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Rome Newsroom, Jan 19, 2025 / 10:35 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Sunday thanked the mediators who brokered the latest cease-fire deal in Gaza which came into effect on Jan. 19. 

After praying the Angelus with thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father said the cease-fire is an "important result" for the city, which has endured more than one year of fighting since Israel declared war on Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. 

"In recent days it was announced that the cease-fire in Gaza will come into effect today. I express my gratitude to all the mediators. It is a good job to mediate so that peace is made. Thank you to the mediators!" the pope exclaimed on Sunday. 

"I hope that what has been agreed will be respected immediately by the parties," he added.

During his Angelus address, the Holy Father also expressed his hope that all hostages "may finally return home and embrace their loved ones" and for the opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza.    

"I pray a lot for them and for their families," he told his listeners on Sunday. "I also hope that humanitarian aid will reach the people of Gaza, who so urgently need it, even faster and in large quantities."

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Francis has consistently called for the release of all Israeli and Palestinian hostages and urged leaders to advance "dialogue, reconciliation, and peace."  

"Both the Israelis and the Palestinians need clear signs of hope: I trust that the political authorities of both of them, with the help of the international community, may reach the right solution for the two states," he said. 

In addition to those suffering in Palestine and Israel because of war, the Holy Father also reminded people to "pray always" for those in Ukraine, Myanmar, and other countries ravaged by conflict and violence. 

Speaking on the significance of the Jubilee Year of Hope and the recent release of more than 550 Cuban prisoners, the Holy Father also reiterated the need for "gestures of great hope" to extend to those in jail.

"I hope that in the coming months, we will continue to undertake initiatives of this type, which instill confidence in the journey of people and populations," he said on Sunday.

To mark the octave of Christian unity — which began on Jan. 18 and concludes on the Jan. 25 feast of the conversion of St. Paul — the Holy Father prayed: "Let us not cease to invoke from God the precious gift of full communion between all the Lord's disciples."

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CNA Staff, Jan 19, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A recently launched ministry in Hawaii is bringing the Church to fishermen and other seafarers whose long hours and remote work renders them an "invisible part of the body of Christ."

Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva launched the Hawaii Apostleship of the Sea Ministry out of the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa late last year. He put Deacon Marlowe Sabater, ordained in January of last year, in charge of the new program.

In an interview with CNA, Sabater said the initiative was created specifically to minister to seafarers, who make up a considerable portion of the Hawaiian economy. Seafarers "include foreign fishermen working for the Hawaii longline fishery and crew from cruise and cargo ships," the deacon said. 

Sabater pointed to St. Paul's words in 1 Cor 12:12 in which the evangelist wrote: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ."

"The seafarer is an invisible body part that is out of sight [and] out of mind," he said. The Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development "calls for us to minister and advocate for their rights and dignity."

The ministry is currently in its infancy, the deacon noted, and is working to spread the program to various parishes. At present the ministry offers evangelization and fellowship to fishermen at the Port of Honolulu via the services of two priests and two deacons. 

"The ministries also provide the material needs of seafarers, such as clothing and food for their work and daily consumption," he said. The Catholic apostleship partners with a similar ministry at Waipio Community Baptist Church, he noted.

This is not the only Catholic ministry that brings the sacraments to those who work long hours on the water. The Archdiocese of Seattle partners with several other Christian churches in that city to care for maritime workers from around the world.

As in Hawaii, Catholic seafarers in Seattle are able to access the sacraments, including the Eucharist, through the ministry. It also offers practical services such as SIM cards for cellphones and transportation to shopping near the shore. 

Sabater said the Hawaii program is currently focused on longline fishermen in Honolulu itself. "In the future, we will expand to ministering to crew members onboard cruise and cargo ships," he said. 

The ministry plans to partner with the Apostleship of the Sea, a professional association of Catholic maritime ministers.

Seafarers "play a significant role in providing food for our table, transporting our goods, and catering to our enjoyment at sea," the deacon said.

But "their pastoral needs are hampered by the nature of their work and the conditions of their labor," he added.

"We are called to serve every member of the human family," Sabater said, "including those who spend a significant amount of time out at sea risking their lives to serve, fish, entertain, deliver, and make life easier for us."

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Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jan 19, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

This year, Jan. 29 marks the Lunar New Year, a 15-day annual celebration in China and Asian communities that begins with the new moon and falls somewhere between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 on Western calendars. Many Chinese Catholics celebrate by attending Mass to thank God for blessings received and a parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is preparing to do just that.

On Feb. 3 at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Father John Yongli Chen will celebrate an evening Mass in Mandarin, his native language, to welcome in the Chinese New Year. A dinner and live traditional Chinese music will follow at the parish, which is in the Diocese of Lansing.

Chen is pastor of St. Ann Parish in Ortonville, Michigan, and was invited by Father William Ashbaugh, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle, to celebrate the New Year Mass with the Chinese community there.

The symbols of the Lunar New Year, including the animals of the Chinese zodiac, are incorporated into Masses. Dance, gifts, and prayers for the dead also characterize the celebration.

Chen was ordained in China in 2011 and became pastor of St. Ann in 2023. He began his seminary studies in Xinjiang and completed them at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He holds a doctorate in theology from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, and taught theology and philosophy at the National Seminary in China.

In an interview with CNA, Chen said life for Catholics and other Christians in China can be difficult. Describing the process known as sinicization, or government control of Church functions, he said this means "everything is under the guidance of communist ideology. My family must apply for a permit to go to church. Officials register them and decide whether to allow them permission."

Chen recalled that in China, he and other students and faculty were forced to participate in a Mass celebrated by an illicitly ordained bishop of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which is controlled by China's communist government but not recognized by the Catholic Church. When Chen refused to comply with communist mandates, his teaching career at the National Seminary in Beijing was terminated by the rector, who forced him to leave.

Recognizing the difficulties believers face in Xinjiang, his home province, and elsewhere in China, Chen lamented he cannot serve his countrymen. "I came from the other side of the world where the government persecutes religion. But don't feel sorry for me. Be thankful as we suffer with Christ and celebrate our faith and Church that we share," he said.

Chen said his parents and grandparents were faithful Catholics even though churches were scarce in Xinjiang. "We saw churches only in pictures while I was growing up," he said, adding: "We prayed as a family and celebrated Mass in our 'house church' at home about six times a year. There were no parish churches, but we would sometimes go to other homes for worship."

"That is what made us what we are today, and I want to share my experiences and the understanding of my faith with others," he said.

Dr. L. Gregory Bloomquist of St. Paul University, who directed Chen's thesis at St. Paul University, lauded his former student, writing that because of the priest's persecution, he came to embody St. Paul, "becoming a child, as Jesus taught, in order to become like Christ and thus, in Father John's case, a true father."

Ann Arbor has a significant Chinese community, largely because of the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, which attracts students and professionals from around the world. 

St. Thomas Parish sponsored an Alpha course for Chinese inquirers in the fall of 2024, which Chen attended in November. This will be followed by a course in Scripture and then confirmation of catechumens at Easter. 

St. Thomas parishioner Monica Cai, whose husband, Dr. Peter Cai, practices medicine in Ann Arbor, said she and her husband have celebrated the Lunar New Year with his Christian parents ever since they married 15 years ago. "It's a lot like Thanksgiving," Cai said.

An American cradle Catholic and home-schooling mother, Cai said they always start the celebration and family reunion with prayer.

"Last year was the first time we celebrated a new year Mass with a large group of Chinese Catholics. Before the Alpha course, we didn't know many Chinese people. We learned that there is a Chinese Catholic community that we didn't know about. So we are really grateful to Alpha because it is a treasure trove of relationships that we wouldn't have had otherwise."

Chinese and Vietnamese expatriates, as well as other communities, celebrate the Lunar New Year. In Chinese neighborhoods in the U.S., including San Francisco, the day is marked by parades, feasting, and family reunions. Originally, what is also known as the Spring Festival was intended to honor ancestors and Chinese deities. This year will be the Year of the Snake.

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CNA Staff, Jan 18, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Catholic leaders in the Holy Land expressed cautious optimism this week that pilgrims will be able to return to the region amid a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, which is expected to go into effect on Sunday.

While welcoming the ceasefire as a crucial step to end violence and address urgent humanitarian needs, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL), which includes bishops, exarchs, and eparchs from across the region, emphasized in a Jan. 16 statement that lasting peace requires addressing the root causes of the conflict.

"Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved through a just solution that addresses the origin of this long-standing struggle. This requires a long process, a willingness to acknowledge each other's suffering, and a focused education in trust that leads to overcoming fear of the other and the justification of violence as a political tool," the Catholic leaders wrote.

The leaders said they "eagerly await" the return of pilgrims to the holy places in the Holy Land. Visitation to the Holy Land by foreign pilgrims, a vital part of the livelihoods of many of the region's Christians, dropped sharply following the October 2023 start of the war.

"The holy places are meant to be places of prayer and peace, and we long for the day when pilgrims can visit them again in safety and spiritual joy," the ordinaries said.

Several of the most significant sacred sites in the Holy Land, including the churches of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Nativity in Bethlehem, have been designated as pilgrimage sites for the Church's 2025 Jubilee Year, raising hopes that pilgrims may flock to them once again after more than a year of greatly diminished crowds.

"Despite the pain we have suffered, we continue to look to the future with unwavering hope. May this ceasefire inspire new efforts for dialogue, mutual understanding, and lasting peace for all. At the beginning of the jubilee year dedicated to hope that does not disappoint, we read in this event a sign that reminds us of God's faithfulness."

Late Friday, Israel's full Cabinet approved the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which also includes provisions for a major influx of humanitarian aid and was brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Under the first 42-day phase of the deal, Hamas forces are expected to release 33 women, children, elderly, and wounded Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children.

Catholic tour operators eager to return to region

In the United States, Catholic pilgrimage leaders also expressed optimism, saying their partners on the ground in the Holy Land are hopeful that the ceasefire will hold and perhaps even end the war. 

Steve Ray, a Catholic convert and speaker who has visited the Holy Land more than 200 times and runs a pilgrimage service, told CNA that the service is planning its next Holy Land pilgrimage for March and hopes to have "time to get the message out" to prospective pilgrims.

Ray said many Christians on the ground in the Holy Land that he has heard from are optimistic about the ceasefire and eager to rebuild their livelihoods through a rebounding of visitation to the region.

However, Ray said the perception of continued danger is still keeping Americans away from Holy Land pilgrimages, despite what Ray described as a relatively safe security situation in Israel for tourists, even amid the fighting in Gaza. Ray said he hopes the ceasefire will hold and that prospective pilgrims will be inspired to give the Holy Land another look.

"People are going to want to wait and watch for a while," he said. "Americans are going to want to know it's safe."

Milanka Lachman, founder of Tennessee-based 206 Tours, told CNA that she, too, perceives optimism from her partners in the Holy Land about the staying power of the current ceasefire.

206 Tours operates Catholic pilgrimages in 33 countries, with the Holy Land as its No. 1 destination, sending approximately 100 groups per year, Lachman said, but the COVID-19 pandemic followed by the current conflicts has "really crushed our partners and guides in the Holy Land."

That said, "I believe that this is it … I believe that the war is over," Lachman told CNA by email.

"Our plan now is to let several thousand pilgrims whose scheduled pilgrimages were affected over the past years as well as our priests and group leaders know that we plan to resume this summer with our regularly scheduled departures … and that we will take any group requests from November 2025 on," she said.

While noting that she cannot guarantee anyone's safety in the Holy Land — no one can — Lachman encouraged Catholics in the U.S. to consider a trip, in part as a way of supporting the region's Christians.

"Let's go back to the Holy Land, and God please make the Israel-Hamas peace deal last," she concluded.

Father David Steffy, LC, an American priest who directs the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, a famous refuge for pilgrims to the Holy Land, told CNA he is hopeful that the ceasefire "will encourage tour agencies to start organizing trips again."

While usually welcoming large numbers of American pilgrims, Steffy said lately the center has had only a few pilgrim groups visiting, mainly from the Philippines, Korea, and other Far East countries. They recently welcomed a group of about 30 Americans, the largest such group in "the last several months." Many major U.S. airlines still are not flying to the Holy Land, he noted.

He reiterated, as he did when speaking to CNA in October 2023, that the dearth of pilgrims has caused great suffering for the Christian community who work in the tourism industry, including employees of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.

"The strain on families and the local economy has been devastating, especially for the local Christian community," Steffy told CNA.

"We are encouraging pilgrim groups to return and His Beatitude Cardinal [Pierbattista] Pizzaballa [the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem] often speaks about the role pilgrims play in helping the Holy Land recover and heal from the consequences of the war and hostilities of the past year. We expect that by September perhaps visiting groups of pilgrims will be about 60% of what would be normal."

Terra Dei, a pilgrimage tour operator with 14 employees in the Holy Land since 2013, saw a precipitous drop in visitation after the start of the Gaza conflict, with at least 75 pilgrim groups canceling their reservations after October 2023 and 70 groups canceling for 2024.

José Manuel Gude, a business developer for Terra Dei based in Jerusalem, told CNA by email that the group has already received messages from "previous customers or from people willing to come" on pilgrimage about how the ceasefire might change the security situation. Similar to Ray, he said Israel itself, and the holy sites, were very secure even before the ceasefire, but foreign pilgrims — especially Catholics, he says — remain wary.

"Most [people] have the idea that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land now is dangerous and will not come until a ceasefire is signed," Gude said.

"It is understandable because what they see in the news are images of the war and it may seem that the whole country is a battlefield, when in reality life in Israel goes on totally normal."

Gude echoed Lachman by saying he hopes Catholics will view a Holy Land pilgrimage with a "sense of mission," as a way of supporting the Christians in the region who depend so highly on pilgrim groups. 

"[It] is precisely now when their presence is [most] needed among the local Christian community, which takes care of the holy sites and employs in the religious tourism sector an important proportion of its population, especially in Bethlehem," he said.

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ACI Africa, Jan 18, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB) have appealed for calm ahead of the West African country's 2026 general elections.

In a statement issued at the end of their four-day plenary assembly that ended Jan. 10, Benin's Catholic bishops said that diversity in opinions should be a "source of strength" for the country's democracy and called for unity amid what they describe as "diverse interests and political differences in the country."

"As our country heads towards the general elections of 2026, the bishops of Benin once again make an urgent appeal for the political atmosphere to be eased," they said in their statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, on Jan. 14.

"Diversity of opinions and parties should never be a source of division, but rather a source of strength for our democracy," CEB members added. "Indeed, beyond partisan interests and political differences, what unites us as Beninese people is much stronger than what could divide us."

Scheduled for April 2026, Benin's general elections are to include municipal, legislative, and presidential votes. Presidential candidates must submit their applications by October 2025, six months before the election.

President Patrice Talon, currently serving his second and final constitutional term, has reportedly said that he does not intend to amend the constitution to seek reelection.

Benin's Catholic bishops have urged political leaders, opinion-makers, and all Beninese citizens to commit themselves resolutely to a spirit of sincere dialogue, mutual listening, and national reconciliation.

In their latest statement, they stressed the importance of a climate of peace and trust, which they say is essential to guarantee the smooth running of the country's planned elections.

"This climate must be underpinned by inclusive governance and fair management of electoral processes so that everyone feels part of the construction of our common future," they said, inviting everyone, whatever their position or political affiliation, "to demonstrate great responsibility and sincere commitment to serving the supreme interest of the nation."

Reminding the Beninese of the country's motto, "Fraternity, Justice, Work," CEB members said: "This unity, rooted in our shared history and cultural heritage, is the foundation on which we must build a strong and prosperous nation."

The bishops prayed that the peace of Christ will enlighten the hearts and guide the actions of all those in charge of the destiny of Benin.

The bishops further expressed their closeness with families bereaved by the loss of soldiers killed in the jihadist attack that took place on Jan. 8 near the triple border between Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

A jihadist formation from Burkina Faso reportedly attacked the border post, killing at least 28 Beninese soldiers. The attack was claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, which is affiliated with al-Qaida.

In their collective statement, the bishops noted that the soldiers who were killed "fell at the front in the performance of their duty" and implored: "May the God of infinite mercies welcome their souls into his light and console the hearts that have been tested by this tragedy."

Meanwhile, Benin's bishops have expressed their concern about the growth of cybercrime in the country, which they say attracts many young people with "the promise of easy profits."

"In their quest for easy money, many young people continue to swindle, posing a permanent threat to the security and peace of mind of our peaceful citizens," CEB members said, expressing their "urgent call to conversion" and reminding youths in Benin that ill-gotten gains never pay off.

The Catholic Church leaders invited educators at various levels — parents, chaplains, and youth group leaders — to assume their full responsibility and to work each according to his or her charisma and specific mission so that urgent measures can be taken to save the young people, who they say are "on the road to perdition."

The bishops also urged the country's authorities to strengthen legal and technological measures to eradicate cybercrime while promoting digital education and the responsible use of technology.

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 17, 2025 / 19:00 pm (CNA).

The United States Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that will determine whether parents have a right to opt their children out of public school coursework that promotes homosexuality, transgenderism, and sexual content.

Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim parents are suing the Montgomery County, Maryland Board of Education over a policy that prohibits parents from opting their children out of coursework that promotes gender ideology to children as young as 3 or 4 years old.

Supreme Court justices will likely hear the religious freedom case this spring.

The parents, who are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, have argued that the board's refusal to allow opt-outs violates their First Amendment right to direct the religious upbringing of their children. The parents argue that the concepts promoted in the coursework conflict with their religious beliefs.

"The School Board has pushed inappropriate gender indoctrination on our children instead of focusing on the fundamental areas of education that they need to thrive," Grace Morrison, who serves on the board of the Kids First association, said in a statement.

"I pray the Supreme Court will stop this injustice, allow parents to raise their children according to their faith, and restore common sense in Maryland once again," Morrison said.

One book called "Pride Puppy!" teaches preschool children the alphabet with a story about a homosexual pride parade, which introduces children to words like "drag queen," "leather," and "zipper." It also introduces young children to Marsha B. Johnson — a drag queen, gay rights activists and temporarily a prostitute.

The lawsuit was filed in May 2023.

The school district decided in October 2024 to remove "Pride Puppy!" and one other book from the school curriculum, but kept them in libraries. Numerous other books that promote gender ideology still remain in the mandatory curriculum for all students. 

"Cramming down controversial gender ideology on three-year-olds without their parents' permission is an affront to our nation's traditions, parental rights, and basic human decency," Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said in a statement.

"The Court must make clear: parents, not the state, should be the ones deciding how and when to introduce their children to sensitive issues about gender and sexuality." Baxter added. 

The parents are not seeking to have the books banned from the school, but rather are asking for the opportunity to opt their children out of the coursework.

A survey released by Becket earlier this week found that 77% of Americans believe parents should be able to opt their children out of public school coursework that promotes concepts of gender identity and sexuality that conflict with the religious beliefs of the parents. Only 23% of people disagreed with opt-outs.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 17, 2025 / 15:35 pm (CNA).

The Cuban government's announcement of the release of 553 prisoners has been described by an analyst and the opposition as "a swap" by the regime to obtain economic benefits from the United States, including removing the island from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

The government of President Miguel Díaz-Canel reported on Monday, Jan. 14, that it was releasing the prisoners "in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025" and that the decision had been communicated to Pope Francis in a letter sent at the beginning of January.

In its statement, the Cuban regime did not indicate how many of those released were political prisoners but noted that "the releases are carried out on the basis of a careful analysis based on the different modalities envisioned by the legislation" and that "these people will receive their respective benefits gradually."

The announcement was welcomed by the Holy See, whose secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said "it is a sign of great hope at the beginning of the jubilee." Vatican News reported Jan. 15 that the releases were carried out "within the framework of mediation with the Catholic Church that has been going on for years."

However, geopolitical expert Alberto Fernández, a Cuban-American who spoke with the Spanish-language edition of EWTN News in Washington, D.C., pointed out that, although the communist regime "has given its announcement a religious disguise," it's "an exchange of hostages for economic and political reasons with the [President Joe] Biden administration."

The Democratic administration of Biden, which will hand over power to Republican Donald Trump on Jan. 20, announced that it will remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism that also includes North Korea, Syria, and Iran.

According to the White House, this decision was facilitated with the help of the Vatican to secure the release of political prisoners on the island.

The island was on this list from 1982–2015, when President Barack Obama removed it as part of his policy of "thawing" relations with Raúl Castro. However, it was included on the list again on Jan. 11, 2021, in the final days of the first Trump administration.

The Republican administration said its goal was to "deny the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home and to counter its malign interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere."

Robert L. Muse, a lawyer specializing in U.S. sanctions on Cuba, told the Spanish-language edition of BBC World News that now, by leaving the list, the island could benefit in areas such as tourism, key to its economy, since travelers from the European Union, Chile, South Korea, or Japan could visit the Caribbean country without fear of losing a U.S. tourist visa exemption.

Cuba could also now access financing from foreign entities, although this is not certain, as it is a technically bankrupt country that has defaulted on its payments.

However, all this could come to nought if Trump again includes Cuba in the group of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Fernández highlighted the mediation of the Catholic Church to seek the release of political prisoners, especially "those who were arrested after the demonstrations of July 11, 2021."

That Sunday, thousands of Cubans protested in dozens of cities over food and medicine shortages, power outages, and to demand freedom. It was the largest demonstration under the communist regime, which reacted by imprisoning an undetermined number of protesters, many of them young.

In this regard, Fernández said that "if the regime wanted to honor the jubilee, the first thing it should do is resign, that is, end the regime, because this is a regime that is the complete opposite of what faith is, what the jubilee is, what liberation is."

Prisoners must be released 'without conditions'

The Christian Liberation Movement (MCL by its Spanish acronym) said that "Cuban political prisoners should not be the object of bartering and/or negotiations regarding the policies of other states toward Cuba."

The MCL, which throughout its history has suffered persecution, imprisonment, and exile of several of its members, added that political prisoners "must have their dignity respected as human beings and all of them should be released and without conditions."

"Not only for humanitarian reasons but essentially as a matter of justice, since they are innocent of the charges that have been fabricated against them," MCL continued in a statement titled "Another Day of Infamy."

The pro-democracy organization also pointed out that the "policy of appeasement" of the United States government "only encourages and emboldens dictators and empowers the forces of repression and terrorists by giving them the feeling, and more than that, the certainty, that they can act with total impunity."

"We deplore that the Democratic administration is trying to clean up the image of a bloody dictatorship, perhaps as revenge for the broad political support of the Cuban exile community [in the U.S.] for its adversary from the Republican Party in the last presidential election," MCL said.

The advocacy organization pointed out that "freedom and democracy in Cuba should be the goal of the two main political parties in the United States and not a political campaign issue."

Getting out of prison in Cuba doesn't mean you're free

On its website the nongovernmental organization Prisoners Defenders, which monitors the situation of political prisoners in Cuba, also spoke out, calling attention to the terms under which the regime is releasing the 553 people, because "according to the official statement ... their sentences would remain intact" and therefore it would be necessary to "talk about releases with reduced sentences under certain conditions" such as good conduct and working. 

"If this were confirmed, the news would not be as positive as the Cuban regime wants to make it seem. In Cuba, releasing prisoners doesn't mean they're free."

Prisoners Defenders explained that if this were the case, "some would be granted parole, others perhaps for humanitarian reasons, and others a series of reduced sentences under certain conditions that, if not complied with, the person goes back to prison, which is far from having your full freedom restored." 

Martí Noticias posted the audio testimony of Liván Hernández Sosa, one of the first political prisoners released "on parole."

"They explained to us the conditions under which I was going to be released: I have to work, I can't be on social media, I can't protest, much less against the regime. I am very happy, and even though it is under unjust conditions, I am happy to be here, in my house, with my wife, with my children," he said.

Among the hundreds of other released prisoners are José Daniel Ferrer, founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba; Donaida Pérez, a 53-year-old woman imprisoned for protesting on July 11, 2021; and Yandier García Labrada, an MCL activist sentenced four years ago for having "publicly protested against the disorganization and irregularities in the distribution of supplies."

Pérez told Martí Noticias: "I know that this has been nothing more than the result of the international campaign that has been carried out in favor of us political prisoners, which has nothing to do with what the Cuban regime has done. The Cuban regime simply uses us as its bargaining chip to get Cuba removed from the list of terrorist countries."

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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Los Angeles, Calif., Jan 17, 2025 / 10:40 am (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles' annual OneLife LA event will go on this weekend despite the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles, albeit with a modified program and focus.

While previously the event was a walk through the streets of downtown Los Angeles concluding at L.A. Historic Park, the combination of unhealthy air and the demand such an event has for local law enforcement meant a new plan was needed this year. So earlier this week archdiocesan officials announced the event would be held entirely in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

"The 2025 OneLife LA is not only an opportunity to focus on 'womb to tomb' life issues but is our chance to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much from the fires that have devastated Los Angeles," said Michael Donaldson, senior director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and organizer of OneLife LA.  "It is our chance to show not only that human life is sacred but to honor fire victims and let them know we care."

Organizers are uncertain of how the fires will affect attendance; the 2024 OneLife LA drew 6,000.  (The cathedral seats over 4,000.)

Participants are invited to gather beginning at 1 p.m. local time. Partner groups such as 40 Days for Life and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will man tables outside the cathedral to greet and share information with visitors.

A speaker and performance program will commence at 2 p.m. A focus will be testimonials from victims of the fires and reflections on the most vulnerable negatively impacted by the fires.

The event culminates at 5 p.m. with an annual Requiem Mass for the Unborn celebrated by Archbishop José Gómez at 5 p.m. The theme of the day will be "Let Us Stand Up Together in Hope."

Among the featured speakers are Jennifer and George Magallon of Altadena whose home was destroyed in the Eaton fire. George is a contractor and apartment owner; the pair lived in a home on a large lot in a community backing up to the Angeles National Forest. It was their "dream home," George said, and a place where they regularly welcomed family and friends.

On the evening of Jan. 7, Santa Ana winds were blowing up to 100 mph and local authorities turned off the power to reduce the possibility of sparking fire. The Eaton fire began nonetheless, and the Magallons gathered up what possessions they could and fled.

George and his neighbors did what they could to douse their homes with water beforehand, but by the early morning hours the water pressure had slowed to a trickle.

Meanwhile, an "orange rain" of burning embers fell on the neighborhood. Everything burned in the early morning hours of Jan. 8. When the Magallons were able to return, they discovered their once prosperous neighborhood now "looked like the surface of the moon."

While devastated by the loss, the couple has pledged to rebuild and plans to stress to the OneLife LA attendees how their Catholic faith has been key to their emotional and psychological well-being during the ordeal. Jennifer pointed to one sign of hope: When they returned to the ruin of their home one object stood unscathed amid the rubble — an outdoor statue of the Blessed Mother.

"It gave us the inspiration we needed and the will to go on," Jennifer said.

Visit www.onelifela.org to register as an individual or group or to sign up as a volunteer.

Walk for Life West Coast

Nearly 400 miles to the north, the Walk for Life West Coast will begin at Civic Center Plaza in downtown San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 12:30 p.m. local time. The San Francisco event has an exclusive focus of ending abortion and stressing the harm it has had on women.  

The day begins at 10:45 a.m. with a Silent No More Awareness Campaign led by Georgette Forney and Frank Pavone from Priests for Life, which includes testimonies from those directly harmed by abortion. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. there will be an information fair with material offered by a variety of pro-life organizations.

The main event is a rally beginning at 12:30 p.m. followed by the walk at 1:30 p.m. Participants will walk 1.8 miles from the civic center to the Embarcadero.

The event is organized by Catholics and many who attend are parishioners and clergy from local parishes as well as students from Catholic schools.

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone celebrates a Walk for Life Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral at 9:30 a.m. before the event; he is also a regular participant in the walk.

Rally speakers at the Walk for Life West Coast include Ryan Bomberger, Sister Deirdre "Dede" Byrne, Kelly Lester, and Rev. Clenard Childress.

For additional information and to register visit www.walkforlifewc.com.

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CNA Staff, Jan 17, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

After the Archdiocese of Philadelphia found that 83% of baptized Catholics are missing from the pews in the archdiocese, Archbishop Nelson Pérez decided to launch a missionary outreach program in his archdiocese to "invite people home."

The number of "missing Catholics" is based on Mass count attendance data compiled each year by the archdiocese. (The number relates only to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.)

Pérez is launching a 10-year missionary endeavor to bring Catholics back to the pews by implementing "missionary hubs" in many parishes in the area. The missionary hubs are designed to work with existing parishes and ministries by providing additional resources to minister to those who have left the Church.

Pérez said he does not want to "perpetuate this cycle" of "widespread parish closures" due to finances and number of priests — something many dioceses are facing in the United States.

"I want to begin to close this distance between many of our loved ones and the Church," Pérez wrote in a pastoral letter earlier this month. "I want people to know that the Lord is still calling them, that they are of great worth, have a divine purpose, and an eternal home."

Pérez recalled that one of the first questions he was asked when he became archbishop was "will you close parishes?"

"I didn't come here to close parishes; I came here to build up the Church of Philadelphia," Pérez said.

One strategy Pérez plans to employ is to provide parish life directors — deacons and consecrated or lay individuals who manage operations of a parish, allowing retired and senior priests to continue to minister to souls "without bearing the responsibilities of administration."

The missionary hubs are designed to grow the Church by working with various existing Catholic ministries, reaching out to those not actively involved in the Church, and providing local community and resources. Ultimately, they are designed to bring people to Jesus through both the Eucharist and service to the poor, according to Pérez.

The large-scale initiative will be gradually "phased in over a 10-year period," Kenneth Gavin, chief communications officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, told CNA.

"This process will require tailored approaches to be successful across the diverse five counties of the archdiocese," he said. "We also want to allow sufficient time for people to learn more, discern their participation, and refine our efforts over time."

The archdiocese hopes to make the approach sustainable over time. In terms of funding, Gavin told CNA that the initiative "will be primarily subsidized by private philanthropic funding secured over time and hopefully endowed for long-term sustainability."

The missionary hubs are part of a large-scale initiative to renew the Church in Philadelphia, known as the New Way Forward.

"The archbishop recognizes the urgency of reaching out to the 83% of baptized Catholics not regularly practicing their faith while continuing to serve more effectively and efficiently the 17% who do attend Mass," Gavin told CNA.

"This is the impetus of the New Way Forward in the Church of Philadelphia, a process to renew the local Church over the next 20 years and invite everyone to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ," Gavin continued.

To reach the people of Philadelphia, Pérez advocates for a "pastoral change of heart."

"I want to embark on a new form of pastoral planning by asking a new question: 'Where does the Church need to be and how?'" Pérez said. "We need to inspire a pastoral change of heart that focuses on those who are absent."

Pérez took inspiration from the "missionary disciples" Pope Francis wrote about in the 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), who are involved in the community and then go forth and "seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast."

"We must be a community of missionary disciples focused on renewal, rebuilding trust, and inviting people to a relationship with Jesus Christ!" Pérez concluded.

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Madrid, Spain, Jan 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Franciscan friar Paolo Benanti, an expert in artificial intelligence (AI), warned of its ethical risks during a colloquium organized by the Paul VI Foundation in Madrid, pointing out that "the people who control this type of technology control reality."

The Italian priest, president of the Italian government's Commission for Artificial Intelligence, emphasized that "the reality we are facing is different from that of 10 or 15 years ago and it's a reality defined by software."

"This starting point has an impact on the way in which we exercise the three classic rights connected with the ownership of a thing: use, abuse, and usufruct," he explained. (The Cambridge Dictionary defines usufruct as "the legal right to use someone else's property temporarily and to keep any profit made from it.")

This is especially true regarding usufruct, because "the values ??that you produce with the use of these devices are not yours but go to the cloud," Benanti noted.

"So who are those who do not have the usufruct of things? The slaves," he explained. 

Therefore, he encouraged reflection on what it means to live in a reality defined by software. "We have to have an ethical approach to technology" and in particular to those linked to artificial intelligence, he said, "because they are the ones that shape the reality of our world, and the people who control this type of technology control reality."

"We have to recognize that we live in a different reality. Software is not secondary but questions what reality is, what property is, what are the rights we have," the Franciscan said.

Centralization and decentralization of power

Secondly, the Franciscan explained how the development of computer technology after the Second World War has produced different processes related to power, democracy, and privacy.

In the 1970s, decentralizing processes took place in the United States and Europe that led to the creation years later of personal computers that "allowed everyone to have access to very simple things."

In the 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the idea was that a more liberalized market "would lead to greater well-being and promote the liberal democracy model in countries with other models. However, this policy "made China richer, but not more democratic," the AI expert continued.

Thus, Western democratic values ??entered into crisis when it was realized that "you can be rich and have well-being without being democratic," he observed.

In the so-called Arab Spring of 2011, the use of mobile phones showed the "the power of personal computers." But soon after, this power began to be suspected: "Mobile phones were no longer the allies of democracy but the worst ally of fake news, polarization, post-truth, and all that kind of thing," Benanti noted.

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, "we were able to adapt our lives thanks to the power of our personal computers" through the use of video calls or the development of applications for bank payments among other useful tools to substitute for doing things in person. 

"We realized that, silently, from 2012 to 2020, the smartphone had subsumed reality and now things that happened in reality were happening directly on the phone," he recalled.

The risk to democracy in the computer age

During the second decade of the 21st century, "we have artificial intelligence inside the smartphone" and, according to Benanti, classical liberal democracy is turning into "a computer-based democracy."

In it, "we are using artificial intelligence to take away a person's ability to use the computer on his own and take it to a centralized place that we call a data center" in such a way that a new ethical challenge appears: "Now all the processes are centralized in the cloud again."

The expert emphasized that these "clouds" or data centers "belong to five companies" that own "all the data," which represents not just a personal challenge but also a challenge "for democratic processes."

Regarding these challenges, the priest explained how artificial intelligence can also pose a threat to people's freedom through its ability to make predictions about behavior.

"The suggestion you may be interested in is not only predicting what you can buy, but it is also producing the things you are going to buy," he summarized.

This possibility poses "a real problem" because the existence of this type of system in our pockets "is capable of forcing and shaping the freedom of public spaces."

These kinds of questions about the weaknesses, opportunities, strengths, and threats of artificial intelligence constitute the reason why "we should have governance over these kinds of innovations." 

Regarding the future, Benanti predicted artificial intelligence will have a major impact on access to information, medicine, and the labor market. Regarding the latter, he noted: "If we do not regulate the impact that artificial intelligence can have on the labor market, we could destroy society as we now know it."

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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