Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288686&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 25, 2025 / 17:18 pm (CNA).

United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that police are investigating a number of posters displayed on Georgetown University's campus that appear to be recruiting students for a leftist gun club linked to violence. 

"I am aware of the appalling posters that were displayed on Georgetown's campus today," McMahon wrote in a post to the social media platform X on Sept. 24. 

The flyers found around the Jesuit campus advertise for students to "Join the John Brown Gun Club," a left-wing and "anti-fascist" extremist group that first formed in Kansas. The network of clubs around the country takes its name from the 19th-century abolitionist John Brown.

One of the flyers makes references to words allegedly written on a shell casing by Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson. The poster reads: "Hey fascist! Catch!" It further advertised itself as "the only political group that celebrates when Nazis die." 

According to a number of social media posts, the flyers are hung near dormitories and on campus activity boards. Some posters call on prospective members to "do something more than symbolic resistance" and provide a scannable QR code that takes users to a document to sign up for the club.

"Georgetown University has no tolerance for calls for violence or threats to the university," a spokesperson for the school told CNA. "The flyers have been removed and the university is investigating this incident and working to ensure the safety of our community."

McMahon said the department spoke to Georgetown staff about the posters and police are now investigating.

"At a moment like this, Georgetown has to determine what it stands for as an institution," McMahon wrote in the social media post. "[Education Department] officials have spoken to Georgetown administrators, who made the decision to remove the flyers."

"Campus police are investigating the incident and will deploy resources to protect students as necessary. Allowing violent rhetoric to fester on our nation's campuses without consequences is dangerous. It must be condemned by institutional leaders."

"I am grateful to those who spoke out against this and made noise about the posters on campus — you made a difference. There is power in speaking up to reveal these hateful ideologies that have incited deadly violence," McMahon said. "Keep fighting for good!"

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288684&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 25, 2025 / 15:48 pm (CNA).

"Everyone here is pleading for mercy: to take pity, for mercy, for compassion, for them to stop this war, for them to stop shooting… for them to stop killing people, for them to stop bombing," the only parish priest in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, said in a video he posted Sept. 23.

"There are stories that are terrible, there are stories that are truly terrible. People are deeply distressed and implore God to take pity, to have mercy on everyone, and they also implore taking pity on everyone, so that for the love of God this war may end," the priest continued.

In a video that begins with the reaction of the faithful, including a child who seems frightened by a nearby explosion, the priest lamented that in Gaza "the bombing continues, it's very heavy and ongoing, it sounds very loud, shrapnel and sounds come, even though some are 200, 300 meters away, 500 meters, 700 meters away, it sounds very loud, not to even imagine what it's like for the people who are next to them or are in those places. Every day there are deaths and more deaths."

The priest from the Institute of the Incarnate Word, who first came to Gaza in 2005, said he sometimes no longer knows what to say to those who have lost their loved ones: "I am speechless; we are speechless, people feel worn out. There's no real progress."

Romanelli also criticized the fact that, so far, "there has been no real progress" toward peace, nor has there been any "reversal of the bad decisions made," and that there is no permission to "rebuild people's homes where they, their ancestors, were born, where they have the right to be."

After expressing his gratitude for the constant calls for peace from Pope Leo XIV and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Argentine priest said that in the face of "so much evil, so little compassion, we must cling more to God to try to be better, even in the little things, praying for everyone, for the living and the dead: Jews, Muslims, Russians, those without religion, because all have been created by God" and all "are called to participate in the fullness of the life of the Most Holy Trinity."

The priest encouraged people to ask "Our Lady, Our Lady of Sorrows, to comfort so many people: there are people under the rubble, there are people who are injured under the rubble, there are people who are not injured but cannot get out, others who are in areas where anyone who goes out on the street is a dead person. According to Civil Defense data, there are many dead … It's all very sad."

After mentioning that many remain in the parish because it serves as a shelter and recounting that they had just gone out yesterday to get some fresh air and had to rush back to the church because a bomb had fallen nearby, the priest concluded his message by encouraging people to "do good to everyone, and may God in his mercy take pity on everyone and grant us an end to this war."

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

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288681&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C., Sep 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Catholic University of America (CUA) hosted a panel this week to discuss how Christians should think about the developing technology surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).

The Sept. 23 panel was hosted by CUA's Institute for Human Ecology, which works to identify the economic, cultural, and social conditions vital for human flourishing. The group discussed the threats posed by AI, the future of the technology, and the Church's place in the conversation. 

Ross Douthat, media fellow at the Institute for Human Ecology, led the discussion between Father Michael Baggot, LC, professor of bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome; Will Wilson, CEO of AI company Antithesis; and Brian J.A. Boyd, director for the Center for Ethics and Economic Justice at Loyola University New Orleans.

Douthat asked the panelists what they each believe to be the greatest threat of the emerging technology as it poses new challenges to the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.

According to Boyd, the potential loss of human connection is the most prominent threat of AI. He said: "To be human is to be created in and for relationships of love — by love of God. Our nature is made to be receptive to grace."

AI becomes an issue if "our main relationship and reference point is talking to a computer rather than to humans," Boyd said. "I think that is an existential threat, and something worth discussing."

"If we're habituated to look at the screen before we look at our neighbor ... and AI is [the] constant reference point, it will make habits of prayer much more difficult to include. It will make it harder to learn to listen to the voice of God, because the answer is always in your pocket."

Baggot said his greatest concern is that "artificial intimacy is going to distract us from, and deter us from, the deep interpersonal bonds that are central to our happiness and our flourishing."

"Companies now grip not only our minds but also are capturing our affections," Baggot said. "We can all read about these tragic cases of exploitation and manipulation that are only going to continue unless we put proper guardrails in place and also provide the information that allows us to have the kind of deep interpersonal relationships we were made for."

While many people worry that AI could create "mass unemployment," Wilson said he disagrees: "I think that this is a very silly fear because human desires and human wants are infinite, and therefore, we always find new things for people to do."

Rather, Wilson shared his concern that humans will no longer create their own ideas and will lose their intelligence and knowledge.

"The trouble with AI is even if it's not actually intelligent, it does a very good simulacrum of intelligence, and it's very tempting to use it to substitute for human intelligence," Wilson said. "It's very possible that we're entering a world where very soon any cognitive labor, any reason, [or] any thought will be a luxury."

Catholic AI 

While there are dangers to AI, Baggot addressed the positive aspects the tool can offer, highlighting the benefits of Catholic AI companies. 

"I've been privileged to work on the Scholarly Advisory Board of Magisterium AI, which is basically a Catholic answer engine that's very narrowly trained on reliable documents, magisterial documents, [and] theological texts," Baggot said. 

Magisterium AI is a "system designed to give people reliable responses to their questions about the Catholic faith," Baggot explained. "This is appealing to Catholics who want to go deeper, but it's also quite appealing to people who have never really had the chance, or aren't quite ready, to speak to another human person about their curiosities regarding Catholicism."

Baggot explained that creators of the technology work hard to keep it from being "anthropomorphic" to avoid users confusing the AI with actual connection. He said: "We do not want people having an intimate relationship with it."

While Magisterium AI can provide useful information, Baggot acknowledged that it is not a tool for spiritual direction. He said: "Spiritual direction … should be with another living, breathing human being who actually has insight into human experience [and] who can develop a relationship of real empathy and real compassion."

The Church's place in AI 

The panelists had differing viewpoints about the Church's place in AI and how Christians should approach it. Wilson said he believes "the conversation about where the technology is going and what we're going to do with it is happening among people who do not care … what any Christian church has to say on the topic."

"It's actually a little hard to blame them because Christians have basically sacrificed their place at the forefront of science and technology, which is where we were in centuries past," Wilson said.

"Control goes to those who can deploy the most capital, and capital gets allocated very fast to people who are able to deploy very efficiently. And by and large, those people are not Christians because Christians aren't really trying."

Baggot said that while AI does pose dangers, the Church "has a lot of insight and wisdom" that can help guide the conversation. "The Church is in a privileged position to leverage its incredible patrimony, its reflection on the human person, [and] human flourishing." 

"The Church has reflected a lot about the meaning and value of work, the subjective value of work. It's not just about economic efficiency, but it's about how I use my own God-given talents to grow as a person and then also to serve others in intrinsically valuable activities."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288674&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 25, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The overwhelming majority of bishops and vocation directors expressed satisfaction with formation programs, according to a study analyzing how seminaries and dioceses screen candidates for holy orders. 

However, the study found gaps in evaluations related to learning disabilities and assessing tendencies toward "activity or inclination towards sexual activity with a minor or other trait that might indicate the person could be a harm to minors."

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University (CARA) conducted the study in collaboration with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. It includes responses from 103 U.S. bishops plus roughly 33% of vocation directors, 59% of seminary rectors, 11 formators, and 59 mental health specialists. 

The June report, "Evaluating the Church's Practices in Assessing the Suitability of Candidates for Holy Orders," asked bishops and vocation directors to give their confidence levels about 28 "distinct areas" of formation at their seminaries. All categories of respondents said they believed psychological evaluations do not sufficiently screen for learning or developmental disorders or disabilities.

According to the report, bishops and vocation directors expressed the most certainty in "seminarians' openness to growing spiritually," with 55% to 59% expressing they were "very confident" in this area. Nearly 40% to 50% of bishops and vocation directors also expressed confidence in seminarians' "regular engagement in self-reflection." 

Bishops and vocation directors were least likely to say they have great confidence areas related to physical and mental health. Only 19% to 21% expressed confidence in "seminarians' healthy management of one's neuroses or minor pathologies." Similarly, only 17% expressed confidence in "healthy living with medical concerns or physical limitations" among candidates for the priesthood.

Across the board, concern among bishops and vocation directors regarding how seminaries screen for learning disabilities is high, with only 16% to 17% of bishops and vocation directors expressing confidence in this area.

Rectors, formators, and mental health specialists likewise expressed confidence in areas of formation such as growing spiritually and regular self-reflection. About 32% to 43% expressed confidence in seminarians' ability to seek treatment for mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, and the same percentage expressed confidence in seminarians' ability to form healthy relationships with others. 

Only 8% to 22% of rectors, formators, and mental health specialists expressed confidence in formation among seminarians regarding "growth in understanding one's sexual orientation," and only 4% to 22% expressed confidence in formation regarding "healthy management of one's unhealthy or addictive behaviors." 

While 100% of rectors and 94% of formators and spiritual directors expressed belief that initial psychological evaluations were necessary to assess a candidate's suitability for seminary formation, fewer than 3 in 5 bishops said these evaluations could predict how well a candidate might later function as a priest.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288669&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Sep 24, 2025 / 17:38 pm (CNA).

Politicians and Catholic bishops are calling for prayer and an end to political violence after two ICE detainees were killed and another critically injured in a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning.

Police sources say the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, was armed with a rifle on a roof and took his own life just after 6:30 a.m., according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. No ICE officers were injured in the attack.

FBI Special Agent Joseph Rothrock said during a press conference this morning that rounds found near the deceased shooter had anti-ICE messages inscribed on them. 

Eric Johnson, Dallas' Republican mayor, opened the press conference asking all present to pray with him: "Let me start off by saying that I'm a person who believes very, very strongly in the power of prayer and that prayer changes things." 

"And so I'm going to ask everyone please join me in praying for the families of the folks who lost their lives today. Pray for the speedy recovery for those who are hurt or injured in what happened today, but maybe even more to the point, we're a country and a city that needs prayer," Johnson said.

On a post on social media platform X this morning, Vice President JD Vance said: "The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop. I'm praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families."

Several Catholic bishops have also expressed their dismay over the violence and have asked people to pray.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco called the violence in Dallas this morning "senseless" and "politically motivated" in a social media post.

He wrote that changes in policy might be necessary but are "not enough," saying: "This is, at its core, a spiritual crisis. Much prayer is needed, indeed, essential. It is not irrelevant fluff, nor an excuse to simply acknowledge the tragedy and move on. Without help from above, there is no way out."

He quoted Erika Kirk, whose husband, conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, was recently assassinated in Utah: "'Choose prayer, choose courage, choose beauty, choose adventure, choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.'"

Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, also called for prayers for the victims on a social media post: "The murder of two migrants by a gunman at a Dallas ICE facility today is the latest sign of America's desperate need for God. I invite you to join me in prayer for the deceased. May God's grace transform hearts and our nation and eradicate every vicious hatred from our hearts." 

The shooting took place on the third day of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) National Migration Week, a time in which Catholics are called to "reflect on our history as an immigrant Church and the ways in which our country has been enriched by generations of immigrants, including the many Catholics who have adopted this land as their own." 

"At a time when our culture is dominated by deep political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy, progress can feel impossible," the USCCB website states. "But 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."

The USCCB has asked Catholics to sign the Cabrini Pledge as "a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events." 

At the press conference this morning, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the political violence "has to stop," recalling that the incident is the third shooting in Texas in the last few months against ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

"To politicians demanding ICE agents be doxxed: 'Stop!' Cruz said. "We disagree, and that's part of the [political] process in America, but your political opponents are not Nazis." 

Cruz called for prayer for the safety of law enforcement, "who risk their lives to keep us alive," and for the victims and their families. 

"Violence has no place, it is wrong," Cruz continued. He said debates about immigration can occur in the "halls of Congress, without demonizing each other, and especially not demonizing the men and women who keep us safe."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a social media post this morning said the state "fully supports ICE," saying the incident "will not slow our arrest, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants."

He also said the state would work with local police and ICE to discover the shooter's motive.

According to a CNN analysis of ICE data from a research group affiliated with the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, the ICE facility in Dallas generally holds "several dozen" detainees at a time. It held more than 8,000 temporarily detained persons over the first six months of the Trump administration (according to the analyzed data, which ran through the end of July).

Most of the facility's detainees were kept in hold rooms for less than a day, or an average of 14 hours, before being moved to longer-term detention centers or other ICE facilities.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288668&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 24, 2025 / 18:08 pm (CNA).

Opposition is mounting against Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich's decision to honor U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, with a "lifetime achievement award" for his work surrounding immigration policy despite his long pro-abortion voting record. 

Following Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois' denunciation of the decision, additional bishops have followed suit in speaking out against the upcoming ceremony honoring Durbin, scheduled to take place in November. 

Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is among those criticizing Cupich's plan, writing: "The Archdiocese of Chicago's plan to give [Durbin] a Catholic 'Lifetime Achievement Award' is untenable." 

"Works of justice & protecting life are not mutually exclusive but must be inclusive," Ricken continued, adding: "I join [Paprocki] & [Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone] in urging [Cupich] to retract this award. Let us together pray & act consistently for life!" 

Ricken's statement comes on the heels of similar remarks by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, who spoke out against Cupich's plan earlier this week. 

"I stand in solidarity with Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, in urging Cardinal Cupich to reconsider giving Senator Durbin a Lifetime Achievement Award through the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity given his long record of supporting legal abortion," Cordileone wrote. 

"Bishop Paprocki, who is Senator Dick Durbin's bishop, has expressed shock that the archdiocese plans to honor Senator Durbin who, although a self-professed Catholic, supports access to abortion so radically that he has even opposed legislation to protect babies born after an attempted abortion," Cordileone continued. "Bishop Paprocki is correct that both clarity and unity are at risk. 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."

In a subsequent post, Cordileone added: "Imagine this: A prominent member of the U.S. Senate has a very strong record on defending the human dignity of life in the womb but also advocates for funding for Border Patrol agents to shoot people trying to enter the country illegally. Would anyone think it reasonable to honor such a senator for the senator's pro-life record on abortion? No one who advocates for the direct, intentional killing of innocent human life should be honored. Period."

"I pray for the good of the Church this award is not given to Senator Durbin and the scandal it will likely cause the faithful is avoided," Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, chimed in on Tuesday, noting that he was also "shocked and bewildered" to learn of Cupich's plan to honor Durbin. 

"The senator's public record has been consistently pro-abortion and he has opposed any protections or safeguards for unborn children in the womb, even to the point of rejecting legislation to protect children who survive failed abortions," Conley wrote. "That goes against the fundamental moral principles of the Catholic Church. It seems to me there is still time to reconsider this decision."

Meanwhile, Bishop James Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, expressed his support for the position taken by Paprocki, thanking the Springfield bishop for his First Things op-ed in a social media post on Wednesday morning. Wall quoted St. John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae in a post linking to the article: "Man's life comes from God; it is his gift, his image and imprint, a sharing in his breath of life. God therefore is the sole Lord of this life: Man cannot do with it as he wills."

Cupich offered a defense of his decision in a Sept. 22 statement, writing: "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.'"

"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 continued. 

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," he said.

Durbin has been prohibited from receiving the Eucharist in what has been previously reported as his home Diocese of Springfield, Illinois — the state capital — since 2004 due to his pro-abortion voting record. In his statement, Cupich claimed that Durbin had transferred to the Archdiocese of Chicago "some years ago." 

Prominent pro-life leaders have also weighed in. Live Action President Lila Rose condemned the plan to award Durbin, writing: "This is shameful. The blood of innocent children cries out."

Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins also addressed Cupich in a post on Tuesday, asking the Chicago cardinal: "If a politician had spent decades voting against laws to stop the live dismemberment of African Americans, Jews, or other minority group in America, would you still give him a lifetime achievement award … citing his 'good' votes on other issues?"

"I don't think so," she said, adding: "You are treating preborn children as less than full persons."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288665&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Puebla, Mexico, Sep 24, 2025 / 15:57 pm (CNA).

The Diocese of Tlaxcala, the oldest in Mexico, is commemorating the quincentennial of its canonical establishment with a 500-hour period of continuous Eucharistic adoration before the Blessed Sacrament as an expression of gratitude and renewal of faith.

The initiative began on Sept. 12 and will conclude on Oct. 3, with the hours being distributed among the 93 churches that make up the seven deaneries of the diocese. Each deanery is responsible for 50 hours of adoration.

A statement noted that the objective of the activity is to spiritually prepare for the celebration of the jubilee of the 500th anniversary "as a form of thanksgiving and renewal of faith."

Parish priests, vicars, and community leaders are also invited to promote the initiative during Sunday Masses and encourage families, parish groups, and the faithful in general "to join in this moment of unity around Christ."

This period of adoration is part of the commemorative program for the five centuries of the diocese's existence. At a Sept. 23 press conference, the diocese announced that a jubilee Mass will be held on Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. local time at the Conciliar Seminary of Our Lady of Ocotlán, celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, apostolic nuncio to Mexico.

During the ceremony, a replica of the image Our Lady of Guadalupe will be presented along with three palm branches in memory of the Holy Children Martyrs, a heart symbolizing Mary's maternal love under her title of Our Lady of Ocotlán, and the sending off on mission of more than 1,000 catechists. Parish Masses will be canceled on that day so that the entire community can participate in the solemn jubilee Mass.

It was also reported that the official blessing and consecration of the Holy Cathedral of Tlaxcala — a former Franciscan convent dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2021 — will take place on Oct. 13. Although the church has historically functioned as a cathedral, it had never been formally dedicated. The ceremony will also be conducted by the apostolic nuncio.

The first diocese in Mexico

The website of the Diocese of Tlaxcala notes that the diocese was the first episcopal see established on the mainland of New Spain. Although Pope Leo X established the diocese of Yucatán in 1519, it was never consolidated due to the scarcity of the population. 

The history of the diocese began with the arrival of the first evangelizers: "When the Spanish arrived on the American continent, they brought the Catholic faith with them. Along with Hernán Cortés, Friar Bartolomé de Olmedo and the cleric Juan Díaz arrived, who celebrated the first Mass in New Spain in the lands of what is now Mexico, in 1519," the website explains.

It wasn't until 1527 that the Dominican friar Julián Garcés arrived in Tlaxcala, took possession of the Franciscan monastery, and formally established the episcopal see in the Church of the Assumption.

Although the see was later moved to the state of Puebla, Tlaxcala retains its historical roots. After centuries of changes and the temporary loss of the diocese's name, Pope John XXIII reinstated the current diocese in 1959.

The diocese's faithful celebrate its history and mission annually, giving thanks "for the gift of life and to Mary for her intercession on behalf of this people who love her," the diocese website states. 

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

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288661&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

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 Comprehensive Agreement. "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."

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

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288658&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 24, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

At age 94 and with seven decades of priesthood behind him, Catalan priest Father José Giner, who has lived in Ecuador for 70 years, said he doesn't feel like a teacher but rather like a "disciple."

"At this age, I don't feel like a teacher at all: I'm still a disciple. I don't want to be a 'has-been priest'; that's why I strive to keep up to date; I read a lot, and I ask young people to correct me," he said in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

Giner surprises many with his vitality: He starts the day with a cold shower, does exercises, plays pingpong, watches sports, reads, and spends time woodworking, where he creates religious art. And, most importantly, he said he celebrates Mass twice a day.

"I'm a very ordinary man, but with something wonderful: Christ, who is the true sun. I'm a poor 94-year-old man — that's my true description. The essential thing is that I am a priest for eternity, and everything else is secondary. I believe the goal of life is to work for God and allow his goodness to penetrate us completely," he said.

"I think very little about myself because I was always taught to value and appreciate others. With these values, I say, 'Lord, I contribute very little,' but what matters is what I can give as a priest," he explained.

The priest, a member of Opus Dei who belongs to St. Josemaría Church in Guayaquil, also highlighted the fraternity he shares with his brother priests. In total, he has 15-20 priest friends, all from the apostolate, who meet frequently to read, play guitar, sing, and share lunch. He emphasized that it is an atmosphere of unity and fraternity.

The secret to his health

Giner said he exercises every day. "It's important, and doctors always recommend it. Also — although it may seem funny — I have an electric skateboard. Sometimes I use it near my house; people laugh when they see me, and I say, 'Bye, bye!' because I'm so happy," he shared with a laugh.

"I also read a lot. I have a very sharp mind and I like to read scientists, important authors, and also novelists. I never say 'I'm tired'; on the contrary, I think you have to walk and move. Thanks to that, I feel very agile: I walk calmly, I move without problems. Sometimes my body aches — it's natural — but I feel that God gives me the grace to stay on my feet. That's the strength that sustains me," he explained.

However, he said the most important thing in his daily life is celebrating Mass and praying: "I celebrate Mass every day, always. The most important thing is that I have tried to pray a lot. I have prayers to maintain my inner peace, and God has given me a very contemplative life. I spend all day talking to the Lord."

The priest said that when he raises his gaze to heaven, he asks God: "Give me, Lord, your light: Give it to this neighborhood, to these girls and boys, to all who need it. Grant them the fire of the Holy Spirit, because that is what sets us on fire and gives us life." 

"Everything else is fleeting, something external," he added.

St. Josemaría Escrivá invited him to become a priest

Giner, originally from Barcelona, ??Spain, arrived in Ecuador 70 years ago and considers it his spiritual home. "Sometimes I travel, but my life is here, in Guayaquil. I have worked in schools like Torremar, always in contact with young people. That has been a wonderful part of my life, because being with young people gives you special strength."

His vocation emerged in adolescence, when he discovered Opus Dei. "At 17, I asked to be admitted to the [apostolate]. Later, in Rome, I had the grace of meeting St. Josemaría Escrivá personally and lived with him for three years. He was a true father to me, and that helped me to make that final gift of myself to my priestly vocation."

It was St. Josemaría himself who asked Giner if he wanted to be a priest and told him it was "the greatest celebration a man can experience in this world." For Giner, that call meant serving God and contributing to making the world a better place.

"Then I came to Ecuador, where I have served for so many years. I am a theologian, I completed all my studies, but beyond academic knowledge, the important thing is the wisdom to live the faith day by day," he said.

Priests, 'a country's treasure'

For 25 years, Giner was a judicial vicar in Ecuador, an experience he said he values ??for his accompaniment of other priests. "That has given me great inner peace, because I deeply love and value my brother priests. For me, they are 'a country's treasure.' If there are no priests in a country, we are facing an immense catastrophe."

What brings him the greatest joy when looking back on his life is knowing that in his 70 years of priesthood, "there have been so many people who have converted, so many people who have drawn closer to God… So many souls I have been able to accompany… And there are wonderful things that, I believe, remain between God and oneself."

"They call me at any time, even if I'm having lunch or dinner, and I drop everything to hear a confession. Why? Because I believe that a soul is worth much more than anything we have around us. And that gives me great joy," he added.

Message to the new generations

Amid his reflections, the priest had special words for young people. "I tell young people: Be faithful, because God gives you the grace."

"I ask people, and especially priests, to be very faithful, very real, joyful, happy, and spiritual; to be steeped in the Bible and pedagogy, and to understand that they are a fundamental pillar of a country's culture and tradition," he noted.

Giner reiterated that if there were a lack of priests, the world would become "a dark, almost frozen place." 

"That's why I insist: The important thing is to be faithful. That fidelity is what sustains the Church and illuminates the world," he said.

"The priesthood is forever: It brings joy, divine happiness, and, above all, a totally full life… People seek a full life; the priest embodies it because, in a certain sense, it is a participation in Christ, in the Holy Spirit; it is a vocation that lasts," he added.

A critical moment for the Church

Giner said he believes a profound moral crisis began in 1968, symbolized by the Sorbonne University motto "It Is Forbidden to Forbid." For him, the slogan paved the way for a cultural and spiritual decline that has deepened in recent decades.

"The change has been immense," he said. "Young people today are often unpunctual, superficial, and lack a sense of responsibility. But I try to adapt to that world and, at the same time, elevate it."

He emphasized that, despite the current challenges, he trusts in the Church's fidelity: "God's hands are not closed to his love or mercy. He continues to illuminate us like the golden rays of the sun."

"Today we are at a critical moment for the Church, but it is also an opportunity that God gives us to draw closer to him. If there is anything that truly needs to be saved in the world, it is the Church and the peace of God. Everything else is fleeting, it goes away like smoke," he said.

Regarding the future, he has confidence: "Many are afraid, but I say: 'Why?' Every century has had its own fears, but the future is in God's hands. This gives fantastic sensibility and profound peace."

Looking back and reflecting on his mission in life, he said: "Seventy years is like watching the leaves fall from a tree. You can't stand still, because day by day God's will is fulfilled." 

He concluded: "The important thing, in the end, is to always seek the meaning of the life that God has given us."

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

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=288657&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

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."

Full Article