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Just a few weeks since the death of her husband, Miguel, and amid her grief, Virginia Pérez de Santana, clutching a rosary, recounted with serenity and strength their story of a love that endures, sustained to the very last moment by the certainty that God exists and never abandons us.

Although she grew up in a Catholic family, Virginia said she felt that "something was missing": a spark, an impulse of faith that would dispel her doubts regarding the existence of God. What she never could have imagined was that this longed-for certainty would come with the illness of her husband, Miguel, a dentist whom she met while volunteering in Cambodia 14 years before.

Although Miguel never doubted, she said, faith did not occupy a central place in their lives. But everything changed one day in July 2024 while they were enjoying a vacation with their three children: Virginia, 5; Miguel, 4; and María, 3.

After suffering severe headaches and a loss of mobility in his left arm, Miguel decided to go to the emergency room.

And that moment marked the beginning of it all.

"While waiting, Miguel was incredibly nervous, because he sensed that something was wrong. He was very agitated the entire time, saying, 'I want to get out of here, I want to get out of here — I can't breathe,'" Virginia told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. After several tests and a long wait, the doctors confirmed what the couple feared most: Miguel had a brain tumor and required emergency surgery.

'I've had an experience with God'

Gripped by fear and uncertainty, Virginia left the room to tell her parents what was happening. Upon her return, Miguel was no longer the same: His nervousness had vanished, and his face reflected a surprising peace and serenity. "When I came back, they had already moved him into an emergency bay, and I saw him there, laughing and talking with the other patients," she recalled.

Then, Miguel took his wife's hands and said: "Virginia, be at peace; I've had an experience with God."

Miguel told her that, after being left alone in the room once the nurse had gone, he got down on his knees and pleaded: "My God, please, don't leave me alone."

A love 'not of this world'

After praying, Miguel felt as though someone were embracing him, and in that instant, a warmth coursed through his entire body: "From head to toe, he felt a kind of electricity, of love, love, love. A love so pure, a love so profound, that he said it was not of this world."

She recalled how her husband recounted to her every detail of the embrace he felt in the empty room, where he heard someone say to him: "Be at peace; I am with you, and I bear your cross with you."

"And in that moment, he began to weep; not out of sorrow, not because of the tumor, but out of happiness. Then, he took my hands once more and said to me: 'Virginia, you, who have sometimes had doubts — never, never, never doubt again, for God exists. I no longer merely have faith; I am certain that God exists."

From that moment, Miguel experienced a profound peace and an absolutely radical transformation, "even physically," recalled Virginia, whose friends and family told her that he looked even "more handsome" than before his illness because of the happiness he radiated.

'He was in love with God'

Although her husband was "a very good person," Virginia recalled, with a smile, that he complained at times. Nevertheless, he offered up all his suffering and illness. "He would tell me that he was in love with God and that he didn't want to complain, he wanted to do everything for God."

"He used to tell me that he felt just like a typical teenager waiting outside school for his girlfriend to come out," she recalled.

She said that her husband never stopped talking about God and would tell her: "In time, you will come to see this as a blessing, because thanks to the tumor, God has granted me this experience; and thanks to this experience, my eyes have been opened — for before, I was blind."

Miguel was discharged from the hospital 15 days after the emergency operation. "He was happy," his wife remembered. During his stay at the hospital, they prayed the rosary daily, and Miguel made a point of visiting some of the patients in nearby rooms, accompanied by the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Virgin statue.

Following the biopsy, they were informed that the tumor was one of the most aggressive types — incurable and fast-progressing. Yet, Miguel accepted the diagnosis with serenity, never questioning why this was happening to him.

"It was a profound acceptance of his illness," Virginia continued. "And the truth is, we were always side by side, like a team, always believing that we were in God's hands and that we simply had to accept his will. If a miracle occurred and he was cured, that would be wonderful; and if not — well, then whatever he decides, for we will never understand his ways."

Friends and parents from their children's school in Madrid formed a prayer group that grew to nearly 500 people, "almost none of whom we knew," Virginia said. "That gave us a great deal of strength: So many good people who, without even knowing us, cared and prayed for us."

Embracing illness as a gift

As time went by, although Miguel no longer felt the same powerful impact of the experience he had undergone in the hospital, he still saw God's love in the everyday "little signs" and gestures of the people praying for him. "It also brought me much closer to God," Virginia said.

In July 2025, the tumor recurred, returning with greater force and in a much more aggressive manner. "He always faced it with great courage, with great strength, and with immense faith. We always used to say: 'Whatever God wills.'"

The tumor progressed rapidly, all treatment options exhausted. In February, Miguel was admitted to palliative care at the Navarra Clinic in Madrid, where he remained until he died on March 10.

"Throughout that entire month Miguel spent in the hospital, he never once complained; even the palliative care doctors themselves told us they were astonished by the sense of peace we radiated," Virginia said.

Miguel was able to say goodbye to his children. "Watching how he faced his illness and how he faced death has set the bar very high for me," Virginia recounted.

'It's true that God exists, that he rose again, and that he is with us'

Drawing upon her experience, Virginia hopes to reach out to those who are going through a similar illness: "God desires that very same love and that very same faith for them, too."

"Even if they haven't felt it within their own bodies, let them lean on the testimonies of others," she said, "because he is real; because it is true that God exists, that he rose again, that he is with us; and that even when you call out to him and it feels at times as though God isn't listening, he is indeed listening to you."

"That very same strength God has given us, he is also giving to other people ... Obviously, I would have preferred for Miguel to remain with me, to grow old alongside him, for our lives to continue on, free of illness and trouble. But I think that had we simply continued on in that same manner, would we have remained so close to God? Well — no; probably not," she reflected.

'No ordinary peace'

Virginia shared what she considers the most important thing of all: "I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to say that my husband is in heaven — because I know it; because he had immense faith, he had such deep love for God, and he demonstrated it in so many ways, such as by praying the rosary every day."

Shortly before her husband died, the chaplain at the Navarra Clinic administered the anointing of the sick. 

"I said to Miguel: 'Do you realize how many people have drawn closer to God because of your illness? I truly believe there is nothing more important you could have done,'" she said.

With tears in her eyes, Virginia said that if one sets aside "human selfishness," her husband has already achieved his goal: "To be with God — and in such a way."

"For Miguel, this has been the greatest gift God could have given him. Miguel is with God; he's happy, and that's what truly matters," she said. "And if you hold onto that thought, your life changes."

"The peace we experienced throughout the entire process of his illness and his death was no ordinary peace," she said. "I know it because we were enveloped by so many people's prayers, and because we were enveloped by God."

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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MANILA, Philippines — Amid growing concerns over mental health, Cardinal Jose Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, Philippines, stressed on April 2 that priests must prioritize their mental health to sustain their missionary work.

Celebrating the chrism Mass on Holy Thursday at the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as Manila Cathedral, Advincula quoted a recent study, saying: "About 18% reported that they are psychologically distressed," meaning "almost one in every five priests is undergoing a mental difficulty or emotional burden."

He reminded clergy to acknowledge their human vulnerabilities and weaknesses, calling on the faithful to support clergy through prayer and understanding.

According to data from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), as of 2025, there are more than 10,000 priests serving 73.6 million Catholics. The Philippines is Asia's largest Catholic country.

Lay faithful support for the clergy

Advincula urged lay Catholics to stand with priests as they carry out their ministry.

"To be faithful, we need your understanding and your prayers," he said.

Advincula thanked communities for their continued support, despite what he described as the "obvious limitations" of clergy, which include challenges such as limited resources and the need for more active engagement from the laity.

The cardinal thanked priests and the faithful for their shared responsibility in continuing the Church's life and mission.

He said human connections are essential to restoring hope and sustaining missionary work.

Pope Leo XIV's April prayer intention

Advincula's remarks coincided with the Holy Father's April prayer intention, which is "for priests in crisis."

"Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer," Pope Leo XIV said.

Echoing the pope's words, Advincula urged Catholics to pray for priests, especially those facing loneliness, doubt, and exhaustion.

"When a pastor faces some kind of weariness at any time, the Church is not supposed to judge but rather to walk beside him," he said.

A parish priest's struggle with addiction

EWTN News spoke with two priests who have faced mental health challenges and described how they overcame them.

Father Mark (a pseudonym used to protect his identity), a 52-year-old parish priest in the southern Philippines, serves a parish with more than 40,000 Catholics. He has been there for the last five years.

Over the years, Father Mark felt exhausted by pastoral duties. He gradually developed loneliness and distress, which affected his mental well-being. Over time, he began to consume alcohol more frequently and eventually became addicted.

As his health conditions and addictions affected his personal life and pastoral duty, his religious superiors made him take a break from pastoral care and placed him in a Church-run rehabilitation center near Manila for a year.

After a year of medication along with prayer, social connections, and discernment, he is free of addiction and back to pastoral work in a different parish in the central Philippines.

He said he learned a valuable lesson from his imperfections, especially about balancing personal care — physical, spiritual, and emotional.

A rural missionary's ordeal

Father Marcilino, a 47-year-old priest, used to be a rural missionary in the northern part of the country.

He used to minister to 70,000 Catholics across eight chapels and one parish, alongside two younger priests.

"At some point, I got disinterested in my pastoral work and lost zeal for it," he said.

"I did not have any vices as such. I felt a kind of spiritual dryness in my priestly life," he said.

When his priest companions noticed his mental distress and lack of participation in community prayers and mealtime presence, they encouraged him to take a few months' break from pastoral responsibility with the knowledge of their superiors.

His superiors sent him for a three-month refresher course on psycho-spiritual enrichment.

After spending three months in the program, he returned to the parish with renewed zeal as a person and pastor.

"I have realized that priests like me face pastoral exhaustion or compassion fatigue caused by many factors," he said. "It is necessary that we take precautions and efforts to monitor our mental well-being as we are interested in rendering our pastoral service to others with hope and compassion," he added.

He thanked his superiors and those who continually support him in his missionary endeavors.

"My struggles with mental health issues taught me a valuable lesson that I am not a superhuman being," he said. "I need to be aware of my limitations, especially worry, anxiety, stress, and depression to some extent."

"We are all works in progress and rely on God's grace to carry out our pastoral work for the common good," he said.

Mental health in the Philippines

An estimated 7 million to 12.5 million Filipinos suffer from mental health conditions, according to research published in the Lancet Regional Health.

The National Capital Region Police Office reported on March 25 that suicide cases in Metro Manila more than doubled in the first three months of 2026, with many cases stemming from emotional distress, financial pressure, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.

Meanwhile, the country does not have adequate mental health professionals, and the government is making efforts to strengthen mental health services, such as increasing funding for mental health programs and training more professionals to meet the growing demand.

Everyone must take care of their mental health amid the many challenges of life and work, Christopher Lim, a professional psychologist, told EWTN News.

Over the years, Lim has counseled several people, including priests and religious sisters, who have faced mental health challenges.

One piece of advice he gives is that anyone can develop mental health concerns at any time, regardless of their current mental well-being.

"Timely professional help is key to mental health," Lim said.

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After concluding the first leg of his African apostolic journey in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV travels to Cameroon from April 15–18. In the Central African nation, the Holy Father is set to visit the capital, Yaoundé, and the metropolitan sees of Bamenda and Douala.

If Algeria represents the Church as a small minority navigating a Muslim-majority society, Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church there is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential, and politically attentive.

Cameroon stands not only as the second stop on the Holy Father's African itinerary but also as a microcosm of the contemporary African Catholic experience — complex, vibrant, and consequential.

Here are eight things to know about the Church in Cameroon and what is expected of Pope Leo's visit:

1. It has a significant and growing Catholic population.

Cameroon's population is religiously diverse, made up of Christians, Muslims, and practitioners of African traditional religions. Within the Christian bloc, Catholics constitute one of the largest denominations. Current estimates place Catholics at roughly 30% to 35% of the national population, translating into several million Catholics.

This scale gives the Catholic Church measurable public presence. Parishes are numerous, Catholic diocesan structures are well developed, and lay movements are active across urban and rural areas. The Church is not a marginal actor; it is a central stakeholder in national life.

Growth trends remain steady rather than explosive. Unlike some East African contexts where Catholic numbers have surged, Cameroon's expansion is incremental and closely tied to demographic growth. Nonetheless, vocations to the priesthood and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) continue at levels that sustain ecclesial institutions.

In Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV will encounter a people of God neither defensive nor peripheral but fully embedded in national society.

2. It has a robust ecclesiastical structure and metropolitan sees.

The Catholic Church in Cameroon is organized into five ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by a metropolitan archbishop. These include Yaoundé, Bamenda, Douala, Garoua, and Bertoua.

The Archdiocese of Yaoundé serves the political capital and functions as a strategic center for Church-state engagement. Douala, the country's economic hub, anchors the Littoral region and reflects the Church's engagement with commerce, urbanization, and migration.

Bamenda, in the Anglophone Northwest Region, carries particular pastoral and political weight due to ongoing instability in that part of the country. Garoua Archdiocese is in the north of the country, while Bertoua Archdiocese is in the east.

The bishops collectively operate through the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, which regularly issues pastoral letters on social, political, and moral issues.

Pope Leo XIV's decision to visit three metropolitan sees signals a recognition of Cameroon's regional diversity and ecclesial complexity.

3. The Church in Cameroon has deep historical roots.

Catholic missionary activity in Cameroon dates to the late 19th century, particularly under German colonial administration and later French and British rule. Missionaries established schools, clinics, and parishes that became foundational to local communities.

Over time, ecclesial leadership transitioned from missionary congregations to Indigenous clergy. Today, Cameroonian Catholic bishops and priests lead the Church across the country, and missionary institutes have shifted toward collaboration rather than control.

This historical trajectory — from missionary implantation to local ownership — has shaped a confident Church. Catholic institutions in education and health care are not peripheral supplements; they are pillars of national infrastructure.

The historical memory of missionary sacrifice and local perseverance still informs Catholic identity in Cameroon. Papal visits are therefore received not as external interventions but as moments of communion within an already mature ecclesial body.

4. The Church leads in education and health.

Few institutions in Cameroon rival the Catholic Church in educational reach. Catholic primary and secondary schools are widespread, often regarded for discipline and academic performance. The Church also sponsors tertiary institutions and teacher training colleges.

Health care is similarly significant. Catholic hospitals and clinics serve urban centers and remote areas alike. In regions where public health systems are strained, Catholic Church-run facilities frequently fill service gaps.

This social footprint gives the Catholic Church influence but also responsibility. It must negotiate regulatory frameworks, maintain quality standards, and manage financial sustainability.

This also means that papal messaging on social justice, youth formation, and health care ethics resonates concretely rather than abstractly.

In Cameroon, the Church's credibility is measured as much by service delivery as by liturgical vitality.

5. Catholic leaders play a role in political and social realities.

Cameroon's Catholic bishops have consistently engaged in public discourse on governance, elections, corruption, and national unity. Pastoral letters issued around electoral cycles often emphasize transparency, accountability, and peaceful participation.

This engagement places the Church in a delicate position. While she does not function as a political party, she operates as a moral voice. Her statements can attract both public support and governmental scrutiny.

The Anglophone crisis in the northwest and southwest regions — marked by tension between separatist groups and state forces — has intensified the Church's mediating role. Bishops in affected regions, particularly in Bamenda, have appealed for dialogue and protection of civilians.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Bamenda is therefore not merely ceremonial. It unfolds against a backdrop of social fragility and political complexity. Any public remarks in that region will be closely analyzed for diplomatic nuance.

6. The Cameroon Church sees many religious vocations.

Cameroon is considered one of the more fruitful Churches in central Africa in terms of religious vocations. Major seminaries in the country train diocesan clergy, and religious congregations attract local candidates.

The presence of Indigenous clergy has allowed the Church to contextualize liturgy, catechesis, and pastoral strategy. Inculturation — integrating elements of local culture within Catholic worship and life — has developed within the framework permitted by universal Church norms.

However, vocations also present governance challenges: ensuring adequate formation, preventing clericalism, and addressing global concerns about safeguarding and accountability. As elsewhere, the Cameroonian Church must navigate expectations of transparency and ethical leadership.

A papal visit often includes meetings with clergy and religious. In Cameroon, such encounters are likely to reinforce standards of pastoral responsibility and ecclesial communion.

7. The Church here enjoys linguistic, cultural, and religious pluralism.

Cameroon is frequently described as "Africa in miniature" due to its linguistic and cultural diversity. The country officially operates in both French and English, with numerous Indigenous languages in daily use.

This diversity shapes ecclesial life. The Church must minister across Francophone and Anglophone regions, urban and rural contexts, and varied ethnic identities. Liturgies may incorporate local languages and music while maintaining doctrinal unity.

Religiously, Cameroon is pluralistic. Alongside Catholics are Protestants, Pentecostals, Muslims, and adherents of traditional religions. Inter-Christian competition — particularly with rapidly growing Pentecostal movements — poses pastoral challenges. The Catholic Church must articulate its identity in an environment where charismatic worship and prosperity preaching attract large followings.

Interreligious coexistence with Muslim communities, particularly in northern regions, remains a factor in national stability. The Church has often collaborated with Muslim leaders to promote peace and counter extremism.

For Pope Leo XIV, this pluralistic setting requires calibrated messaging — affirming Catholic identity without undermining interreligious harmony.

8. Cameroon hosted a previous papal visit.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cameroon, marking a major ecclesial event that included the promulgation of the Instrumentum Laboris for the Second Synod for Africa. That visit reinforced Cameroon's role within the continental Church.

Pope Leo XIV's 2026 journey will inevitably be compared with past papal engagements. Expectations will be shaped by memory: large public liturgies, strong doctrinal messages, and calls for ethical governance.

This story was first published on March 12, 2026, by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been updated.

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Christians in Algeria say they are hoping Pope Leo XIV's visit will be what "leads to change" as they have recently faced a massive spike in church closures and Christian arrests.

Pope Leo is visiting Algeria April 13–15 for the first part of his African papal trip. The pope's presence has been "widely viewed by the Christian community as a success," Kelsey Zorzi said in an April 14 interview with "EWTN News Nightly."

Zorzi, director of global advocacy at Alliance Defending Freedom, discussed religious freedom in Algeria and the government's move to stop the spread of Christianity.

"Algeria is 99% Muslim; less than 1% of the population is Christian," she said. "So for many years, Christians and Muslims have been living side by side. Muslims have been hearing the Gospel and steadily converting to Christianity."

"As of 2017, there were 50 thriving Protestant evangelical churches operating across the country, and these churches were growing, and the government took note of this," she said.

"To combat what it perceived as an increasing threat," the government "started enforcing an old 2006 ordinance that required the association of Protestant churches to be licensed," she said. "These associations tried numerous times to apply for a license, but the government has refused to this day to acknowledge these applications or to grant the licenses."

"So they have shut down, over the course of the last nine to 10 years, almost 50 churches across the country," she said.

The government has claimed the closures were due to problems including safety permits and zoning laws, but Zorzi said "these claims are a mere pretext, and the government's actual motivation is to stop the spread of Christianity in Algeria."

In the nation, there has been "a long history of pretextual and manipulative tactics that have been used to keep the churches closed," she said.

"We've seen the government allege that some of the churches have building code violations, and after these alleged violations are remedied, the government still refuses to reopen the churches," she said.

The government also has asked "the Evangelical Association to meet to discuss the license, and when the invitation for these meetings arrives, it's often for a date that has already passed," she said.

Pope Leo's visit to Algeria

The pope met with the president of Algeria on April 13, "and we are hearing he did raise the issue of the Protestant church closures as well as the criminal charges that are being brought against pastors," she said.

Pope Leo also said Mass where the archbishop of Algiers "pointed out that the Christian community in Algeria is comprised of several denominations" and he "specified that several Protestant church leaders were present at the Mass," she said.

"The pope visited the eastern portion of the country, which is where St. Augustine lived, and planted an olive tree as a symbol of peace," she said. "The Protestant community's general sense of the pope's visit has been highly positive."

"They're very encouraged and they're hoping that this might be the thing that leads to change," she said.

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ANNABA, Algeria — Pope Leo XIV met privately Tuesday with fellow members of the Augustinian order, sharing lunch with the local community in what the order described as a "beautiful and pleasant" fraternal encounter.

A statement from the Order of St. Augustine said the meeting reflected the joy of brothers dwelling together in unity.

"After visiting the ruins of Hippo and the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Pope arrives in Annaba as a brother among brothers," the statement said. "Here he meets the Augustinian friars who care for the Basilica of St. Augustine, sharing with them one common heart rooted in the spirit of St. Augustine of Hippo."

The gathering was marked by a shared meal, smiles, and fraternity, according to the statement.

Also present with the pontiff were Father Joseph Farrell, prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, and Father Martin Davakan, OSA, vicar general.

The statement highlighted the international character of the Augustinian community in Annaba, saying it reflects unity amid the diversity of nations.

"The community of Annaba (Hippo) itself reflects this diversity, with the presence of Father Dominic Juma Habakuk from South Sudan, Father Shailong Leviticus Longzem from Nigeria, and the rector, Father Frederick Wekesa from Kenya," the statement said. "They are brothers, coming from different lands, but united in heart and soul."

Father Augustine Ugbomah, who serves in the Pontifical Sacristy, was also present.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News' Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The traveling "People of Hope Museum" by Catholic Charities USA is sharing the transformative power of Christian service in a sprawling tour across the country.

Catholic Charities announced the 2026-2027 tour in April 2025 after it received a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment as part of its Christian Storytelling Initiative.

When considering what stories the charitable organization would like to tell, Catholic Charities USA Vice President for Communications Kevin Brennan told "EWTN News Nightly" on April 10: "Ultimately, it was the story of the people, the men and women of the Catholic Charities network, staff, and volunteers, and the profound and merciful service work that they perform day in and day out."

The purpose, he said, is "to tell the story through their perspective, which is a bit of a change from how we would normally do it, and to show the rest of us around the country the profound impact this service has not only on the one being served but on the person doing the service."

The exhibit, housed in a retrofitted tractor-trailer, contains 42 stories from Catholic Charities staff serving around the country, each "telling the story of the one person or one family whom they have served through their work who had the most profound impact on them," Brennan said.

"The stories call the rest of us who experience the museum to act in kind, to find ways in ways big and small, to help our neighbors and to serve as the Gospel calls us to," he said.

The museum also has a "poverty simulator," according to Brennan, where participants take on the persona of someone "living on the margins" and "experience the types of decisions they make."

The experience, Brennan said, helps participants to grow in "understanding and empathy" for those living in poverty.

In addition, the museum has an interactive data wall on poverty and other challenges facing Americans across the country as well as a learning library and recording booth to record reactions to the museum "and talk about those who give you hope in your life."

The museum will travel through 21 states, from Texas to Ohio and from Maine to Florida, mostly in the eastern half of the United States, by December.

"We're going to be all over the country for the next two and a half years," Brennan said, noting the schedule for 2026 is available to view while dates for 2027 will be announced soon.

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Border czar Tom Homan said Roman Catholic Church leaders should "stay out of politics" when questioned about President Donald Trump criticizing Pope Leo XIV.

"I love the Catholic Church. I just wish they'd stick to fixing the Church, because there's issues. I know because I'm a member. And stay out of politics,
Homan said.

Homan, a Catholic, commented after Trump initiated a direct, personal denunciation of Pope Leo, escalated it publicly, and doubled down in media appearances. Pope Leo responded briefly and calmly, declining to engage in debate and reframing his remarks as moral teaching rather than rebuttal.

Trump had called the pontiff "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy."

Homan said he wished Church leaders would sit down with him to understand his experiences as border czar.

"Maybe they'd understand why a secure border saves lives. A secure border's the most humane thing this country can do," Homan said.

More Catholic bishops respond

Several American Catholic bishops have responded to Trump's criticism, defending Pope Leo XIV.

Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez defended Leo's role in preaching "the Gospel of peace."

"Pope Leo XIV has consistently spoken with clarity and compassion with calls for peaceful resolutions to complex challenges in a manner that upholds the sanctity and dignity of all human life as our world continues to be afflicted with division, conflict, and suffering," he said. "Both the pope and his message deserve respect and admiration."

Earlier, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, called Trump's comments "disrespectful" and urged the president to apologize. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops president Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City said he was "disheartened" by the comments.

Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso of Mobile, Alabama, said in a statement posted to social media that he echoes the views Coakley expressed and added that he affirms the pope's role "as a spiritual leader who speaks from the Gospel and for the care of souls."

"I encourage all the faithful to be one with the Holy Father in praying for and witnessing to the Gospel of Christ's peace and care for all peoples," he said. "I ask for all to pray for our president and all in public office to work for a greater peace and justice in our world."

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The U.S. Helsinki Commission examined how the Holy See conducts diplomacy amid growing global polarization and wars on the same day President Donald Trump denounced Pope Leo XIV.

In response to Trump's social media post Monday calling Leo "terrible for foreign policy" and claiming responsibility for his election to the papacy, Alexander John Paul Lutz, a policy fellow at the Helsinki Commission, said during the April 13 hearing that Leo's message, and the Holy See's, is unique from other world powers.

"To all of this, the force, the bellicosity, the transactionalism, the insistence that every actor on the world stage must really be angling for or towards something political, Pope Leo responded with a different vision," Lutz said.

Citing Leo's address to the diplomatic corps in January, Lutz emphasized that unlike other global powers, Leo's message asserts that "the protection of the principle of the inviolability of human dignity and the sanctity of life always counts for more than any mere national interest."

"These are the grounds on which the Holy See conducts its diplomacy," Lutz said, noting the Vatican engages all parties, but "never fully endorses any state's political platform." Rather, he said, the Holy See "will subject every policy it encounters, including those of the United States, to an intellectual and moral rigor that is likely to improve it," and "insists on speaking the truth for the record, even when doing so may lead to misunderstanding and scorn."

"What is clear is that no other state on earth is even attempting to do what the Holy See is trying to do, to address the world as it is while insisting that it answer to something higher than power," Lutz said.

Victor Gaetan, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, echoed Lutz during his testimony and gave context for the Holy See's diplomatic approach.

"The Vatican has bilateral relations with 184 nations and operates 124 nunciatures or embassies around the world," Gaetan said. "The pope's right-hand man is the secretary of state, who is typically a diplomat, a priest diplomat. Because the diplomats are priests who take vows of silence regarding what they know, they often approach tasks as pastors, which helps explain why Vatican diplomats are notoriously discreet and why they are willing to meet even with dictators. No one is beyond salvation."

Gaetan explained that Vatican diplomacy has four dimensions: representation, mediation, preservation, and evangelization. He emphasized mediation as "the most important element in Vatican diplomacy," highlighting several instances of the Holy See's success in resolving conflicts between nations.

He also noted Leo's outspoken advocacy for peace is grounded in "the priorities and pragmatism of his predecessors," including Pope John Paul II, whom Leo echoed in his recent vigil for piece, saying: "Enough of war!"

"The pope's critique of war in Iran and bombing in Lebanon should not be understood as a political," Gaetan said. "Rather, it is a theological position grounded in what is called 'just war theory,' developed by none other than St. Augustine in the early fifth century and studied in all United States military academies."

For a war to be justified, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it must be waged to fight against a grave evil, the damage caused by waging the war cannot be graver than the evil it is meant to eliminate, there must be a serious prospect of success, and all alternatives to war must have already been tried.

Other panelists at the briefing included Peter G. Martin, a former U.S. diplomat at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, and Jackie Aldrette, executive director of AVSI USA, a humanitarian aid organization that has projects in 41 countries.

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The Archdiocese of Dubuque is halting weekend Masses at more than 80 parishes across northeastern Iowa this summer as part of a reorganization plan.

The reorganization, which began in September 2024 in response to declining numbers of priests and churchgoers, is now in its third and final phase. The archdiocese will be organized into 24 "pastorates," or groups of parishes that work closely together and share resources and ministries. Merged parishes will not yet be closed and may still be used for liturgical celebrations such as funerals, weddings, and weekday Masses.

The archdiocese, in which there are about 182,000 Catholics, has only one priest for every two parishes. The reorganization plan is designed to prevent burnout among the 85 priests actively serving in the archdiocese, a number that is expected to continue to decline.

Many dioceses across the United States have taken similar steps to reorganize parishes in recent years, including the archdioceses of St. Louis, Detroit, and Seattle.

'Stepping forward in courageous honesty'

Archbishop Thomas Zinkula said the new plan was based on "extensive data" from every parish, according to a statement shared with EWTN News.

Mass attendance is down by almost half as of 2006, according to the archdiocese's numbers. Catholic marriages are down more than 50% over the same time period, while infant baptisms are down by 22%.

"Like many dioceses across the country, we are facing sobering realities," the archbishop said. "The number of faithful attending Mass has declined by 46% in 20 years and the number of priests available for ministry has been decreasing."

"Demographic realities, the decline in the number of priests and religious, and the need for priests to serve more than one parish aren't signs of failure. They are signs of change," Zinkula said. "And change in the life of the Church has always called the faithful to deeper trust."

According to the pastorate website, when parishes merge, the assets will transfer to the new parish where the affected parishioners are assigned.

"I envision us not as separate parts, but as one body — stepping forward in courageous honesty," the archbishop said.

'In a state of shock'

Zinkula described the archdiocese as "a vast and diverse Church."

"Our priests and parish communities serve both rural towns and large cities — each with its own history and traditions, yet all united in the one mission of Christ," he said.

One of the Catholic parishes that will no longer hold weekend Masses come summer is Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Founded in 1958, Immaculate Conception was the first Catholic parish in the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Father Aaron Junge, pastor of Immaculate Conception, told EWTN News: "I am choosing to focus on being with my people in their grief."

"My people are still in a state of shock, as well as grief, but I have also seen signs of hope and a willingness to consider what new realities God may be inviting us to," Junge said.

"This weekend, we heard about Jesus meeting the grief and doubt of St. Thomas with access to his wounds, and so it is to those wounds that I am doing my best to point my people with their own," he said.

Junge said he hopes parishioners in the merger can bring Christ to the downtown area of the city of Cedar Rapids.

"Ultimately, my hope for the future is that the people of Immaculate Conception will join with the other people of our new pastorate to form a community that is greater than the sum of its constitutive parts and be focused on the worship of Our Lord in the sacraments and witnessing to him," Junge concluded.

Continuing the Gospel mission

Zinkula acknowledged the difficulty of the coming changes while urging parishioners to think of this as a continuation of the Gospel mission.

"Our mission calls us to look beyond what is comfortable and familiar and ask how we can best proclaim the Gospel in the years ahead," Zinkula said.

"Every parish church is a place where Christ is made present in the Eucharist. A place filled with memories — baptisms, weddings, funerals, and generations of family faith," he said. "Every Catholic school has sent forth generations of graduates formed in the faith."

"The sacrifice of those who built these institutions — the immigrant families who gave from what little they had to lay a cornerstone, the priests who served faithfully in small rural parishes, the sisters who formed generations in the classroom — isn't diminished when a building is used infrequently or not at all," Zinkula continued. "Their sacrifice lives on in the mission we now carry forward."

The archbishop urged parishioners to remain united throughout the change.

"There are voices and concerns that risk dividing us, particularly around Sunday Mass in some communities," he said. "Even so, I am confident that, as we remain united in the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Eucharist — wherever we gather for worship — the Lord will bring this process to a good and grace-filled outcome."

"And so I ask you to continue walking this journey with me — and with one another — with courage and trust," Zinkula continued. "May we be worthy of the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, by carrying it forward, together, in faith and in mission."

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THRISSUR, India — People from all walks of life paid tribute to Father Francis Alappatt, the priest-physician who galvanized public support for medical service to the poor, at a memorial gathering in Thrissur in the southern Indian state of Kerala on April 13.

"It was Father Francis who recommended that all the charitable and welfare programs of the archdiocese be named under 'Sathwanam' (Compassion). His aim was to provide the best treatment with the least expense, and he worked hard for that," said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur, inaugurating the memorial at the Jubilee Mission Medical College (JMMC) that Alappatt established at the archdiocesan hospital in the heart of Thrissur.

Alappatt, who died of complications from diabetes at the age of 72 on April 8, was a singular figure in the Catholic Church in India: He was ordained in 1995 at the age of 41 after joining the seminary to fulfill a childhood dream, having already earned a medical degree from Kozhikode Medical College.

'Half priest'

"Even when he was a medical student, he was called 'padi achan' (half priest) for his lifestyle, and I was also touched by him," recounted Dr. Susheela Jacob, who was a professor at Kozhikode Medical College when Alappatt was a medical student in the 1980s, during the memorial.

"Scenes of trade in blood around the hospital prompted him to launch a blood donation campaign with batchmates [classmates], and he founded the Kerala Blood Donors Forum as a medical student," Jacob recalled.

"I was regularly in touch with him, and when he started the medical college, he invited me, and I gladly joined in 2005," said Jacob, a pathologist who is presently lab director at the JMMC Hospital. She spoke to EWTN News on April 14.

After his ordination, Alappatt transformed even remote parishes into centers of blood donation awareness and paved the way for the Kerala state government to record the blood group of each student in school certificates.

As director of Jubilee Mission Hospital, he expanded it into a medical college — approved by the central government — in 2004 and doubled the hospital's beds to more than 1,500, making it one of the largest hospitals in Kerala. The facility is known for subsidized treatment for the poor and free medicines for snakebite victims.

Interreligious tributes

"Father Alappatt had a special doctorate in human relations. He knew how to move people," said K. Rajan, a Hindu and minister in the Kerala state government, at the memorial. "Whenever he invited me for a program, I could not decline."

"Father Francis was my classmate in school and surprised me [in the late] 1990s coming back to me as a priest. Then he turned my guru (teacher) in life," said T.S. Pattabhiraman, a leading Hindu businessman of Thrissur.

"He became a family friend and had a unique marketing strategy [to get financial support]. Whenever I went to invite him for a family marriage or other functions, he would seek support for his free dialysis, treatment for snakebite victims. Whenever he needed help, he would call me. I could never say 'no' to him," recalled Pattabhiraman, who is one of the trustees of the interreligious forum Alappatt founded to promote religious harmony.

Popular for his pioneering blood donation movement in Kerala — as well as his interreligious and health awareness programs, in addition to his role as founding director of the Catholic medical college — Alappatt was named chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society.

"In honor of Father Alappatt's compassion for those affected by kidney disease, I am happy to announce today that Jubilee Mission has decided to set up a renal transplant center, and it will be called the Father Francis Alappatt Memorial Renal Transplant Centre," announced Auxiliary Bishop Tony Neelankavil at the memorial, evoking thunderous applause.

Free dialysis and parish support

"Father Alappatt introduced and motivated parishes and families to support free dialysis as part of parish feasts and family celebrations like marriage or baptism. We got support for more than 12,000 free dialysis [treatments] in 2025," Father Reny Mundankurian, the JMMC Hospital director, told EWTN News.

After leaving Jubilee Hospital in 2010, Alappatt served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Thrissur and also helped improve smaller diocesan hospitals and health care initiatives in the archdiocese.

A prolific writer, he authored 50 books on health, social harmony, the environment, and human relations. A dozen of these were written after he became seriously ill, restricting his movement.

'He showed God to the world'

"Father Alappatt showed God to the world through his loving service," said Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in his homily during the April 10 funeral service at the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours parish in the heart of Thrissur.

"He never worked in mission centers, but he showed with his life how life can be turned into missionary work," said Thattil about his fellow parishioner, as both of them hail from the Dolours Basilica parish, which is celebrating its centenary year.

True to his commitment to health care, Alappatt donated his eyes, and after the funeral service — attended by half a dozen bishops — his body was not taken to the cemetery but placed in the JMMC mobile ambulance to be transported to the hospital's anatomy department.

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