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CNA Newsroom, Jan 21, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).

A pioneering probe into clerical abuse in northern Italy's Bolzano-Bressanone Diocese has uncovered 67 cases involving 59 victims over a nearly 60-year period, according to a study released Monday.

The 635-page report examined cases from 1964 to 2023 in the northern Italian region of Alto Adige-Südtirol and identified 41 clergy members as alleged perpetrators.

However, researchers could definitively confirm allegations against only 29 of the accused, while claims against the remaining 12 clergy could not be verified with sufficient certainty.

In what researchers called a "surprising" finding, more than 51% of the victims were female, while only 18% were definitively identified as male. This pattern marks a significant departure from similar studies in Germany, where male victims predominated, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner.

The study, conducted by Munich-based law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl, noted that the diocese's handling of abuse cases has improved since 2010. Researchers particularly praised former Bishop Karl Golser (2008–2011) for establishing the diocese's listening center — described as "an absolute novelty in Italy" — though they noted that before 2010, diocesan leadership had "mostly reacted inadequately or inappropriately."

The report acknowledged sincere efforts by current leadership — Bishop Ivo Muser since 2011 and Vicar General Eugen Runggaldier since 2018 — to improve the diocese's approach to abuse cases and support for victims. However, researchers identified 16 additional cases that remain unclear based on available documentation and witness statements.

"We want the Church to be a safe place, especially for children, young people, and vulnerable persons," Muser said, according to ACI Stampa, CNA's Italian-language news partner. 

"We need a change in mentality, a new culture of closeness. This is a first step in this journey."

The bishop, who first viewed the report Monday alongside the public, added that every case was "one too many," acknowledging that the abuse of power had occurred "at the expense of the victims."

Muser announced he would provide a more detailed response to the findings on Friday.

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CNA Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump on Monday once again withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, backing the country out of the nine-year-old climate accord and billing the move as both an economic and environmental boon to the U.S. 

The president issued the executive order as part of a flurry of directives he signed within hours of taking the oath of office for the second time. 

The Paris Agreement, an international accord to limit carbon emissions in an effort to halt climate change, has been signed by nearly 200 countries since it was first proposed in 2016. The agreement aims to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. 

The U.S. first entered into the agreement in 2016, but Trump in his first term ordered the country to withdraw from it. Upon taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden directed that the U.S. would once again join the accord. 

Trump's re-withdrawal from the compact on Monday was done in an effort to "put the interests of the United States and the American people first in the development and negotiation of any international agreements with the potential to damage or stifle the American economy," the president's executive order said. 

The order directs the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to submit a withdrawal notice to the United Nations itself and for multiple U.S. departments to rescind policies related to the plan. 

Trump's directive further abolishes the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan, a Biden-era program that offered funding to low-income nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

In the order, the White House said that the U.S. in recent decades "has simultaneously grown its economy, raised worker wages, increased energy production, reduced air and water pollution, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions." 

"The United States' successful track record of advancing both economic and environmental objectives should be a model for other countries," it said. 

The Paris Agreement has received the backing of the Vatican. 

Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in 2018 that implementation of the accord should be focused on "easing the impact of climate change through responsible mitigation and adaptation measures."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has also expressed support for the accord. 

In 2017, ahead of the U.S.'s first withdrawal from the agreement, the USCCB said in a statement that the "entire Catholic Church" has "consistently upheld the Paris Agreement as an important international mechanism to promote environmental stewardship and encourage climate change mitigation." 

"The president's decision not to honor the U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement is deeply troubling," the bishops said at the time.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 14:15 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis on Monday emphasized the ecumenical vocation shared by Christians during an audience held at the Vatican with Finnish representatives of various Christian denominations who have made a pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the feast of St. Henry, celebrated Jan. 19.

The Jan. 20 meeting took place in the Vatican Apostolic Palace and was attended by the head of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Archbishop Elia of Helsinki, as well as Catholic Bishop Raimo Goyarrola of the Diocese of Helsinki and Bishop Matti Salomäki of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Holy Father stressed that bearing witness to the incarnate love of Christ "is our ecumenical vocation, in the communion of all the baptized."

As part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the 2025 Jubilee Year, the pontiff stressed that St. Henry, the patron saint of Finland, represents an icon of hope "that finds its sure and firm foundation in God."

As a messenger of peace, he continued, St. Henry "urges us to never cease lifting up our prayers for the precious and fragile gift of peace."

At the same time, he pointed out that he is "a symbol of the unity given by God," since his feast day continues to unite "Christians from different churches and ecclesial communities in the common praise of the Lord."

He also applauded the fact that this pilgrimage is accompanied by the choir of the Sanctae Mariae Chapel, recalling that "whoever sings, prays twice."

He then referred to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed shared by Christians as an "extraordinary musical score of faith" and a "symphony of truth," with Jesus Christ at the center.

"Whoever listens to this 'symphony of truth' not only with their ears but [also] with their hearts will be touched by the mystery of God, who bends down toward us, full of love, in his Son," he said.

To express with confidence the "filial vocation" of ecumenism, Pope Francis invited those present to pray the Lord's Prayer.

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, Jan 21, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Numerous notable Catholic celebrities and public figures attended festivities surrounding Donald Trump's swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.

Trump has made headlines by choosing several Catholics to serve in his Cabinet and other parts of his administration, most prominently among them with the selection of Vice President JD Vance.

Among the other Catholics whom Trump has chosen for his Cabinet are environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., three-term Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy.

Over several days in Washington, including several inaugural balls that took place throughout the weekend, there were numerous well-known Catholic figures and celebrities in attendance showing their support for the new president.

Arguably the most notable Catholic name in attendance was Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, who led the opening prayer at Monday's inauguration.

In his prayer, Dolan called on Americans to pray that the incoming administration be guided by and aligned with the will of God and for the new president to be instilled with wisdom.

"We, blessed citizens of this one nation under God, humbled by our claim that in God we trust, gather indeed this Inauguration Day to pray for our president Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisers, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his vice president," Dolan prayed. 

"Please, God, bless America. You are the God in whom we trust, who lives and reigns forever and ever, amen," he concluded. 

Brooklyn priest Father Francis Mann delivered the closing benediction at the inauguration.  

The retired diocesan priest, who was ordained in 1979, began a friendship with the president after he came across the grave sites of Trump's parents in a Queens cemetery. The site was overgrown and the priest felt called to tidy it up. After Trump saw a photo of the grave site, he personally called Mann to thank him. The two have maintained regular contact for years.

The priest called upon Trump's parents, Fred and Mary, during his benediction.

"We lift our hearts in gratitude for the beloved parents of President Trump. Without Mary and Fred Trump this day would never be the miracle that has just begun," Mann said. "From their place in heaven may they shield their son from all harm by their loving protection and give him the strength to guide our nation along the path that will make America great again."

Former ESPN "SportsCenter" co-host Sage Steele also traveled to the nation's capitol for the inauguration. Steele was taken off the air and removed from several high-profile assignments for 10 days in October 2021 after criticizing ESPN/Disney's vaccine mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic. She sued the network and its parent company in 2022 for violating her free speech rights and after successfully settling her case, she left the company after working there for 16 years.

"I've said this a lot recently — I wouldn't be standing today without my faith, which has become stronger than ever before," Steele said in an interview with "EWTN News Nightly" in September 2023.

Several Catholic media personalities also made an appearance at Turning Point's Inaugural-Eve Ball on Jan. 19, including political commentator, author, and YouTuber Michael Knowles; podcast host Matt Walsh; and Gen Z content creator Isabel Brown, who also recently partnered with the Catholic prayer app Hallow for the launch of a new young adults devotional.

Christine Yeargin, a Catholic mother, speaker, and founder of Be Their Village, a digital community that connects women in unplanned pregnancies to resources in their area and helps complete baby registries for women who choose life, also attended Turning Point's Inaugural-Eve Ball.

Although not a Catholic himself, renowned psychologist and author Jordan Peterson attended the Turning Point ball with his daughter Mikhaila. Peterson's wife, Tammy, has become a well-known name among Catholics for her powerful story of conversion to Catholicism after her battle with a rare form of cancer.

In an interview with EWTN News Correspondent Colm Flynn, Peterson called his wife's entry into the Catholic Church a "miraculous thing to see."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 21, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

At the interfaith prayer service held at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday morning, an Episcopal bishop challenged President Donald Trump, urging him to "have mercy" on migrants and those who identify as members of the gay, lesbian, and transgender community.

"Let me make one final plea, Mr. President," Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington said at the conclusion of her sermon.

"Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of [a] loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared," Budde continued.

"There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families," she said, "some who fear for their lives."

In a tradition that has been in place since the inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, Trump and Vice President JD Vance attended the interfaith "Service of Prayer for the Nation" along with their families, Cabinet members, and other dignitaries. 

Throughout her sermon, which lasted about 20 minutes, Budde underscored the importance of unity and the need to depart from "the culture of contempt that has become normalized in this country," which she described as "worrisome." 

"As a country, we have gathered this morning to pray for unity as people and nation. Not for agreement, political or otherwise, but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and divisions," Budde told the assembled dignitaries.

Budde, the first woman to be elected to her position, currently serves as a spiritual leader for 86 congregations and 10 Episcopalian schools across Washington, D.C., and Maryland, according to the Episcopal diocese's website. She is described as "an advocate and organizer in support of justice concerns, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation."

In her sermon, Budde was at times openly critical of the president. 

"Contempt fuels political campaigns and social media, and many profit from that," she said, adding: "It's a dangerous way to lead a country." 

Trump and Vance, who sat in the front row during the service, showed no reaction. 

"And the people who pick our crops, clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and who work the night shifts in hospitals," she continued, "they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals; they pay taxes and are good neighbors."

"I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President," Budde said, again addressing Trump directly, "on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away." She also appealed to the president on behalf of migrants fleeing war zones and persecution in their home countries.

Other religious leaders, including those from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist backgrounds offered prayers during the service, which was interposed with music performed by Christopher Macchio, the Cathedral Contemporary Ensemble, and the Cathedral Choir. There were no Catholic leaders among those offering prayers.

Notably, in the months leading up to the election, both the National Cathedral and St. John's Episcopal Church announced they would be paring back their pre- and post-Inauguration Day services to center them on prayer, as Religion News Service reported. St. John's removed the homily from its program, opting to center the event on morning prayer and Scripture, interspersed with music. 

"While Episcopal in nature, the service will be intentionally accessible and open, with prayers aimed at speaking to all. It will be explicitly nonpartisan," St. John's Rev. Robert Fisher said in the report. 

For its part, Washington National Cathedral announced in an October press release that it would be hosting services from Election Day through Inauguration Day "designed for quiet reflection, prayer, and spiritual support for the country." 

"Regardless of who the president is or whether he or she attends, the liturgy will center on the country," Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, said in the release. 

"Whether voters choose Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, a large percentage of Americans will feel anxious, upset, or fearful," he continued, adding: "We need to find a way to heal what divides us, and prayer is an important part of that healing process."

The National Cathedral further noted at the time that a draft of the January service had already been composed and that it would "emphasize the need for healing and national unity" in addition to "underscor[ing] the values of reconciliation, shared purpose, and the work required to bring the nation together." 

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CNA Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The stories surrounding St. Agnes' life and death are varied. We know the place of her burial, her approximate age, and the place where she was martyred. Much less is known about her life, though there are many stories passed down since her martyrdom in the fourth century.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates her feast day every Jan. 21, the day of her death. She was only about 12 or 13 year old when she was martyred in A.D. 304, but she has been honored by the Church for more than 1,700 years.

Today, the saint's skull resides in a side chapel of the church Sant'Agnese in Agone in the Piazza Navona, Rome. Her body was buried in what is now known as the catacomb of St. Agnes, and her bones are still preserved in the Church of St. Agnes Outside the Walls, which was built over the catacomb where she was originally buried.

St. Agnes' name means "chaste" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin. Both meanings foreshadowed her death as a virgin martyr who died because she defended her chastity and refused to give up her faith. 

St. Agnes was born to noble Christian parents in A.D. 291 in the Roman Empire. She lived during a time of Christian persecution under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

In the year 302, the emperor resolved to wipe out Christianity. While Agnes was growing up, in 303, Diocletian along with his co-ruler Galerius called for the destruction of churches and the burning of books. Clergy and laity were imprisoned and tortured for refusing to worship the emperor. 

There are accounts of her life going back to the late fourth and early fifth century, including one by the Roman Christian poet Prudentius called "The Passion of Agnes." St. Ambrose and Pope Damasus wrote accounts of her martyrdom as well. Though there are small differences across all, the general story is quite similar.

An anonymous author popularized her story through a biography, "The Life of St. Agnes of Rome: Virgin and Martyr," written in French in the 1800s and translated to English soon after.

The story goes that as she was returning home one day, Procopius, the son of Roman prefect Symphronius, fell in love with her and sought to marry her. He brought her many gifts and offered her riches, but she refused, saying she was bound to her spouse — Christ.

When Symphronius learned that she was a Christian, he put her on trial.

"My life belongs to him who has chosen me first," she insisted in response to his threats, refusing to betray her vow to Christ.

Though the prefect at first offered her a chance to preserve her virginity by becoming a priestess of the goddess Vesta, she refused, and so he sent her to a brothel. When he ordered her stripped of her garments, the story goes that her hair unbraided and grew to cover her. As she was paraded through the streets, the onlookers are said to have looked away. 

When she reached the brothel, an angel of the Lord surrounded her with a bright light, obscuring her from the eyes of those who intended to rape her. Though many in the brothel fell down in worship, when the son of the prefect approached her, calling the others cowards, he died.

The prefect blamed her for the death of his son, but when she defended herself against his accusations of witchcraft, the prefect said he would believe if she asked the angel to bring him back. After she prostrated herself on the ground in prayer, the son came back to life.

In another version, the son was struck blind, not dead.

Priests and authority figures became concerned about the attention Agnes was getting and condemned her to death. The prefect abandoned her, and she was thrown into a fire in a public area.

But the flame, the story goes, divided in half and did not touch her. In another version, the stake she was tied to would not burn. She praised God and then was executed by beheading.

Because of the nature of her martyrdom, the Church honors St. Agnes as the patron saint of girls, chastity, virgins, and victims of rape.

On the day of her feast day, two lambs are blessed. The lambs are then shorn, and the wool is used to make palliums, liturgical vestments worn by archbishops.

This story was first published on Jan. 21, 2024, and has been updated.

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CNA Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

During his campaign for the presidency, President Donald Trump said in a video posted in October 2024 that he would close the U.S. Department of Education and send education "back to the states." This would require an act of Congress. But as commentators and activists speculate on what the new Trump administration may bring, CNA took a closer look at how the Department of Education impacts Catholic education and what shuttering it might look like.

Though private education doesn't receive government funding, private schools often work with the Department of Education to enable their students to receive benefits from the variety of taxpayer-funded programs the department offers.

Reestablished under President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to collect data, the Department of Education now manages funding for various programs for elementary and secondary students as well as federal student loans for higher education.

An estimated 10% of funding for public schools comes from the federal government, with the rest coming from state and local taxes.

The department's two biggest programs for K–12 education are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is meant to ensure that students with special needs have a free public education, and the Title I program, which is designed to help educate children from low-income families. 

For higher education, the department manages federal student loans as well as the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The federal student loan program currently has an outstanding balance of more than $1 trillion.

In addition, the department tracks data about education through programs such as the Nation's Report Card and the Civil Rights Data Collection program.

The Department of Education — one of the smallest Cabinet-level departments in terms of employees — has a staff of more than 4,000 people and a discretionary budget of $80 billion for 2025. 

The department's role in Catholic education

The Department of Education plays a role in Catholic education by contributing funding to private-school students for various programs. While private K–8 schools don't receive government funding, private-school students are eligible for several federal education programs following the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965.

The department's Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) "is the liaison to the nonpublic school community including religious, independent, nonsectarian, and home schools," spokesman for the Department of Education Jim Bradshaw told CNA.

"ONPE's congressionally mandated mission is to foster maximum participation of nonpublic school students and teachers in federal education programs and initiatives," Bradshaw explained.

"In general, the department does not regulate private elementary and secondary schools or home schools," Bradshaw noted. "Government regulation of private and home schools is limited and, if any regulation is made, it is usually enacted at the state level."

"The department's interaction with nonpublic elementary and secondary schools, including Catholic schools, is primarily related to the participation of their students and teachers in federal education programs and initiatives," Bradshaw continued.

"Catholic schools also actively participate in the National Center for Education Statistics surveys and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card," Bradshaw added. "Important to note: Catholic private schools do not receive any funding under these programs. Rather, their students and teachers receive services."

Sister Dale McDonald, PBVM, vice president of public policy at the National Catholic Educational Association, noted that for various federal and state programs, "private schools participate differently from public schools."

"Private schools have to follow what they call the 'child benefit theory' that only children in need get served," McDonald explained. 

Through a consultation process, private schools can request aid for various needs such as professional development or technological assistance or direct aid to kids with learning needs, McDonald noted.

Students have access to various government programs, but not all of them are implemented by the Department of Education. For instance, the Obama-era National School Lunch Program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the early childhood education program Head Start is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What dismantling the Department of Education could look like 

Trump is not the first to call for the shuttering of the Department of Education. Closing it was a major goal of Ronald Reagan's administration — a goal it ultimately backed down on due to lack of congressional support.

While closing it is not a new idea, it has become more popular amid school choice debates and criticism of the public school system. Sen. Mike Rounds, R- South Dakota, recently proposed a bill in November 2024 to dismantle the agency.

Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow for the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, shared with CNA what reform of the department could look like on a practical level in his view.

Butcher, a proponent of dismantling the department, said there are many programs that would be better served if moved to other departments in the federal government.

"I think that the Department of Education is simply taking on roles and responsibilities that it's not designed to do — nor is it best at doing these things," he told CNA.

For instance, the U.S. Department of Education's data collectors — the Institute for Education Science, the Nation's Report Card, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress — could be run by the Census Bureau, Butcher proposed.

"They collect data already. In fact, they already release reports about student enrollment in states around the U.S.," he said.

Butcher proposed that the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights be moved to the Department of Justice "for much the same reason."

"The Department of Education's main responsibilities — what it was built to do — is to facilitate the transfer of money from the treasury to districts and states," Butcher said. "Civil rights is an urgent issue; it should be handled by an agency that is dedicated to doing that."

"We don't want to get rid of it just because we're getting rid of the Department of Education," he noted. "We just want to move it to a place where it's more appropriate to operate."

Shuttering the department would require an act of Congress, which currently has a narrow Republican majority.

Some legislators are hesitant to cut federal funding to public education, and others expressed concern that important programs would be cut.

Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative education think tank, told the Wall Street Journal that he doesn't anticipate large budget cuts.

"I don't think you'll see enormous cuts because that's super unpopular," Petrilli said.

Some argue that practically speaking, it's not feasible to close the Department of Education.

Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute said the Trump administration may need to keep it open to fulfill other commitments.

"It strikes me that a lot of the other promises Trump made about holding campuses accountable, about responding to antisemitism, or the excesses of DEI, require using some of the machinery at the [education] department," Hess told National Public Radio in November.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) noted that the bishops are committed to education regardless of what happens with the Department of Education.

"We are aware of the various proposals and ideas being expressed by the [Trump administration] regarding education," Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the USCCB, told CNA. "The USCCB remains committed to upholding the education mission of the Catholic Church that is carried out locally in our parishes and schools, and we will engage appropriately when policies are put forth by the officeholders."

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CNA Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 22:07 pm (CNA).

On Jan. 20 Catholic News Agency's official X account, @cnalive, was compromised, and used to publish scam-related posts on the platform. 

The EWTN News digital media team is actively taking complete control of the account.

EWTN News is working with the X Support team. We will notify you when the problem has been resolved.  

In the meantime, all users are asked to refrain from clicking on any strange links or posts that may be made in this time. 

We apologize for the inconvenience.

This is a developing story.

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Puebla, Mexico, Jan 20, 2025 / 15:20 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Mexico, acknowledged the influence of organized crime in some areas of the country, thus partially backing recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump on the lack of security in the country.

"It's disturbing that a foreigner claims that organized crime rules our country," Arizmendi said in an article shared with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. "Even though our authorities maintain the opposite, there are facts that confirm that this is what is happening in some places and sectors."

The cardinal's comment comes days after controversial statements by Trump, who earlier this month said that in Mexico "they are basically run by the cartels."

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Trump's claim, insisting that "in Mexico, the people rule."

Influence of organized crime

Arizmendi, who was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020 and led the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas from 2000–2017, alluded to several aspects that, according to him, reflect criminal influence.

In the area of ??local politics, the cardinal pointed out that public opinion is that in the last elections the criminals "authorized who could run for office. And once their candidates are elected, they demand a million-dollar monthly fee or to hold strategic positions" in the government.

"Municipal presidents [similar to county executives], local police, and other low-ranking officials must submit to their orders. They are not collaborators or accomplices, but they are oppressed by those who govern the region," he charged.

Regarding the economy, Arizmendi said he has "firsthand data" that confirms that criminal groups "impose the price of almost everything, from tortillas and eggs to construction materials. This makes everything more expensive, and there is no one who can avoid and control it."

Livestock traders "must buy the animals from whom these leaders order and at the price they impose," he said, adding that something similar occurs in the timber industry, where members of organized crime "determine which trees must be cut down, and they are the ones who market the wood, which passes freely along our roads."

Regarding extortion, the cardinal explained that businessmen "must pay them a fee; otherwise, they expose themselves to all kinds of reprisals, such as having their businesses burned down and those who refuse are murdered." This widespread practice creates an atmosphere of fear and submission among local merchants and businessmen, according to the prelate.

Call to action

The cardinal urged the authorities, the Catholic Church, and civil society to "attack the causes of this violence by offering education, work, and social supports." However, he warned that for many criminals, "what matters is to get as much money as they can."

Arizmendi concluded by asking for prayer "that our authorities may be enlightened and do something more effective for social peace."

Mexico is in a period of transition as Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico's new president on Oct. 1, 2024, replacing Andrés Manuel López Obrador, during whose six-year term 199,621 homicides were recorded, the highest level in the modern history of Mexico.

The surge in violence occurred under the previous administration's controversial policy of "hugs, not bullets" against organized crime. This approach attempted to combat drug cartel violence by addressing the root causes of the drug trade, such as poverty, and softened the use of force by the military and police. 

As the Sheinbaum administration begins, Arizmendi said "there seems to be a change in the federal strategy to combat these crimes." 

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Father Frank Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn opened and closed the prayers of invocation and benediction, respectively, at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Dolan kicked off the prayers of invocation and was followed by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late renowned American evangelist Billy Graham and current head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In his prayer Dolan, who was also tapped to offer the invocation at Trump's 2017 inauguration, called on Americans to pray that the incoming administration be guided by and aligned with the will of God and for the new president, especially, that he be instilled with wisdom.

"We, blessed citizens of this one nation under God, humbled by our claim that in God we trust, gather indeed this inauguration day to pray for our president Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisers, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his vice president," Dolan prayed.

As the inauguration also fell on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in the United States, Dolan also invoked the memory of the slain civil rights activist, stating: "Observing the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, who warned: 'Without God, our efforts turn to ashes.'"

Calling especially upon God for the gift of wisdom, Dolan prayed: "If wisdom, which comes from [God] be not with him, he shall be held with no esteem. Send wisdom from the heavens that she may be with him, that he may know your designs."

"Please, God, bless America," he concluded: "You are the God in whom we trust, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."

Following Dolan, Graham centered his prayer on gratitude, saying: "We come to say thank you, O Lord our God! Father, when Donald Trump's enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand." 

Graham prayed in particular for continued safety for Trump and his wife, Melania. 

Notably, Graham also prayed for Vance, that he may stand beside Trump and "hold his arms up like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle." 

"We know that America can never be great again if we turn our backs on you," he concluded. "We ask for your help. We pray all of this in the name of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, your Son, my Savior, and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen." 

After Trump and Vance were sworn in, African-American Pastor Lorenzo Sewell and Rabbi Ari Berman offered two of the three prayers of benediction. 

Referencing Trump's near-assassination, Sewell centered his benediction on gratitude, declaring: "Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimeter miracle."

Also referencing Martin Luther King Jr., Sewell continued: "We pray that you use our president so that we will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character." 

Berman prayed that Trump and Vance would unite the nation "around our foundational biblical values of life and liberty of service, of sacrifice, and especially of faith and morality, which George Washington called the 'indispensable supports of American prosperity.'"

"May our nation merit the fulfillment of Jeremiah's blessing," he stated, "that like a tree planted by water, we shall not cease to bear fruit; may all of humanity experience your love and your blessing, may it be thy will, and let us say amen." 

Father Frank Mann offers closing benediction

Lastly, Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, concluded the prayers of benediction, offering a particularly personal prayer for the new president, with whom he is personally acquainted.

"As our president and vice president embrace their newly appointed roles," he said, "we humbly implore that your everlasting love and wisdom will envelop them and grant them the clarity of mind to navigate the challenges that lie ahead and the compassion to serve all citizens with fairness and integrity."

As CNA reported last week, Mann, who is a retired diocesan priest, originally struck up what the Tablet called an "unlikely friendship" with Trump after he came across the grave sites of Trump's parents in a Queens cemetery.

"It was slightly overgrown," Mann told the Tablet. "I thought this shouldn't be. This is a historic site. So, I went and bought a weed whacker and some decorations and fixed up the plot." The priest then sent a photo of the graves to the president.

When Trump learned of the priest's actions, he called Mann personally saying the two should meet up. They have continued to remain in contact since, with Trump reportedly seeking Mann's advice on winning the Catholic vote in this past election.

Mann concluded his prayer by giving special thanks for Trump's parents, Mary and Fred Trump.

"Without [them], this day would never be the miracle that has just begun," he reflected. "From their place in heaven, may they shield their son from all harm by their loving protection and give him the strength to guide our nation along the path that will make America great again." 

Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who had previously been scheduled to offer a Muslim benediction at the ceremony, did not appear at the event. The Dearborn, Michigan-based Husainy had generated controversy for his past expressions regarding Hezbollah and Iran.

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