

The impact of the regime's actions and crimes has left a deep and lasting mark. Lebanese journalists faced abductions, mutilations, and execution for their opposition. Media outlets were attacked and forcibly shut down. Political assassinations were common, and the daily lives of civilians were marred by humiliation, torture, and interrogations by Syrian intelligence. 

Lebanese citizens faced the grim reality of enduring Syrian checkpoints within their own country, each crossing fraught with potential peril. Students were violently removed from classrooms and beaten up. 

Towns like Zahleh — one of the largest predominantly Christian towns in Lebanon and the Middle East — withstood sieges, while neighborhoods such as Ein el-Remmaneh and Ashrafieh suffered immensely under heavy shelling. Car bombs, shelling of vital supply ships, and massacres perpetuated a climate of fear and repression. 

Almost every Christian Lebanese family has a story of suffering at the hands of the Assad regime's occupation of Lebanon. 

On X (formerly Twitter), Lebanese citizens began sharing personal and familial stories that highlight those dark and oppressive days. Reflecting on this dark history, the news was not just important for Syria but also for Lebanon, which has suffered immensely under Assad's rule.

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, Jean Bou Assi, a 27-year-old Lebanese Christian activist who joined in the celebratory gatherings, reacted to the news.

"I wanted to express my happiness as a Lebanese Christian after this historic event," he said. "The fall of the Assad regime is deeply tied to years of oppression, occupation, and assassinations that Lebanon endured under this regime. As Lebanese Christians, our history and fate have often been linked to the Lebanese entity (that the Assad regime doesn't recognize). The fact that Lebanon's entity endured despite this oppressive regime's existence is a significant reason to celebrate following its downfall."

Justice served

Many Christian Lebanese view the fall of Assad as a form of justice being served. 

Bou Assi described the atmosphere, noting that chants of "Bachir hay fina" ("Bachir lives among us") filled the air, an invocation of the memory of President-elect Bachir Gemayel. 

Gemayel was a prominent Lebanese Christian leader who was assassinated in 1982. 

Bou Assi explained that for many, it feels like a moment of justice for Gemayel. 

"Many feel that President Bachir was finally avenged, as Syria was widely implicated in his assassination," he explained. "This sentiment is reinforced by Syria's history of granting asylum to his assassin, Habib Chartouni, even after freeing him in 1990. People are now awaiting action from the new Syrian administration, hoping they will hand over Habib Chartouni once identified."

In a similar vein, Michel Moawad, a member of Parliament and founder of the Independence Movement, shared a poignant tribute to his father, René Moawad, who was the president of Lebanon. 

"Sleep tight dad, for heaven's justice has been achieved on earth, even if it took a while," Moawad said in a heartfelt message.

Nayla Tueni, CEO of An-Nahar, one of Lebanon's most influential newspapers, published an article to honor her father, Gebran Tueni, a journalist assassinated for his strong criticism of Assad. She titled it "To Gebran and All Martyrs: The Justice of Fate."

MTV, a major Lebanese TV channel, was shut down by the Assad regime in 2002, giving them a strong reason to celebrate the regime's fall this week. In one of its posts, it wrote: "The tyrant's regime fell, but MTV remained."

A glimmer of hope

Names of Lebanese citizens believed to be in Syrian prisons have become a focal point on Lebanese media, sparking hope for reunions with loved ones. 

Since 1975, more than 17,000 Lebanese have disappeared, and there is no definitive count of how many are still alive in Assad's jails. However, families are actively sharing posts about their missing relatives, holding onto hope for their return.

One of the detainees, held for 32 years because of his affiliation with the Lebanese Forces — an anti-Assad Christian party and resistance movement — was released and returned to his family in Lebanon. Many others are anxiously awaiting more such reunions and the return of other detainees.

Lebanese are also hopeful that the refugee crisis, which has been placing a strain on the country, will now begin to ease. 

"With the war in Syria reigniting, I previously feared that Lebanon would face an even greater influx of refugees, adding to the 2 million Syrian refugees already hosted — a burden that has strained Lebanon's demography, economy, and infrastructure," Bou Assi said. 

"Many Syrians have cited fear of mistreatment by Assad's regime as a reason for not returning home. Now that Assad is gone, this justification no longer holds. The Lebanese government will be in a stronger position to address the crisis, implementing measures that encourage refugees to return to Syria." 

The recent events have also stripped Hezbollah of a crucial ally and supporter. As a significant political backer, arms supplier, and facilitator of Hezbollah's operations through border smuggling routes — particularly in the trafficking of Captagon — Assad's departure marks a pivotal shift. 

"With Syria's support gone and Hezbollah weakened by its last war with Israel two months ago, attempts to rearm the group will be significantly hindered. This isolation will disrupt Hezbollah's logistical and political network, forcing it into a more precarious position within Lebanon's shifting power dynamics," Bou Assi said.

This newfound isolation of Hezbollah is seen as a strategic opportunity by its adversaries. 

Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces, the largest Christian party in Lebanon, expressed his long-term frustrations and current hopes in an interview with MTV channel. 

"Over the past 50 years, the regime of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad was the biggest obstacle to the building of a state in Lebanon," Geagea stated. "No matter how the situation in Syria will be after Assad, it's impossible that it will be worse than Assad. I don't know what awaits us with the new Syrian authorities, but there is nothing worse than Assad."

Seizing the moment, Geagea called for Hezbollah to either hand over their weapons or sell them, urging a collective effort to build a state in Lebanon. In one tweet, he had a strong message: ''To Hezbollah, game over."

With the situation changing, there are also hopes for improved relations between the two countries that share a brutal history.

''While it's still early to predict the future, I remain optimistic that Lebanon and Syria can turn the page toward a new chapter of friendship," Bou Assi said. "This could mark the end of Syrian aggression toward Lebanon, from denying Lebanon's existence as an independent entity to its military occupation and facilitating Hezbollah's armament. The fall of the Assad regime could close the door on this dark era, paving the way for a better relationship based on mutual respect.''

Joy amid uncertainty

While there is joy over the end of the brutal regime, fear and skepticism naturally persist. 

The transition process remains unclear, and Lebanon must be vigilant against the potential infiltration of pro-Assad intelligence forces and commanders through illegal crossings.

Moreover, Lebanon is not yet free from conflict as the temporary ceasefire was intended for 60 days. Additionally, Lebanon must address its own significant challenge and elephant in the room: Hezbollah. 

Lebanese Christians may not know what will happen next in Syria or even in Lebanon, but they are acutely aware of the unfathomable atrocities committed against them by the Assad family. For now, it is a time to rejoice.

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