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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 26, 2024 / 16:10 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis called for an end to global production and use of anti-personnel explosives in a message delivered at an international summit on abolishing landmines, one week after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of American land mines in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

"Conflicts are a failure of humanity to live as a single human family," the Holy Father expressed in his letter, which was read by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin at the Fifth Review Conference on the Convention of Anti-Personnel Landmines in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

"These treacherous devices continue to cause terrible suffering to civilians, especially children," he added. 

The International Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, is an international agreement to end the production and use of anti-personnel mines that went into force in March 1999. One hundred and sixty-four state parties have formally agreed to abide by the agreement, including Ukraine. 

The pope "urges all states that have not yet done so to accede to the convention, and in the meantime to cease immediately the production and use of land mines," Parolin stated to the delegation. 

The United States, Russia, and China are among the 33 states which have not yet agreed to abide by the agreement. 

Francis also appealed to countries that have already entered into the agreement, urging them to renew their commitment to end use of the explosives, stressing that any delays in doing so "will inevitably increase the human cost." 

The Holy Father's urgent appeal to the convention comes one week after President Biden approved the provision of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, in order to bolster its defense against Russian advances in the east. 

Biden's move to authorize the controversial explosives follows closely his decision to give Ukraine permission to fire long-range American missiles at Russia. The Kremlin has responded by lowering the threshold in which it would use its nuclear arsenal. 

The Pope this week further recognized the work of the land mine conference, and all of those dedicated to ending use of land mines, as well as those who assist victims' families.

The Holy Father prayed that the objectives of the conference inspired by the treaty "may become an important step towards a world free of landmines and ensure a truly integral and restorative assistance to victims." 

Francis himself delivered a similar pro-peace message at an event on the same day, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Argentina and Chile. 

"We do well to commemorate those intense negotiations that, with papal mediation, avoided the armed conflict about to set two brother peoples against each other and concluded with a dignified, reasonable and equitable solution," the Holy Father said in his address. 

"In this regard, how can I not refer to the many ongoing armed conflicts that remain still unresolved, despite the fact that they cause immense sufferings for the countries at war and the entire human family," Francis said, further rebuking countries "where there is much talk of peace [but where] the highest yielding investments are in the production of arms."

"I simply mention two failures of humanity today: Ukraine and Palestine, where people are suffering, where the arrogance of the invader prevails over dialogue," he told the delegation. Francis has been vocal in his opposition to the ongoing conflicts in both regions since their respective beginnings.

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CNA Staff, Nov 26, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

When Georgetown Law student Brittany Lovely, who is scheduled to give birth in December, shortly before final exams, asked for permission to take her test early, late, or remotely, the answer she got from the Catholic university was a flat denial. 

Citing university policy, the school's administrators told Lovely that granting her accommodations would be "inequitable to other non-birthing students in her class," she told the Washington Post. 

"Motherhood is not for the faint of heart," she said she was told. Her was given a choice: she could either take the exam soon after childbirth with her newborn or fail and request to withdraw from the class. Even when her doctor weighed in, calling Lovely's request both "reasonable and necessary," the law school refused to budge. 

Only after students banded together to organize a petition, which quickly went viral, did Lovely get permission to schedule her exam ahead of the birth of her baby.  

Lovely said in a letter shared with CNA that she has "finally received the accommodations I've been requesting for months for my upcoming finals," but shared her fear that other pregnant students may face similar challenges with the administration. 

The university changed its exam accommodations and deferral policy "for this semester only," Lovely explained. She requested that the university "make a public commitment to reforming its policies regarding accommodations moving forward," she noted in the letter. 

"They agreed to work with me on a just and equitable policy agenda for pregnant, childbearing, and childrearing students in the coming months," Lovely said of Georgetown Law.

A university spokesperson confirmed with CNA that the administration "reached a mutually agreeable solution" with Lovely. The university declined to comment on the specifics of Lovely's case. 

"Georgetown is committed to providing a caring, supportive environment for pregnant and parenting students," the spokesperson said, noting that Georgetown provides resources for students "while they are pregnant or parenting including pregnancy-related adjustments from the Office of Title IX Compliance, and disability accommodations from our Academic Resource Center."

But for Lovely, "the fight is not over yet." 

"No student should be forced to choose between their education, health, or the health of their family," she said. "My classmates and I will continue advocating until it is certain Georgetown Law does not force any students to make that choice again."  

At Georgetown Law, only the Office of Registrar has the power to grant exam deferrals and exam rescheduling for finals, not the professor. 

Georgetown Law will consider exam deferrals for several reasons, including "childbirth during the exam period or immediately preceding the exam period," according to its website. The administration will also consider deferrals for physical or mental illness, a death in the family, car accidents, religious observance, military commitment, and other "extraordinary circumstances." 

But according to Lovely, she is not the only one who has faced challenges getting accommodations. 

Peers and alumni "have shared their own horror stories of trying to get reasonable accommodations at Georgetown Law for their childbirth, medical emergencies, and disabilities, only to be offered a generalized solution of more time for an exam," Lovely said. "They have told me the callous responses to their requests during their most vulnerable times."

"As I have said from the beginning, this was never just about me — this is about all pregnant, childbearing, and childrearing students and about all students with disabilities or those needing accommodations, present and future," Lovely said. 

A moral duty 

Lovely's classmates launched the petition on her behalf last week, stating that "Georgetown Law has a legal and moral duty to support pregnant students during the regular school year or finals." 

Post-partum recovery usually takes about six weeks after childbirth. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, "the weeks following birth are a critical period for a woman and her infant, setting the stage for long-term health and well-being." Childbirth often comes with medical challenges that require a long recovery, especially if a woman faces medical issues such as tearing or Cesarean section. 

"Georgetown Law suggested Brittany bring her days-old child to campus a few days after birth, with minimal recovery, to take the exam with more time so she can breastfeed her newborn baby during the exam," the petition noted. "They told her, 'Motherhood is not for the Faint of Heart.'" 

Newborn babies need to be fed every two to three hours and are more susceptible to germs as their immune systems are not fully developed, meaning they are at a higher risk of developing infections. Few babies are born on their exact due date, and physicians often advise that parents avoid bringing their newborn to crowded places. 

Based in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University is a Jesuit university and the first Catholic higher education institution in the United States. According to its website, Georgetown University aims to approach education from the central Jesuit tenet of "cura personalis," a Latin phrase meaning "care of the whole person." 

One alum, Max Siegel II, argued that the administration's refusal of Lovely's accommodation "contradicts this fundamental value." 

"Cura Personalis calls on us to provide care and individualized attention to each person, respecting their unique circumstances and concerns," Siegel said in a post in which he urged students to sign the petition. Siegel heads the Student Bar Association, the law school's student government. 

The Catholic Church teaches the importance of the "Life and Dignity of the Human Person," one of seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching. "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception," according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2270).

In line with this teaching, some Catholic colleges such as Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and the University of Mary in North Dakota offer maternity housing programs for student mothers. UMary's maternity home program made headlines last year after its first student mom graduated with her daughter. 

In addition to concerns that the administration's attitude goes against the university's Jesuit Catholic values, supporters of Lovely said that Georgetown's decision violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination against women in higher education institutions that receive public funding. 

Siegel, and the student-led petition, noted that the administration "fails to meet the requirements of Title IX, which ensures a fair and equitable educational environment for all students." 

"Title IX prohibits education institutions from discriminating against students based on sex, including current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions," the petition noted. "An accommodation is not unreasonable and must be offered by the school unless it 'fundamentally alters' the nature of its program." 

Lovely said she was particularly concerned that Georgetown cited equity as a reason for denying pregnancy accommodations. 

"I want to make it clear — an inequitable policy, for example, is one that forces me (or any student) to spend time fightingfor a basic right under the law rather than preparing for my finals like the rest of my peers," she said. "An equitable policy is one where no student has to go to these great lengths  again to receive reasonable accommodations." 

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ACI Africa, Nov 26, 2024 / 11:19 am (CNA).

Father Thomas Oleghe, the oldest priest in Nigeria has passed away at the age of 104.

Oleghe died in the early hours of Nov. 24, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the bishop of the Diocese of Auchi announced in a statement.

"With gratitude to God for a life well lived on earth I hereby inform you of the passage of the Rt. Rev. MSGR Thomas Oleghe the oldest Catholic priest in Nigeria as of today, to the great beyond at about 2.30 a.m. this morning on the 24th of November, 2024," Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia wrote in the statement.

The bishop announced that the funeral for Oleghe will be Nov. 27. 

"May his lovely and gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen," Dunia prayed.

Born in February 1920, Oleghe was ordained a priest in December 1957. He served in various parishes in the Auchi diocese including St. John The Apostle Igarra Parish where he initiated reforms that laid the foundations of the glorious status of the church today.

In a statement, the former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki eulogized Oleghe as a "great missionary of the Catholic faith."

"I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of the oldest Catholic priest in Nigeria, Msgr. Thomas Oleghe," Obaseki said.

"He was a dedicated and compassionate priest who worked for the growth of the Christian faith and the development of his community. He remained an inspiration to many and a model that a lot of young people looked up to," he said.

"I celebrate his impactful service to God and humanity, working and commend his work in the Lord's vineyard in Edo State, where he served for many years promoting peace and development," Obaseki added.

Commiserating with Bishop Dunia and the entire Nigerian Catholic community Obaseki prayed that "God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss."

Meanwhile, the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, expressed sorrow over the passing of the priest. 

In a statement, Oshiomhole described Oleghe as a "paragon of priestly humility and a steadfast champion of Christian values." 

He said the late Catholic priest's life was a "shining testament to the virtues of faith, humility, and devotion."

"His transition is a profound loss, not just to our diocese but to the nation at large. Even as we mourn him, we are comforted by the assurance that his impactful life resonated with God, who blessed him with longevity before calling him to eternal rest," Oshiomhole said.

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, CNA's African news partner, and has been adapted for CNA.

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CNA Newsroom, Nov 25, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, a Spanish-born prelate and prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, died today aged 72 after a long illness.

Pope Francis asked for prayers for the cardinal earlier this morning, telling an international Jain delegation at the Vatican that the cardinal was "very ill, near the end of his life."

A respected expert in Islam, Ayuso devoted much of his career to promoting dialogue with the Muslim religion and played a key role in Pope Francis' "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together," signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

He took part in Pope Francis' historic visits to Muslim-majority nations, first as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and after October 2019, as the dicastery's prefect.

The visits included the UAE and Morocco in 2019, and then, as dicastery prefect, to Iraq in 2021, and Kazakhstan and Bahrain in 2022. The Vatican said he "remained active in his mission until health challenges overtook him."

Born on June 17, 1952, in Seville, Spain, Ayuso came from a large, devout Catholic family and was the fifth of nine children.

He initially studied law at the University of Seville but felt called to religious life. In 1973, he joined the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, taking his perpetual vows in 1980. He was ordained a priest the same year. He pursued further ecclesiastical education in Rome, obtaining a licentiate from the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI) in 1982 and later a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the University of Granada in 2000.

Following his studies, Ayuso embarked on missionary work in Egypt and Sudan from 1982 to 2002. During this time, he served as a parish priest in Cairo and directed a catechetical center in the diocese of El-Obeid, Sudan. His academic career flourished as he taught Islamology in Khartoum from 1989 and later in Cairo. In 2006, he became the president of PISAI in Rome, solidifying his reputation as an expert in Islamic studies.

Ayuso's expertise in interreligious dialogue led to his appointment as a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 2007. His career in the Vatican progressed rapidly: In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named him Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; in 2016, Pope Francis appointed him archbishop and Titular Bishop of Luperciana; in 2019, he was named President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and in October that same year, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal.

One of Ayuso's most significant achievements was his role in resuming dialogue with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of Cairo's Al-Azhar University.

Renowned as Islam's most prestigious institution for Islamic learning, Al-Azhar suspended dialogue with the Vatican in 2011 on the grounds that Pope Benedict XVI had made "repetitive and negative statements" about Muslims.

Ayuso's brokered reconciliation culminated in the landmark but controversial "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together," signed in Abu Dhabi in February 2019 by Pope Francis and el-Tayeb. The cardinal had also represented the Holy See on the board of directors of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) since its founding in 2012.

In response to critics concerned about the Vatican's current course of interreligious dialogue and its alleged tendency toward syncretism, he emphasized that interreligious dialogue and initiatives like the "Document on Human Fraternity" were not about creating a "melting pot" where all religions were considered equal. Instead, he argued it was about recognizing "that all believers, those who seek God, and all people of good will without religious affiliation are equal in dignity."

He asserted that the Catholic Church always engages in interreligious dialogue while remembering "the value of her own identity." Ayuso also noted that pluralism in societies invites reflection on one's own identity, "without which authentic interreligious dialogue is impossible."

Responding to criticism that the "Document on Human Fraternity" could lead to syncretism, he reiterated that each faith retains its own identity in these dialogues, and used the metaphor of a "rich mixed salad" to describe how different faiths can come together while maintaining their distinct identities.

In 2023, Cardinal Ayuso strongly endorsed the Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi designed to promote mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, and interfaith dialogue among Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The cardinal said the complex, which opened in 2023, was a "beacon of mutual understanding" and that he believed it could foster mutual respect and understanding while allowing each faith to maintain its distinct identity. Critics argued that the initiative fostered religious indifferentism and was theologically unsound.

Vatican News said Nov. 25 that Cardinal Ayuso "embodied Pope Francis' vision of fraternity," as outlined in the 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers), and that through his "tireless dedication to dialogue, he demonstrated that peaceful coexistence among diverse faiths is both possible and necessary."

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Vatican City, Nov 25, 2024 / 17:40 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis presided over a solemn event Monday at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Argentina and Chile that settled a border dispute between the two countries.

The pontiff denounced the hypocrisy of some countries "where there is much talk of peace" but "the highest yielding investments are in the production of arms." 

This pharisaical attitude, he continued, always leads "to the failure of fraternity and peace. May the international community make the force of law prevail through dialogue, for dialogue "must be the soul of the international community."

The agreement between Chile and Argentina resolved the crisis caused by a territorial dispute over the Beagle Channel and sovereignty over several islands. The Vatican played an essential role in this peace agreement after St. John Paul II sent Cardinal Antonio Samorè as mediator, who worked out the agreement between both nations, avoiding an armed conflict.

Speaking before the authorities and the diplomatic corps of both countries, among whom were the Argentine ambassador to the Holy See, Luis Pablo Beltramino and the Chilean foreign minister, Alberto van Klaveren, Pope Francis praised the papal mediation that avoided the conflict that was "about to set two brother peoples against each other."

In his speech, the Holy Father proposed this agreement as a model to imitate, while renewing his call for peace and dialogue in the face of current conflicts, where "recourse to force" prevails.

Mediating role of St. John Paul II 

He recalled in particular the mediation of St. John Paul II, who from the first days of his pontificate showed great concern and demonstrated a constant effort not only to prevent the dispute between Argentina and Chile "from degenerating into a disgraceful armed conflict," but also to find "the way to definitively resolve this dispute."

The pontiff noted that after receiving the request of both governments "accompanied by concrete and stringent commitments," St. Pope John Paul II agreed to mediate the conflict with the aim of proposing "a just and equitable, and therefore honorable solution."

For Pope Francis, this agreement deserves to be proposed "in the current world situation, in which so many conflicts persist and degenerate without an effective will to resolve them through the absolute exclusion of recourse to force or the threat of its use."

The pope recalled the words of Benedict XVI on the 25th anniversary of the treaty, who said that the agreement "is a shining example of the power of the human spirit and the desire for peace in the face of the barbarity and senselessness of violence and war as a means of resolving differences."

For the Holy Father, this is "a most timely example" of how it is necessary to persevere at all times with "firm determination to the final consequences in an endeavor to resolve disputes with a real desire for dialogue and agreement, through patient negotiation and with the necessary compromises, always taking into account the just requirements and legitimate interests of all."

In conclusion, Pope Francis described what is happening in Ukraine and Palestine as "two failures" of humanity today where the "arrogance of the invader prevails over dialogue."

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, Nov 25, 2024 / 18:15 pm (CNA).

The release of Season 5 of the hit series "The Chosen" was announced Nov. 25 by 5&2 Studios. "The Chosen: Last Supper" is coming to theaters during Lent, in the weeks leading up to Easter.

Season 5, which focuses on the events of Holy Week, will bring the most important week in history to viewers in a special theatrical release. During a four-week run in theaters, all episodes of Season 5 will be released in three parts starting with part one, episodes 1 and 2, to be released on March 27. Part two, episodes 3, 4, and 5, and part three, episodes 6, 7, and 8, will be released in the weeks following. 

Beginning April 10, "The Chosen: Last Supper" will also be released in theaters globally in over 40 countries including Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Poland, Philippines, United Kingdom, and India. 

After the full-season run in theaters concludes, the season will make its streaming debut. 

The newly released trailer begins with a glimpse of Jesus and the disciples during The Last Supper and teases other powerful moments including Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, and Judas' betrayal. 

Earlier this year at ChosenCon, the annual "Chosen" fan convention in Orlando, CNA spoke with several of the cast members about the upcoming season of the popular show. 

Dallas Jenkins, the show's creator, director, and writer, told CNA that Season 5 is "sad at times; it's actually heartbreaking at times because we know we're getting closer and closer to the cross … We're going to get to see some iconic moments from Scripture, but we're also going to, I believe, be drawn closer to who Jesus was because of his suffering."

Ryan Swanson, one of the writers of "The Chosen," added that Season 5 is "truly going to feel like a different kind of series. After Season 4's dread and doom and foreshadowing, this is when the wick is lit."

"We have stepped up our game in every aspect," Luke Dimyan, the actor who portrays Judas Iscariot, said. "The filmmaking, the production, the cameras we used. We even felt it on set — the way we scheduled and we worked — everybody was on their A game. So I think you'll be able to see that on screen and I think you're really going to like what you see. We put our all into this."

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CNA Staff, Nov 24, 2024 / 15:25 pm (CNA).

A bishop in Illinois has halted in his diocese a traveling tour of a relic of St. Jude following an "incident" that allegedly took place between a visiting priest and several students.

A statement from Father Michael Lane and Father Gregory Alberts at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Joliet, Illinois, said that on Thursday of this week the parish hosted the arm of St. Jude as part of the relic's ongoing tour throughout the United States.

A priest with the Canadian order Companions of the Cross was overseeing the relic's visit through the "Treasures of the Church" ministry, the statement said.

During the visit, "an incident with the priest and some students was reported to have happened in our church," it continued.

"We immediately contacted the police," the priests said. "A police investigation is still ongoing. The priest was confronted with the information. We informed the priest that he must depart from our parish and out of our diocese."

The priests subsequently canceled the remainder of the relic's visit, they said. They further informed Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks, who "canceled the tour of the relic scheduled at two more of our parishes this week."

The bishop "also informed the superior of the Companions of the Cross Order of priests" of the incident.

"All involved in this incident are safe," the priests wrote.

The statement did not identify the priest by name, though the Pillar on Saturday evening reported that the priest was Father Carlos Martins, the director of Treasures of the Church. The ministry said last August that Martins would be leading the St. Jude relic tour throughout the United States.

CNA could not immediately confirm whether Martins was the priest referenced in the statement. Reached by CNA on Sunday afternoon, Martins declined to comment.

Treasures of the Church is based out of Michigan. It identifies itself as a "ministry of evangelization of the Catholic Church" that exists "to give people an experience of the living God through an encounter with the relics of his saints in the form of an exposition."

Martins is also known for his ministry as an exorcist. The podcast "The Exorcist Files," hosted by Martins and Ryan Bethea, topped the charts last year with what are claimed to be dramatic reenactments of the priest's case files.

This is a developing story.

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ACI MENA, Nov 24, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Following the second meeting between Pope Francis and Mar Awa III, ACI Mena, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, conducted an exclusive interview with the catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East to discuss the significance of Pope Francis' decision to include St. Isaac of Nineveh in the Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church.

Welcoming Pope Francis' decision to include St. Isaac of Nineveh, a revered seventh-century mystic and theologian of the Assyrian Church, in the Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church, Mar Awa III called it "a very positive step in ecumenical relations between the Assyrian and Catholic churches." 

"This recognition, along with that of other saints and martyrs from non-Catholic Eastern churches, is a commendable step toward sincere ecumenical relations," he said.

The patriarch stressed the spiritual importance of this decision, saying: "The saints and martyrs provide us with what is called an 'ecumenism of spirituality.' Their lives and teachings have the unique ability to transcend ecclesiastical and doctrinal boundaries and unite believers in common respect."

Progress in theological dialogue

Reflecting on three decades of theological dialogue since the signing of the Common Christological Declaration, Mar Awa commended the relationship between the Assyrian and Catholic churches as one of the most successful in ecumenical history.

"Unlike other divisions within Christianity, there were no formal condemnations or excommunications between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church," he explained.

"The 1994 declaration dispelled the misunderstandings arising from the Council of Ephesus in 431, clarified the theological positions, and paved the way for greater understanding," he added.

Mar Awa also pointed to the significant role of the historical context in fostering further unity.

"The role of the bishop of Rome must be redefined in a united church within a way that respects the patristic tradition of the first millennium. Such an approach could provide a solid foundation for future dialogue," he said.

A call for unity amid persecution

Addressing the current challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East, the patriarch called for solidarity among churches. 

"It is essential for all Christian churches, especially in the Middle East, to come together and put aside theological differences and arguments," he said, advocating for unity to confront the challenges of persecution and displacement.

Mar Awa expressed hope that the inclusion of St. Isaac would serve as an inspiration for Christians in the region.

"Through the testimony of saints like St. Isaac, we remember our common faith and the strength it provides, even in the face of suffering and adversity," he said.

A bridge to deeper unity

Mar Awa highlighted the power of shared spirituality in fostering unity.

"Spirituality is a source of bringing churches closer together because saints transcend the doctrinal or ecclesiastical divide," he said. "The Lord's Prayer, for example, unites us, regardless of language, because it is Our Lord's teaching to all believers."

He also noted the cooperation between the Catholic and Assyrian churches in areas such as education and humanitarian efforts but called for further initiatives to address historical divisions.

"It is necessary to strengthen cooperation among believers and heal the memories of the past, so that we can come together," he concluded.

The Assyrian Church of the East

The Assyrian Church of the East traces its origins to the Apostolic Age, specifically to the evangelization efforts of St. Thomas and his disciples St. Addai and St. Mari in Mesopotamia. The church in this region of the world has endured centuries of persecution and displacement, particularly in the modern Middle East. Today, the global Assyrian Church of the East has approximately 500,000 members. 

Mar Awa III, a first-generation Assyrian American, was born in Chicago and was elected as the 122nd catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East in 2021. He is the first Western-born patriarch of the Assyrian Church.

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

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CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2024 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Castletown Media, the production company behind the new film "Roadmap to Reality: Carlo Acutis and Our Digital Age," has announced that the National Eucharistic Congress Inc. and the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame have become official partners for the upcoming documentary exploring the life of the Catholic Church's first millennial saint.

"The National Eucharistic Congress is passionate about reigniting devotion to the Eucharist in this country, and when we shared the project with them they were thrilled insofar as how this film really resonates with that mission," the director of the new Acutis film and founder of Castletown Media, Tim Moriarty, told CNA in an interview.

In a press release, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, chair of the National Eucharistic Revival who appears in the film, said: "Soon-to-be St. Carlo Acutis is a modern apostle who can inspire young people to discover the incredible gift of the Eucharist. Carlo is the model for the kind of Eucharistic missionary we, as bishops, hope every Catholic will become."

Meanwhile, the McGrath Institute, known for its work partnering with Catholics parishes, dioceses, and schools to offer resources and materials to address pastoral challenges, will be offering its expertise to the film's production by developing educational materials for parishes and schools based on themes found in the documentary.

Moriarty explained that they began speaking with the McGrath Institute when they began to cover the issue of technology and the impact it's having on young people while making the film. They interviewed several members of the McGrath team and realized that together they could "do more good." 

As partners, the McGrath Institute will specifically be creating material for youth preparing for their first Communion by helping them "understand what the Eucharist is at a time in their lives where screen addiction becomes increasingly problematic," Moriarty explained.

On Nov. 20, Pope Francis announced the canonization date of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which will take place on April 27, 2025, during the Church's Jubilee of Teenagers. Moriarty called this announcement "providential" as the film will be in theaters in time for the canonization. 

"Roadmap to Reality" explores the life of Carlo Acutis and the lessons he offers young people regarding the challenges of the digital world. The documentary blends live action, animation, and documentary-style interviews with Acutis' family, friends, tech experts, and scholars to tackle urgent questions about artificial intelligence and the technological world we live in.

"One of the themes in the film is that he [Acutis] was online to lead people offline," Moriarty shared. "He was online to lead people back to the Eucharist, back to real encounters, and he's a great model for us."

"I think what Carlo did in his life was to show us that yes, we have to be engaging online, sharing the Gospel online, but we have to do it in a way where we don't lose touch with the incarnational reality, which is fully present to us in the Eucharist, which is that real substantial presence. I think there's something in that that is very powerful and for me has been really moving and healing the more I try to follow Carlo's example," Moriarty concluded.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 23, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The major relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, "The Angelic Doctor," are on tour and scheduled to make a stop in Washington, D.C., next weekend as part of the commemoration of the 700th anniversary of his canonization. 

Members of the faithful will be able to venerate the relics, including his skull, on two separate occasions: first at St. Dominic's Church on Friday, Nov. 29, and then again on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Dominican House of Studies. The event is co-sponsored by the Thomistic Institute. 

"In a time of renewed interest in the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the jubilees of his canonization (700 years in 2023), death (750 years in 2024), and birth (800 years in 2025) draw our attention to the masterwork of wisdom and sanctity which God wrought in him," Father Gregory Pine, OP, assistant director at the Thomistic Institute, said in a press release. 

"The opportunity that we have to receive and venerate his relics makes this grace all the more proximate and precious to us," Pine added.

Friday's event will begin at 12:10 p.m. with a solemn Mass celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, followed by an opportunity to venerate the relics of the revered theologian and philosopher from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be solemn vespers at 5:30 p.m. and night prayer at 6:45 p.m. with a Marian procession to follow. 

On Saturday, the Dominican House of Studies will begin the day with solemn lauds and a votive Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas at 7:30 a.m., and veneration of the relics will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pine will also preach at 3 p.m. that day. 

"'Get wisdom, get understanding' (Prv 4:5). One way is to study, another way is to pray for it, but an exceptional way is to pray for it in the presence of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas," Father James Brent, OP, an assistant professor of philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies, also stated in the release. 

The relic of St. Thomas Aquinas' skull comes to the U.S. from the Dominicans in Toulouse, France, and is one of two skulls Church officials claim to have belonged to the 11th-century saint. The other is housed in the Italian city of Priverno. The Dominicans in France commissioned a new reliquary for the skull last year to celebrate the saint's canonization anniversary.

After Aquinas' death in 1274, his body was kept in Fossanova Abbey in Priverno until 1369, when his relics were moved to Toulouse, a city in southwestern France, where the Order of Preachers was established. Aquinas' tomb rests in the Church of the Jacobins. 

Researchers are currently weighing the possibility of conducting an in-depth forensic analysis of both skulls to determine their authenticity. 

Where do the relics go next?

After two stops in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, Aquinas' relics hit the road for their U.S. tour:

Charlottesville, Virginia: St. Thomas Aquinas on Dec. 2

Providence, Rhode Island: Providence College on Dec. 4

Cincinnati: St. Gertrude Priory on Dec. 6

Columbus, Ohio: St. Patrick Priory on Dec. 7–8

Louisville, Kentucky: St. Louis Bertrand on Dec. 10

Springfield, Kentucky: St. Rose Priory on Dec. 12

New York City: St. Vincent Ferrer on Dec. 14

Philadelphia: St. Patrick on Dec. 16

Baltimore: Sts. Philip and James on Dec. 18

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