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Immigrants at Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley humanitarian respite center in McAllen, Texas. / Credit: Vic Hinterlang/ShutterstockCNA Staff, Feb 19, 2025 / 11:50 am (CNA).Both Pope Francis and numerous American bishops in recent weeks have called for more generous U.S. immigration policies, urging leaders and advocates to support laws and regulations that allow immigrants in the United States to remain here whenever possible.In a Feb. 10 letter, Pope Francis urged the U.S. bishops to stay the course in their support for generous immigration policies and called on Catholics to consider the justness of immigration laws and policies in light of the dignity and rights of people.The letter, which was widely seen as a rebuke to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance's support for the mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants, argued that deporting people who "in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, per...

Immigrants at Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley humanitarian respite center in McAllen, Texas. / Credit: Vic Hinterlang/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Feb 19, 2025 / 11:50 am (CNA).

Both Pope Francis and numerous American bishops in recent weeks have called for more generous U.S. immigration policies, urging leaders and advocates to support laws and regulations that allow immigrants in the United States to remain here whenever possible.

In a Feb. 10 letter, Pope Francis urged the U.S. bishops to stay the course in their support for generous immigration policies and called on Catholics to consider the justness of immigration laws and policies in light of the dignity and rights of people.

The letter, which was widely seen as a rebuke to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance's support for the mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants, argued that deporting people who "in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution, or serious deterioration of the environment" places those same individuals "in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness."

"This is not a minor issue: An authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized," the pope said. 

Following the letter, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) thanked Pope Francis for his "prayerful support" and asked for the Holy Father to pray for the U.S. to improve its immigration system.

"Boldly I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all," the archbishop wrote to the pope.

In an interview on Sunday with the Good Newsroom, meanwhile, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, said the pope's letter was written in response to the "huge expulsions of people" taking place in the U.S.

"The pope heard the cry of the bishops and wanted to encourage them," the cardinal said. "The pope is on the side of the bishops and on the side of the poor."

'All goods are universally destined'

Pope Francis has long made care and concern of immigrants and refugees a major part of his papacy, regularly calling on wealthy nations to extend sanctuary and resources to those driven out from their homelands or migrants seeking a better life.

Trump, meanwhile, has run his presidential campaigns with a hard-line immigration enforcement message, vowing to expel millions of recent immigrants who entered the country illegally or with invalid asylum claims, as well as through parole programs started under the previous administration.

The pope in his letter "recognize[d] the right of a nation to defend itself and keep communities safe from those who have committed violent or serious crimes while in the country or prior to arrival." 

Yet he said that even "orderly and legal migration" should not supplant "the truth about the equal dignity of every human being."

The pope's remarks came amid a broader push among U.S. bishops for more favorable treatment of migrants. Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez wrote earlier this month that though nations have the "solemn duty" to control their borders, "border walls need doors, too."

The archbishop responded in part to remarks from Vance in which the vice president suggested that U.S. bishops speaking out in support of migrants were "worried about their bottom line" instead of humanitarian concerns. 

Gomez said the Catholic Church has been "a good partner" with the government in helping with immigration. 

The Church "did not break the nation's immigration system," he said, "but every day we deal with the human damage caused by that broken system," including migrants victimized by traffickers and those addicted by drugs that have crossed the southern border. 

"We all agree that we don't want undocumented immigrants who are known terrorists or violent criminals in our communities," the archbishop said. But "we still need to fix the broken system that allowed them to cross our borders in the first place."

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, similarly argued earlier this month that while the Catholic Church "does not have the authority or the responsibility to determine the legal status of those living in the United States," it nevertheless has "an obligation to care for every person with respect and love, no matter their citizenship status."

Praising the Trump administration for its commitment to deporting dangerous illegal immigrants, Naumann still argued that "the vast majority of those who entered our country illegally are not gang members, criminals, drug dealers, human traffickers, or terrorists posing a threat to our national security."

"If President Trump is able to shut down the border successfully, making illegal entry into our country virtually impossible, does it not make more sense to create a pathway for the undocumented to be able to earn legal status?" he argued. 

Advocacy has come from outside the U.S. as well. Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, earlier this month argued that immigrants are "a revelation of God's active presence in history."

Speaking to a group of theologians and pastors from the Americas on Feb. 7, the cardinal said Christians are "called to remember that all goods and resources are universally destined."

"National security was ideologized and weaponized against the poor throughout the Americas," he said. "For those of you who minister in the United States, I pray that your parishes and dioceses will be unafraid to walk with migrants."

Many advocates and Catholic leaders have raised alarms over the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance funds and grants, which the White House ordered last month in an effort to uproot left-wing initiatives in federally funded programs. 

The U.S. bishops this week sued the Trump administration over that measure, arguing that it violated federal law and would leave millions of refugees without critical aid. 

Other groups such as Catholic Charities have urged the Trump administration to reconsider the freeze, citing the "crucial care" the funding helps provide. 

Multiple U.S. bishops, including prelates from Virginia, Texas, Michigan, Maryland, North Carolina, and elsewhere have spoken out in favor of migrants in recent weeks, calling for an immigration system that enforces just laws while extending mercy to vulnerable populations. 

"We respect our borders and laws AND support immigration policy reforms and care for those who are already here, many already contributing members of our society for years. We do not see these ends as mutually exclusive," Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin and Raleigh Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama wrote. 

Earlier this month, meanwhile, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago told Vatican News he "deeply appreciate[d]" Pope Francis' "prophetic witness" in his letter to the U.S. bishops. 

"I am grateful for his encouragement of bishops who have criticized mass indiscriminate deportations and the criminalization of immigrants," the cardinal said, "as well as his challenge for all the bishops to walk together and defend the human dignity of the migrants in our country."

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A rainbow appears above the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized for tests and treatment for bronchitis in Rome on Feb. 18, 2025. / Credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty ImagesVatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).As Pope Francis continues to undergo complex medical treatment for bilateral pneumonia and a respiratory infection at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican on Wednesday released the Holy Father's prepared jubilee catechesis on "Jesus Christ our hope."Reflecting on the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus, recorded exclusively in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the 88-year-old pope encouraged Christians to follow in the footsteps of these wise "pilgrims of hope" who set out on a journey from their homelands in search of God."The Magi were considered to be representatives both of the primordial races, generated by the three sons of Noah, and of the three continents known in antiquity, Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as the thr...

A rainbow appears above the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized for tests and treatment for bronchitis in Rome on Feb. 18, 2025. / Credit: TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).

As Pope Francis continues to undergo complex medical treatment for bilateral pneumonia and a respiratory infection at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican on Wednesday released the Holy Father's prepared jubilee catechesis on "Jesus Christ our hope."

Reflecting on the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus, recorded exclusively in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the 88-year-old pope encouraged Christians to follow in the footsteps of these wise "pilgrims of hope" who set out on a journey from their homelands in search of God.

"The Magi were considered to be representatives both of the primordial races, generated by the three sons of Noah, and of the three continents known in antiquity, Asia, Africa, and Europe, as well as the three phases of human life: youth, maturity, and old age," the pope explained in his Feb. 19 catechesis.

"They are men who do not stay still but, like the great chosen ones of biblical history, feel the need to move, to go forth. They are men who are able to look beyond themselves, who know how to look upward," he said. 

Despite difficulties experienced in the journey of faith, the Holy Father said God speaks to people through "creation and the prophetic word."

"The sight of the star inspires an irrepressible joy in those men, because the Holy Spirit, who stirs the heart of whoever sincerely seeks God, also fills it with joy," he shared.

Through ancient Scripture, the Magi were able to identify the birthplace of the "newborn King of the Jews" and "become the first believers among the pagans" in Jesus Christ as the savior of the world.  

"They see 'a humble little body that the Word has assumed; but the glory of divinity is not hidden from them. They see an infant child; but they worship God,'" the pope said, referencing ancient author Chromatius of Aquileia.

In his prepared text, the pope added: "The Gospels therefore tell us clearly that the poor and the foreigners are among the first to meet the God made child."

The Holy Father concluded his written reflection on the Magi by asking people to offer the child Jesus "the most beautiful gifts" of our faith and love. 

"Let us learn to adore God in his smallness, in his kingship that does not crush but rather sets us free and enables us to serve with dignity," he said.

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Left: Banners at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAVatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 14:20 pm (CNA).Pope Francis' health condition has remained stable as he continues a stay in the hospital, though recent bloodwork showed a "slight improvement," the Vatican said on Wednesday afternoon.According to the Feb. 19 communication, medical staff found the pope's blood tests to show less inflammatory markers. They said his clinical condition is "stationary."The 88-year-old Francis, who has been receiving treatment for a polymicrobial respiratory infection at Gemelli Hospital since Friday, received an additional diagnosis of double pneumonia on Feb. 18.The Vatican said on Wednesday that Pope Francis had breakfast, read a few newspapers, and did some work with the help of his secretaries. Before lunch, the pontiff received the Eucharist, and in the afternoon he was visited by Italian President Giorgia Melo...

Left: Banners at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 14:20 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis' health condition has remained stable as he continues a stay in the hospital, though recent bloodwork showed a "slight improvement," the Vatican said on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Feb. 19 communication, medical staff found the pope's blood tests to show less inflammatory markers. They said his clinical condition is "stationary."

The 88-year-old Francis, who has been receiving treatment for a polymicrobial respiratory infection at Gemelli Hospital since Friday, received an additional diagnosis of double pneumonia on Feb. 18.

The Vatican said on Wednesday that Pope Francis had breakfast, read a few newspapers, and did some work with the help of his secretaries. Before lunch, the pontiff received the Eucharist, and in the afternoon he was visited by Italian President Giorgia Meloni for 20 minutes.

According to the president's office, Meloni wished the pope a quick recovery on behalf of the Italian government and the whole country.

The Italian president said she found Francis "alert and responsive."

"We joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor," Meloni added.

A Vatican source said Wednesday morning that Pope Francis does not need supplemental oxygen, that is heart is holding up well, and he is able to occasionally sit in an armchair.

The Vatican has said Francis is receiving cortisone antibiotic therapy to treat a "complex" medical situation, but he "is in good spirits" and asks for continued prayers.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks after being sworn in as Department of Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 19, 2025 / 14:50 pm (CNA).Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reiterated that he plans to investigate safety concerns related to the abortion pill mifepristone during an interview on Fox News last week.Kennedy, who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that President Donald Trump has directed him to study the drug. He also criticized the lack of reporting requirements for nonfatal injuries caused by taking the abortion pill."What [Trump has] asked me to do is study the … safety signals, and I think that that's worth doing," Kennedy said on "The Ingraham Angle" on Thursday.Kennedy also criticized the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for not r...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks after being sworn in as Department of Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 19, 2025 / 14:50 pm (CNA).

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reiterated that he plans to investigate safety concerns related to the abortion pill mifepristone during an interview on Fox News last week.

Kennedy, who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that President Donald Trump has directed him to study the drug. He also criticized the lack of reporting requirements for nonfatal injuries caused by taking the abortion pill.

"What [Trump has] asked me to do is study the … safety signals, and I think that that's worth doing," Kennedy said on "The Ingraham Angle" on Thursday.

Kennedy also criticized the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for not requiring doctors to report nonfatal adverse side effects caused by mifepristone, saying: "The NIH did something that was inexcusable — which is to tell doctors and patients not to report injuries." 

"That's not a good policy," Kennedy said.

This builds on Kennedy's promise during his confirmation hearings when he made the same vow when asked about the abortion pill by Republican Sen. Steve Daines from Montana. 

"I think it's immoral to have a policy where patients are not allowed to report adverse events, or doctors are discouraged from doing that," Kennedy said in late January. "President Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone. He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does [take a position], I will implement those policies."

As HHS secretary, Kennedy oversees the NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Under current FDA rules, mifepristone is approved to facilitate a chemical abortion up to 10 weeks into pregnancy, at which point the unborn child will have a fetal heartbeat, early brain activity, and partially developed eyes, ears, lips, and nostrils. The drug works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which cuts off the unborn child's supply of oxygen and nutrients.

A second pill, misoprostol, is taken between 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone to expel the body from the mother, essentially inducing labor.

Mifepristone was approved in 2000 but subsequently deregulated to allow doctors to prescribe the drug without any in-person doctor visits and to dispense the drug through the mail.

The FDA's approval of the drug and the deregulation were the subjects of an unsuccessful lawsuit filed by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine in 2022, which challenged the legality of the approval process. The United States Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in June 2024.

Regulating or restricting the abortion pill has become an important cause for pro-life activists, as the drug now accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. Many pro-life organizations have expressed their intent to try to work with Kennedy on abortion regulations. 

"We congratulate Mr. Kennedy on his confirmation to this critical position and pledge to work with him to help implement transformative policies that protect innocent children in the womb and strengthen support for vulnerable women everywhere," Human Coalition National Director of Public Policy Chelsey Youman said in a statement after Kennedy's confirmation. 

"Our public policies can help provide them with this transformative assistance, whether it's through protecting them from abortion pills, connecting them to life-affirming alternatives to abortion, or improving maternal and infant care," Youman said.

Although increased regulatory oversight may be on the table, an all-out ban is unlikely. During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to keep the abortion pill available. Kennedy has long supported legal access to abortion.

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David (Michael Iskander) in Season 1 of "House of David." / Credit: Jonathan Prime/PrimeCNA Staff, Feb 19, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A new series telling the story of King David, one of the best-known kings of Israel, will be released on Prime Video on Feb. 27. "House of David" depicts David's rise from shepherd boy to king after King Saul falls victim to his own pride and the prophet Samuel has no choice but to anoint a new king. The new historical drama series was created by Jon Erwin, known for films like "Jesus Revolution," "I Still Believe," and "I Can Only Imagine." He also served as a writer and director alongside Jon Gunn, who directed "The Case for Christ" and "Ordinary Angels." "House of David" is Erwin's latest project produced by his independent studio, The Wonder Project, which caters to faith-based and values-oriented audiences.David (Michael Iskander) in the first season of "House of David." Credit: Jonathan Prime/Prime"'House of David,' for me, began when I was...

David (Michael Iskander) in Season 1 of "House of David." / Credit: Jonathan Prime/Prime

CNA Staff, Feb 19, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A new series telling the story of King David, one of the best-known kings of Israel, will be released on Prime Video on Feb. 27. "House of David" depicts David's rise from shepherd boy to king after King Saul falls victim to his own pride and the prophet Samuel has no choice but to anoint a new king. 

The new historical drama series was created by Jon Erwin, known for films like "Jesus Revolution," "I Still Believe," and "I Can Only Imagine." He also served as a writer and director alongside Jon Gunn, who directed "The Case for Christ" and "Ordinary Angels." "House of David" is Erwin's latest project produced by his independent studio, The Wonder Project, which caters to faith-based and values-oriented audiences.

David (Michael Iskander) in the first season of "House of David." Credit: Jonathan Prime/Prime
David (Michael Iskander) in the first season of "House of David." Credit: Jonathan Prime/Prime

"'House of David,' for me, began when I was 16 years old and I went to Israel with my dad," Erwin told CNA in an interview. "He bought me my first camera with money he did not have and it was probably the greatest gift I've ever received. And we went to Israel to film this documentary visiting some of the holy sites called 'In the Steps of Jesus.'"

While visiting the tomb of David, Erwin shared that he was left thinking: "What kind of life do you have to live that your words echo through the centuries?"

"Ever since then I've wanted to tell the story. So, every film I've been involved with or had a privilege of being a part of, it's all about trying to gain the skills necessary to eventually tell the story of David," he said. "I'm grateful to have any role in bringing this story to the screen let alone creating it."

Erwin emphasized the importance of remaining true to Scripture in the retelling of the story of David and shared that at the foundation is "to love the material."

"I truly, authentically love the story of David, the Psalms of David, the Bible itself; it's a huge and fundamental part of my life and always has been," he explained.

In addition to his authentic connection to and love of the story, Erwin turned to both Christian and Jewish scholars for input and guidance and to fill in gaps not provided in Scripture. 

"I do remind people this is not Scripture," Erwin said. "This is not the source material. This is a love letter to the source material. This is a television show, but I hope that it points people to the source material and I hope people take the same journey that I did … I have not read the Psalms this much. Talk about some beautiful, meaningful, poetic, honest words that really will bring great comfort to you no matter what you're going through!"  

Samuel (Stephen Lang) and David (Michael Iskander) in "House of David." Credit: Nikos Nikolopoulos/Prime
Samuel (Stephen Lang) and David (Michael Iskander) in "House of David." Credit: Nikos Nikolopoulos/Prime

Michael Iskander, the actor portraying David, echoed Erwin's sentiments regarding the importance of Scripture while portraying this famous figure.

"Keeping in mind the reverence for Scripture and what he means biblically, I found myself reading the Psalms and the book of Samuel constantly just to be reminded of the true character of David and his heart and truly trying to find his heart in every single moment," he told CNA.

Iskander emphasized the importance of "focusing on the reverence for Scripture" in approaching his portrayal of David.

"The Psalms of David are really powerful, and I hope people read them more and with new insight the way I have while making the series," Erwin concluded.

You can watch CNA's full interviews with the cast of 'House of David' below.

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A statue of St. John Paul II holding a crucifix stands outside Rome's Gemelli University Hospital. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAVatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 03:05 am (CNA).Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said.Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:

A statue of St. John Paul II holding a crucifix stands outside Rome's Gemelli University Hospital. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2025 / 03:05 am (CNA).

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

Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:

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null / Credit: Inna Dodor/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 18, 2025 / 18:05 pm (CNA).President Donald Trump frustrated pro-life activists Tuesday afternoon with an executive order that directs the United States Domestic Policy Council to examine ways to lower costs for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and expand access to the procedure."I've been saying we're going to do what we have to do," Trump said in a news conference after signing the order. "I think the women and families [and] husbands are very appreciative of it."White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that the order "directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments."The executive order instructs the council to provide the president with a list of policy recommendations within the next 90 days. The move to expand access to IVF and lower its costs fulfills one of Trump's campaign promises&nbs...

null / Credit: Inna Dodor/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 18, 2025 / 18:05 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump frustrated pro-life activists Tuesday afternoon with an executive order that directs the United States Domestic Policy Council to examine ways to lower costs for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and expand access to the procedure.

"I've been saying we're going to do what we have to do," Trump said in a news conference after signing the order. "I think the women and families [and] husbands are very appreciative of it."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that the order "directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access and aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for such treatments."

The executive order instructs the council to provide the president with a list of policy recommendations within the next 90 days. 

The move to expand access to IVF and lower its costs fulfills one of Trump's campaign promises but puts him at odds with many members of the pro-life community who oppose IVF because the process has destroyed millions of human embryonic lives.

IVF is a fertility treatment opposed by the Catholic Church in which doctors fuse sperm and eggs to create human embryos and implant them in the mother's womb, which deviates from the natural procreative process. To maximize efficiency, doctors create excess human embryos and routinely destroy undesired embryos.

"Only 7% of human embryos created via IVF will result in a live birth," Live Action President Lila Rose said in a post on X after the White House announcement. 

"93% of these lives are frozen indefinitely, miscarried, or aborted," she added. "Over 1,000,000 embryos are frozen in the U.S. IVF is NOT pro-life."

Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins, in a post on X, urged Trump to "please stop and study the IVF industry, which is disturbing as it preys on desperate families, kills humans in the embryonic stage, and promotes eugenics."

Edward Feser, a Catholic philosopher and professor at Pasadena City College, said in a series of posts on X that "there should be no funding for it whatsoever, and no Trump supporter who would fail vigorously to resist such a move can claim to be genuinely pro-life."

"Catholics and other pro-lifers: Ask yourself what you would say and do if a Democrat had done this," Feser said. "If you will not say and do the same thing when Trump does it, then you are a hypocrite whose loyalty to your party has trumped loyalty to your religion and to the natural law."

Many Republican lawmakers aggressively embraced IVF in February 2024 after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling to protect certain legal rights for human embryos caused a public backlash. 

In March 2024, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed legislation that granted IVF clinics immunity when they cause the deaths of human embryos. After signing the bill, the governor asserted that IVF is "pro-life" and helps build a "culture of life" without mentioning the number of human embryos destroyed through the process.

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Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presides over a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Vatican's new document on Marian apparitions. / Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN NewsCNA Newsroom, Feb 18, 2025 / 09:50 am (CNA).The Vatican's doctrine chief delivered a pointed critique of gender ideology at a theological conference in Germany on Monday.Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, addressed scholars at the Cologne School of Catholic Theology (KHKT) about gender ideology's "claim to omnipotence."Speaking via video link in German, the cardinal rejected the notion that gender and bodily identity could be subject to radical change based on individual wishes and claims to freedom. Transgender surgery, he argued, goes beyond mere external changes like cosmetic surgery, as it involves "the claim to a change of identity, to the desire to be a different person."Fe...

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, presides over a press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Vatican's new document on Marian apparitions. / Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News

CNA Newsroom, Feb 18, 2025 / 09:50 am (CNA).

The Vatican's doctrine chief delivered a pointed critique of gender ideology at a theological conference in Germany on Monday.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, addressed scholars at the Cologne School of Catholic Theology (KHKT) about gender ideology's "claim to omnipotence."

Speaking via video link in German, the cardinal rejected the notion that gender and bodily identity could be subject to radical change based on individual wishes and claims to freedom. 

Transgender surgery, he argued, goes beyond mere external changes like cosmetic surgery, as it involves "the claim to a change of identity, to the desire to be a different person."

Fernández criticized using technical means to "create an alternative reality at will." While acknowledging the existence of severe cases of dysphoria that could lead to "an unbearable life," he emphasized that such exceptional situations require careful evaluation.

"No anthropology regarding the human person equals that of the Church," Fernández stated during the KHKT conference.

The Argentine cardinal referenced the dicastery's recent document Dignitas Infinita on human dignity, explaining the concept inspired by Pope John Paul II's words in 1980 in Osnabrück, Germany.

"God has shown us in an insurmountable way in Jesus Christ how much he loves each man and how immense is the dignity that he has conferred on him through him. Precisely those who must suffer from some physical or spiritual impediment must recognize themselves as friends of Jesus, as loved especially by him," Fernández said, quoting St. John Paul II.

The conference, titled "The Catholic Foundation of Human Dignity," aims to engage Catholic theology with other sciences and worldviews, KHKT Rector Christoph Ohly told Vatican News.

"With the topic of human dignity and human rights, we have a theme that concerns not just Christians but every human being," Ohly said.

The multi-day gathering examines the nature of human dignity, its relationship to human rights, and current discussions about their expansion.

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Concert at the Santa Maria dell'Olivo convent in Maciano, Italy, in July 2024. / Credit: Courtesy of Amici della Nave AssociationRome Newsroom, Feb 17, 2025 / 11:05 am (CNA).Pope Francis received heartfelt letters from inmates at Milan's San Vittore prison after his hospitalization forced the cancellation of a planned meeting where the prisoners were to perform in a special concert.The Holy Father knows well that judicial sentences are served behind bars and, above all, in the heart. That's where he intended to enter this Monday, Feb. 17, when he was scheduled to meet with a group of inmates from San Vittore prison at Rome's historic Cinecittà studios.However, the event was canceled following his hospitalization at Rome's Gemelli Hospital."It was difficult for them to accept because it also represented an opportunity to get out into the fresh air, see sunlight, and breathe freedom for a few hours," explained Eliana Onofrio, president of the Amici della Nave association.Sin...

Concert at the Santa Maria dell'Olivo convent in Maciano, Italy, in July 2024. / Credit: Courtesy of Amici della Nave Association

Rome Newsroom, Feb 17, 2025 / 11:05 am (CNA).

Pope Francis received heartfelt letters from inmates at Milan's San Vittore prison after his hospitalization forced the cancellation of a planned meeting where the prisoners were to perform in a special concert.

The Holy Father knows well that judicial sentences are served behind bars and, above all, in the heart. That's where he intended to enter this Monday, Feb. 17, when he was scheduled to meet with a group of inmates from San Vittore prison at Rome's historic Cinecittà studios.

However, the event was canceled following his hospitalization at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

"It was difficult for them to accept because it also represented an opportunity to get out into the fresh air, see sunlight, and breathe freedom for a few hours," explained Eliana Onofrio, president of the Amici della Nave association.

Since 2018, this organization has worked with the La Nave project, which assists Italian inmates dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. In collaboration with the Santi Paolo e Carlo healthcare association, they run a rehabilitation program where music is a fundamental therapeutic tool.

"Music helps them relax and connect with themselves; it's an essential part of the re-education process that accompanies rehabilitation to help them overcome addictions," Onofrio said.

Upon receiving official confirmation of the cancellation from the Vatican, some inmates decided to write letters to the pontiff. "It was a spontaneous gesture through which they wanted to express their affection," Onofrio noted.

In one of the letters, an inmate expressed his sadness, saying that "everything had been organized in great detail" to offer Pope Francis a concert into which they had poured all their effort and affection. The inmate considers the pope a central figure, expressing his closeness and assuring his prayers.

Another detained person laments being unable to meet him but understands this is "a necessary pause due to his constant dedication and efforts." Nevertheless, he emphasizes that the pope's health is paramount and promises prayers for a swift recovery. He also asks Francis not to feel "distressed about the event's cancellation" and wishes him a speedy return to strength.

The power of music and reintegration

For more than two decades, the Amici della Nave association has accompanied these inmates in various events outside prison. A notable highlight was their concert on April 9, 2019, at Milan's prestigious La Scala theater.

"I still remember the journey and their faces of emotion as they got off the bus and stepped onto such an important stage," Onofrio recalled.

Currently, 70 Italian prisoners form part of the choir, alongside volunteers and former inmates who have achieved complete reintegration after lives marked by crime.

The cells of San Vittore, small and cold, are filled with stories of stumbles and suffering. There, inmates await their final sentence. Once they reach the third grade, they are transferred to other prisons.

Some have committed serious crimes, but they have a right to a second chance. Sometimes, they just need "a shoulder to cry on to glimpse a new life," Onofrio affirms.

Even in prison, goodness exists. Indeed, the light of hope and kindness can emerge after years of criminality when all seems lost.

Thanks to the mediation of the Vatican's Department of Culture and Education, the letters will be delivered to the pontiff, who remains hospitalized.

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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Crowds at a town hall meeting on immigration in Los Angeles, January 2014. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Victor Aleman/vida-nueva.comLondon, England, Feb 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).The U.K. government is "choosing criminalization over compassion and protection" with its new asylum and immigration bill, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.The Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill is currently making its way through the U.K. Parliament and passed its second reading on Feb. 10. It comes as asylum and immigration have been highlighted as key priorities by both the current Labor government, elected in July 2024, and the previous Conservative government. Government statistics showed that, in 2024, 36,816 migrants arrived in the U.K. on 695 small boats, compared with 2018 when 300 people arrived on boats. Both Labor and Conservative administrations have advocated stringent measures to counter immigration. The new bill stipulates automatic ...

Crowds at a town hall meeting on immigration in Los Angeles, January 2014. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Victor Aleman/vida-nueva.com

London, England, Feb 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The U.K. government is "choosing criminalization over compassion and protection" with its new asylum and immigration bill, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

The Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill is currently making its way through the U.K. Parliament and passed its second reading on Feb. 10. It comes as asylum and immigration have been highlighted as key priorities by both the current Labor government, elected in July 2024, and the previous Conservative government. 

Government statistics showed that, in 2024, 36,816 migrants arrived in the U.K. on 695 small boats, compared with 2018 when 300 people arrived on boats. Both Labor and Conservative administrations have advocated stringent measures to counter immigration. 

The new bill stipulates automatic refusal of U.K. citizenship to illegal immigrants to the U.K., no matter how much time has elapsed.

The new law would make it illegal to enter the U.K. without approval, even though the U.K. signed on to the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention, which states that neither asylum seekers nor refugees can be penalized for entering illegally.

Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for Migrants and Refugees, criticized the government for imposing "harsher measures" on those seeking asylum and for failing to provide safe and legal routes for those who need them.

"This bill seems to favor criminalization over compassion and protection," McAleenan told CNA. "The new government has done little to address the lack of safe and legal routes — genuine alternatives remain unavailable. Instead, the government has proposed even harsher measures, such as expansion of detention powers and reduced protection for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery."

Introducing the bill, the government said it was "inspired by the approach taken to counter terrorism," adding: "The Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill will strengthen the U.K.'s response to border security threats."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that people are smuggling gangs into the U.K. and this bill will give police more power to deal with the problem. Cooper told the BBC: "The gangs have been allowed to take hold for six years." However, McAleenan commented that many coming to the U.K. have legitimate reasons for seeking asylum.

"It is difficult to see how measures that criminalize asylum seekers will achieve these aims," he said. "A distinction must be made between victims and those who profit from their vulnerability."

He added that "afflicted and persecuted" people affected by "wars, conflicts, and other factors" have no choice but "to risk dangerous journeys." 

Referring to the words of Pope Francis regarding migrants, McAleenan called on the government to adopt a "new approach." 

"I urge the government to reconsider its approach and instead focus on addressing the real drivers of forced migration, ensuring access to safe routes and upholding the fundamental principles of compassion," he said, adding: "The words of Pope Francis are perpetual: 'Every migrant has a name, a face, and a story.'"

U.K. Catholic social justice charity Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS UK) was also critical of the government bill for what it says is "punishing" refugees. 

JRS UK senior policy officer Sophie Cartwright told CNA: "For too long, our asylum system has treated people seeking sanctuary with hostility. Recent governments have doubled down on making it difficult for refugees to reach the U.K. and punishing them for traveling in the only way available."

Cartwright added: "We need to build bridges for people seeking sanctuary and an asylum system that treats them with dignity … This government must have the courage to build a fair and humane alternative."

Liam Allmark, acting deputy director of JRS UK, said the bill "misses a vital opportunity," adding: "We should be focused on making it safer and easier for refugees to find protection rather than building a fortress."

He also pointed out that "this jubilee year, Pope Francis has called us to offer welcome and hope for refugees and other displaced people." 

"With the help of our supporters, JRS UK will continue advocating for just policies that protect the lives and dignity of all those who are forced to flee," he said.

After passing its second reading, the next stage for the bill will be a public bill committee, which will meet on Feb. 27 and will hear written evidence submissions. 

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