Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 17, 2025 / 15:41 pm (CNA).

Robert P. George, a Catholic academic focused on philosophy and law, resigned from his board position at the conservative Heritage Foundation on Nov. 17 after the think tank’s leader Kevin Roberts posted a video defending Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes.

In the interview, Carlson and Fuentes bonded over criticism of Israel, and Carlson pushed back on Fuentes for tying his criticisms of Israel to Jewish identity and blaming “organized Jewry” for the American support of Israel. Jewish organizations and some conservative and other political commentators argued that Carlson platformed Fuentes’ views and kept a friendly tone without adequately pushing back against antisemitic claims. Carlson allowed Fuentes to speak uninterrupted and challenged general blame levied against Jewish people but did not address each specific claim Fuentes made.

Roberts, who has since apologized, said in his initial video that he abhors “things that Nick Fuentes says” but urged debate instead of “canceling him.” He said Heritage would stay friends with Carlson and criticized the “venomous coalition” attacking Carlson.

In the video, Roberts said: “Christians can critique the state of Israel without being antisemitic.” Roberts issued an apology for using the term “venomous coalition” amid accusations that it was an antisemitic trope and said Heritage would continue to fight antisemitism. 

George said in a Facebook post that he would resign from the board because Roberts did not fully retract his initial video when he issued an apology.  

“Kevin is a good man,” George said. “He made what he acknowledged was a serious mistake. Being human myself, I have plenty of experience in making mistakes. What divided us was a difference of opinion about what was required to rectify the mistake.”

George said he was saddened to leave Heritage and prays the think tank “will be guided by the conviction that each and every member of the human family, irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion, or anything else, as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, is ‘created equal’ and ‘endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.’”

“The anchor for the Heritage Foundation, and for our nation, and for every patriotic American is that creed,” he said. “It must always be that creed. If we hold fast to it even when expediency counsels compromising it, we cannot go wrong. If we abandon it, we sign the death certificate of republican government and ordered liberty.”

A spokesperson for Heritage said in a statement to CNA that George is “a good man,” thanked him for his time at Heritage, and looks forward to “opportunities to work together in the future.”

“Under the leadership of Dr. Roberts, Heritage remains resolute in building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish,” the statement read. “We are strong, growing, and more determined than ever to fight for our republic.”

Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the conservative Family Institute of Connecticut, said in response to George on Facebook that he disagrees with George’s decision to resign “when Heritage is trying to make amends and needs support of the adults in the room, lest it be tempted by the ancient evil about whose promotion Kevin Roberts was initially too sanguine.”

Wolfgang said the “continuing beatdown” on Roberts appears to be a proxy for the pre-Trump Republicans seeking to “take back the reins of the party from the Trumpers.” Though he told George, “I’m not saying that’s you,” he added that the neoconservative wing of the Republican Party and the “MAGA” wing should be unified in opposition to antisemitism.

The Oct. 27 interview of Fuentes by Carlson has more than 6.2 million views on YouTube. In the interview, Fuentes discussed Republican efforts to “cancel” him starting when he was 18 years old. Those efforts often focused on his criticism of Israel and derogatory comments toward Jewish people and other ethnic minorities.

Fuentes and Carlson agreed in criticism of Israeli military action in Gaza, opposition to American financial and logistic support to Israel, and objections to politicians receiving political donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Carlson objected when Fuentes said neoconservatism and advocacy for Israel was rooted in Jewish identity and blamed “organized Jewry” for wars. Carlson retorted that many supporters of Israel are Christian Zionists, like Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, and many Jewish Americans, such as Dave Smith, are critical of Israel.

In the interview, Carlson said collectively blaming Jewish people is “against my Christian faith” and “I just don’t believe that and I never will.”

The interview has fractured American conservatives. Some denounced Carlson for his friendly tone throughout the interview. Others noted his pushback against some of Fuentes’ views and the political relevance of Fuentes, who has a large fanbase among young conservative men.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 17, 2025 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV sent a message Nov. 17 to participants in the meeting for “Building Communities that Protect Dignity,” promoted by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

The Holy Father said that efforts to build communities where the dignity of minors and the most vulnerable is protected and promoted are a matter that he holds “deep in his heart.”

The pontiff explained that “dignity is a gift from God” and that it is not something obtained through merit or force but rather “a gift that precedes us: It is born from the loving gaze with which God has loved us individually and continues to love us.”

“In every human face, even when marked by weariness or pain, there is a reflection of the Creator’s goodness, a light that no darkness can extinguish,” he affirmed.

The pope thus emphasized that “by taking responsibility for the lives of others, we learn true freedom, the kind that does not dominate but serves, that does not possess but accompanies.”

“Consecrated life, an expression of the total gift of oneself to Christ, is called in a special way to be a welcoming home and a place of encounter and grace,” he underscored.

The pope therefore affirmed that “whoever follows the Lord on the path of chastity, poverty, and obedience discovers that authentic love is born from the recognition of one’s own limitations: from knowing that we are loved even in our weakness, and it is precisely this that enables us to love others with respect, tenderness, and a free heart.”

In this regard, he emphasized the purpose of the meeting: “to share experiences and paths taken in learning how to prevent all forms of abuse and how to be accountable, with truth and humility, for the processes of protection undertaken.”

He also urged the participants “to continue with this commitment so that communities become ever more examples of trust and dialogue, where every person is respected, listened to, and valued.”

“Where justice is lived with mercy, the wound is transformed into an opening for  grace,” the Holy Father said.

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

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CNA Staff, Nov 17, 2025 / 14:05 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Detroit has announced a restructuring process that will lead to church closures and parish mergers as a result of declining church attendance, its archbishop said.

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger announced in a letter over the weekend that due to a shrinking Catholic population in the archdiocese, a two-year restructuring process will see some parishes close while others will be collected into groupings called “pastorates,” led by one pastor and his team.

He said the “struggle to care for buildings and parish structures where there are very few people” is preventing the Church there to focus on “areas where the Church is growing.” 

Weisenburger said that currently there are 900,000 Catholics in the archdiocese, and fewer than half of those attend Mass regularly. Many parish buildings were constructed at a time when there were 1.5 million Catholics in the archdiocese.

Because of this, the archbishop said there are too many buildings to maintain and it has been “stretched too thinly to serve as well as we want.”

According to the archdiocese, there has been a “dramatic decline in baptisms, first Communions and confirmations, and a steady decline in marriages” since 2000. 

In 2010, 252 priests served the archdiocese. There are 224 today, and that number is expected to shrink by 40% in the next decade. In addition, the majority of active priests are over the age of 50. 

Three-quarters of parishes are also projected to shrink in the next five years, and currently 67% of parishes have fewer than 600 weekly Mass attendees. 

The archbishop encouraged his flock not to give in to “anxiety or despair” but said he believes “the situation we are facing is one that holds real and blessed opportunities. I believe with all my heart that God is inviting us to reimagine parish life, priestly ministry, and our mission.”

He said the restructuring will be guided by three pillars: “vibrant parishes,” “flourishing priests,” and “mission ready.”

The timeline for the restructuring began in March, when Weisenburger — who had just been installed as the sixth archbishop of Detroit — held 17 listening sessions across the archdiocese over several months. After data from the sessions was analyzed and he consulted with priests and other parish leaders, Weisenburger announced the restructuring on Nov. 16. Priests will meet in January 2026 to develop the pastorate models, and additional listening sessions in parishes will then take place.

The plan will be implemented beginning July 2027 through July of the following year.

In his letter, the archbishop told Detroit Catholics they can follow each step in the restructuring process in the Detroit Catholic, the archdiocese’s free online news source.

The archdiocese said 30 other dioceses across the United States are currently restructuring due to declines in numbers and participation. This month, the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, also announced a restructuring plan.

Dubuque Archbishop Thomas Zinkula said the restructuring was necessary due to “dramatic shifts in population, culture, and finances within our archdiocese. We are using only 37% of our church capacities each weekend. Since 2006, Mass attendance is down 46% throughout the archdiocese.”

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Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 11:15 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV had lunch on Sunday with more than 1,300 people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, gathering with them in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for a festive meal marking the World Day of the Poor.

The hall was transformed into a vast dining room for the occasion. The event was organized by the Congregation of the Mission on behalf of Vincentian missionaries worldwide, who this year celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of their congregation and of the Daughters of Charity. Volunteers served lasagna, breaded chicken with potatoes, and the traditional Italian dessert babà.

As on similar occasions in past years, the Vatican, through the papal almoner Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, invited a group of transgender people from the Roman seaside town of Torvaianica. Father Andrea Conocchia, a parish priest in Torvaianica, told ACI Prensa that he had accompanied about 50 transgender people from his community to the event.

In a special effort to highlight dignity and respect, the Vatican provided full table service with proper dishes, flatware, and table linens—avoiding plastic or disposable materials. Organizers said the aim was not only to offer a meal but to create an experience of welcome and care for each guest.

After the meal, the pope thanked the Vincentian family for its service to the most vulnerable. “This lunch that we now receive is offered by Providence and by the great generosity of the Vincentian Community, to whom we wish to express our gratitude,” he said.

The pope also shared his joy at spending time with the poor on a day instituted by his predecessor. “With great joy we gather this afternoon for this lunch on the World Day of the Poor, which was so desired by my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis,” he said.

He expressed gratitude for all who dedicate themselves to those in need: “So many priests, religious sisters, and lay volunteers devote their lives to helping people who experience various needs. We are filled with gratitude for them.”

Before the meal, he prayed: “May the Lord bless the gifts we are about to receive, bless the life of each one of us, our loved ones, and all those who have accompanied us on our journey.” He also remembered those suffering around the world: “Let us invoke the Lord’s blessing upon those who suffer from violence, war, and hunger, and may we celebrate this feast today in a spirit of fraternity.”

He concluded with a final blessing: “Bless our life, our fraternity. Help us always to walk united in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Warm greetings and enjoy your meal!”

Music added to the joyful atmosphere, with performances of classical and traditional Neapolitan pieces by 100 young people from Naples’ Rione Sanità neighborhood involved in the Sanitansamble and Tornà a Cantà educational programs of the Nova Opera ETS Foundation.

At the end of the lunch, the Vincentian Family of Italy gave each participant a “St. Vincent’s Backpack” containing food and hygiene products as a sign of continued accompaniment.

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

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Toronto, Canada, Nov 16, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Sixteen hundred years ago, St. Augustine was credited with saying, “He who sings, prays twice.” Today, scientific research shows that he who sings, performs, or listens to music also enriches and strengthens his brain, according to Catholic neuroscientist Kathlyn Gan.

Not only that, but sacred music may produce even more beneficial effects.

Gan, who leads a research laboratory at the University of Toronto, delivered the uplifting news to about 50 people at an Oct. 30 talk at St. Francis de Sales in Burnaby, Ontario.

In her hourlong presentation “The Neuroscience of Sacred Music,” Gan, a former choir director and accompanist, described how research showing that music can be part of a healthy lifestyle that helps counter the mental decline that accompanies aging.

Music can also help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, which, in up to 95% of cases, can be driven by nongenetic factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, deafness, brain injury, and social isolation.

Not only does music stimulate the brain in special ways, but it also fosters healthy social connections when performed in a group setting, said Gan, currently a liturgical musician in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Speaking with The B.C. Catholic, she said music is encoded and integrated by multiple brain regions, stimulating neural pathways that regulate memory, movement, reward, emotion, and empathy.

“Based on those effects, music can help us keep our minds active and foster social connections, which in turn can help us mitigate the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.

Gan, who earned her doctorate at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby and did postdoctoral studies at Stanford University in California, said music therapy is widely used as part of a holistic treatment approach to improve behavioral issues and encourage social connections during mid- to late-stage Alzheimer’s.

Gan noted that the CBC recently reported that doctors in Montreal have partnered with the city’s symphony orchestra to prescribe music as medicine.

“Physicians will get prescriptions that they will give to patients,” said Mélanie La Couture, CEO of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. “The patients will call us, and we will give each patient that calls us two tickets for free.”

Even more benefits could conceivably come from listening to or singing sacred music, which Gan defines as any music — from chant and classical to jazz and gospel — that contributes to the solemnity and beauty of the Mass, promotes deeper reflection on the scriptural readings and homily, and glorifies God.

That said, it will be challenging for scientists to prove sacred music’s special benefits because of listeners’ or musicians’ subjective perceptions of music and their varying depth of spiritual formation and understanding, Gan said.

At the very least, however, listening to or performing sacred music helps a person grow in faith and to love God, she said in her presentation.

Along with the three degrees she earned at SFU, Gan also holds an associate diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music and is an accomplished classical pianist who shares her talent and faith in churches and the wider community. These outings include performances with her piano students at retirement homes and long-term care facilities, as well as playing piano in music-therapy and spiritual-care programs.

She views her music ministry as a form of prayer that challenges her not only to recognize scriptural themes and imagery but also to communicate them “in a manner that honors the historical context of the hymns and shares my own spirituality and lived experience.”

Her studies and ministry have not only deepened her appreciation for the human mind’s complexity and capacity for mirroring Christ’s humility, compassion, forgiveness, and love, but they’ve also “encouraged my spiritual growth and enriched my faith,” she said.

This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and is reprinted here with permission.

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Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Celebrating Mass for the Jubilee of the Poor on the Ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians not to retreat into a closed or “religious” world of their own, but to help make human society “a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”

Presiding in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, the pope reflected on the “day of the Lord” and the upheavals of history, saying that Christ’s promise remains secure even amid war, violence, and deep social wounds.

Quoting the prophet Malachi, he described the “day of the Lord” as the dawn of a new era in which “the hopes of the poor and the humble will receive a final and definitive answer from the Lord,” and recalled that Jesus himself is the “sun of righteousness” who comes close to every person. In the Gospel, he said, Christ assures his disciples that “Not a hair of your head will perish” (Lk 21:18), anchoring Christian hope even “when all human hope seems to be extinguished.”

“In the midst of persecution, suffering, struggles, and oppression in our personal lives and in society, God does not abandon us,” the pope said, pointing to the “golden thread” of Scripture, in which God always takes the side of “the little ones, orphans, strangers and widows.”

World Day of the Poor: ‘Dilexi te — I have loved you’

Marking his first World Day of the Poor as pope, Leo XIV addressed his homily in a special way to those experiencing poverty and exclusion.

“While the entire Church rejoices and exults, it is especially to you, dear brothers and sisters, that I want to proclaim the irrevocable words of the Lord Jesus himself: ‘Dilexi te, I have loved you,’” he said, citing the title of his recent apostolic exhortation on love for the poor. “Yes, before our smallness and poverty, God looks at us like no one else and loves us with eternal love.”

In that spirit, he said, the Church today seeks to be “mother of the poor, a place of welcome and justice,” even as it continues to be “wounded by old and new forms of poverty.”

The pope warned against living as “distracted wanderers,” withdrawn into “a life closed in on ourselves, in a religious seclusion that isolates us from others and from history.” Seeking God’s Kingdom, he insisted, “implies the desire to transform human coexistence into a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”

Many forms of poverty, one wound of loneliness

Leo XIV noted that “so many forms of poverty oppress our world,” from material deprivation to moral and spiritual poverty that “often affect young people in a particular way.”

“The tragedy that cuts across them all is loneliness,” he said. This tragedy, he continued, “challenges us to look at poverty in an integral way,” not limiting ourselves to emergency aid but developing “a culture of attention, precisely in order to break down the walls of loneliness.”

“Let us, then, be attentive to others, to each person, wherever we are, wherever we live,” the pope said, inviting Christians to become “witnesses of God’s tenderness” in families, workplaces, schools, communities, and even the digital world.

‘There can be no peace without justice’

Looking to current conflicts, Leo XIV said that the proliferation of war “seems especially to confirm that we are in a state of helplessness,” but stressed that this resignation is rooted in a lie.

“The globalization of helplessness arises from a lie, from believing that history has always been this way and cannot change,” he said. “The Gospel, on the other hand, reminds us that it is precisely in the upheavals of history that the Lord comes to save us. And today, as a Christian community, together with the poor, we must become a living sign of this salvation.”

Poverty, he added, “challenges Christians, but it also challenges all those who have positions of responsibility in society.” Addressing world leaders, he said: “I urge Heads of State and the leaders of nations to listen to the cry of the poorest. There can be no peace without justice, and the poor remind us of this in many ways, through migration as well as through their cries, which are often stifled by the myth of well-being and progress that does not take everyone into account, and indeed forgets many individuals, leaving them to their fate.”

He thanked charity workers and volunteers who serve those in need and encouraged them “to continue to be the critical conscience of society.”

“You know well that the question of the poor leads back to the essence of our faith, for they are the very flesh of Christ and not just a sociological category,” he said, again citing Dilexi Te. “This is why, ‘the Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges.’”

The pope also invited the faithful to take inspiration from the saints who served Christ in the poor, highlighting Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, whose life as a “vagabond of God” makes him “the patron saint of the homeless.”

Poor at the center of the celebration

Several thousand people in situations of poverty or social exclusion, accompanied by Catholic organizations, were present for the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and in St. Peter’s Square, where others followed the liturgy on large screens.

Among them, according to organizers, were some 1,500 people from France who have experienced life on the streets, prostitution, prison, or other forms of marginalization, and who traveled to Rome with volunteers and pastoral workers for the Jubilee of the Poor. Before Mass, the pope greeted those gathered in the square from the popemobile.

Angelus: Persecuted Christians as witnesses of truth, justice, and hope

Later, appearing at the window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV returned to the day’s Gospel from Luke 21, which speaks of wars, uprisings, and persecutions.

“As the liturgical year draws to a close, today’s Gospel (Lk 21:5-19) invites us to reflect on the travails of history and the end times,” he said. In the face of these upheavals, Jesus’ appeal “is very timely,” the pope said: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified” (v. 9).

“Jesus’ words proclaim that the attack of evil cannot destroy the hope of those who trust in him. The darker the hour, the more faith shines like the sun,” he said.

Twice in the Gospel, Christ says that “because of my name” many will suffer violence and betrayal, the pope continued, “but precisely then they will have the opportunity to bear witness.” That witness, he stressed, belongs not only to those who face physical violence.

“Indeed, the persecution of Christians does not only happen through mistreatment and weapons, but also with words, that is, through lies and ideological manipulation,” he said. “Especially when we are oppressed by these evils, both physical and moral, we are called to bear witness to the truth that saves the world; to the justice that redeems peoples from oppression; to the hope that shows everyone the way to peace.”

Quoting Jesus’ promise, “By your endurance you will gain your souls” (Lk 21:19), the pope said this assurance “gives us the strength to resist the threatening events of history and every offense,” because Christ himself gives believers “words and a wisdom” to persevere in doing good.

He pointed to the martyrs as a sign that “God’s grace is capable of transforming even violence into a sign of redemption,” and entrusted persecuted Christians throughout the world to the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians.

Appeals for persecuted Christians, Ukraine, and Peru crash victims

After praying the Angelus, Leo XIV turned to current situations of suffering, beginning with Christians who face discrimination and persecution.

“Christians today are still suffering from discrimination and persecution in various parts of the world,” he said, mentioning in particular Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries “from which we often hear news of attacks on communities and places of worship.” “God is a merciful Father, and he desires peace among all his children!” the pope added, praying especially for families in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a recent terrorist attack killed at least 20 civilians.

He said he is following “with sorrow” the reports of continuing attacks on numerous Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which have caused deaths and injuries — “children among them” — and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving families homeless as winter approaches. “We must not become accustomed to war and destruction!” he said, urging prayer “for a just and lasting peace in war-torn Ukraine.”

The pope also prayed for the victims of a serious bus accident in southern Peru’s Arequipa region, in which at least 37 people died and many others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the rural district of Ocoña.

“I would also like to offer my prayers for the victims of the serious road accident that occurred last Wednesday in southern Peru,” he said. “May the Lord welcome the deceased, sustain the injured and comfort the bereaved families.”

Road safety, new blessed, the poor, and abuse survivors

In a wider appeal for road safety, Leo XIV noted that the Church was also remembering “all those who have died in road accidents, too often caused by irresponsible behavior. Let each of us examine our conscience on this matter,” he said.

The pope recalled the beatification on Saturday in Bari of Italian diocesan priest Carmelo De Palma, who died in 1961 after a life “generously spent in the ministry of Confession and spiritual accompaniment,” and prayed that his example would inspire priests to give themselves “unreservedly” in service to God’s people.

Marking the World Day of the Poor once more, Leo XIV thanked dioceses and parishes that organized initiatives of solidarity with those most in need, and invited the faithful to rediscover his exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor, “a document that Pope Francis was preparing in the last months of his life and which I completed with great joy.”

Finally, he joined the Church in Italy in observing a day of prayer for victims and survivors of abuse, calling for “a culture of respect” that safeguards the dignity of every person, “especially minors and the most vulnerable.”

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

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 15, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).

In a Saturday meeting, Pope Leo XIV received Monsignor Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, at which the Holy Father gifted dozens of artifacts that originated with Indigenous peoples of the North American country.

Leo at the meeting donated 62 pieces from the ethnological collections of the Vatican Museums to the Canadian bishops. Bishop Goudreault was accompanied by Archbishop Richard Smith of Vancouver and Father Jean Vézina, secretary general of the Canadian bishops.

“It is an act of ecclesial sharing, through which the Successor of Peter entrusts to the Church in Canada these objects, which bear witness to the history of the encounter between the faith and cultures of indigenous peoples,” the Vatican said.

The 62 donated objects come from various indigenous communities and are part of the collection received during the 1925 Vatican Missionary Exhibition, promoted by Pope Pius XI during the Holy Year to bear witness to the faith and cultural richness of the peoples.

“The Holy Father Leo XIV wanted this gift to represent a concrete sign of dialogue, respect, and fraternity,” the Holy See said.

“Sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries between 1923 and 1925, these objects became part of the Lateran Missionary Ethnological Museum, which later became the Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum of the Vatican Museums,” the Vatican added.

Pope Leo’s gift is part of the observance of the Jubilee Year 2025. All the pieces are accompanied by information from the Vatican Museums “certifying their provenance and the circumstances of their transfer to Rome for the 1925 Exhibition.”

“They were handed over to the Canadian Episcopal Conference, which, in a spirit of loyal cooperation and dialogue with the Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Vatican City State, has committed to ensuring their proper care, promotion, and conservation,” the Vatican said.

During a July 2022 visit to Canada, Pope Francis left a message of reconciliation and emphasized the need to “start afresh” by looking together at Christ crucified.

Throughout his trip, the pope had expressed his shame and regret for the role played by the Catholic Church in the management of many of the government-sponsored residential schools for Indigenous children.

These residential schools, which operated until the late 1990s, aimed to eradicate aspects of Indigenous culture, language, and religious practices. Former students have described mistreatment and even abuse at the residential schools.

According to the Holy See, the meeting on Nov. 15 concludes “the path begun by Pope Francis through his Apostolic Journey to Canada in 2022, the various audiences with indigenous communities, and the publication of the Declaration on the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023.”

That year, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development stated that the so-called “Doctrine of Discovery,” which European colonizers allegedly used to justify their actions against indigenous peoples, is not part of Catholic teaching.

The Vatican agencies then specified that “many Christians have committed acts of evil against indigenous populations, for which recent popes have asked forgiveness on numerous occasions.”

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

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Puebla, Mexico, Nov 15, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

As the centenary of the Calles Law, which precipitated the bloodiest wave of religious persecution against Mexican Catholics, approaches in 2026, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym) paid tribute to the more than 200,000 martyrs of the Cristero Resistance, recalling that they said “with their lives what they proclaimed with their lips: Christ is King, not the oppressive state; Christ is King, not the dictator of the day who is wrapped up in his pride.”

The Mexican bishops expressed this sentiment in their message to “the people of God,” titled “Church in Mexico: Memory and Prophecy — Pilgrims of Hope Toward the Centenary of Our Martyrs,” released Nov. 13.

The message is a fruit of the 119th plenary assembly of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference held Nov. 10–14, which brought together 121 bishops at Casa Lago in Mexico state.

The bishops recalled that “just a few months after the proclamation of the solemnity of Christ the King, in July 1926, the so-called ‘Calles Law’ came into effect in our country, unleashing the most brutal religious persecution in our history. This is why, in January 1927, the repressed Catholic population began the armed uprising known as the Cristero Resistance.”

“A coincidence? No, brothers: a providential event,” the bishops affirmed.

Persecution of Catholics in Mexico

The CEM referred to the legislation officially known as the “Law on Crimes and Offenses Related to Religious Worship and External Discipline,” enacted by then-President Plutarco Elías Calles. This law, which brought to a critical point the severe restrictions imposed on the Church by the 1917 Constitution, established strict control over believers and ministers of religion under penalty of fines and imprisonment.

Among other provisions, the Calles Law, which came into effect on July 31, 1926, dissolved “monastic orders or convents,” severely restricted the pastoral work of priests, prohibited foreign priests from ministering in the country, forbade public worship “outside the church premises” and expropriated any building “constructed or intended for the administration, promotion, or teaching of a religion,” which was to pass “into the direct ownership of the nation.”

The Cristero War, as the conflict between Catholics and the secularist government of Calles became known, officially ended in June 1929, although the persecution and murdering of believers continued. Relations between Church and state would not be reestablished until 1992, when an amendment to the 1917 Constitution and the Law on Religious Associations and Public Worship recognized the legal existence of the Catholic Church.

Are we accustomed to ‘relegating faith to the private sphere’?

The Mexican bishops noted that “when the totalitarian state attempted to impose its absolute dominion over consciences, our martyrs understood with crystal clarity the centrality of Jesus Christ: To die shouting ‘Long live Christ the King!’ was to affirm that no human power can claim absolute sovereignty over a person and his conscience.”

“Today we wish to honor the memory of the more than 200,000 martyrs who gave their lives defending their faith: children, young people, the elderly; farmers, laborers, professionals; priests, religious, and laypeople; the heroic Mexico of the Cristeros who gave their lives for a sacred cause, for the freedom to believe and to live according to their faith — all of them wrote a luminous page in the history of the universal Church and of our homeland.”

For the CEM, “the centenary of 2026 cannot be a mere nostalgic commemoration. It must be an examination of conscience and a renewed commitment. Our martyrs ask us today: Are we willing to defend our faith with the same radicalism? Have we lost our sense of the sacred? Have we accommodated ourselves to a culture that seeks to relegate faith to the private sphere?”

Pope Leo XIV’s call to unity

The Mexican bishops also noted Pope Leo XIV’s repeated call for unity in the Church, emphasizing that his words “challenge us because we know that unity among us is not a guaranteed fact but a grace that we must receive and cultivate each day with humility and fraternal charity.”

“And we want you to know, brothers and sisters, that this unity among us is to better serve the unity of all the people of God,” they stated.

“We live in a country that longs for peace and needs credible witnesses of reconciliation. And we want you to know, brothers and sisters, that we want to give this witness together: pastors and people, walking together in Christ,” they added.

500th anniversary of Guadalupe event 

The CEM also referred to the upcoming celebration in 2031 of the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, emphasizing that “Guadalupe is a remembrance of reconciliation.”

“In the 16th century, when two such different worlds met in these lands, Mary appeared at Tepeyac as a bridge between cultures and races, as a mother who welcomed all her children without distinction. Guadalupe teaches us that unity is not built by erasing differences but by recognizing the image of God in every face,” the conference stated.

“Guadalupe has, at another point in history, inspired our people’s yearning for freedom. Today, it must also be a sign of strength to liberate ourselves from violence, poverty, and injustice,” they stated.

Migration and violence, ‘realities we cannot remain silent about’

The bishops then clarified that their words were not “political or partisan,” explaining that they could not “be indifferent to the suffering of our people. We cannot remain neutral when human dignity is at stake.”

“Our nation remains under the control of the violent,” they decried. “We are living through difficult times; violence has become commonplace. This cancer of organized crime, which we have suffered for years, has spread its tentacles to many corners of the country. None of the leaders who have governed this country have managed to eradicate this evil.”

However, they emphasized, “we must not be afraid to speak about what we all know but some prefer to keep silent about.”

At the same time, they noted that “forced migration continues. Thousands of Mexicans are forced to leave their homeland, not only in search of better opportunities, but also to flee violence. And those who migrate encounter new forms of violence along the way.”

“Thousands of our Central American brothers and sisters, and those from other continents, cross through our territory, victims of extortion, kidnapping, trafficking, and death,” they charged.

Defending the family

The Mexican bishops also warned that “this whole worrying reality begins in the family: a society that does not protect the family leaves itself unprotected.” The prelates lamented the “alarming” data that show a scenario of “disintegrated families, domestic violence and violence in school environments, and addictions that destroy the lives of young people.

The bishops then criticized public policies implemented “without genuine dialogue with parents and other stakeholders in education,” while “a subtle, and sometimes explicit, anthropological vision alien to the integral dignity of the human person is promoted.”

Recalling the witness of the martyrs, within the context of the Jubilee Year of Hope that is now ending, the bishops affirmed that “Christian hope does not consist in closing our eyes to evil, but in keeping them open, recognizing that Christ has conquered evil with good. Only by acknowledging our errors can we correct them.”

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 15, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, said the country can simultaneously protect its borders and treat immigrants with respect.

In a Nov. 14 interview with “EWTN News Nightly,” Burbidge said the U.S. bishops’ special message on immigration in the United States is a call for respect of the human dignity that belongs to every person as a child of God.

The bishops voted to approve the statement on Nov. 12 at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore. The message said bishops oppose “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.” It is rooted in Jesus’ teachings, Burbidge said.

The bishops have called for a meaningful immigration law “that will provide safe pathways” to citizenship, Burbidge said. “There’s not an easy solution, but there has to be a solution.”

“The bishops understand that a country, of course, has a right to protect its borders for the sake of the common good, but at all times must treat persons with respect,” Burbidge said. He also said the country must do everything possible so people don’t live in distress.

‘Fear and anxiety’

Pastors in the bishops’ dioceses have said the execution of immigration laws is “causing a lot of fear and anxiety,” Burbidge said. The bishops are continuing to minister to immigrants who are “contributing to the good of the Church” and “the good of our communities,” he said.

“We’re representing those who seek no harm to our country, who only want to do good, and we want them to be treated with the respect that is necessary,” Burbidge said. “Again, we also say this does not have to be in conflict with a country protecting itself.” 

“We express gratitude to our elected officials for the dialogue that we have had in the past and hopefully that we will continue to have. We love our country. We love the immigrants who have contributed to our country, and we would like our country to be freed from this violence, from rhetoric, from fear,” Burbidge said. 

“There has to be a way that we can live together in harmony, and we want to work together,” Burbidge said.

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