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Vatican City, Mar 17, 2025 / 21:00 pm (CNA).

A group of tango enthusiasts, the emblematic dance of Pope Francis' homeland, gathered in the plaza in front of Gemelli Hospital on Sunday to express their support and closeness to the Holy Father through dance.

The melody of the bandoneon, the leading instrument in tango, resonated all the way to the 10th floor of the hospital, where the pope has been hospitalized for over a month. The initiative, dubbed "prayer tango," was a show of solidarity from Italy's "tango community."

Argentine dancer Daiana Guspero was responsible for promoting the event. In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Guspero shared the details of the moving gesture, performed March 16 in front of the statue of St. John Paul II, where many faithful have gathered to pray for Pope Francis.

"I am a true believer and I was sure that with our energy, dancing the tango and praying for him, it would reach him in some way. It was the least I could do for him, and I felt the need to do it, especially knowing that he loves tango, that he danced it when he was young, and that he listened to it at the Vatican," the Argentine dancer explained.

According to the dancer, fans from different parts of Italy, such as Catania and Sicily, came to the gathering. "I danced with Massimiliano Varrese, an Italian actor with whom I'm also studying. He's also a believer, and he immediately joined in to convey all our love to the pope," Guspero added.

Although the initial idea was "a silent dance," Mariano Navone, a dancer and musician who played the bandoneon live, eventually joined in. "Seeing that the pope was feeling better, we thought maybe he could come over to the window when he heard it. But, if I'm not mistaken, he was informed that we were dancing and praying for him," he said.

Guspero has been promoting tango in Italy for 13 years and currently has three academies, the Zotto Tango Academy, located in Milan, Venice, and Verona.

She fondly remembers when she was able to greet Pope Francis during an audience at the Vatican in 2018. "I had the honor and privilege of dancing for him, and the truth is [I experienced] a beautiful emotion that I will never forget," she told ACI Prensa.

"I remember coming up to him and saying, 'Holy Father, how I would like to give you a tango hug!' To which he replied, 'And how I would like to dance the tango with you,'" Guspero recalled with a laugh, stating that the brief exchange was "one of the greatest thrills" of her life. 

In addition, back in 2014 nearly 3,000 dancers congratulated Pope Francis on his 78th birthday with a massive tango performance in St. Peter's Square.

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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Lima Newsroom, Mar 17, 2025 / 15:25 pm (CNA).

The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his "co-president" and wife, Rosario Murillo, in Nicaragua continues to persecute the Catholic Church and other Christian communities. The regime is now keeping Catholic priests under surveillance, checking their cellphones, and demanding weekly reports on their activities in addition to restricting their freedom of movement.

The Nicaraguan newspaper Mosaico CSI reported that "for the priests who remain in Nicaragua, homilies must be entirely theological. They cannot speak on topics related to the Church's social doctrine or social criticism."

According to the news outlet, priests "receive frequent visits from police officers who check their cellphones to see if they are communicating with bishops and priests outside the country or with journalists."

222 violations of religious freedom

Earlier this month, the international Christian organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) published a report describing the dictatorship's measures against religious leaders, including the requirement to submit weekly reports to the police, share details of their planning, and prohibit them from leaving their municipality without government authorization.

The CSW report also denounced the ban on religious processions and marches as well as "overt and covert government surveillance."

The international organization warned that "preaching about unity or justice or praying for imprisoned religious leaders or even for the general situation in the country, for example, can be considered criticism of the government and classified as a crime."

The document reports 222 violations of religious freedom during the period of Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2024, in addition to 46 cases of arbitrary detentions of religious leaders, such as Catholic laywomen Carmen María Sáenz Martínez and Lesbia del Socorro Gutiérrez Poveda, who "have been held incommunicado without their families having been provided with any proof that they are alive."

Evangelical pastor imprisoned

CSW also referred to the case of evangelical pastor Efrén Antonio Vílchez López, who worked with more than 100 Christian churches and was beaten and imprisoned in 2022 for publicly criticizing the dictatorship's violence.

Now incarcerated, he is not allowed any books, let alone a Bible, and "since August 2024, he has only been provided with a small container of water per day. He has been deprived of natural light and fresh air, as he is rarely allowed out into the prison yard." Furthermore, he is not given the food and medicine people bring to him at the prison.

Infiltration and informants

The CSW report also noted that Protestants and Catholics "frequently reported infiltration and the use of informants in congregations of all types to monitor and report on the content of sermons, prayers, and other activities, which indicates that the government views religious or faith communities with increasing suspicion and actively and systematically keeps them under surveillance."

Police have also demanded that some topics — such as political prisoners, Israel, and the general situation in Nicaragua — not be mentioned in public as well as that the blue-and-white color combination of the national flag not be used.

13-year-old girl questioned on the way to church

Mosaico CSI reported in January on the case of "Angélica" — a fictitious name to ensure the 13-year-old's safety — who was questioned by police on her way to church in northern Nicaragua.

A police officer saw her on the street and asked her several questions, such as why she was going to church "so much." The girl replied "I'm just going to Mass!" and they let her continue on her way.

"Nothing went any further, and they haven't bothered her again, but yes, the police continue to monitor all types of activity in the churches, intimidating everyone, even children," said "Rosa," a catechist who learned about what happened to Angélica.

CSW calls on dictatorship to reverse course

The CSW report said the Nicaraguan dictatorship needs to uphold human rights by releasing imprisoned religious leaders and political prisoners and restore Nicaraguan citizenship to all those whose citizenship was arbitrarily revoked.

It also calls on the government to restore the legal personhood of the more than 5,000 "civil society organizations that have been arbitrarily outlawed" and to unfreeze the bank accounts of universities, nongovernmental organizations, and religious groups throughout the country.

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 Staff, Mar 17, 2025 / 16:10 pm (CNA).

Police have arrested a 23-year-old man suspected of heavily vandalizing and defacing the interior of a Catholic parish in Wichita, Kansas, over the weekend. 

According to the Wichita Police Department, officers responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Parish on the morning of March 15. Once inside, the officers discovered extensive vandalism including damage to statues, candles, and glass, and hate speech graffitied on the walls. In addition, an American flag was burned.

St. Patrick's, which includes a parish school, is located in north-central Wichita and predominantly serves the Latino community. Authorities said that Wichita Police Department investigators launched a full-scale investigation alongside the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). 

At approximately 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, officers located and arrested the suspected perpetrator, whom they described as being from Saline County, about 100 miles north of Wichita. The man, who has not been publicly identified, has been booked into the Sedgwick County jail on charges of burglary, criminal desecration, and criminal damage to property. 

The Kansas Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops, posted photos on social media of the "hate crime scene." One of the destroyed statues appeared to be an image of the parish's patron, St. Patrick. 

"After forcing their way inside, statues were destroyed, glass smashed, and other extensive damage exacted upon this sacred space," the conference wrote. "A Satanic website was scrawled on a wall. This is the face of evil." 

Despite having to move Masses to the school gym over the weekend, the parish was still able to hold its St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday to honor its namesake saint. 

CNA reached out to the Diocese of Wichita for comment but did not hear back by publication time. 

The St. Patrick's vandalism comes amid considerable controversy in Kansas over a Satanist-organized "black mass" — a blasphemous mockery of the Catholic Mass — slated to take place March 28 at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka. A Catholic-led petition asking Gov. Laura Kelly to shut down the event has attracted nearly 40,000 signatures.

Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, told CNA on Monday that there is presently no evidence that the vandalism incident in Wichita is in any way connected to the Satanic worship ritual planned for March 28. An address for a Satanic website was left behind at St. Patrick's, but it does not refer to the same group planning to come to Topeka, he said.

Weber previously told CNA that the organizer of the group planning the "black mass," Michael Stewart, has been telephoning the Catholic Conference for the purpose of "taunting me and the bishops," even texting Weber personally to harass him and boast of his intention to "kill Jesus."

Stewart gave an interview to local news last week in which he described the "mass" as an act of protest against authority and said the group plans to hold its ritual inside the capitol building despite Kelly decreeing they must remain outdoors. He also said the group plans to blasphemously parody the Stations of the Cross.

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Belfast, Northern Ireland, Mar 17, 2025 / 13:40 pm (CNA).

Inspired by St. Patrick's "Confessions," in which the patron of Ireland states "I arose as many as 100 times at night to pray," a group of Christians gathered at dawn on March 17 around St. Patrick's grave in Downpatrick, County Down, in Ireland to pray the Our Father 100 times for peace and unity.

It was the third year in a row that friends and strangers from all walks of life joined together in prayer to honor St. Patrick's legacy.

Event organizer Siobhán Brennan told CNA that parts of the Lorica of St. Patrick — a prayer also known as St. Patrick's Breastplate — were recited in chorus between each set of 10 Our Fathers. 

"The words of the Lorica are ancient and St. Patrick's own; they serve as a strong and powerful protection against evil, a protection which is greatly needed today," Brennan said. "Jesus promises us in Matthew 18:20 for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. The Lord and his holy presence among this group of dedicated Christians is indeed palpable."

The offering of 100 Our Fathers formed the backbone of this prayer initiative, but the inclusion of Scripture, hymns, and the lorica gave it a distinctive Celtic flavor. 

"This is our way of paying fitting tribute to the great St. Patrick, to all the Irish missionaries, and to all the faithful throughout the world who form part of his Patrician legacy on this feast day," Brennan said.

"Standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers, in the darkness of a crisp, early, Irish spring morning while reverently repeating the Lord's Prayer in harmony with nature is a profoundly moving, spiritual experience," she added.

It has also become a tradition during this event to sing "Light the Fire: St. Patrick's Song" by Irish singer Dana at the beginning of the prayer gathering. 

The morning prayers were held against the backdrop of Down Cathedral overlooking St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. The organizers said they hope other groups from across the world will join in this simple offering of prayer in the future.

"We have been joined spiritually from other parts of Ireland and Albuquerque in New Mexico," Brennan said. "It is inspiring; our hearts are filled with new hope and the possibility that, someday soon, we will all be fully united in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

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ACI Africa, Mar 17, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

Tension is brewing in Ethiopia's northernmost territory, the Tigray region, a source has told ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, confirming media reports that "experts" from the Horn of Africa nation are warning of a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"We have not yet received any official confirmation from Church leaders, but we have heard reports that the situation is unstable," the source said on March 15.

As an indication of the growing tension in Tigray, the source said "flights have been cancelled."

According to Reuters, there is "fresh instability" in Ethiopia's northernmost region, where a two-year civil war that ended with a November 2022 peace deal resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

In a Reuters report on March 13, Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae, a vice president in the interim administration in the Tigray region, is quoted as telling the Africa-focused magazine The Africa Report that "at any moment, war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out." 

Fears of renewed violence are linked to the split in the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) — the party that fought against Ethiopia's federal army during the two-year war and runs Tigray's postwar interim administration.

During the war, Eritrean forces crossed the border into the Tigray region and fought in support of Ethiopia's federal army against TPLF forces. 

According to Reuters: "The peace deal signed in November 2022 drove a wedge between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which was not party to the negotiations."

"Fears of a new conflict are linked to the TPLF's split last year into a faction that now administers Tigray with the blessing of Ethiopia's federal government and another that opposes it," Reuters' March 13 report said. 

According to the same report, on March 11 a TPLF-dissident faction captured Adigrat, a northern Ethiopian town close to the border of Eritrea, accusing the leadership of Tigray of "selling out Tigrayan interests, while the interim administration accuses the dissidents of collaborating with Eritrea."

The seizing of Adigrat follows the capture of "key offices and a radio station in the regional capital, Mekelle," according to a March 14 BBC News report.

In a March 12 Reuters report, the head of Tigray's interim administration, Getachew Reda, is quoted as asking Ethiopian government support against the dissidents, who have since denied ties to Eritrea.

"There is clear antagonism between Ethiopia and Eritrea," Reda is quoted as telling journalists on March 10, adding that "what concerns me is that the Tigray people may once again become victims of a war they don't believe in."

"We have reason to believe external actors are involved," Reda said, adding his accusation that Eritrea was among those who think "they would benefit from turmoil in Tigray."

In its March 14 report, Reuters warned that "a conflict would signal the death blow to a historic rapprochement for which Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and risk creating another humanitarian disaster in the troubled Horn of Africa region."

Renewed violence in Ethiopia's Tigray region would "likely create another crisis in a region where aid cuts have complicated efforts to assist millions affected by internal conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia," according to the March 13 Reuters report. 

On March 16, Modern Diplomacy reported that "a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea would ignite a regional firestorm, further destabilizing an already volatile landscape" considering the civil wars in Sudan and South Sudan.

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Families whose children have disabilities and Catholics with disabilities were welcomed by the Diocese of Arlington March 15 to the fourth annual "From Inclusion to Belonging Conference" which focused on plans for the future as those with disabilities prepare for adult life out of high school.

"The Lord, for us, is one who will always be there to strengthen us, to heal us, and to help us," Bishop Michael Burbidge said in his opening remarks at the conference, held at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

With more than 200 people in attendance, the diocesan conference featured an array of talks, in English and Spanish, about resources for children with intellectual, emotional, and physical disabilities. These included tips for life skills, faith formation, education, and employment, which were presented to parents, teachers, priests, and others.

The conference also provided talks for teenagers with disabilities, designed to help guide them on how to advocate for themselves. Those participants were brought to vendors who offered resources to connect them with opportunities.

"We are called to live the Gospel of life," Burbidge told CNA after giving his remarks. "In fact, it is a mandate to protect, to revere, to celebrate, to cherish, and to welcome all human life. …There are no exceptions."

Nearly 20 diocesan schools educate students with disabilities, including all four high schools. A few of the schools also have specialized programs for children who have disabilities.

Diane Elliott, an assistant superintendent for Arlington Diocese Catholic Schools, told CNA that it is important for Catholic schools to have the mindset that "we're going to serve all God's children."

She said it's "not only about the kids with disabilities," but it's also important for other children to learn "how to accept individual differences" and avoid stigmatizing people.

Elliott added, "the majority of what we do, it doesn't cost any money for inclusion," and spoke about the sensory Masses offered by the diocese. Those Masses are designed for people with sensory processing issues, and usually include dimmed lights, no organ music, and homilies that are very concise. Some people who benefit from those Masses include people with autism, downs syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease.

For efforts that do require financial resources, Burbidge told CNA that the inclusion of those with disabilities should still always be a priority, and that when resources are limited, priorities "must be reflected in how you use those resources."

Guadalupe Williamson, whose 14-year-old son Patrick has an intellectual disability caused by a malformation in the brain, told CNA she sends him to Saint Anthony of Padua School in Falls Church because she wanted all of her children to attend the same Catholic school.

Williamson said the inclusion efforts ensure Patrick has a "learning environment that also matches our values as a family — our Catholic values." She said he is also an altar server, and "just absolutely loves everything that the Church has to offer."

Roxanne Miller, a mother of 10 who lives in Huntley, sends her 18-year-old daughter Megan to St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly. She said her daughter, who has down syndrome, is "part of the fabric of the school" and referred to the inclusion efforts as "second to none." 

Miller told CNA she attended the conference while she is helping her daughter plan for her future with employment opportunities and possibly advocacy. She said Megan is in the high school's post-graduate transitional program for those with intellectual disabilities, which is helping them connect her with future opportunities.

Faith formation for those with special needs

The Diocese of Arlington also operates a Special Religious Development (SPRED) Program, which helps those with disabilities develop a faith community and have "access to prepare for and receive the sacraments," Burbidge told CNA.

"That's been a great work in our diocese," the bishop said.

Nancy Emanuel, the coordinator for Special Needs Ministries in the diocese, told CNA that the program provides special religious development designed for those "who don't fit into the typical religious education programs."

Emmanuel said about 150 adults and children participate in the program, which divides those who are enrolled by age. The program is inclusive of those with physical and mental disabilities, which includes people with autism and down syndrome.

For some Catholics with disabilities, Emmanuel said that accessing the sacraments can at times be "overwhelming" for them. She said the program uses a lot of visual and tactile learning. For a person's First Communion or for Confirmation, she said the instructors will practice those rituals with those children or adults to "make it so that it's a friendly experience." 

Charleen Katra, who serves on the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, gave a talk on the importance of ensuring Catholics with disabilities have access to the sacraments and the ways in which dioceses can accommodate their needs.

She said that dioceses must "meet the real needs" of each person. She noted that catechesis for a person affected by serious intellectual disabilities can sometimes be as simple as ensuring the person knows that the Eucharist is the literal Body and Blood of Christ before communion and ensuring the person knows he or she is receiving the Holy Spirit prior to confirmation.

"If there's anybody missing in the Body of Christ, we know it's not complete," Katra said.

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Vatican City, Mar 16, 2025 / 14:04 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis prays for victims of a nightclub fire which has left at least 59 people dead and an additional 155 people injured in the town of Kocani in North Macedonia. 

The Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin shared the Holy Father's condolences for fire victims and their families through a telegram addressed to the country's Bishop Kiro Stojanov of Skopje.  

"His Holiness assures remembrance in prayer for those who lost their lives, while invoking heavenly comfort for those who suffer the consequences of such a harsh trial," states the March 15 telegram. 

The Holy Father wanted the bishop of Skopje "to convey to the families of the dead, mostly young people, the expression of his deep condolence" along with "spiritual closeness to the wounded."  

The deadly blaze broke out early Sunday morning when indoor fireworks were lit during a concert by DNK, a local hip hop duo, at Pulse nightclub, according to Al Jazeera. 

North Macedonia's Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski told journalists more than 1,000 young people were at the music establishment when the ceiling caught on fire and "rapidly spread across the whole discotheque, creating thick smoke." 

Kristina Serafimovska, head of Kocani Hospital, said most fire victims being treated are aged between 14 to 25 years old, many of whom suffered burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

On X, North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Timco Mucunski said the country is coordinating with institutions and "neighbors to ensure additional medical support if needed" for the fire's victims. 

Pope Francis is the first pontiff to visit the majority Eastern Orthodox nation in 2019. His historic visit to Skopje — the birthplace of St. Teresa of Calcutta — included a meeting with Catholic communities as well as an ecumenical and interreligious meeting with young people.

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Lima Newsroom, Mar 16, 2025 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has released the first photo of Pope Francis since he entered the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14.

"This morning, Pope Francis concelebrated Holy Mass in the chapel of the tenth-floor apartment at the Gemelli Polyclinic," according to a statement from the Vatican Press Office.

In the photo, the Holy Father can be seen seated before the altar of the chapel where he concelebrated the Eucharist, in what is the first image of the Pontiff since he was admitted to the hospital, first suffering from bronchitis and then pneumonia.

The Vatican also reported that "the Pope's condition remains stable" and after concelebrating Sunday Mass, "he is continuing with the prescribed therapies" including respiratory and physical therapy.

Pope Francis did not receive any visitors Sunday, instead dedicating the day to "prayer, rest, and some work."

The Vatican Press Office further indicated that tomorrow, Monday, "there will also be no medical bulletin. The Press Office will provide some general information to journalists in the afternoon."

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Vatican City, Mar 16, 2025 / 15:31 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis.

Follow here for the latest news on his health and hospitalization:

First photo of Pope Francis since entering hospital

The Vatican has shared the first photo of Pope Francis since he entered the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14.

"This morning, Pope Francis concelebrated Holy Mass in the chapel of the tenth-floor apartment at the Gemelli Polyclinic," according to a statement from the Vatican Press Office.

In the photo, the Holy Father can be seen seated before the altar of the chapel where he concelebrated the Eucharist. The Vatican also reported that "the Pope's condition remains stable" and after concelebrating Sunday Mass, "he is continuing with the prescribed therapies", including respiratory and physical therapy.

Pope Francis did not receive any visitors Sunday, instead dedicating the day to "prayer, rest, and some work."

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Vatican City, Mar 16, 2025 / 09:43 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his gratitude for those who bring God's love into the world through their dedicated service to those who are sick.

"I would like to invite you, today, to join me in praising the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who reflect a ray of his love," the Holy Father shared in his prepared Sunday Angelus message.

In his message, the Holy Father particularly thanked his medical team and all people who, through their dedicated work, shine the light of God's infinite life in hospitals and places of care.

"How much loving care illuminates the rooms, the corridors, the clinics, the places where the humblest services are performed!" he said in his March 16 message.

While "showing further, gradual improvements," the Holy Father still requires hospital care, stated the latest Vatican health update. He was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14.

Conveying his special closeness with those who are sick and fragile, the 88-year-old pontiff said they, too, can be witnesses of God's love for others. 

"I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial," the Holy Father said. "Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope."

The pope also shared his gratitude to the many children who are praying for him and his health: "Thank you, dearest children! The pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you."

At the conclusion of his Angelus message, the Holy Father asked Catholics to pray for peace for countries "wounded by war," including Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"May the Virgin Mary keep you and help you to be, like her, bearers of Christ's light and peace," he said.

The pope also asked people to pray for the synodality assembly to take place in October 2028, which will mark the close of the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality.  

"Let us also pray for the Church, required to translate into concrete choices the discernment made in the recent synodal assembly," the pope said. 

"I thank the general secretariat of the synod, which over the coming three years will accompany the local Churches in this undertaking," he added.

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