St. Mary Our Lady of the Rosary

Friar Francesco Patton, outgoing custos of the Holy Land. / Credit: Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission.

Patton, 61, is leaving the position entrusted to him in 2016. Friar Francesco Ielpo has now been appointed to the position, confirmed as the new custos of the Holy Land by Pope Leo XIV on June 24.

In an interview published July 11 on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Italian Franciscan explained that, in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, “peace requires mutual acceptance between the two peoples who have been in conflict for decades, and the overcoming of ideological readings of history, geography, and even of the Bible.”

“It would be necessary to teach coexistence in schools instead of an ideology that only generates fear, anger, and resentment. Neither of the two peoples must leave, and both must be able to live together in peace,” he added.

“If both were able to overcome mutual separateness, the next generations could finally grow up in peace, without fear and without anger,” the Franciscan priest emphasized.

Being a Christian in the Holy Land

Patton shared that “I have always said, especially to young people, to cultivate their identity as Christians of the Holy Land. They must not focus on ethno-political identities but on a deeper identity: being custodians, with us, of the holy places.”

“The holy places are an essential part of their identity. I have suggested to parish priests to bring the young people there, to tell the Gospel in the places of the Gospel. The holy places belong to them,” the Franciscan continued.

The Italian priest emphasized that “being a Christian in the Holy Land is a vocation and a mission. If God lets you be born here, he is calling you to be light and salt, precisely because you are a minority and the context is difficult. And Jesus reminds us that salt which loses its flavor is useless.”

“I was deeply moved by the faithfulness of the two friars who remained in the Orontes Valley when ISIS and Al-Qaeda were present. They stayed because they knew they were shepherds, and not hired hands, using the words from Chapter 10 of St. John. Their availability to give their lives was not hypothetical but concrete in a very risky context,” he recalled.

“I was also struck by how important the holy places are to Christians who may only be able to visit once in their lives. In Brazil, I saw people who saved a little money each month for 10 or 15 years just to visit Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Holy Sepulchre. Or a Christian from Syria visiting the Sepulchre and bursting into tears from the emotion,” the friar recounted.

After highlighting the great value of schools in the Holy Land, the outgoing custos said he was dismayed by “the growth of intolerance, extremism, and the ideological manipulation of religion for political purposes. That made, and still makes, me suffer.”

The holy places: An antidote to religious rationalism

The Italian friar emphasized that holy places, being physical, “bring faith back into a concrete, existential realm. They are a great help in avoiding a disembodied, intellectualized Christianity. They are an antidote against religious rationalism and intellectualism.”

“They also help us to understand the religiosity of the people,” the friar explained. “Intellectuals love reasoning, but people love to touch. They love to kiss a stone, smell the perfume of myrrh, see the olive trees in Gethsemane, the grotto of Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb.”

“Popular religiosity,” he noted, “is much closer to the mystery of the Incarnation than that of professional theologians.”

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

Notre-Dame de Paris (French for “Our Lady of Paris”), also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. / Credit: Sam valadi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 14, 2025 / 18:10 pm (CNA).

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris has become the most visited place in France. Since reopening its doors last December after a 2019 fire, it has welcomed more than 6 million people.

On April 15, 2019, the French capital witnessed one of the most devastating tragedies in its recent history. Its iconic cathedral — a religious, architectural, and cultural symbol that had withstood the test of centuries — was engulfed in flames.

The fire left in its wake incalculable losses, including the emblematic spire located above the transept of the church. However, the high altar was undamaged and all the works of art housed in the church, including the relic of the Crown of Thorns, were rescued and brought to a safe place.

Five years later, on Dec. 7, 2024, the cathedral doors were once again opened wide, marking a new beginning for the restored church. On that occasion, Pope Francis referred to Notre-Dame Cathedral as “a masterpiece of Christian faith and architecture,” stating that with its reopening, “sadness and mourning” gave way to joy.

Since its reopening, the influx of faithful and pilgrims to the cathedral has continued. Just one month later, the church had already received 800,000 visitors, equivalent to nearly 29,000 people per day.

The number has continued to grow. According to a recent report, the total number of visitors exceeded 6 million as of June 30, with a daily average of approximately 35,000.

The French newspaper La Tribune Dimanche reported that, in the six months since its reopening, 6.015 million people have passed through its doors.

As a result, Notre-Dame has become the most visited place in France, the cathedral’s rector, Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, told the newspaper. The French priest also highlighted that, each month, visits average 1,000 more than the previous month.

Taking into account these numbers represent only a half a year, they are on track to exceed the 8.7 million visitors to the famous Louvre Museum all last year, the 8.7 million recorded at Versailles, and the 6.3 million people who went up the iconic Eiffel Tower.

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

The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois. / Credit: “EWTN News in Depth”/Screenshot

CNA Staff, Jul 14, 2025 / 17:23 pm (CNA).

The village of Dolton purchased Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood home for $375,000 on Tuesday, July 8, after the village board unanimously approved its purchase at a special meeting the week before. 

Newly-elected Dolton Mayor Jason House said on July 10 that a steering committee would be formed in order to plan how to manage the property, which will become a historic site open to the public. He said the committee would then “lay out the plans to trustees and the community.”

House called for the special July 1 vote, which was unanimous, after hearing from the trustees and allowing for comment from members of the public, several of whom opposed the home purchase by the cash-strapped village.

Amid the pushback from Dolton residents who complained about the dilapidated state of local roads and the village’s high debt, House said the purchase of the childhood home of the first U.S.-born pope, Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, would eventually “pay for itself,” calling it a “historical opportunity.”

Dolton, a formerly prosperous village due to the industrial boom during the second half of the 20th century, has declined economically since the 1980s. The per capita income is $29,776 and 20% of the residents live in poverty, according to census data.

Trustee Edward Steave referred to the “busloads of people” in and out of the village to see the house, located at 212 E. 141st Place, since the pope’s election, emphasizing the economic benefits visitors to the historic site would bring to the community.

Also acknowledging residents’ concerns, Trustee Kiana Belcher asked them to “stand with us as we make this decision because we know it will help all of us as a village.”

Trustee Stanley Brown said that while he is not a Catholic himself, he is a Christian who would like to “help out the Catholics.”

“I just believe in this opportunity that’s been given us, and I believe in waiting on the Lord,” Brown continued. “He’s here to strengthen our town, so don’t let this opportunity get away from us!”

“We have been put on the back row … and now we have the opportunity to get on the front row, and we don’t want to let this opportunity get away from us,” he said.

Dolton City Attorney Burt Odelson agreed, telling CNA that a “world of opportunity” has opened for the small suburb, which is like “no other place in the world.”

“Things are just going to get better and better for the people of Dolton,” he said. 

On the Village of Dolton’s Facebook page on July 1, the village posted photos of the house getting a new roof, paid for by a donor, according to Odelson.

“The pope’s house continues to draw in people, bringing new energy and attention to our village. This increased traffic represents a new day in Dolton — full of potential, progress, and promise,” the village wrote on its Facebook page.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, House said he hoped the house could be “converted into its ultimate form” within 30-60 days after its purchase was finalized.

House said the village will have the help of a “number of partnerships,” possibly referring to the Archdiocese of Chicago.

As it considers next steps, Odelson said the village has done research on how former popes’ homes are preserved around the world. Last month, he told CNA that he was speaking with someone “high up” in the archdiocese who was helping “guide” the village in its goal to preserve the historic home.

The Archdiocese of Chicago did not respond to CNA’s request for comment by the time of publication.

Odelson told CNA in June that once the house was purchased, the village would set up a nonprofit charity to help fundraise for the preservation of the house and the revitalization of the neighborhood.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve what many people believe is a sacred” place, Odelson told CNA about the pope’s former home. “We need to do it right and we don’t have the funds to do it right. We have to lean on others.”

People from “all over the U.S. have already offered to help preserve the house,” Odelson said, “and the charity will enable them to do so.”

On the heels of the pope’s election in May, Odelson and House said at the time that the city intended to purchase the modest three-bedroom, 1,050-square-foot brick home, which had been listed for sale since January.

Realtor Steve Budzik told CNA in May that as soon as the owner, house renovator Pawel Radzik, found out the house he had updated and listed for sale once belonged to the newly elected pope, he removed it from the market to “reassess” the situation.

Radzik relisted it for sale by auction through Paramount Realty auction house. The auction was originally set to close on June 17 but was extended by a month “to finalize negotiations with the village of Dolton,” Odelson told CNA in June.

The final sale price of $375,000 was much lower than the $1 million Budzik had said he thought the house might sell for at auction.

This story was first published on July 2, 2025, and was updated on July 14, 2025, at 5:23 p.m. ET with details on the purchase of the home.

The funeral of Matteo Balzano, a young Italian priest who recently took his own life at the age of 35, was held July 8, 2025, in the presence of the faithful — especially young people — he served at the parish in Cannobio in the Piedmont region. / Credit: Courtesy of Italian Episcopal Conference

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 14, 2025 / 16:53 pm (CNA).

The funeral of Matteo Balzano, a young Italian priest who recently took his own life at the age of 35, was held July 8 in the presence of the faithful — especially young people — he served at the parish in Cannobio in the Piedmont region.

The bishop of Novara, Franco Giulio Brambilla, who offered the funeral Mass, gave an impromptu homily marked by hope but with considerable effort due to the fact that he was, as he put it, “devastated by grief.”

Before the tragic event, Balzano had resumed his mission among the young people at the oratory of the parish in Cannobio, so Brambilla wanted to address them in particular: “I was struck by the inconsolable grief of the young people, the same ones who are here before us today,” he commented.

‘You always believed in all of us and in every one of our dreams’

A young woman named Alessia then read a letter addressed to Balzano on behalf of the young people he had served. “Even in our most difficult moments, you always managed to get us to smile, telling us something silly or teasing us, as you often did.”

The young woman thanked him for bringing “life back” to the oratory and for valuing “each of our strengths.” With nostalgia, Alessia stated that, from the very beginning, the priest became “a fundamental pillar,” a person “to whom I could confide anything, even the most foolish, because for me, you were not just my priest, my confessor, or my ‘superior,’ for me, you were above all a friend.”

She also recalled how the young people were “fascinated” by Balzano’s talks and highlighted his ability to involve them all. “You always believed in all of us and in every one of our dreams. You managed to help us face many insecurities and bring out the best in us.”

“We will remember every laugh, every joke, every day together, because with your presence you knew how to make everything special. Our relationship has not ended; it has only transformed, because now you will be our guardian forever,” the young woman concluded.

Speaking again, Brambilla affirmed with hope that “the Lord will be close to us through the affectionate memory of Don Matteo, which each of us holds in our hearts and which will come to our aid in life’s critical moments.”

Addressing the faithful of the Diocese of Novara, Brambilla openly shared that the “unimaginable and incomprehensible news of the traumatic death” of the young priest left him “shocked and speechless.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the priests and laypeople who have written to the diocese to express their closeness: “I have noticed that, above all, such a tragic circumstance has made us rediscover what is true, profoundly true, in our lives: the profound bond that unites us in the Lord Jesus,” he noted.

He then shared some reflections that he said arose from his “heart torn apart” by grief.

Helping priests stay the course 

First, he recalled when Jesus sent the apostles to prepare the Passover and explained that, in the same way, all the faithful “must help the bishop, the families of priests, the priests, and especially the younger ones, not lose the compass that points to the deepest meaning of the priest’s mission: to prepare the Passover, to eat the Passover.”

“Preparation, setting the table for Passover, is the meaning of our entire mission, which means guiding the life of every person, every family, every child, adolescent, and young person to understand that the most difficult, but also the most beautiful moment of life, is to go through the Passover, which means ‘passage,’” he explained.

He pointed out that, when difficulties arise, “it’s important to understand that there is something greater that drives us forward, and that is the Lord Jesus who dies with us, accompanies us, and makes us rise with him.” Thus, he encouraged priests to “never lose” the sense of this reality.

Faced with this reality, he emphasized that “our language, our ways of speaking, must be edifying and reveal the communion that unites us. Only in the face of the truth of life and death can it be revealed whether our language edifies and whether our actions build communion,” he added.

He also noted that, after what happened, he understood that “we must learn to listen to each other, to speak the truth more simply, to not hide our most intimate sufferings, to be open with one another in a transparent way, because this is the essential condition for building together the preparation for Jesus’ Passover.”

At the end of his homily, he invited those present to “take more care for the soul” and give less importance to material things: “Our homes are too full of things, but poor in what is meaningful for living,” he said.

“Don Matteo’s presence, his contagious spirit, his beautiful person, all these people present today in these saddest of circumstances, reveal to us precisely that there exists a profound bond, without which we run the risk of suffering from spiritual anemia,” he commented.

The Italian prelate confessed that he doesn’t know if his heart “will ever stop crying, but I know that from now on and forever I will never be able to forget Don Matteo.”

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

Charitable organizations distribute food to displaced people in shelter tents in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on June 9, 2024. / Credit: Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 14, 2025 / 16:20 pm (CNA).

As U.N. agencies issue dire warnings of humanitarian collapse in Gaza, the Catholic arm of an organization that promotes Christian engagement in the Near East has announced a nine-day novena prayer for peace in the Holy Land to begin on July 16.

The Philos Project’s “Nine-Day Novena to Pray for Peace in the Holy Land” comes as Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza, and eight U.N. agencies have indicated that “without fuel, their lifesaving work may soon come to a halt.” Over the weekend, BBC reported the deaths of 10 people, including six children, who were killed in a July 13 Israeli airstrike while waiting to fill their containers of water in central Gaza. 

Fifty Israel hostages remain in Hamas captivity, including the bodies of at least 28 that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed dead, according to a Times of Israel report. Twenty hostages are believed to be alive, while “grave concerns for the well-being of two others” remain. 

The novena will begin July 16 on the feast of Our Lady of Carmel and end on July 24, the feast of St. Charbel of Mount Lebanon. A similar novena was held last year. This year, according to the Director of Philos Catholic Simone Rizkallah, participants will “dare to ask for more,” lifting up their prayers for an end to the conflict. 

“This jubilee year [of hope] reminds us that God’s promises are never revoked,” Rizkallah said, adding: “Let’s pray boldly together.”

The novena’s intentions are for a complete end to the conflict in the Holy Land, the return of all hostages, the rebuilding of devastated communities, the healing of deep wounds and the restoration of trust, and a prophetic sign of peace: that one day soon, Christians may walk safely on pilgrimage from Mount Carmel to Mount Lebanon, two sacred peaks tied by faith, history, and hope.

Last year, the Philos Project’s “emergency novena,” which was prayed by more than 1,000 people, centered on prayers for peace between Israel and Lebanon. 

“We began on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, asking that Lebanon be spared from imminent war,” Rizkallah recalled. “Against all odds, peace has held. Dialogue, not destruction, has taken root between Lebanon and Israel. It was almost unimaginable a year ago.” 

At the time, the novena was in response to ongoing clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed, Shiite Muslim militant group based in Lebanon.

A map of Nigeria. / Credit: SevenMaps/Shutterstock

ACI Africa, Jul 14, 2025 / 14:28 pm (CNA).

Three seminarians were kidnapped and a security guard was killed in an armed attack on Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria on the night of July 10.

In a statement issued July 11, Father Peter Egielewa, the director of communications of the Auchi Diocese, provided details about the attack. He said the 9 p.m. attack on the Catholic institution located in Ivhianokpodi, Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo state, involved “several gunmen.”

“In the process, the Nigerian Civil Defense Security official, Mr. Christopher Aweneghieme, stationed at the seminary was killed, and three minor seminarians were abducted and led into the bush,” Egielewa said.

The other seminarians have been moved to what Egielewa described as “a safe area until security measures around the seminary are tightened.”

“Unfortunately, no communication has been had with the abductors yet,” he said, adding that the leadership of the diocese “sympathizes with the family of the deceased security official and prays for the repose for his soul.”

In his statement, Egielewa also appealed for “prayers for the quick release of our seminarians.”

He said the bishop of the Auchi Diocese has denounced the attack and called on security agencies to “do more to secure the lives and properties of our people.”

Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia directed all priests of the diocese to celebrate a Votive Mass of the Precious Blood of Jesus on Saturday, July 12, and in morning Masses on Monday, July 14. 

According to Egielewa, the bishop has also directed all parish priests to “ensure the continuous recitation of the holy rosary and Sunday evening Benediction for divine protection for all faithful of the diocese, Edo state, and the country of Nigeria until further notice.”

He appealed to all people of goodwill to “join the faithful of the diocese to pray for the repose of the soul of Aweneghieme and for the speedy release of the abducted seminarians unharmed.”

Dunia, who has been at the helm of the Diocese of Auchi since February 2003, established Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in 2006 for the training of future priests. Over 500 minor seminarians have so far successfully graduated from the institution.

Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state.

Since then, the group, one of the largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups, as well as civilians.

The insecurity situation in the country has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia.

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have repeatedly denounced the reported killings and abductions in the West African nation and challenged the government to prioritize the safeguarding of human life.

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

St. Peter’s Chapel and Native American Museum at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site

Chicago, Ill., Jul 14, 2025 / 09:20 am (CNA).

Shrines to various saints can be found in every part of the world, including every state in the U.S. Each one is dedicated to faith and prayer, but one shrine in the northeastern United States also has a distinct mission of connecting pilgrims with Native American culture and sharing the fascinating history of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized a saint.

The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York, honors not only the life of St. Kateri, whose feast day is July 14, but also the life and history of the local Indigenous people to whom she belonged.

“We have cultivated strong ties to both the Catholic Mohawk community and the traditional Mohawk community,” said Melissa Miscevic Bramble, director of operations at the Saint Kateri Shrine, in an interview with CNA. “We see it as our mission to educate about her Mohawk culture as well as her Catholic faith.”

Who was St. Kateri?

Called the Lily of the Mohawks, Kateri Tekakwitha was the child of a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother but was orphaned at age 4 when the rest of her family died of smallpox. Her own early bout with the illness left lasting scars and poor vision.

She went to live with an anti-Christian uncle and aunt, but at age 11 she encountered Jesuit missionaries and recognized their teaching as the beliefs of her beloved mother. Desiring to become a Christian, she began to privately practice Christianity. 

Beginning at about age 13, she experienced pressure from her family to marry, but she wanted to give her life to Jesus instead. A priest who knew her recorded her words: “I have deliberated enough. For a long time, my decision on what I will do has been made. I have consecrated myself entirely to Jesus, son of Mary, I have chosen him for husband, and he alone will take me for wife.”

At last, she was baptized at about age 19, and her baptism made public her beliefs, which had been kept private up until then. The event was the catalyst for her ostracism from her village. Some members of her people believed that her beliefs were sorcery, and she was harassed, stoned, and threatened with torture in her home village.

Tekakwitha fled 200 miles to Kahnawake, a Jesuit mission village for Native Amerian converts to Christianity to live together in community. There, she found her mother’s close friend, Anastasia Tegonhatsiongo, who was a clan matron of a Kahnawake longhouse. Anastasia and other Mohawk women took Kateri under their wings and taught her about Christianity, and she lived there happily for several years until her death at around age 23 or 24. 

Although she never took formal vows, Tekakwitha is considered a consecrated virgin, and the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins took her as its patron. She is also the patron saint of traditional ecology, Indigenous peoples, and care for creation.

A shrine with a special mission

The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site has a unique mission of archaeological and historical research related to Kateri Tekakwitha and her people. Welcoming several thousand visitors per year, the shrine ministers not only to Christians but also to all Native American.

According to its website, the shrine and historic site “promotes healing, encourages environmental stewardship, and facilitates peace for all people by offering the natural, cultural, and spiritual resources at this sacred site.” Describing itself as a sacred place of peace and healing with a Catholic identity, its ministry and site are intended to be ecumenical and welcome people of all faiths.

In keeping with this mission, the shrine’s grounds include an archaeological site, the village of Caughnawaga, which is the only fully excavated Iroquois/Haudenosaunee village in the world. St. Kateri lived in this village, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can also visit the Kateri Spring, where Kateri Tekakwitha was baptized.

“The water from the Kateri Spring is considered holy water by the Catholic Church,” Bramble said. “People are welcome to come take the waters, and we regularly get reports of healing. We’ve sent that water all over North America to folks who have requested it.”

Besides the archaeological site, the main grounds of the shrine include St. Peter’s Chapel, housed in a former Dutch barn built in 1782; museum exhibits of Native American culture and history; St. Maximilian Kolbe Pavilion; a candle chapel dedicated to St. Kateri; Grassmann Hall and the shrine office; a friary; a gift shop; an outdoor sanctuary; and maintenance facilities. The 150-acre property includes hiking trails that are open to the public year-round from sunrise to sunset. 

Outside the candle chapel, which is always open for prayer, visitors can participate in a ministry of “Kateri crosses.”

“St. Kateri was known for going into the forest, gathering sticks, binding them into crosses, and then spending hours in prayer in front of crosses she created,” Bramble said. Sticks are gathered from the shrine grounds, and visitors are invited to make their own “Kateri crosses” and take them home to use as a prayer aid. Bramble shared that the shrine sends materials for Kateri crosses to those who aren’t able to visit, including recently to a confirmation group.

The feast day weekend

The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine hosts special events for St. Kateri’s July 14 feast day. The shrine usally welcomes several hundred visitors for these events, which include Masses and talks. (A listing of the schedule can be found here.)

This weekend’s Masses included a traditional purification rite, a solemn blessing with a relic of St. Kateri, and music of the Akwesasne Mohawk Choir, which “incorporates American Indian spiritual practices in keeping with the Catholic Church,” Bramble told CNA. “The Akwesasne Mohawk Choir is made up of descendants of St. Kateri’s community who lived in the area historically.”

“There is a reestablished traditional Mohawk community a few miles west of the shrine, and we feel very blessed that we’ve been able to cultivate a very cooperative and mutually respectful relationship with the folks there,” Bramble said.

The Saint Kateri Shrine is also a great place for families. Events often include activities and crafts for children, there is an all-ages scavenger hunt available at the site, and the shrine’s museum is “a phenomenal educational opportunity,” she said.

Bringing together Native American archaeology and history with the story of St. Kateri, the shrine and its programs shed light on the saint’s story and keep alive the traditions and history of her people.

This story was first published on July 13, 2023, and has been updated.

Pope Leo greets pilgrims during the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly on Sunday, June 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jul 14, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).

With less than a month to go before the Jubilee of Youth begins, the pope’s diocese is making final preparations to welcome tens of thousands of young people from around the world who will participate in this event of great spiritual significance. 

“Young people will never experience this in their lives again. I’m sure of it. In practice, it will be like a World Youth Day,” explained Father Alfredo Tedesco, director of youth ministry in Rome, the host diocese.

The Italian priest was 18 when he participated in the Jubilee of 2000 with St. John Paul II: “For our generation, it was an indelible mark. For them, it can be a new beginning.”

The truly great challenge for the Diocese of Rome is accommodations. The parishes of Rome and 10 dioceses in the Lazio region, those closest to the Italian capital, “are already mobilized to welcome young pilgrims into their facilities,” he explained. Furthermore, the religious institutes in Lazio closest to Rome “have also done their part.”

However, adapting these places has been a complex task: “We have had to refurbish these places. We have had to add bathrooms and showers, ensure breakfast service, organize the arrival of groups, distribute pilgrim kits, and coordinate transportation.”

In addition, the Italian Civil Protection Agency has also made 400 schools and state facilities available to meet this need, “especially gymnasiums with equipped restrooms,” Tedesco added.

According to preliminary estimates from the diocese, some 120,000 young people will descend upon Rome for the entire week of the event from July 28 to Aug. 3. Many others will pass through the capital only to participate in some of the planned events.

‘Registration is still open, and the number is growing’

One of the main highlights of the Jubilee of Youth will be the prayer vigil presided over by Pope Leo XIV at Tor Vergata, which will be preceded by several testimonies and musical concerts. This is a very large area located on the southeastern outskirts of Rome, known primarily as the site of the main universities in the Italian capital.

“Registration is still open, and the number is growing. Some even speak of a million people. But we don’t know if that figure will be reached. The Dicastery for Evangelization, the main organizer of the event, has the official data,” the Italian priest explained.

Since the young people will sleep at the same place as the event that night, the logistics for that event have been simplified for the Diocese of Rome: “We don’t have to worry about having to accommodate them elsewhere for that night.”

The Jubilee of Youth program, promoted by the Dicastery for Evangelization — the body responsible for the overall organization of the Holy Year of Hope — is in the last stages of finalizing various details.

However, according to the official jubilee website, several notable activities have already been confirmed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. local time, a welcome Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. In the following days, Rome will host numerous cultural, artistic, and spiritual initiatives throughout the capital under the title “Dialogues with the City.”

On Friday, Aug. 1, a Penitential Day will be held at the Circus Maximus, where young people will be able to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, all participants will travel to Tor Vergata. Finally, on Sunday, Aug. 3, the pope will celebrate Mass at 9:30 a.m. before bidding farewell to the young pilgrims who will begin their journey back to their home countries.

4,000 young volunteers to assist the pilgrims

With registration still open, the final number of participants is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, what is certain is that they will be joined by approximately 4,000 volunteers from parishes in Rome and the Lazio region, who will donate their time and skills to welcome the pilgrims in the best possible way.

Regarding their countries of origin, Tedesco said there is a notable European majority: “France, Spain, Poland, Germany… and many even from Eastern Europe, despite the war. This will also be a sign of peace.”

There will also be a strong presence from the United States and Latin America. “Let’s not forget that we now have an American pope,” he pointed out. “This has also encouraged participation from the United States, where there is great veneration for the two young saints [Carlos Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati] who will be canonized in September,” the priest explained.

Asian participation, although more limited, will be significant. “We will have a significant Korean delegation — 1,000, 2,000, maybe 3,000 young people — which is quite a lot, considering the distance. Furthermore, the next World Youth Day will be in Seoul, so they are very motivated,” he noted.

Regarding Africa, the situation is more delicate: “Some countries haven’t been able to send delegations due to visa or diplomatic issues or armed conflicts. There will be African representation, but not as numerous. The dicastery and the Holy See have made arrangements to facilitate some visas.”

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

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi receives Joseph Aoun back in January 2024. / Credit: The Maronite Patriarchate

ACI MENA, Jul 14, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA).

Six months ago last week, Lebanon broke a 14-month presidential deadlock by electing Joseph Aoun — an army commander backed by international powers and cautiously welcomed by Christian communities — to lead the country.

Aoun’s inaugural speech in January raised expectations, with firm promises to address sensitive and urgent issues like Hezbollah’s weapons and the refugee crisis. For many Christians, it sounded like a turning point. But half a year into his term, one question looms: Is Joseph Aoun fulfilling his promises, or are Lebanon’s Christians already losing faith in his leadership?

By constitutional requirement, Lebanon’s president must be a Maronite Christian. While the role is meant to serve the entire nation across sectarian lines, the Christian community traditionally sees the presidency as its highest political representation and a key channel for defending what it views as national priorities.

A young adult Christian’s perspective

Mark Elian, a Lebanese student pursuing a master’s degree in international security at Sciences Po Paris, said Aoun’s inaugural speech in January resonated deeply with him as a young Lebanese Catholic. He said he was relieved when Suleiman Frangieh, another serious contender for the presidency, lost. “He simply didn’t represent Christians. Aoun’s profile is much more reassuring.”

He added: “Joseph Aoun comes from a southern village that was the victim of a massacre perpetrated by Palestinians, so he understands very well the need to disarm the camps,” Elian said. “And as commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army, he managed to keep the institution standing during Lebanon’s worst economic and financial collapse.”

Elian pointed to several achievements that, in his view, give Aoun credibility. “He’s succeeded in renewing ties with Arab and Western countries that had lost interest in Lebanon,” he said. “He also managed to organize the municipal elections on time and facilitated the formation of a government just weeks after the nomination of Nawaf Salam.” 

Still, Elian admitted, however, that the president has fallen short on key promises. “He hasn’t delivered yet on the state’s monopoly over weapons.’’

“He must also resolve the question of a state monopoly on arms and achieve the full Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon,” Elian said. “Last but not least, he has to address the issue of people’s money trapped in the banks and restructure the banking sector. President Joseph Aoun faces many challenges; the first one being the regime that elected him.”

The banking crisis Elian refers to is one of the deepest wounds in Lebanese society. Since 2019, banks have imposed informal capital controls, blocking most citizens from accessing their savings. Life savings vanished overnight. Depositors were left with restricted access to their own money, forced to withdraw limited amounts in local currency at steep losses. The collapse destroyed trust in the financial system, shattered the middle class, and sparked mass emigration. 

Aoun has so far signaled a willingness to tackle the issue. His government passed amendments to banking secrecy laws and appointed a new central bank governor, but comprehensive banking sector restructuring remains elusive.

A lawyer’s call to action

Joy Lahoud, a Lebanese lawyer, takes a more skeptical view. He sees promising inaugural speeches as a recurring pattern in Lebanese politics, with every new president raising expectations that rarely translate into action. In his view, the failure isn’t always personal — it’s institutional. 

“Obviously most of them, if not all of them, were not capable of walking their talk because of the nature of the Lebanese constitution,” he explained. “The prerogatives of the president are limited. The executive powers are not vested with the president.”

Still, Lahoud said he believes Aoun has a historic opportunity to turn that momentum into meaningful change.

“The Lebanese president has a historical opportunity to accelerate the shift by doing more substantial actions on the ground,” he said. “The end of domination in Lebanon cannot be materialized by the mere removing of pictures but by removing the influence from the entire administration and by totally ending any military presence of the mercenaries and militias.”

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam recently stated that the Lebanese army had dismantled “more than 500 military positions and arms depots” belonging to Hezbollah in the south. While the announcement was framed as a major achievement, Lahoud views it with cautious realism.

“This is obviously an effort by the Lebanese administration to demonstrate to the international community that it is making an effort,” he said. “There should be much more done, not only on the level of installations but also on the level of light weapons and the militiamen operating under civilian cover.”

Lahoud stressed that the real danger lies not only in the presence of missiles but also in the operational capacity of armed groups. “It’s more about the capability of those militiamen to create chaos, to threaten democracy and stability in Lebanon — and potentially to carry out assassinations and terrorist activities,” he warned.

Another issue that has resurfaced under Aoun is the question of disarming Palestinian refugee camps — which evokes one of the most painful chapters in Lebanon’s modern history. 

The presence of Palestinian militias in Lebanon triggered a long civil war in the 1970s bringing bloodshed, chaos, and massacres to Lebanese soil. In the face of the threat, Christian militias rose to defend their land and their people. Decades later, the weapons are still there, and the state has yet to reclaim full control.

Lahoud acknowledged the symbolic weight of the renewed efforts, especially following the Palestinian president’s visit to Lebanon and his reported agreement with Aoun that weapons in the camps are no longer needed. But Lahoud remains skeptical. 

“We haven’t seen any material progress on this front, and the only thing that would bring comfort to the Lebanese people is to see the Lebanese army entering the camps,” he said. 

While he recognizes the complexity of the situation, he said he believes in gradual but concrete steps. “There should be something done at least gradually. No one is asking for a large-scale operation, but the Lebanese army should advance step by step and take over those camps on the security level, at least gradually.”

Beyond security and sovereignty, Lahoud said he believes Aoun must also prioritize issues that directly affect Lebanon’s Christian presence — both inside and outside the country. 

“The president should be making sure that the Lebanese Christian diaspora plays a role in elections and is able to exercise its right to vote and choose its representatives,” he said.

Lahoud also warned of another looming threat: the erosion of a Christian presence in state institutions. “The president must ensure that Christians in Lebanon retain the key positions within the administration,” he said. “We’re already seeing maneuvers being plotted to take those positions away.”

Looking ahead, Lahoud said the real breakthrough will come only through deep constitutional reform. He also stressed the need for a complete overhaul of the state system.“

“Lebanon must move toward a federal system — ending the totalitarian rule of the centralized government,” he said.

Lahoud said he believes the current moment offers a rare chance — one the state cannot afford to waste.

A priest’s advice to Lebanon’s president

Father Dany Dergham, a Maronite priest, sees in Aoun a man closely tied to the Church, not just spiritually but personally and institutionally. 

“President Aoun is a son of the Maronite Church and of Bkerké,” he said. “He maintains deep and ongoing coordination with the Maronite Patriarchate. He has warm and respectful personal ties with the patriarch, as well as with several bishops he has known since childhood.” 

For Dergham, the alignment between the presidency and Bkerké (the episcopal see of the Maronite Church in Lebanon) is clear: “There is no doubt that their visions align; both are grounded in national principles, state sovereignty, and justice and equality among all communities.”

Dergham added that Aoun’s Christian identity is not performative but deeply rooted. 

“The president consistently expresses his Christian and ecclesial commitment through his visits. He is unashamed of his faith; rather, he sends a message that a leader — or a citizen — in Lebanon can be faithful and committed without being sectarian. There is a vast difference between sectarianism and faith.” 

Dergham noted that Aoun recognizes the Vatican as the “mother Church,” a central spiritual reference point for Eastern Christians, and underscored that he remains the only Christian president in the region. 

But Dergham said expecting too much from the presidency is not only unrealistic but it’s also unfair. 

“There is no doubt that President Aoun has good intentions and a strong desire to implement reforms within state institutions … However, intentions and desire are one thing; capabilities and authority are another. As everyone knows, the powers of the Lebanese president are limited — virtually nonexistent. Therefore, placing excessive hope in or blaming the president personally is misplaced,” he said.

Dergham stressed that what was promised in Aoun’s speech — no matter how sincere — cannot be delivered by the presidency alone.

“These are matters for the government and Parliament, not just the president. Lebanese experience shows that full harmony among the three branches of power is exceedingly rare.”

The priest had some final advice to Aoun: “Do not remain in office if the gap between what you wish to achieve and what you’re able to do becomes too wide.”

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

Seminarian Josh Brooks. / Credit: Courtesy of Catholic Philly, official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 13, 2025 / 14:55 pm (CNA).

Josh Brooks, a native of Delaware County in metro Philadelphia, dreamed of following in the footsteps of his idol LeBron James and becoming a professional basketball player. However, God had other plans for him.

Today, Brooks is in his third year of university studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is preparing for the priesthood.

“I don’t want to just live for myself, but I want to bring the joy God gave me to other people,” Brooks said in a recent interview with Catholic Philly, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Raised in the Baptist faith, Brooks had his first contact with Catholicism when his parents enrolled him at St. Ignatius Loyola Elementary School in West Philadelphia. Later, at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School, his interest in the Catholic faith grew.

“And really slowly, my attention was gravitating toward my Catholic theology classes, where I learned about the identity of the priest. What really attracted me was learning about how the Catholic Church is a universal family, ‘cause I didn’t have the best family growing up, so that just made me feel like I was called to be part of something special,” Brooks shared.

Although during his teenage years he spent a lot of time practicing in order to make the high school basketball team, he ultimately failed to achieve that dream. “So this left me wondering with the question of what I was going to do with my life if basketball, which was my big dream, was no longer an option,” he recounted.

In his search for meaning, he tried to fill the void with a romantic relationship but realized his heart longed for something deeper. Uncertain of his calling, he asked the young lady: “‘Would you be able to wait for me?’ She replied, ‘I’m not going to wait for you.’ So I looked up at the crucifix and I said to the Lord, ‘If she will not wait for me, then who will?’ And then I realized the whole time he was waiting for me, for me to accept his love. He said ‘You idiot, I have the best love to give you.’”

That moment marked a turning point. “I think I just reacted without thinking. And look what that brought me. It brought me so much joy, this intense fire to just want to be for God and just be for others,” Brooks reflected.

At St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, he found not only a vocation but also brothers. “I never had any brothers, so I didn’t know what having one would be like. So when I entered seminary, you have different guys with different interests, different personalities. At the heart of it all, these guys are trying to build off each other,” he said.

Fellow seminarian Sean Barker highlighted Brooks’ fraternal spirit. At a “Come and See” retreat, “I walked right in and the first person I saw was Josh sitting in his cassock,” Barker recalled. “Just talking to him, getting to know him, I felt more at ease. He cares about and has a great respect and admiration for the deep historical spirituality of the Church.”

“He wants me to be better, he wants me to spend more time in chapel, to take prayer life more seriously, to take academics more seriously ... I think that’s just him as a role model is what inspires me most,” Barker added.

In the interview, Josh highlighted the “rich tradition and history” of the Catholic Church but also that it’s “one big family.” He also invited others trying to rediscover their faith to come closer: “We are an imperfect people, but we are being governed by a God who transcends all things and knows us better than we know ourselves,” he said.

What most defines this young seminarian is his deep prayer life and his desire to become a priest. Although his parents are not Catholic, they support his vocation, and he prays every day for their conversion.

“At the heart of our search for the highest form of love, we’ll find it here, where we gather at the altar of God and we’ll be able to make our dwelling in him,” he said.

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