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The Catholic Church, the Spanish government, and the people's ombudsman have agreed upon a protocol for compensating abuse victims following arduous negotiations that began last January.

The agreement does not establish specific parameters for financial compensation — neither minimums nor maximums — because it is not intended to be the sole avenue for reparation. Furthermore, as agreed upon by the signatories, the aim is to address each case on an individualized basis.

The signing of the new protocol, which will enter into force on April 15, took place at the ombudsman's office on March 30. Present at the ceremony were the president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym), Archbishop Luis Argüello; the president of the Spanish Confederation of Religious (CONFER, by its Spanish acronym), Dominican Father Jesús Díaz Sariego; the minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes (legislature), Félix Bolaños; and the people's ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo.

Alluding to the liturgical season, Argüello expressed at the beginning of his remarks the hope that the agreement would serve to "alleviate the passion (suffering) of so many victims of abuse," specifically those whose cases have passed the statute of limitations or whose abusers have died.

The prelate underscored that this new system is an extension of the efforts undertaken for years by ecclesiastical institutions, efforts that more than a year ago took concrete form in the PRIVA plan for the comprehensive reparation of abuse victims. This plan has already resolved over a hundred cases, offering, among other measures, financial compensation to more than 80 individuals, totaling 2.5 million euros ($2.86 million).

Under this new protocol, the system implemented by the Catholic Church "is never replaced; rather, it is complemented by collaboration with the public authorities," an arrangement whose concrete realization has been delayed beyond initial expectations, yet which Argüello views as "an opportunity for collaboration, while naturally respecting the scope and jurisdiction" of each signatory institution.

Sariego remarked that "an agreement — even an imperfect one — is preferable to no agreement at all" and expressed the hope that this day would "serve to alleviate that pain and suffering which we know is immense and runs deep."

Bolaños noted that this constitutes a model "that involves the victims," in which "comprehensive reparation is guaranteed" and which is structured as "a collaborative effort"; however, he underscored that "the final say will rest with the state" in the event of a disagreement between the experts from the Catholic Church's PRIVA Plan and the team appointed by the people's ombudsman.

Bolaños also commended and acknowledged the work of the experts appointed by the Catholic Church, "even though the PRIVA Plan contained an 'original sin,'" namely, that it was the Church itself that determined what compensation victims of abuse within its own ranks would receive, a factor that led "many victims to lack confidence" in the system.

During his remarks, Gabilondo stated that the signatories had debated "every comma" of the 14-page protocol. "I cannot recall anything that was not complicated, nor anything that proved insurmountable," he stated when asked about the difficulties encountered during this process.

End of a phase

The signing of the protocol marks the conclusion of a phase that began in March 2022, when the legislature tasked the ombudsman with investigating abuses within the Catholic Church. In October 2023, the ombudsman presented his report, which included a recommendation to establish a state-run reparations system.

In April 2024, the executive branch approved an implementation plan for measures proposed by the ombudsman, a plan that the CEE rejected on the grounds that it was based on "a condemnatory judgment of the entire Church, rendered without any form of legal safeguards," and amounted to "the state publicly targeting the Church in a discriminatory manner."

Despite this rejection, a preliminary agreement was reached in January 2026, an agreement in which the Vatican secretariat of state was reportedly involved, as acknowledged by both Argüello and Bolaños. The minister confirmed on March 30 that on March 20 he held a further meeting at the Vatican Secretariat of State while in Rome accompanying the king and queen of Spain, who were received by Pope Leo XIV.

How the system will work

Effective April 15, any victim of abuse within the Church may contact an office established for this purpose within the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes, which will forward the information to the ombudsman.

The Ombudsman's Victims Unit will review the case within a maximum period of three months — extendable by one additional month if necessary. If the case is accepted, the Ombudsman's Victims Unit will submit a proposal for redress to the PRIVA Plan Advisory Commission, which will have a maximum of two months to evaluate and respond to it.

The ombudsman will then have 15 days to convey these assessments to the victim.

If all parties are in agreement, the decision shall be deemed final. Otherwise, the dispute is referred to a joint body comprising representatives from the ombudsman, the CEE, and CONFER as well as associations of abuse victims, which will have an additional 15 days to reach a resolution.

If an agreement is still not reached, "the ombudsman and the representatives of the ecclesiastical institutions will make a final attempt to reach a consensus within a maximum period of one month."

Ultimately, it would be the Ombudsman's Victims Unit that makes the decision, which the Catholic Church must abide by.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) have reaffirmed their prophetic mission, pledging not to remain silent in the face of the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement issued following their March 23–25 extraordinary Plenary Assembly in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa, CENCO members emphasized their unwavering commitment to speaking out against injustice.

"Our goal is to contribute, among other things, to the promotion of the inalienable dignity of the human person and to the well-being of the Congolese people. Therefore, in the face of the degrading security and humanitarian situation of our country, we will not be silent," the Catholic leaders said in their message issued March 26.

Referencing the message of the late Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to the DRC, the bishops recalled the moral obligation of the Church to speak out.

"As Pope Francis said during his apostolic journey in our country, the Church cannot remain indifferent or silent in the face of the injustices and the pain that strike the populations," CENCO members said.

They reaffirmed the autonomy of both the Church and the political community while highlighting their shared responsibility in serving society.

"Certainly, the political community and the Church are independent from each other and autonomous in the domain that is theirs, but they are called to collaborate, because both are at the service of the personal and social vocation of the same men," the bishops said.

They insisted on the Church's right to address moral issues, including those related to politics, when human dignity is at stake.

"The Church therefore has the right to preach faith in all freedom, to teach social doctrine without any hindrance, to make a moral judgment, even on matters that concern political order, when the fundamental rights of the human person and the salvation of souls require it," they said.

Amid ongoing instability in the country, the bishops called for peaceful solutions grounded in dialogue.

"Concerned with peace and the sacredness of human life, we are convinced that dialogue is superior to war," they said.

Quoting Pope Francis, they added: "War is always a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful capitulation."

The bishops also underscored the importance of initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence.

"Thus, let us remember the relevance of the Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in DRC and in the Great Lakes region, not to be confused with a dialogue aimed at sharing power," they said.

They cautioned against efforts to undermine the Church's unity and mission, saying: "We are well aware that some people turn to discrediting our mission, to sow discord between us, or to engage us in some kind of religious war."

They urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to remain vigilant and guided by virtue.

"We exhort our faithful Catholics, women and men of goodwill, to discernment, to prudence, and to benevolence," they said.

As Christians prepare for Easter, the bishops extended a message of hope and prayer, saying: "As Easter approaches, may the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, bless the DRC and its people."

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has canceled the second World Children's Day, which had been scheduled to take place in Rome Sept. 25–27, about six weeks after Pope Leo XIV dissolved the commission responsible for its organization.

The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life announced the decision March 27, saying it had "considered it appropriate to cancel the celebration of the Second World Children's Day, initially scheduled to take place in Rome from Sept. 25 to 27, 2026."

According to the official statement, the dicastery opted not to hold the international gathering in Rome and instead pointed to a more decentralized approach rooted in local communities.

"All initiatives aimed at the pastoral care of children may be celebrated, at the discretion of the ordinaries, at a diocesan or parish level and with the involvement of families, the proper place for the human and spiritual growth of every child," the statement said, adding that the decision was made "after careful consideration and in agreement with the Holy Father."

The text underscores the role of the family as central to the human and spiritual development of children, in keeping with the pastoral emphasis of the current pontificate.

The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life also reaffirmed that it continues "its commitment to promoting the pastoral care of the family in all its components."

The cancellation of the second World Children's Day follows another decision made in February that brought a structural change by placing the initiative under the integrated management of the Roman Curia. Leo XIV dissolved the Pontifical Commission for World Children's Day, a body created in 2024 by his predecessor, Pope Francis, for organizational matters.

As a result, the president, vice president, and all members of the body — including Father Enzo Fortunato, who had served as president of the committee — automatically ceased their functions.

Full responsibility then passed to the dicastery led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, whom the pope entrusted with general coordination, resolving pending matters, and presenting the final liquidation balance to the Secretariat for the Economy.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Colorado violated the First Amendment by telling therapists that they could not help young people struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, the U.S. Supreme Court said in a March 31 ruling.

The high court said in an 8-1 decision that Colorado's law banning "conversion therapy" for minors runs afoul of free speech protections and does not qualify as a "permissible" exception to the First Amendment.

"The First Amendment stands as a bulwark against any effort to prescribe an orthodoxy of views, reflecting a belief that each American enjoys an inalienable right to speak his mind and a faith in the free marketplace of ideas as the best means for finding truth," the ruling said.

"Laws like Colorado's, which suppress speech based on viewpoint, represent an egregious assault on both commitments," the justices said.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissent from the ruling.

Colorado's law defined "conversion therapy" as "any practice or treatment" that attempts to change a person's "sexual orientation or gender identity."

In its ban the state included efforts to change a person's "behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex."

Christian counselor Kaley Chiles filed a lawsuit to challenge the ban in 2022, arguing that her clients come to her for faith-based counseling, and some are referred by churches or word of mouth.

The lawsuit asserted that the Colorado rule constituted viewpoint discrimination because it expressly permitted therapy that is supportive of gender transitions but prohibited therapy that is rooted in "a religious viewpoint that aligns with [Chiles'] religious beliefs and those of her clients."

In its March 31 ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the decision was a "narrow one," insofar as it did not address broader prohibitions on "conversion therapy" practices such as "physical interventions."

Chiles herself argued that she "provides only talk therapy" to her clients, the court noted. She said the law "strikes at the heart of the First Amendment's protections for free speech."

The state's law "censors speech based on its viewpoint," the justices said, describing the ban as an "egregious" assault on free speech.

"Colorado may regard its policy as essential to public health and safety," the ruling said. "Certainly, censorious governments throughout history have believed the same."

In her dissent, Jackson argued that the First Amendment has "far less salience" where medical regulations are concerned.

She alleged that the majority opinion was "unprincipled and unworkable" and "will eventually prove untenable."

Jim Campbell, lead attorney with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented Chiles in the case, said in a press release that the ruling was "a significant win for free speech, common sense, and families desperate to help their children."

"States cannot silence voluntary conversations that help young people seeking to grow comfortable with their bodies," he said.

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In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, a plaintiff in last week's landmark settlement in the Missouri v. Biden case, described it as a hard-fought victory that sets an important legal precedent against federal government pressure on social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.

The settlement agreement, reached in the form of a consent decree and approved by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty on March 26, bars the U.S. surgeon general, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from threatening or directing major platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube — to suppress constitutionally protected content.

Kheriaty, who is a Catholic bioethicist and psychiatrist and one of the named plaintiffs in the case, told EWTN News the outcome, while narrower than he hoped, still delivers a meaningful blow to what he called "the largest government-sponsored censorship effort in the digital age."

"It would have been nice to bar all the other agencies named in the consent decree from censorship," he said. "People should bring other lawsuits and keep fighting this machinery."

Among others, the White House, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were also accused of involvement in the alleged censorship efforts, but only the three named agencies are barred from censorship subject to the specific permanent injunction in last week's decree.

The high-profile Missouri v. Biden case centered on the Biden administration's alleged campaign to silence and suppress on social media viewpoints it opposed.

The case, originally filed in Louisiana federal court, gained national attention after it advanced to the U.S. Supreme Court under the name Murthy v. Missouri.

In June 2024, however, the Supreme Court ruled that the individual plaintiffs — who along with Kheriaty included Jill Hines, Jim Hoft, Missouri and Louisiana state accounts (as well as former co-plaintiffs Drs. Jayanta Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorff, who later joined the Trump administration) — lacked standing to pursue the preliminary injunction. Despite that setback, the plaintiffs continued litigating in district court, leading to last week's settlement.

'An important precedent'

The decree set what Kheriaty called an "important precedent" in a case that, with its "massive level of censorship," is the "first of its kind during the digital age."

The settlement agreement was negotiated on behalf of individual plaintiffs alone and does not apply to all Americans or all speech, and it does not prevent other agencies (like the FBI or State Department) from the types of actions alleged in the original lawsuit.

"Unfortunately, we had to negotiate the settlement agreement so that it only applies to us, the plaintiffs, not to everyone in the country," Kheriaty said. "So what about everyone else? Are we the only citizens whose free speech is protected?"

Not exactly, he said. "While the settlement is limited to the plaintiffs, it functions like a court ruling, which means it's now a precedent in federal court, which is the main thing we wanted."

"There were no precedents before this. Having a legal precedent isn't trivial," he said.

The consent decree explicitly recognizes that simply labeling speech as "misinformation" or "disinformation" does not strip it of constitutional protection.

Kheriaty said it was important to win the case in court, as well as in the court of public opinion. "The main thing our case accomplished was to help the public learn what the Biden administration was doing," he said. "There were 20,000 pages of discovery. Our case and the Twitter files put this on the map for the American people," he said. "Elon Musk got involved. Americans learned of the public-private partnerships, nonprofits, and universities involved in the government's censorship."

"It even became an issue in the presidential election," he said, citing Vice President JD Vance's response during the vice presidential debate, where Vance said the censorship engaged in by the Biden administration was a "threat to democracy" on "an industrial scale."

Kheriaty also lauded President Donald Trump's executive order stating that the Biden administration had "infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advanced the government's preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate."

Kheriaty said discovery from the Missouri v. Biden case led to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a letter to Jim Jordan and in an appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, to admit "to what we were alleging in our case," Kheriaty said. "Zuckerberg said censorship was happening at Facebook because the government pressured them. He apologized, said it was a mistake."

"That's a big deal."

'Plenty of evidence' to show censorship

Kheriaty's successful suit against the federal government stemmed from the censorship of his social media posts regarding an earlier lawsuit he filed against his employer, which gained national attention in 2021. In the suit, he publicly opposed the COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the university, challenging it on the constitutional grounds of equal protection and due process.

He argued at that time that his prior infection with COVID-19 (contracted in July 2020) provided robust natural immunity, making the vaccine requirement unnecessary and discriminatory for him and others in similar situations.

The university, where he directed the Medical Ethics Program and chaired the hospital ethics committee, first placed him on investigatory leave, then unpaid suspension, "and then eventually fired me," he said.

"I didn't really have a Plan B if I got fired," Kheriaty said. "It was a wild ride."

"God took care of us," he continued. "My wife was supportive. She didn't tell me what to do, but she told me now that lots of people were watching my case, I should 'strongly consider finishing' what I started.

"That was all I needed. Immediately I knew, I'm not going to back out of this fight."

According to Kheriaty, the university was, without saying it, hoping he would file a religious exemption, which he never did. "It would have made the case go away, and I would not have gotten fired. But then I would not have had standing to bring the case," he said.

He said he was "wavering at the end. I asked myself, 'Is this responsible? I have five kids in private school, two of those in college. I won't be able to get a job in another hospital having just sued my employer," he said with a laugh.

Although he lost his case, the university eventually stopped enforcing its vaccine mandate policy.

"I don't regret it. I would do it again," said Kheriaty, who is now director of the Bioethics, Technology, and Human Flourishing program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and in private practice.

In the meantime, however, "I had plenty of evidence to show censorship was happening. People told me they couldn't see things I had just posted on social media [about the vaccine mandates]."

The New Civil Liberties Alliance, which represented Hines and Kheriaty, noted in a press release that two related censorship lawsuits remain ongoing: one against the U.S. State Department on behalf of The Federalist and The Daily Wire, and another concerning vaccine-injured individuals censored on Facebook.

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GENEVA — Before Pope Leo XIV is expected to set foot in Algeria, a side event conference at the United Nations Human Rights Council heard testimony and insights that paint a troubling picture of what awaits him: a country where Christians cannot freely practice their faith, where churches have been shuttered by the state, and where conversion from Islam remains a criminal offense.

The March 18 conference was organized by the European Centre for Law and Justice in collaboration with Jubilee Campaign and Christian Solidarity International. It brought together experts who described a systematic pattern of legal and administrative repression against Christians in the North African nation.

A constitution that no longer protects them

Algeria's 2020 constitution removed any explicit reference to freedom of conscience. Only the country's Islamic identity is given constitutional recognition, while conversions to Christianity are subject to criminal prosecution. The legal opening of new churches has become practically impossible under a 2006 ordinance governing non-Muslim worship and a 2012 law on religious associations.

Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, vice president of the Protestant Church of Algeria, addressed the gathering as a representative of a denomination that has seen 47 of its churches closed by the state. The church's historic legal status, recognized since 1972, has also come under challenge.

Djamila Marie Djelloul, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and is of Algerian origin, shared her insight alongside Ali Ait Djoudi, president of Riposte Internationale. Nicolas Bay, a member of the European Parliament, and Charlotte Touati, a historian and affiliated researcher with the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, also addressed the session.

The Catholic Church has not been spared either. Caritas Algeria, the Church's humanitarian service arm that served the broader population of Algeria regardless of religion, was closed at the request of Algerian authorities on Oct. 1, 2022.

'An Algerian can only be a Muslim'

Speaking to EWTN News, Ait Djoudi explained that the repression of Protestant churches in the country is rooted in a political conception of national identity that leaves no room for religious minorities.

He quoted former Minister of Religious Affairs Bouabdellah Ghlamallah, who stated in 2010 that "no one wants there to be religious minorities in Algeria, because that could serve as a pretext for foreign powers to interfere in the country's internal affairs under the guise of protecting minority rights." Ghlamallah also asserted plainly that "an Algerian can only be a Muslim."

"Any religious activity outside officially authorized venues is prohibited," Ait Djoudi said, describing administrative church closures as legally framed but politically motivated. On the ground, he explained, this translates into closures of places of worship, legal proceedings, fines, and even imprisonment alongside acts of intimidation and desecration.

On the question of the papal visit, Ait Djoudi, while expressing hope that the visit could open dialogue, warned against taking the government's messaging at face value. "We observe a double standard," he said. "A display of openness to the outside world but a policy of control and restriction maintained internally." In 2025, he noted, Algeria ranked among the lowest-scoring countries globally on religious freedom for Christians.

Geopolitics shields Algeria from accountability

The Algerian government would "surely try to use the pope's visit for their own PR purposes," Joel Veldkamp, advocacy director of Christian Solidarity International, told EWTN News. He explained the visit could still serve Algeria's Christians in practical ways. "Harsh crackdowns are more likely to be noticed internationally if they occur close to a papal visit," he said, suggesting it may provide at least a temporary shield.

He also pointed to a telling precedent. When Pope Francis visited neighboring Morocco in 2019, King Mohammed VI used his welcome address to describe Christians as "guests," placing them firmly outside of Moroccan society.

Algeria, Veldkamp noted, operates with a similar logic. But he pushed back on the premise. "Of course, Christians were in Algeria long before Muslims were," he said. "This is the land of St. Augustine." He noted a growing Christian revival among Algeria's Indigenous Berber population, who are rediscovering pre-Islamic roots. "Pope Leo has an opportunity to emphasize this part of Algeria's identity," he said, "which is hardly acknowledged by the authorities."

Regarding Algeria's place in the global persecution spectrum, Veldkamp explained that Christians there have been spared the extreme violence seen elsewhere in the Arab world. Yet they face what he called "suffocating state control" — including blocked Bible imports, closed bookstores, prohibited evangelization, and systematic harassment of converts.

Currently Algeria is a key energy supplier for Europe, a counterterrorism partner for the United States, and a major arms buyer for Russia. "None of these actors are eager to upset Algeria," Veldkamp noted. Yet precisely because the Christian community is so small, he argued, the government's insistence on suppressing it is indefensible. "The Algerian government cannot possibly believe that it poses a threat. A little pressure from the outside world might go a long way."

What the conference asked for

Recommendations proposed at the conference called on Algeria to restore freedom of conscience to its constitution, permit the legal functioning of Protestant churches, review criminal provisions on proselytism, and allow Caritas to resume operations.

The event also called on the United Nations to remind Algeria of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to encourage an official visit by the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea.

The pope is expected in Algeria from April 13–15. The visit also marks the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine, who were killed on May 21, 1996. For Algeria's Christians, the hope is that the pope's visit amounts to more than a photo opportunity.

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During a vigil for peace on Monday evening in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Mathieu, invoked God as "great and merciful," affirming his designs of peace and rejection of war.

The cardinal called for an end to violence, describing war as a "spiral" and an "adventure without return," and pleaded for the cessation of conflict in the Persian Gulf. He also urged divine action in the hearts of leaders, calling for an end to retaliation and vengeance, and emphasized dialogue, patience, and the hope for "days of peace" in the present time.

The vigil was presided over by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, at the basilica, which houses ancient relics of the cross of Christ, on the first day of Holy Week. The gathering was part of a broader spiritual initiative promoted by the diocese, titled "Mission of Peace, Journey in the Spirit," and was organized in this instance by Azione Cattolica of Rome and Italia Solidale.

Mathieu's presence carried particular significance. Recently evacuated from Tehran following the outbreak of conflict, he arrived in Rome after witnessing the first days of tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The Belgian cardinal leads a small Catholic community in Iran. The Latin-rite Church there has approximately 2,000 faithful — mostly non-Iranians — in a population of around 90 million, largely Shia Muslim. Mathieu is the only priest in his diocese, and his arrival in Rome followed an urgent evacuation from the Iranian capital amid escalating military tensions.

In a meditation following the reading of the Gospel of Christ's crucifixion according to Luke, Reina greeted Mathieu, "who joins us silently in this moment of prayer, strengthening it and bringing with him the prayer of his people."

Reina then offered a reflection on the passion of Christ, focusing on the peace the Lord brings. He emphasized that those who suffer because of war are truly brothers and sisters to all, and urged the faithful not to grow weary in praying for peace, addressing Christ as the prince of peace.

The vigil also included different readings, hymns, and moments of silence, maintaining a clear focus on peace rooted in faith.

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The Vatican has reaffirmed its support for the Anglican ordinariates, confirming that these communities have a permanent and valued place within the Catholic Church.

On March 24, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document titled "Characteristics of the Anglican Heritage as Lived in the Ordinariates Established Under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus."

The document is the fruit of a meeting held March 1–3 in Rome, during which Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the dicastery, invited the ordinariate bishops — including Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, Bishop David Waller of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England, and Bishop Anthony Randazzo of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross — to reflect on how they have lived and integrated their Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage within the Catholic Church.

The document highlights key characteristics of the Anglican patrimony as lived in the ordinariates, including a distinctive "ecclesial ethos" in which both the laity and the clergy participate actively in church governance, and a focus on evangelization through beauty in worship, music, and art.

Direct outreach to the poor is "a defining element of the patrimony," according to the document, as is a pastoral culture that connects divine worship with daily life in what the document calls an "almost monastic rhythm drawn from the English spiritual tradition" that characterizes ordinariate parish communities.

The bishops said a strong emphasis on the family as the "domestic church," as "the home is … the first place where the faith is learned and lived" is strongly emphasized.

The document also highlighted Scripture-centered preaching and the importance of spiritual direction and the sacrament of penance.

The bishops noted that, despite the great geographical distances between the three ordinariates, they share "a core shared identity" and offer "a unique reflection of the face of the Church and a distinctive contribution to the living richness of her identity as 'one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.'"

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston serves as the mother church and cathedral of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, which spans the U.S. and Canada. Established by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, the ordinariate was given its own cathedral when Lopes was ordained and installed on Feb. 2, 2016.

In a message sent to parishioners, Lopes welcomed the document as a significant encouragement, calling it "an exhortation to live this patrimony in all of its richness. We have been given a unique set of tools — the way we worship, the way we structure parish life, the centrality of family life, etc. — which add to the vitality of the Catholic Church. Our ordinariate identity arises from fidelity to this patrimony and this mission. Our diversity does not detract from the underlying communion of the Church… it strengthens it."

Lopes encouraged parishioners to share the document with family and friends who may wonder why the ordinariate's experience of Catholic life looks different from the norm.

"Prior to today's publication of this document, you had to glean descriptions of our patrimony from rather dry legal documents," he wrote. "Now the Holy See is offering us a much more organic reflection on our identity and mission — and clearly stating that the ordinariate is not just a means to an end but has a long and bright future ahead of it!"

The ordinariates: A brief history

The Anglican ordinariates trace their origins to 1980, when St. John Paul II approved the Pastoral Provision, which allowed married former Episcopal clergy to be ordained as Catholic priests and permitted the formation of Anglican-use communities within existing Roman Catholic dioceses.

This was the first major step in preserving elements of Anglican liturgical and spiritual heritage for those entering full communion with Rome.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI took this further by issuing the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, which created the personal ordinariates as permanent structures within the Catholic Church.

Each of the three Anglican ordinariates is a personal (non-territorial) jurisdiction, similar to a diocese but defined by people (those with an Anglican background who have entered full communion with the Catholic Church) rather than by strict geographical boundaries.

"Any Catholic may attend ordinariate liturgies and functions, just as members of the ordinariate can attend liturgies and functions at any Catholic parish," according to the website for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.

The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross encompasses Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Guam, Philippines, and surrounding areas.

The Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is located in London and encompasses England, Scotland, and Wales.

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Hope Border Institute Executive Director Dylan Corbett is among four U.S. Catholics Pope Leo XIV has tapped to serve in the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

"It was an honor to receive the appointment from the Holy Father," Corbett told EWTN News. "I think it's really because the Holy Father is attentive to the presence of God in border communities and in the struggle for the rights and dignity of those who migrate."

The Holy Father also appointed to the dicastery Father Daniel Gerard Groody, CSC, vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame; Meghan J. Clark, assistant chair of theology and religious studies at St. John's University; and Léocadie Wabo Lushombo, IT, of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.

The dicastery is a Vatican entity dedicated to advancing human dignity that was established by Pope Francis in August 2016. It is comprised of the former pontifical councils for Justice and Peace, "Cor Unum," Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People, and Health Pastoral Care.

Groody, known for his "theology of migration," told EWTN News in a statement: "In light of the pressing global challenges facing the world and the cry of the poor and vulnerable, I am humbled and honored by this appointment and hope to contribute everything I have to help make the invisible love of God more visible to the world."

The Notre Dame priest said his goal while serving as a member of the dicastery is "to lay out the mission of Jesus Christ … so that his love speaks to everyone, especially those who are crucified today and need the hope and healing of the Gospel message."

Clark, a moral theologian whose work on Catholic social teaching examines the intersection of human dignity, solidarity, and development, echoed her colleagues, telling EWTN News she is "grateful for the opportunity to serve the dicastery and the Church in this new way."

"I am humbled to be alongside such esteemed colleagues, all deeply committed to promoting and practicing the social teachings of the Church with particular attention to the dignity of the marginalized — especially migrants — of the common good, and integral ecology," she said.

"I felt very honored," Lushombo told EWTN News on receiving her appointment. A consecrated member of the Teresian Association, Lushombo emphasized that "our mission has always been the human person" and "care of the vulnerable."

The Jesuit School of Theology professor said she plans to apply her academic background and research on Catholic social teaching, Christian ethics, migration, the preferential option for the poor, political theology, and liberation theology to her work with the dicastery.

"My objective is to bring the Church to actually consider the weakest, the least, the excluded, and the oppressed, especially women," she said. "The teaching of the last two decades considers all these aspects very strongly, but my goal will be to bring the Church to actually do it."

'A moment of tremendous challenge' for human dignity

Corbett, who has previously served as an official in the dicastery and on the former pontifical council for migration, emphasized the significance of being "chosen by an American pope at this moment in our history to serve the worldwide Church."

"The Holy Father clearly has a deep knowledge of the issues confronting the United States right now and a sensitivity for the pain of a lot of people who are experiencing the realities of being undocumented," he said. 

Alongside Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino, Corbett met with Pope Leo on behalf of the Hope Border Institute in October 2025, giving the pope a collection of handwritten letters from migrant families expressing fear and faith. They also showed Leo a video with immigrants' voices saying mass deportations in the U.S. are breaking family bonds and stripping children of safety.

"I think that we're living right now in a moment of tremendous challenge when you think about issues of human dignity," he said. "This is the significance of the name Leo. I think that the Holy Father believes, and I believe this, too, that we're really living in a Rerum Novarum moment."

"Global institutions are under threat of collapse, and we're seeing that with the war in Iran, and on a number of different fronts," he said. "But it's also a moment when we can repropose the Gospel to the world."

Seitz reacted to Corbett's appointment in a statement shared with EWTN News, saying: "I give thanks to God for the appointment of Dylan Corbett ... His recognition a?rms Mr. Corbett's faithful leadership and his witness of faith to our border community, where the dignity of all that is encountered and defended each day."

"I am confident that Mr. Corbett will bring the voices and experiences of our border region to the universal Church in a meaningful way. His appointment is a sign of hope and a reminder that the Church continues to walk with those most in need, guided by the light of the Gospel," the bishop said.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said military leaders and the president urging prayers is "a very noble thing to do," pushing back after Pope Leo XIV said God rejects prayers of leaders who wage war.

Leavitt, when asked March 30 by a reporter to respond to the pope's statement that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war," said: "I think our nation was a nation founded, 250 years ago almost, on Judeo-Christian values. And we've seen presidents, we've seen the leaders of the Department of War, and we've seen our troops go to prayer during the most turbulent times in our nation's history."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our service members and those who are serving our country overseas. In fact, I think it's a very noble thing to do," said Leavitt, who is Catholic.

"And if you talk to many service members, they will tell you they appreciate the prayers and support from the commander in chief and from his cabinet," Leavitt said.

The pope, whose father served in the U.S. Navy on a D-Day tank landing ship, sharply condemned war in his Palm Sunday homily and said God cannot be used to justify war. He did not name specific leaders.

God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war," Pope Leo said during Mass in St. Peter's Square. The pope, who has repeatedly called for a ceasefire to war in the Middle East, presented Christ as the "King of Peace," contrasting Jesus' meekness with the violence surrounding him as he entered into his passion.

The pope tied the Church's contemplation of Christ's passion to the suffering of people in conflicts today, especially Christians in the Middle East.

The pope recalled: "When one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him… Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: 'Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'"

Leavitt's response also follows the opening of two lawsuits against the U.S. Departments of Defense and Labor by Americans United for Separation of Church and State regarding prayer services organized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Hegseth last week invoked Christian language and prayed for "overwhelming violence of action" against U.S. enemies.

The suits allege that the Christian prayer services abuse taxpayer resources, promote Christian nationalism, violate the separation of church and state, and pressure federal employees to participate.

U.S. communication with Israel 

During the press briefing, Leavitt also confirmed that the U.S. communicated with Israel after Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco lelpo, custos of the Holy Land, from enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday.

"I did speak with Secretary [Marco] Rubio this morning and we did express our concerns with Israel with respect to these holy sites being shut down," Leavitt said.

"We want worshipers to be able to access these holy sites," she said. "Of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on those security measures, to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that's something that we're appreciative of," she said.

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