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CNA Staff, Feb 11, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

On Feb. 11, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In Lourdes, France, in 1858, 13-year-old Bernadette Soubirous was collecting pieces of wood as part of her daily chores when she noticed a startling wind and rustling sound. The noise came from a nearby grotto. When Bernadette looked toward it, she saw it filled with a golden light and a beautiful lady.

It was at this grotto that the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette 18 times and where millions of Catholic pilgrims visit the healing waters at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Records have been kept from the exchanges between Bernadette and our Blessed Mother. Here are five of the most fascinating facts about the apparitions that took place at the grotto:

1. Paralysis 

When Bernadette first saw the beautiful lady in the grotto during the first apparition, on Feb. 11, 1858, it is said that she immediately smiled at Bernadette and signaled to her to come closer, in the same way a mother motions to her child. Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. When Bernadette tried to begin saying the rosary by making the sign of the cross, her arm was paralyzed. It was only after the Lady made the sign of the cross herself that Bernadette was able to do the same. The Lady remained silent as Bernadette prayed the rosary, but the beads of her rosary passed between her fingers. 

2. The secret prayer

During the fifth apparition, which took place on Feb. 20, 1858, the Lady taught Bernadette a prayer, which she recited every day for the rest of her life. She never revealed the prayer to anyone, but she did say she was told to always bring a blessed candle with her. This is why candles perpetually burn at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

3. The Lady shares her name

At the 16th apparition, on March 25, 1858, the feast of the Annunciation, the Lady revealed her identity to Bernadette, calling herself the "Immaculate Conception."

4. The burn of fire

Bernadette never forgot to bring a lighted candle to the grotto since she was told to do so by the Lady. During the 17th apparition, on April 7, 1858, Bernadette unconsciously placed one of her hands over the burning flame. Witnesses saw the flame burning through her fingers, and yet she was able to pray for 15 minutes with the flame burning her hand. As she emerged from her prayer, she was unscathed and didn't even notice cries of horror from the people in the crowd. Dr. Pierre Romaine Dozous, a well-known physician from Lourdes, took another lit candle and, without warning, placed the flame to her hand. Bernadette immediately cried out in pain.

5. The miracle of Bernadette's body

After the apparitions ended, Bernadette went on to become a Sister of Charity. She died at age 34 on April 16, 1879. She was buried on the convent grounds in Nevers, France. Thirty years later, on Sept. 22, 1909, her body was exhumed and found completely intact. A second exhumation took place on April 3, 1919. The body was found in the exact same state as it had been 10 years earlier. Bernadette was canonized a saint on Dec. 8, 1933, by Pope Pius XI.

This story was first published on Feb. 11, 2022, and has been updated.

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Madrid, Spain, Feb 11, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Father Zvonimir Pavicic, OFM, the pastor of the parish church at the Marian shrine of Medjugorje, welcomed the recent Vatican recognition of the spiritual phenomenon there as a call to make this recognition more widely known. To skeptics, he says: "We never argue about Medjugorje, but I tell everyone: Come and see."

The Franciscan was in Spain last week for the 15th Ibero-American Congress on the Queen of Peace organized by the Medjugorje Center Foundation with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope Guided by the Queen of Peace." 

During a brief break from the event's busy schedule, the priest took some time to speak to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

ACI Prensa: What does it mean to be a priest and pastor of Medjugorje and what is the particular grace that you have found there?

Pavicic: Being a parish priest at Medjugorje is very demanding, because you are at the same time the pastor, the rector, and the guardian. Because the three duties are not yet separated and the pastor is the one who does everything.

As a pastor, I take care of the parishioners and everything that parish life entails. But the pastor is also responsible for all the pilgrims who come. Although it is a very difficult and demanding task, at the same time it is very beautiful, because you meet people who come to encounter God and who want to live with Mary, and that makes your work easier. And I have to emphasize that I am not alone there, but the Franciscan brothers are there and they make all my work easier.

The grace that I discovered in Medjugorje is precisely the grace of the priestly vocation. What the priest means to the Church, how much people need priests, how much they seek him and, in reality through him, they seek the grace of God. And I discover this more and more in Medjugorje every day.

What has Rome's recognition of Medjugorje as a place of extraordinary grace meant and what does it bring to the Church?

Before the recognition of the "nihil obstat" ("nothing stands in the way"), Medjugorje brought a lot to the Church. It brought people to conversion, the faithful to conversion. And these people, in turn, prayed for others, converted others, moved people to prayer in their cities. So Medjugorje is a gift to the Church. And the Church has recognized this.

And the "nihil obstat" has opened the doors to Medjugorje and also to all those who want to go to Medjugorje. It has recognized the spirituality of Medjugorje as sound and that it can help the Church in today's world. And that is why the declaration states that this spirituality must be proclaimed in the Church, so that the greatest number of people will hear about this spirituality and that, by the grace of God, the greatest possible number of people will be converted. And I would conclude that Medjugorje was, is, and will be a gift for the Church.

You are a Franciscan. St. Francis was commissioned by the Lord to restore the Church in Porziuncola. What fruits has Medjugorje been bearing in these 44 years for the restoration and edification of the Church?

It's the same task. How did St. Francis renew the Church? With a holy life. With prayer. Living in the Church. Not criticizing the pope, the bishops, or the priests. And at that time he had reason to criticize them!

But he loved the Church and lived in it. And that is the true reform of the Church. And that is what Medjugorje does today. We have always been within the Church and for the Church. We have been waiting for the "nihil obstat" and we continue to serve the Church humbly, because we have not created ourselves. We say that God has granted us this grace and we only collaborate with it: for the Church and in the Church.

Many priests experience a profound renewal of their ministry when they go to Medjugorje. What do you think the experience brings to priests?

It's the grace of God. It can't be described simply. It can't be described, because it would not be divine if it could be described. But God acts in Medjugorje. And this is very visible in every priest and in every member of the faithful who goes to Medjugorje. I think it's not necessary to describe it but to live it.

And not only in Medjugorje but in any other parish. Medjugorje is only an image and a model of what any other parish should be like. Any parish should offer God to men. And the opportunity to go to confession, to pray the rosary, the Eucharist, adoration, and many other devotions. Everything is very simple and God acts in all of this. And this is what priests discover in Medjugorje. In reality, they discover that God is hidden in simplicity.

What do you say to those who are hesitant, who even look with suspicion at the phenomenon of Medjugorje, who do not feel called to that place?

I wouldn't say anything to them. I never argue with people about Medjugorje. Those who believe, should continue to believe. Those who do not believe, should live with it. God reaches out to each person in different ways. He has touched millions through Medjugorje through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Others have been touched through something else.

The Spirit blows where he wants and how he wants. We never argue about Medjugorje. But I tell everyone: Come and see. Only those who come to Medjugorje and participate in the evening program in the parish will reach a conclusion and make a judgment about Medjugorje.

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 Newsroom, Feb 10, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).

A prominent Vatican cardinal said on Monday that people are being "terrorized" by the U.S. government's "crackdown" on immigration and freeze of Catholic-run aid programs.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, told the Associated Press in an interview published Feb. 10 that U.S. measures affecting both migration policy and international aid programs are causing serious harm to vulnerable populations.

"A crackdown is a terrible way to administer affairs and much less to administer justice," the Czech-born Canadian Jesuit said. "I'm very sorry that many people are being hurt and indeed terrorized by the measures."

The cardinal's comments coincided with a sharp rebuke from Caritas Internationalis, which on Monday strongly condemned what it called "the reckless decision by the U.S. administration to abruptly close USAID funded programs and offices worldwide."

Caritas warned: "Stopping USAID will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people, undermine decades of progress in humanitarian and development assistance, destabilize regions that rely on this critical support, and condemn millions to dehumanizing poverty or even death."

Catholic Relief Services — the U.S. Catholic Church's primary aid agency and one of USAID's recipients — has already raised concerns about the impact. 

Czerny noted that smaller Catholic programs are also affected.

The Vatican official emphasized Pope Francis' teaching that caring for migrants and vulnerable people is a fundamental Christian duty.

"What the Church teaches is very well summed up by Pope Francis, who says that our obligation, not only as Christians but as human beings, is to welcome people, to protect them, to promote them, and to integrate them," Czerny said.

The Jesuit cardinal is the latest of several prelates to weigh in on U.S. immigration policy changes, which numerous Catholic leaders, including Pope Francis, have criticized as unjust.

On Feb. 7, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, noted that "the Church does not have the authority or the responsibility to determine the legal status of those living in the United States" but does have "an obligation to care for every person with respect and love, no matter their citizenship status."

At the same time, the Kansas archbishop offered a full-throated endorsement of prioritizing public safety threats in immigration enforcement.

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Vatican City, Feb 10, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In 2023, the conflict between Israel and Hamas dragged universities around the world into a war of ideas with protests, proclamations, and accusations ramping up the tension.

The initial, almost unanimous support for Israel and the condemnation of the 1,200 murders and 252 hostages that Hamas took on Oct. 7, 2023, quickly turned into protests, some very violent, due to the overwhelming Israeli response.

"What happened in the academic world is that it became a place where people can no longer speak freely. Everyone takes sides and silences the other by saying: 'We're right, the others are wrong,'" Professor Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem told ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

"When I see my students go to a demonstration, I don't tell them not to do it because I think it represents the issue that matters to them. The problem is when they repeat rhetoric that means nothing or arguments based on fake news; that's when I feel that the university has failed in its purpose," the professor commented.

The pro-Palestinian demonstrations held across more than 60 university campuses in the United States were replicated by students in Europe, Australia, and Latin America, who in turn organized hundreds of sit-ins in which they even demanded that each of their universities break academic ties with Israeli institutions.

All of this was forged in the heat of a torrent of social media posts orchestrated to manipulate public opinion, with images and videos that promoted two opposing and partial narratives.

In this context of polarization, the "Middle Meets" project emerged with the aim of creating a space for listening and understanding between Muslim, Jewish, and Christian students.

"We felt that universities around the world were becoming very divided and very extremist. And we wanted to create a platform for Palestinian, Hebrew, and American students to have an in-depth conversation, without superficial slogans and without going to extremes; just listening to each other in an open dialogue," university student Tomy Stockman explained.

Two months after the Hamas attacks in Israel, this student from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem planted the seed that gave birth to Middle Meets, which is currently run by Bar-Asher Siegal. So far, 33 young people from Israel, Palestine, and the United States have participated.

The first meeting was held remotely in November 2024, but last week they met in person in Rome in an interreligious meeting promoted by the Vatican, thanks to the Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurrentes.

"More than just meeting, they have lived together and forged bonds of friendship. It hasn't been easy because they have spoken of painful situations, of war, of confrontation, but it has been a process of sharing pain and suffering," Bar-Asher Siegal explained.

He also noted the significance of the Vatican lending its facilities for the occasion.

"When we visited Rome's Campo de Fiori square, we were told that the Vatican banned the Talmud in the 16th century. But here we are now, five centuries later, invited by the Vatican. Things can change," he said during one of the meetings held Feb. 4 at Palazzo San Calixto, headquarters of the Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurrentes, located in the central Roman neighborhood of Trastevere.

Ignoring the other: the main cause of polarization

Jewish student Stockman, who attends classes at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with other Muslim students, said the lack of understanding between Jews and Palestinian Arabs is a constant factor.

"We ignore each other. Before this meeting promoted by Middle Meets, I didn't have any Palestinian friends," she revealed, adding that "Society is so divided that it's almost impossible to start a conversation with someone from another ethnic group."

In this regard, Stockman hopes the creation of a space for dialogue like this will succeed in forging fruitful bridges of friendship that overcome the divisions present in the social fabric of the Holy Land.

"At this moment there is an Israeli narrative and a Palestinian narrative about the conflict, and we are trying to create a third narrative based on the possibility of coexisting in peace within the societies of the country," Stockman explained.

Shadan Khatib is one of the young women who participated in the Middle Meets project. She is Muslim and studies at a university in Tel Aviv. When she received the invitation to participate in the meeting, she was initially somewhat skeptical.

"It was very difficult to see your people, innocent civilians, die, and at first I thought that these types of organizations that bring Jews and Muslims together never get anywhere," she said.

However, a friend who also participated in the project made her change her mind. After two days of living with other young Christians and Jews, she judged the experience to be "very positive."

Thus, she said she is going back to Tel Aviv with the conviction that the mission of the young people is to "start a new chapter."

"Peace is very far away now, but I have hope. I think there will be forgiveness if we find a solution that is equal for both parties," she commented.

"At the end of the day we are all human, we all want to live in peace and happiness," she emphasized.

One of the most anticipated moments of the program was a meeting with Pope Francis, which occurred at the conclusion of his Feb. 5 general audience. There, the young people had the opportunity to present the conclusions they had worked on, along with a letter expressing their desire for peace in the region.

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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Rome Newsroom, Feb 9, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis presided over the Jubilee Mass for Armed Forces, Police and Security Personnel on Sunday, with Archbishop Diego Ravelli reading his prepared homily as the pontiff recovers from bronchitis.

Over the Feb. 8-9 weekend, approximately 30,000 men and women from more than 100 countries participated in various jubilee festivities in Rome, including a pilgrimage to the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica.

During the outdoor Mass in St. Peter's Square, Archbishop Ravelli, reading the pope's prepared homily, thanked those who have dedicated their lives to a "lofty mission that embraces numerous aspects of social and political life."

"You are present in penitentiaries and at the forefront of the fight against crime and the various forms of violence that threaten to disrupt the life of society," Ravelli read from the pope's text.

The prepared homily continued: "I think too of all those engaged in relief work in the wake of natural disasters, the safeguarding of the environment, rescue efforts at sea, the protection of the vulnerable and the promotion of peace."

Praising their vigilance amid "the opposing forces of evil," the homily noted that security personnel who protect the defenseless and uphold law and order in cities and neighborhoods can "teach us that goodness can prevail over everything."

The papal text also acknowledged the chaplains who provide moral and spiritual support to military and security personnel, describing them as "the presence of Christ, who desires to walk at your side, to offer you a listening and sympathetic ear, to encourage you to set out ever anew and to support you in your daily service."

The homily concluded with a call for those gathered to have the courage to be peacemakers who never lose sight of their purpose to save and protect lives, warning: "Be vigilant not to be taken in by the illusion of power and the roar of arms... Be vigilant lest you be poisoned by propaganda that instils hatred, divides the world into friends to be defended and foes to fight."

Speaking in his own voice during the Angelus prayer that followed the Mass, Pope Francis invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, for those who are the "servants of the security and freedom of their peoples."

"This armed service should be exercised only in legitimate defense, never to impose domination over other nations, always observing the international conventions," the pope said, referencing Gaudium et Spes.

"Brothers and sisters, let us pray for peace in the tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, in Israel and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, in Sudan," he urged.

"May the weapons be silent everywhere and the cry of the peoples, who ask for peace, be heard!"

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Lincoln, Neb., Feb 9, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

It was a hard hit on the football field, but 12-year-old Derek Ruth of Lincoln, Nebraska, was able to answer all his coach's questions correctly, so it looked like he was okay.

Suddenly, he ripped off his helmet, screamed, "My head!" and collapsed into his coach's arms.

As he was life-flighted for emergency surgery, Ruth had a remarkable meeting with Jesus, the first of many tangible encounters he would have as he battled back from the traumatic brain injury. Now, 16 years later, he has written a book about his experiences to help people and to bring them to Christ: "The Eight-Minute Flight."

"After my first initial encounter with Jesus in heaven, I kept quiet about that experience and only told a few select people, such as my parents and brothers," Ruth recalled. "I decided to write a book about my life because Jesus kept appearing to me on somewhat of a regular basis when I was in my late teenage years, early 20s."

His memory remains clear of standing before Jesus in heaven while emergency medical technicians were fighting to save his life. 

"I had no real sense of leaving my physical body," Ruth said. "I could feel all my extremities when I was standing in front of Jesus. It was like I still had my earthly body, but everything was purified and glorified. The quality of the air in heaven made my body feel amazing, especially my hands and feet…. I just felt perfect."

Overwhelmed with a sense of peace, Ruth's eyes were focused on Jesus Christ, who stood before the boy, emanating pure love.

"The only way I can describe it is to say that the physical presence of Jesus is awesome!" Ruth revealed. "His face was perfect. It had a beautiful glow that was completely white — the whitest white I have ever seen. The heart of Jesus was bursting with unconditional light."

During this moment, the Lord gave Ruth a choice. And so his battle to recover from a traumatic brain injury began.

After his first surgery, Ruth was comatose and resting on a tilt table that elevated his head, a proven method of increasing successful recovery. Doctors also employed induced hypothermia, cooling his body to further protect his brain. A second surgery ensued when his brain continued to swell.

When he finally awoke, he was unable to do anything for himself. The once-healthy athlete only had the use of his left hand.

"Words cannot even come close to giving a comparison to that feeling," Ruth remembered. "It was just flat out brutal, and at that point I was scared to death."

Day by day, he fought to regain everything he had lost in the head injury. His family — including his mother and grandfather, who are both physical therapists — remained at his side to help, and countless people prayed for his recovery.

When things got tough, Ruth, a member of North American Martyrs Parish in Lincoln, turned to prayer.

"My faith has gotten me through every trial and tribulation I was faced with," he stated. "My faith has only grown stronger, along with my personal prayer life."

While still an inpatient at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, he finally told his mother about meeting Jesus in heaven.

"My mom was not surprised or shocked when I told her about being in heaven with Jesus, because Mom knew the person I was and understood how important my Catholic faith is to me," he said. "Mom also knew about my devotion to the most holy rosary."

As his recovery progressed, he would occasionally be in prayer when Jesus or the Blessed Mother would appear to him. After learning about Mother Teresa from Father Raymond Jansen, a priest in the Diocese of Lincoln, he began praying for her assistance, and she, too, appeared to him.

"Every appearance I have had up to this point came as an unexpected surprise, and it is scary," he admitted, "… praying to Jesus and Mary and just having them appear to me unexpectedly!"

Now a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate with a sociology degree, Derek lives independently despite some lingering effects from the brain injury. He is limited in his gait and fine motor movements, and he uses a text-to-speech device for verbal communication.

"The visible marks such as my numerous scars are a constant reminder of what I have been through," he said.

Overall, Ruth emerged with stronger faith and gratitude.

"This experience has changed me by [teaching me to] not take anything for granted, even the little things, because I have learned the hard way how life can change just like that."

Through the years, Ruth has journaled about his recovery, faith, and encounters with Christ. During college, he determined to put it all into a book so that he could share it with a wider audience.

Now he finds himself in high demand from various retail outlets and organizations who want to book him for speaking engagements.

"I would love to continue telling my story in hopes that it will inspire others," he said.

"The Eight-Minute Flight" is now available for purchase locally and online. Ruth's website is theeightminuteflight.com and contains more details, photos, and testimonials from people who have read advanced copies of his book.

One person who shared a testimonial is Bishop James Conley, who met Derek in 2013 shortly after he was installed as bishop of Lincoln.

"Getting to know Derek as a friend and hearing his remarkable story of faith, courage, trust, resilience, and acceptance has profoundly moved me as a bishop," Conley said.

"Derek's deep Catholic faith, nurtured by devout parents, continues to inform his life, providing him with a firm foundation for his hope, purpose, and motivation to move forward in life day after day. Through hard work, discipline, and perseverance, and with the heart of a true athlete, Derek continues to provide true hope for all of us, particularly as he describes in vivid language the long and enduring road of rehabilitation."

This story was first published by Southern Nebraska Register on Jan. 10, 2025, and has been reprinted here with permission.

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Madrid, Spain, Feb 9, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In his acceptance speech for the honorary doctorate awarded him by the Catholic University of Valencia, Cardinal Kurt Koch rejected the extreme positions of progressives and traditionalists regarding the Second Vatican Council.

The prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity reflected in his address on the tension between the two essential parts of the Second Vatican Council: fidelity to the sources and fidelity to the signs of the times.

For the cardinal, "the relationship between these two dimensions has always characterized the Church, but the tension has become more acute in a new way after Vatican II."

Faced with this dichotomy, Koch argued that "beyond secularist conformism and separatist fundamentalism, it is necessary to seek a third path in the Catholic faith, which has already been shown to us by the council."

According to the prefect, both the so-called progressives and the traditionalists "conceive of Vatican II as a rupture, although in opposite ways." For the former, the rupture occurred after the council, while the latter understand that it occurred during it.

In light of this, the cardinal considered that "the two extreme positions are so close, precisely because they do not interpret Vatican II within the general tradition of the Church."

In his address, Koch recalled, with regard to the traditionalist view that focuses solely on the sources, that Pope Benedict XVI stated that "the magisterial authority of the Church cannot be frozen in 1962."

The risk of worldliness in the Church

On the other hand, "if the emphasis is placed solely on 'aggiornamento' [updating], there is a danger that the opening of the Church to the world, desired and achieved by the council, will become a hasty adaptation of the foundations of faith to the spirit of the modern age," the cardinal noted.

"Many currents in the postconciliar period were so oriented toward the world that they did not notice the tentacles of the modern spirit or underestimated its impact," the cardinal observed, "so that the so-called conversion to the world did not cause the leaven of the Gospel to permeate modern society more but rather led to a broad conformism of the Church with the world."

Koch's proposal in the face of both positions, which he considers equally disruptive, is "the restoration of a healthy balance in the relationship between the faith and the Church on the one hand and the world on the other."

In his view, if the Church cannot be confused with the world, "the original identity of faith and the Church must not be defined in such a way that it separates itself from the world in a fundamentalist way."

In this sense, he added that the dialogue between the Church and the contemporary world "must not make faith and the Church adapt to the world in a secularist way, dangerously renouncing her identity."

What does the reform of the Church mean?

For the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the reform of the Church cannot imply "a change of essence" but consists in "the elimination of what is inauthentic" through a process of purification of the Church "based on its origins," so that "the form of the one Church willed by Christ can become visible again."

"For the council, fidelity to its origins and conformity to the times were not opposed to each other. Rather, the council wanted to proclaim the Catholic faith in a way that was both faithful to its origins and appropriate to the times, in order to be able to transmit the truth and beauty of the faith to the people of today, so that they can understand it and accept it as an aid to their lives," he emphasized.

For the cardinal, "the council did not create a new Church in rupture with tradition, nor did it conceive a different faith, but rather it aimed at a renewal of faith and a Church renewed on the basis of the spirit of the Christian message that has been revealed once and for all and transmitted in the living tradition of the Church."

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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Caracas, Venezuela, Feb 8, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The bishops of the United States and Venezuela are both opposed to the Trump administration's looming elimination of temporary protected status (TPS) for recent Venezuelan immigrants.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed this week that it will eliminate the extension that the Biden administration announced in January that allowed Venezuelan immigrants to access TPS until October 2026.

TPS is a temporary immigration benefit granted to foreign nationals of a qualifying country. Under it, immigrants can legally remain in the United States and get work permits. The measure was originally announced for Venezuela in 2021 and then extended in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Following the DHS decision, this immigration benefit will expire on April 7. The U.S. government estimates that approximately 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants were eligible for TPS under the Biden administration's 2023 renewal of the program.

The DHS, headed by former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, assures that although certain conditions that led to the renewal of TPS for Venezuela in 2023 "can continue," the department considers that in the South American country "there are notable improvements in several areas such as the economy, public health, and crime that allow these citizens to be safely returned to their country of origin."

Noem considers, after analyzing the issue with other government agencies, that the elimination of TPS for Venezuelan immigrants is necessary "because it is contrary to the national interest" to allow Venezuelan citizens to temporarily settle in the United States.

TPS, the Trump administration notes, has allowed a large number of immigrants to cause "difficulties in local communities," especially immigrants belonging to the Venezuelan criminal gang known as Tren de Aragua, accused by the United States government of "sex trafficking, drug smuggling, shootouts with police, kidnappings, and exploitation of immigrants."

For the DHS secretary, allowing Venezuelan citizens to remain in the United States under the protection of TPS "does not defend the fundamental interests" of the country, nor does it "put American interests first."

"The foreign policy interests of the United States, especially in the Western Hemisphere, are best served and protected by reducing policies that facilitate or encourage illegal and destabilizing migration," DHS said.

U.S. and Venezuelan bishops oppose the move

The Catholic bishops of the United States and Venezuela do not share this reasoning. In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), described the Trump administration's measure as "counterproductive."

Noguchi said the elimination of TPS for Venezuela does not reduce the pressure on American communities and urged the Trump administration "to consider the adverse impact this measure will have on citizens and noncitizens alike." She also called on Congress to work "on a meaningful reform of the immigration system," which contributes to "well-regulated borders and humane and orderly immigration."

"Ending this temporary legal protection that allows people to work, pay taxes, and contribute to our society will only lead to further disruption and would appear to risk diverting the attention of law enforcement efforts from legitimate threats to public safety," Noguchi said.

For their part, the Venezuelan bishops did not hesitate to express their displeasure with the decision by the Trump administration.

Bishop José Antonio Da Conceição, secretary-general of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference, told ACI Prensa that rescinding TPS "gives a large contingent of people who wanted to comply with the laws of the United States illegal status."

"The fairest thing was to evaluate each case and take legal measures," the bishop of Puerto Cabello pointed out. He also noted that the Church asks governments to address the phenomenon of migration "with solidarity and respect for the rights of migrants."

Although the doctrine of the Church, he continued, guarantees that sovereign states can safeguard their territory, "this does not justify the inhuman and persecutory treatment of immigrants."

"Pope Francis has said that migrants are accompanied by God, who guides them and gives them hope. All inhuman treatment against them is a sin that cries out to heaven," Da Conceição said.

The bishop noted that the Venezuelan bishops will hold their 123rd Ordinary Plenary Assembly next week, from which a pastoral exhortation will emerge that will address the issue of Venezuelan migration and other urgent issues.

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 Newsroom, Feb 7, 2025 / 21:05 pm (CNA).

On Super Bowl Sunday, players for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are vying for a championship, a ring, money ($178,000 for winners versus $103,000 for losers), and a lifetime achievement.

The Catholic bishops of their respective dioceses have more modest things at stake: food, a $500 donation, and bragging rights. 

Even so, the bishops are talking some clerical smack over their purportedly friendly wager. 

It's a rematch for Kansas City Bishop James Johnston and Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Pérez, whose city's teams played each other in the big game two years ago. (Kansas City won, 38-35, the first of two Super Bowl victories in a row. Philadelphia won the title in 2017, its only championship in the Super Bowl era.) 

For years, the bishops of dioceses whose teams make it to the Super Bowl have been placing a public bet on the outcome. This year, if the Eagles win, Johnston is supposed to provide Jack Stack barbecue (famous in the Kansas City area) for Pérez. If the Chiefs win, Pérez will provide Philadelphia cheesesteak for Johnston. 

Each bishop is also promising a $500 contribution to the other diocese's Catholic Charities if his team loses. 

The two bishops made a joint Feb. 7 appearance on "EWTN News In Depth."

Johnston, whose Chiefs are looking for an unprecedented third Super Bowl victory in a row, expressed confidence in coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

Pérez sounded hungrier, though, in support of the Eagles, affectionately called "the Birds" by their loyal fans. 

"Well, I think the bishop and his Chiefs … are in for it. Because the Birds are hunting," Pérez said. 

Pérez made two things clear during the interview: 

1.  He's totally confident the Eagles will win. 

2.  He wants the benefit of a point spread. 

"Bishop Johnston, the bishops that I'm in retreat with asked me to ask you for two points since we're the underdog," Pérez said. 

(In such a case, if the Chiefs won by one point, Pérez would still win the bet. If the Chiefs won by two points, it would be what's known as a "push," and neither side would win. The Chiefs would have to win by three or more for Johnston to collect.) 

Johnston was having none of the retreat bishops' suggestion. 

"You tell them to go back to their prayer," Johnston said. 

Neither bishop can claim as much team spirit as Bishop Michael Burbidge, a Philadelphia native who had an Eagles emblem put into stained glass during a recent renovation of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in his Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. 

Even so, the rival dioceses on Sunday have heavy-duty patron saints, as the bishops pointed out. Philadelphia has St. John Neumann (the fourth bishop of the city) and St. Katharine Drexel (a native of the city). 

Johnston's see is called the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, making for an obvious go-to saint. 

"So we're going to rely on good old St. Joseph, who's the patron of the universal Church. So I think we've got him outnumbered there, with St. Joseph," Johnston said. 

The program's host, EWTN News President and COO Montse Alvarado, pointed out that Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker is known for publicly expressing his Catholic faith, and she asked Johnston: "Do you think evangelizing in the end zone can bring fans to Christ?" 

"Well, I'm really encouraged by the faith of so many of the players, and not just on the field, but even afterwards in interviews, how many of them speak about their faith," Johnston replied. "And so I think it's a great witness of, you know, not covering your lampstand, but putting it out to where it can give light."

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Washington D.C., Feb 7, 2025 / 21:55 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Catholic bishops' conference laid off 50 staff members in its migration and refugee services office Friday, citing a delay in reimbursements from the federal government.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokesperson Chieko Noguchi, in a statement shared with CNA, said the job cuts were due to "continuing uncertainty regarding refugee resettlement and the overall future of those programs."

"Please pray for these dedicated men and women who have given so much of themselves in service to their sisters and brothers in need," Noguchi said.

The layoffs mark an escalation of a deepening political and financial crisis for the USCCB and its affiliated charitable agencies, whose decades-long role providing essential services for migrants and refugees largely paid with federal funds has come under scrutiny from President Donald Trump's administration.

The USCCB directs the bulk of the more than $100 million in federal grant it receives annually to affiliate organizations that provide migration and refugee services, such as Catholic Charities. 

A large portion of funding comes from grants through the federal U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to help resettle refugees who have been vetted by the federal government. 

According to the USCCB's audited financial statements, federal funding covered more than 95% of what the conference spent on refugee and migrant programs in recent years. The USCCB has spent slightly more on these services than what is covered by federal funding, according to the financial statements.

In 2023, the most recent year reported, the USCCB spent more than $134.2 million on these services with federal grants covering more than $129.6 million of the spending. In 2022, the USCCB spent nearly $127.4 million after getting nearly $123 million from the government.

According to the USCCB Committee on Migration, the Catholic refugee resettlement network includes more than 65 affiliate offices throughout the United States. The bishops self-report that the USCCB and its Migration and Refugee Services help resettle about 18% of refugees who enter the country every year.

The website The Pillar reported Friday evening that a memo announcing the staff cuts was emailed to U.S. bishops by USCCB General Secretary Father Michael Fuller on Feb. 7.

The memo followed White House directives to freeze federal grants and loans to non-government organizations, and statements by  Vice President JD Vance criticizing the USCCB for receiving federal money to help "resettle illegal immigrants."

Fuller informed the bishops in the memo that "to the best of my knowledge" no resettlement agencies or other non-government agencies, including Catholic Relief Services, had received reimbursement from the federal government for their services since Trump took office on Jan. 20, The Pillar reported.

On its website, Catholic Relief Services, which provides aid to the poor and other people in need in more than countries, is urging its supporters to contact their representatives in Congress to let them know that they are "deeply concerned about the Administration's recent decision to stop work on almost all U.S. foreign assistance programs."

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