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Vatican City, Sep 24, 2025 / 07:24 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV renewed the Holy See's support for a two-state solution in the Holy Land and voiced concern over rising tensions in Ukraine, speaking with reporters Tuesday before returning from Castel Gandolfo to the Vatican.

"The Holy See has supported the two-state solution for many years," the pope recalled, pointing out that the Vatican formally recognized Palestine in 2015 with the signing of the Global Agreement. He added, "The Holy See recognized the two-state solution some time ago. That is clear: we must seek a path that respects all peoples."

Asked whether broader international recognition of Palestine might help, he said: "It could help, but right now there is no real willingness to listen on the part of the other side; dialogue is broken."

The pope confirmed that he had spoken by phone the same day with the Catholic parish in Gaza. "Thank God, the parish is fine, although the incursions are getting closer and closer... This afternoon I got in touch with them," he said.

On Ukraine, he cautioned: "Someone is seeking an escalation. It's getting more and more dangerous. I continue to insist on the need to lay down arms, halt military advances, and return to the negotiating table." He stressed the importance of European unity, saying, "If Europe were truly united, I believe it could do a lot."

Pressed on whether rearmament in Europe is necessary, the pope declined to weigh in directly: "These are political matters, also influenced by external pressure on Europe. I prefer not to comment."

Regarding Vatican diplomacy, he explained: "We are in constant dialogue with ambassadors. We also try to speak with heads of state when they come, always seeking a solution."

Rosary for peace in October

At his weekly general audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics around the world to dedicate October to praying the Rosary for peace.

"Dear brothers and sisters, the month of October is now approaching, and in the Church it is dedicated in a special way to the Holy Rosary. Therefore, I invite everyone, every day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace: personally, in the family, in the community," he said.

The pope asked Vatican employees to join in this prayer daily at 7 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica. He also announced that on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m., he will lead a Rosary in St. Peter's Square during the vigil for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, marking as well the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

Catechesis: Christ descends to the depths

Continuing his catechesis for the Jubilee of 2025 on the theme Jesus Christ our Hope, the pope reflected on the mystery of Holy Saturday and Christ's descent into the realm of the dead.

"Today, again, we will look at the mystery of Holy Saturday. It is the day of the Paschal Mystery in which everything seems immobile and silent, while in reality an invisible action of salvation is being fulfilled: Christ descends into the realm of the dead to bring the news of the Resurrection to all those who were in the darkness and in the shadow of death," he said.

"This event, which the liturgy and tradition have handed down to us, represents the most profound and radical gesture of God's love for humanity," the pope said. "Indeed, it is not enough to say or to believe that Jesus died for us: it is necessary to recognize that the fidelity of his love sought us out where we ourselves were lost, where only the power of a light capable of penetrating the realm of darkness can reach."

He noted that Christ's descent is not just a past event, but one that touches every believer today: "The underworld is not only the condition of the dead, but also of those who live death as a result of evil and sin. It is also the daily hell of loneliness, shame, abandonment, and the struggle of life. Christ enters into all these dark realities to bear witness to the love of the Father. Not to judge, but to set free. Not to blame, but to save."

The pope concluded: "Dear brothers and sisters, to descend, for God, is not a defeat, but the fulfillment of his love. It is not a failure, but the way by which he shows that no place is too far away, no heart is too closed, no tomb too tightly sealed for his love. This consoles us, this sustains us. And if at times we seem to have hit rock bottom, let us remember: that is the place from which God is able to begin a new creation."

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ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 23, 2025 / 15:12 pm (CNA).

The Vatican's secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on Tuesday reaffirmed before the United Nations the Holy See's commitment to promoting the dignity and equality of women but warned that these goals cannot be achieved without respecting dignity "from the unborn to the elderly."

"Women's equality cannot be achieved unless the dignity of all people is respected, especially the most fragile and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly," the archbishop, a native of Liverpool, England, said Sept. 23.

Gallagher gave his address on the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and the text was released by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

The archbishop emphasized that the protection of the right to life "is essential, as it underpins all other fundamental rights."

Gallagher also called for comprehensive, quality health care for pregnant women, noting: "Although maternal mortality rates have dropped significantly since 1990, progress has stalled in recent years. Access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants as well as to health care systems and infrastructure must increase, while false solutions such as abortion rejected."

Don't focus on 'divisive issues'

The prelate therefore stated that the Holy See hopes that, "instead of focusing on divisive issues that are not necessarily beneficial to women, states fulfill their commitments to ensure equality for women and respect for their God-given dignity."

Gallagher recalled that the Beijing Declaration — the commitment adopted by 189 countries at the Fourth World Conference on Women, organized by the U.N. in September 1995 in China — was a decisive milestone in the promotion of women's rights.

However, he pointed out that there are issues that "remain unaddressed."

Specifically, he referred to "the higher extreme poverty rate among women," the "obstacles" to accessing quality education — and even "exclusion from it" — and "lower wages in the workforce."

Gallagher made it clear that these conditions "impede the full achievement of women's equal dignity and ability to fulfill their potential in all spheres of life."

Alarming level of violence against girls and women

The archbishop focused on the continued prevalence of "violence against women and girls," which he said is "deeply alarming."

"Wherever it occurs, at home, during trafficking, or in conflict and humanitarian settings, it constitutes an affront to their dignity and is a grave injustice," he emphasized.

He also noted that technology is also being used to "exacerbate certain forms of abuse and violence."

Gallagher pointed out that violence is not limited to "sexual exploitation and trafficking" but also includes "the practices of prenatal sex selection and female infanticide."

"These acts, condemned in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, continue to result in the deaths of millions of 'missing girls' each year," he stated.

The archbishop insisted that any form of violence against women and girls is "unacceptable and must be combated."

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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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 23, 2025 / 16:52 pm (CNA).

Chicago archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich is defending his decision to honor pro-abortion Illinois Democrat Sen. Richard Durbin with an award at the archdiocese's upcoming Keep Hope Alive immigration ministry fundraiser.

"Recently some have criticized the decision of the Archdiocese of Chicago to recognize Sen. Dick Durbin at our annual fundraiser for our immigration ministry," Cupich wrote in a Sept. 22 statement, which came after several bishops spoke out against the move.

"Sen. Durbin informed me some years ago that he has taken up residence in Chicago, registered in a parish of the archdiocese, and considers me to be his bishop," Cupich stated. "Accordingly, I have remained faithful to the May 2021 instructions of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, advising bishops to 'reach out to and engage in dialogue with Catholic politicians within their jurisdictions ... as a means of understanding the nature of their positions and their comprehension of Catholic teaching.'"

Durbin has been prohibited from receiving the Eucharist in what has been previously reported as his home diocese of Springfield — the state capital — since 2004. In a Sept. 23 article in First Things magazine titled "Sen. Durbin Is Unfit to Receive Any Catholic Honor," Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, wrote that he was "shocked" to hear of the Chicago Archdiocese's plan to honor Durbin with a lifetime achievement award.

"Because this decision threatens to scandalize the faithful and injure the bonds of ecclesial communion, it should be reversed," he stated, noting Durbin's pro-abortion voting record includes efforts to block legislation banning post-birth abortions and protections for babies who survive failed abortions. 

In light of Durbin's record, Paprocki said "it is absurd that Sen. Durbin should be given an award from the office of 'human dignity and solidarity.'" 

Paprocki pointed out that bestowing an award on Durbin violates Church teaching and goes against what U.S. bishops have said on the matter as well as the Archdiocese of Chicago's own policies regarding honors and awards, which state: "Any Catholic entity subject to the authority of the archbishop of Chicago … shall not give awards or honors or host presentations, speaking opportunities, or appearances by individuals or organizations whose public position is in opposition to the fundamental moral principles of the Catholic Church."

The Springfield bishop further claimed Cupich "did not consult with me about this award or even notify me about his decision," despite Durbin remaining under his care as a resident of Springfield.

"This failure to consult with a brother bishop concerning a member of his diocese is even more troubling given the fact that Cardinal Cupich knows that Sen. Durbin has not been permitted to receive holy Communion in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois since 2004," Paprocki added.

Addressing criticism on Monday surrounding his decision, Cupich said: "At the heart of the consistent ethic of life is the recognition that Catholic teaching on life and dignity cannot be reduced to a single issue, even an issue as important as abortion."

Cupich emphasized that Durbin would be honored for his efforts to advance Catholic social teaching in immigration, care for the poor, Laudato Si', and world peace.

"The recognition of his defense of immigrants at this moment, when they are subjected to terror and harm, is not something to be regretted but a reflection that the Lord stands profoundly with both immigrants who are in danger and those who work to protect them," Cupich said. 

In a social media post on X, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone expressed his solidarity with Paprocki and urged Cupich to "reconsider" granting Durbin a lifetime achievement award, "given his long record of supporting legal abortion."

Cordileone described Paprocki as "Sen. Dick Durbin's bishop" and stated that "he is correct that both clarity and unity are at risk" in giving Durbin the award.

"I hope this will be a clarion call to all members of the body of Christ to speak out to make clear the grave evil that is the taking of innocent human life," Cordileone added.

Responding to Cupich's latest statement, in an email to CNA Illinois Right to Life President Mary Kate Zander cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states: "Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches a canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life."

"The killing of the defenseless child in the womb is a grave moral evil," Zander told CNA. "Cardinal Cupich's apparent indifference to this reality is scandalous in every sense of the word. His ambiguity poses a great risk to all persons who might be affected by a lack of clarity on this issue."

According to Zander, Durbin's record on immigration "simply does not matter so long as he refuses to acknowledge that it is evil to murder an unborn child." Further, she said, Durbin's support for abortion, especially partial-birth abortion, places his soul "at serious risk."

"Our organization will proceed with our protest and we intend to work with local, state, and national pro-life organizations to bring clarity to this highly scandalous event," she said. "Make no mistake: The Lord always extends his infinite mercy to those who seek it, but it is our hope that no person will be confused by the cardinal's actions — abortion is a very grave sin."

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CNA Staff, Sep 23, 2025 / 17:22 pm (CNA).

In one of his final acts as the bishop of Monterey, California, Bishop Daniel Garcia issued a letter terminating the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in the diocese "in order to strengthen our unity with the universal Church" and "to support [Pope Francis'] goal of moving toward greater unity in the postconciliar Roman rite." 

Garcia issued the letter to the Latin Mass community, located at Sacred Heart Church in Hollister, California, on Sept. 14, four days before he was installed as the new bishop of Austin, Texas.

In the letter, Garcia expressed his concern that the pastor at Sacred Heart, Father Stephen Akers, be "able to give his full attention to the entire parish rather than taking his limited time spent with a small group of individuals who are not worshipping according to ordinary (and one) rite of the Latin Church," as the number of those who attend the "preconciliar" Mass is "very small."

Garcia cited Pope Francis' motu proprio Traditionis Custodes as well as the "Letter to the Bishops of the Whole World" that accompanied it, which addressed "the rare situation" of the Church "having two liturgies being celebrated in the one Latin rite."

Garcia said the Church is "moving us to greater unity in worship," saying St. Paul VI had "declared the new rite an expression of the Church's unity" as reflected by the unanimity of the [Second Vatican] Council Fathers" as well as postconciliar documents.

He ordered Akers to stop celebrating the TLM after Oct. 13 at Sacred Heart Church. 

The bishop said he came to the decision after consulting with the chancellor, Deacon David Ford, and the director of the tribunal, Cecilia Brennan, who had visited the Latin Mass community in Hollister in the last few months.

He admonished the Latin Mass community to "join in unity with the parish … as they gather around the table of the Lord celebrating the rich Eucharistic sacrifice, each Sunday, which has been a great fruit of the Council" in order "to build the unity Pope Leo spoke about in the Mass he celebrated early in his pontificate," which called the Church to become "a leaven of harmony for humanity."

Garcia was named as the bishop of Austin on July 2 and installed on Sept. 18.

Bishop Slawomir Szkredka was named the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Monterey on Sept. 19. 

Earlier this year, the Vatican granted a parish in Texas an exemption from restrictions to the TLM imposed by Traditionis Custodes. 

The exemption, requested by Bishop Michael Sis on Feb. 6, was granted to St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas.

No other such exemption by Pope Leo XIV has been reported since the start of his pontificate. 

Akers, the pastor at Sacred Heart Church, declined to comment.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 23, 2025 / 17:59 pm (CNA).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched the "Cabrini Pledge" intended to help Catholics in "witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst," as the Catholic Church in the U.S. observes National Migration Week. 

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, introduced the pledge in a video message, imploring U.S. Catholics to join the effort.

"With one voice, we proclaim every person, regardless of where they are born, is created in the image of God and has an inherent dignity that deserves respect," Seitz said, noting this sentiment guided the ministry of Mother Francis Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants. 

"By signing this pledge, you make an intentional commitment to living out the Gospel, not an abstraction, but through acts of solidarity that affirm the inherent dignity of every person," he continued. "Through prayer, encounter, and civic engagement, we can transform fear into compassion and create a world where no one feels less than human because of their immigration status."

"The history of the U.S. Catholic Church, like the history of the United States itself, is very much intertwined with the phenomenon of migration," the USSCB also stated.

In the "Cabrini Pledge: An Invitation to be Keepers of Hope," the bishops invite America's Catholics to follow the example of Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who "accompanied her fellow immigrants and others living on the margins of society with a great missionary zeal."

The pledge includes seven parts, including a promise to affirm the human dignity of every person regardless of immigration status or country of origin, to encourage civic dialogue about policymaking grounded in the Church's understanding of human dignity, and to join Pope Leo XIV in praying for all migrants and refugees. 

"As Catholics, we are called to recognize the face of Christ in each person we encounter, especially the poor and vulnerable," the bishops said. "The Gospel and the social teaching of the Church continually affirm the equal dignity of every person, irrespective of race, nationality, or immigration status."

"The Cabrini Pledge is both a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events," the USCCB added.

While "political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy" pervade across the country, the bishops continued, "by witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst, we pave the way for an approach rooted in mercy, justice, and the common good."

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ACI Africa, Sep 23, 2025 / 11:35 am (CNA).

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins of Angola's Archdiocese of Huambo has urged members of the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) in the southern African nation to be involved in the fight against societal voices, strengthen faith practice in their families, and exemplify integrity.

In his homily during a Mass of thanksgiving marking the 11th anniversary of the Movimento dos Esposos da Promaica (MEP) (Movement of Promaica Husbands), Zeca said: "The battle against corruption must be seen as a moral and spiritual imperative, which begins within each family and extends to society at large."

"The Church and apostolic movements have a decisive role in transforming Angolan society, starting from the authentic living out of the faith," the archbishop said during the Sept. 20 event, which was held at St. John the Baptist Parish in the Huambo Archdiocese.

Zeca further said: "We cannot pretend that nothing is wrong in the environment we live in. Corruption, lies, selfishness, and greed are wounds that strike at the heart of our society, and even many of us, members of the MEP. That is why it is urgent that each one of us, as a husband, as a father, as a Christian, be examples of integrity and fight against these practices."

"The transformation of society begins within the home, since the family is the fundamental cell of society," the archbishop continued. "Where the wife is, there the husband should be; where the children are, there the parents should be. The family is the first battlefield against the forces that try to destroy Christian values. He who cannot live honesty and love in his own home will hardly be able to do so outside it."

He reminded CMO members that "the MEP was created precisely to strengthen family bonds and the living out of faith among Catholic spouses."

Addressing the moral crisis in Angola, Zeca said: "The apostle St. Paul warned that in the last days many would turn away from truth and justice, giving way to selfishness, lies, and corruption. We are living in those difficult times, and therefore it is up to us, as Christians and citizens, to be vigilant and fight against these forces."

He emphasized that "it is not enough to denounce injustices and corruption; each of us must also take responsibility not to be contaminated by these practices."

The archbishop, who is a member of the Society of the Divine Word, further stated: "The fight against corruption is not just a political or social issue but above all a spiritual battle. Corruption is born of selfishness and lack of love for one's neighbor, of greed and the reckless pursuit of power and wealth."

"If we do not renew our spirit and hearts in faith, we are doomed to continue living in unjust and inhuman societies. That is why I urge you to live the faith, prayer, and Christian commitment intensely, as antidotes to these evils," he said.

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

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National Catholic Register, Sep 23, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. 

Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.

As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here's a look at 13 facts about St. Pio's life and faith.

1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.

Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.

2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice. 

Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.

3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.

On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion. 

4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume. 

Referred to as the "odor of sanctity," the blood that came from Padre Pio's wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.

5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.

While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessionial. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.

The saint once said: "Confession is the soul's bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!"

6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis. 

From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil.

In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: "The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul."

Amorth continued: "The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis."

7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.

Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world. 

As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred "by an extension of his personality."

8. A sighting of a "flying friar" kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio's town during World War II. 

Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio's appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.

9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.

A doctor examining the saint's body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio's body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray. 

10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived. 

All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.

11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio. 

Several miracles have been attributed to the saint's intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.

12. He established a hospital.

Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means "Home for the Relief of the Suffering," was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.

13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.

Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late pope St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization.

The video below shows St. Pio celebrating Mass the day before his death:

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Lima Newsroom, Sep 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

When a priest says he's building a church, a school, or some other project, he usually means he's ultimately responsible for the construction, not that he's the one who is actually building it. But that isn't the case for Father Javier Cajusol Villegas, who is building a church with his own hands in a poor area of ??the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where Pope Leo XIV was bishop.

"In the seminary, there's a program in which we study Church history. I was taught by an American priest who explained things very well, Father Ricardo Mullen. He said that when the Spanish came to the Americas, they brought with them priests who were also architects and engineers and that they themselves were the ones who built the churches," Cajusol related in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

This, the priest shared, "struck me, and I started thinking, 'Why not?' I got motivated when they sent me to a parish without a rectory. I started the Adveniat project with the bishop's approval, and they sent me the money. A worker helped me and taught me."

The Peruvian priest, born in Trujillo, a northern city where Pope Leo also served from 1988 to 1999, was referring to the Church aid agency Adveniat, based in Germany, which funds Catholic Church projects around the world.

"I started liking construction. I just stayed organized, served people, and when I had days off, I would spend time on this. Since my brother is an architect, I would ask him a few questions," he continued.

"At first, it was difficult, but I learned how to mix cement, make surfacing materials, lay bricks, and [mix] aggregates," he added.

First things first

The priest clarified that the construction work, while he enjoys it, does not take precedence over his priestly ministry, which remains fundamental in his life. "Little by little, I have been getting better [at construction work] without neglecting my vocation. So it's a tough second job: that of a bricklayer, which requires strength and skill; and caring for the faithful," he shared.

Cajusol, who was ordained 28 years ago, emphasized that what is essential for him is "not to neglect caring for the faithful, administering the sacraments, pastoral care by visiting homes, and talking with the people."

Possible meeting with Pope Leo XIV

The priest, who will turn 58 on Sept. 24, estimated that the church's construction will take four or five years, working Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., "unless I can see the Holy Father for help. He helped me a lot with the construction of the rectory where I currently live, through an American foundation."

The place where he is now building the church and where he already celebrates Mass on Sundays is an area with a lot of poverty and crime. "There is a lot of contract killing, robbery, and even some dirty cops who collude with them. Sometimes I admonish them," he said.

Regarding the financing of the church, the priest explained that he relies on the help of the faithful, who also provide his daily meals, the head mason, and two assistants, but more contributions are needed to raise half a million soles, approximately $143,000.

Afterward, he explained, a similar amount will be needed to finish the church, including the altar, statues, pews, sound equipment, and other items.

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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ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 22, 2025 / 16:02 pm (CNA).

From his exile in the United States, Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Báez denounced what he considered the "real problem" of Latin American dictatorships and cartels: the idolatry of money. 

Although he did not mention specific countries in his homily at the Mass he celebrated Sunday, Sept. 21, at St. Agatha Church in Miami, the prelate was apparently referring to the dictatorships of presidents Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Miguel Díaz-Canel in Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, the latter accused by the U.S. government of leading the drug-trafficking Cartel de los Soles.

Báez noted that one day, "all of us, without exception, will leave this world, and God will ask us to account for how we have used the wealth" and gifts he has given us. As an example of how these gifts are misused, the prelate pointed to "the dictatorships in some of our countries, dictators who act in the dark and without any moral scruples to enrich themselves at any cost."

"Let's not forget that the root of Latin America's main problems are not of a political but of a moral nature," he stated.

Báez said that "most of the ills of our people come from the excessive ambition for wealth, from the elites who keep a tight rein on power, because they worship money, regardless of whether they have to sacrifice human beings or the entire population along with their dignity, their freedoms, and their future."

"This is the real problem of dictatorships, cartels, and the decadent societies of Latin America: the idol of money," he denounced.

"These unscrupulous and immoral people enrich themselves through blatant acts of corruption, accumulating ever more money for themselves, their families, and their entourage," the prelate continued.

"They openly and illegally confiscate land and property. They maintain control by repression and even illegally grant concessions to foreign powers for the extraction of the country's natural resources, impoverishing their people and endangering national sovereignty. These immoral and evil people go on plotting day and night."

You cannot serve both God and money

"Those of us who dream of new societies in which the great ideals of freedom, justice, peace, and the defense of human rights shine forth must remember what Jesus tells us today in the final sentence of the Gospel: You cannot serve both God and money," continued the auxiliary bishop of Managua, who has been in exile since 2019.

"The great evil of this world is the idolatry of money, which takes the place of God and demands human beings as a sacrifice," he emphasized.

After noting that "we must use money for the common good, not serve it as if it were a god," the bishop emphasized that "instead of ambition and corruption, let us clothe ourselves with evangelical wisdom, creating with wealth networks of solidarity to help the poorest and mutual collaboration to commit ourselves together in the struggle for social change."

The Gospel of the day, the prelate emphasized, "invites us not to deify money and to act with intelligence and spiritual wisdom."

Who is Bishop Silvio Báez?

Silvio José Báez Ortega has been auxiliary bishop of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, since late May 2009. He is 67 years old.

On April 23, 2019, having been one of the most vocal critics of the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, in Nicaragua, Báez left his homeland due to persecution from the regime. He has been in exile for over six years.

On Aug. 23, Báez and two other Nicaraguan bishops were received in audience at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV, who confirmed him as auxiliary bishop of Managua.

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, Sep 22, 2025 / 17:17 pm (CNA).

At a town hall meeting in Plymouth, Minnesota, over the weekend, three mothers whose children survived the school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in August advocated for stricter gun laws. 

Two children were killed and 21 people were injured after Robin Westman, 23, a man who identified as a woman, shot through the stained-glass windows of the church during a school Mass on Aug. 27. 

Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, were killed in the attack. 

Carla Maldonado, who has two children at Annunciation Catholic School, said "taking action" by tightening gun laws would honor the deaths of the two children and "all lives taken by gun violence."

"We cannot accept a world where civilians have access to weapons designed for battlefields," she said, referring to assault weapons and calling for their prohibition.

Another mother, Malia Kimbrell, who also supports an assault weapons ban, asked: "If the next mass shooting happens at your child's school, what type of weapon are you comfortable with the shooter being armed with?"

Kimbrell, whose daughter Vivian, 9, is recovering after she was shot multiple times, advocated for "more mental health resources and safer gun storage and better background checks and detecting potential threats online and improved security measures." 

Stephanie Moscetti said her son "was an honorary pallbearer at his friend's [Merkel's] funeral; how is this our reality?" 

"Our kids deserve safe schools, they deserve safe childhoods where they can play and learn," she said.

Rep. Kelly Morrison, a Democrat who represents Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District, organized the town hall meeting, which focused on the prevention of gun violence. 

Several of the mothers at the town hall also testified last week before a working group of state lawmakers who deliberated over proposed reforms dealing with gun violence.

At the hearing, Rob Doar, senior vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, asked lawmakers to strengthen the law surrounding mental health resources access, pointing out that none of the proposals put forward would have prevented the shooting because Westman legally purchased the weapons. 

Westman used three firearms during the August attack: a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which were purchased legally under existing state law. The rifle was likely an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, which is considered an assault weapon. 

Laws limiting those with mental health disorders from gun possession

Though Westman struggled with his gender identity, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed "gender identity disorder" from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and replaced it with "gender dysphoria" in the revised version, known as the DSM-5, published in 2013. 

This change marked a significant shift in how struggles with a person's sexual identity are classified, with health care professionals no longer calling it a mental illness.

The new classification of gender dysphoria, though it is still in the APA's manual of mental disorders, addresses the symptoms, or the distress, associated with gender incongruence and not the incongruence itself. 

Minnesota, along with 29 other states, bars people with mental health issues who have been involuntarily committed or found to be a danger to self or others from possessing a gun. 

This law did not come into play in the August shooting, however.

Gov. Tim Walz in early September called for a special session, which has yet to take place, that will focus on gun safety. He proposed banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips as well as more safety regulations concerning storage and a stronger red flag law.

Minnesota's current red flag law allows family or local and state officials to ask for an extreme risk protection order, or ERPO, which allows them to petition the court to have an at-risk person's guns removed or to temporarily prohibit that person from buying a gun.

"We passed a red flag law. It was passed in 2023 and it was supposed to deal with a situation like this," Minnesota House Republican leader Harry Niska said in early September after Walz proposed the special session. "So I hope everyone is asking serious questions about why — why did this incident not trigger either a background check flag or a red flag?"

Walz will need the support of Republican lawmakers in the special session, and they have different proposals. They want to make private school security eligible for state funding, something the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of Minnesota's six Catholic dioceses, has asked for multiple times.

Republicans also want to allow doctors more discretion concerning transgender medical procedures, more funds for mental health facilities, and harsher penalties for certain gun crimes. 

Ten states ban assault weapons, but the proposal in Minnesota failed to come up for a vote in 2023. Just over half of rural residents opposed an assault weapons ban in a 2022 MinnPost poll, while 69% of urban dwellers supported it. Overall, the poll found that nearly 54% supported it.

Minnesota already has one of the nation's stronger gun regulation frameworks, according to Everytown Research, which ranks the state 14th in the country for gun safety policies.

The state requires universal background checks for all firearm sales, including private transfers, and domestic violence protections prohibit access for those under restraining orders or with misdemeanor convictions, among many other regulations.

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