Day: May 5, 2026

United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day – UAE under fire, again. The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day – UAE under fire, again. The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Flames and smoke erupt from a burning structure, highlighting the intensity of the fire in a dark environment.

Flames and smoke erupt from a burning structure, highlighting the intensity of the fire in a dark environment.

UAE under fire, again.

The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) – Video surveillance has emerged showing footage of two worthless human beings assaulting an elderly man in far-left Seattle for no particular reason, as the mayor whines about such footage. The post HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) – Video surveillance has emerged showing footage of two worthless human beings assaulting an elderly man in far-left Seattle for no particular reason, as the mayor whines about such footage. The post HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Three individuals on a city sidewalk at night, with one person appearing to hold an object, near a nail salon sign.

Three individuals on a city sidewalk at night, with one person appearing to hold an object, near a nail salon sign.

Video surveillance has emerged showing footage of two worthless human beings assaulting an elderly man in far-left Seattle for no particular reason, as the mayor whines about such footage.

The post HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts – The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter and would-be Trump assassin on Tuesday was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, Fox News reported. The post JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts – The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter and would-be Trump assassin on Tuesday was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, Fox News reported. The post JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Police officers respond to a situation involving a man lying on the floor in a public space, highlighting a tense moment during an intervention.

Police officers respond to a situation involving a man lying on the floor in a public space, highlighting a tense moment during an intervention.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter and would-be Trump assassin on Tuesday was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, Fox News reported.

The post JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Hezbollah supporters allegedly launch digital campaign targeting Maronite patriarch #Catholic Hezbollah supporters have reportedly used AI-generated manipulated images to target Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The patriarch described the digital attack on him as “a war of words, not freedom of opinion, but a worrying decline in the standards of language and values, and a violation of human dignity that no one has the right to infringe upon, regardless of its source or form.”The digital attack involved the circulation of altered images portraying the patriarch in mocking and degrading ways.Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate, argued that the campaign is neither spontaneous nor ambiguous in its intent. “It is both intimidation and sectarian provocation, and it is deliberate,” she said. Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jowelle M. Howayeck For Howayeck, the timing is not accidental. She links the campaign to a broader political context in which Hezbollah is “losing political ground,” prompting what she describes as a predictable shift in strategy: “Divert attention from the core issue and construct a new confrontation that can be framed as a symbolic victory.”In her view, “this is not political engagement. It is crisis management through fear, distraction, and division.”The campaign, she added, also reflects a deepening rupture between Hezbollah and the Christian community.Digital confrontations of this kind are not new in Lebanon’s political landscape, but they carry particular risks in a country built on a fragile and strained social contract. The patriarch himself has been targeted before "because the patriarch represents a form of authority that cannot be coerced or absorbed: moral legitimacy anchored in national identity," Howayeck said. "Whenever his positions align with state sovereignty, they expose a structural contradiction within the opposing project.”
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Hezbollah supporters allegedly launch digital campaign targeting Maronite patriarch #Catholic Hezbollah supporters have reportedly used AI-generated manipulated images to target Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The patriarch described the digital attack on him as “a war of words, not freedom of opinion, but a worrying decline in the standards of language and values, and a violation of human dignity that no one has the right to infringe upon, regardless of its source or form.”The digital attack involved the circulation of altered images portraying the patriarch in mocking and degrading ways.Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate, argued that the campaign is neither spontaneous nor ambiguous in its intent. “It is both intimidation and sectarian provocation, and it is deliberate,” she said. Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jowelle M. Howayeck For Howayeck, the timing is not accidental. She links the campaign to a broader political context in which Hezbollah is “losing political ground,” prompting what she describes as a predictable shift in strategy: “Divert attention from the core issue and construct a new confrontation that can be framed as a symbolic victory.”In her view, “this is not political engagement. It is crisis management through fear, distraction, and division.”The campaign, she added, also reflects a deepening rupture between Hezbollah and the Christian community.Digital confrontations of this kind are not new in Lebanon’s political landscape, but they carry particular risks in a country built on a fragile and strained social contract. The patriarch himself has been targeted before "because the patriarch represents a form of authority that cannot be coerced or absorbed: moral legitimacy anchored in national identity," Howayeck said. "Whenever his positions align with state sovereignty, they expose a structural contradiction within the opposing project.”

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Hezbollah supporters have reportedly used AI-generated manipulated images to attack Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

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Outrage grows over alleged bulldozing of Catholic monastery and school in Lebanon #Catholic In southern Lebanon, the village of Yaroun has drawn widespread attention after images and video circulated showing the demolition, allegedly by Israeli forces, of a monastery and Catholic school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters.Yarounʼs mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected claims by the Israeli army that it did not know the buildings were religious places, and the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations “to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions, citing in particular the village of Yaroun,” according to the Associated Press.Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Ajaka clarified that some media outlets have been recirculating images of a destroyed church as if they were from the latest incident, but the church itself had already been targeted multiple times since 2024. He stressed that the most recent incident concerns the demolition of the monastery and the school.Responding to the Israeli army’s claim that “there were no indications that it was a religious building,” Ajaqa rejected the statement as unconvincing, noting that the site was clearly identifiable, bearing a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary. He also pointed out that the church had been targeted previously and that footage from 2024 showed the deliberate destruction of a statue of St. George. Adib Ajaka, mayor of the village of Yaroun, is pictured with the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Adib Ajaka Ajaka said images published by Israel showing the diocese and a nearby clinic were used to suggest that the monastery had not been destroyed, but in reality they referred to a separate building housing a clinic run by the Order of Malta. He suggested that the presence of the organization’s flag may have contributed to it being spared so far. According to Ajaka, the bulldozing operations took place after the ceasefire came into effect. At first, residents did not grasp the scale of what was happening, as they remained in contact with nearby towns such as Rmeish and Ain Ebel, where no strikes or shelling had been reported from Yaroun. This created the impression that the village had not been directly targeted. It later became clear, however, that what had taken place was not bombardment but the widespread bulldozing of homes.Yaroun is home to about 60 Melkite Catholic families — all of whom fled at the outbreak of the war in 2024. Seventeen families returned during the initial ceasefire period, but many others were unable to do so due to the destruction of their homes. Today, residents remain unable to return, scattered between rented accommodations, monasteries, and relatives’ homes, while some have relocated to nearby Christian villages in the south.Ajaka noted that assistance to residents has so far been limited, emphasizing that the most urgent need is direct financial support to help cover rent. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Vatican and for the continued efforts of the apostolic nuncio through regular visits and follow-up on the situation of displaced families. The historic stone presented to Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Lebanon in December 2025. | Credit: Rumi Al-Haber/ACI MENA He also recalled that during the pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, a historic stone from the village church dating back to 1872, engraved with an image of St. George, was presented to him in the hope of drawing attention to Yaroun and its people.Today, the fate of this stone remains unknown, as the church has been destroyed and residents are unable to return to see what remains. Ajaka stressed that the destroyed homes of the Catholic families there are over a century old and are purely civilian properties.Church vandalism across LebanonThe alleged demolitions in Yaroun come amid recent and varied incidents of church vandalism in Lebanon, with multiple places of worship targeted and their contents deliberately damaged. Among them, the Church of Mar Shalita in Qobeiyat was stormed and vandalized. And in Ajaltoun, the Church of Our Lady was targeted, with intruders stealing items, destroying furniture, and leaving bullets scattered on the floor.Taken together, these incidents reflect a broader climate in which Lebanese Christians increasingly feel under pressure, facing different forms of intimidation and attack from multiple actors.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.
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Outrage grows over alleged bulldozing of Catholic monastery and school in Lebanon #Catholic In southern Lebanon, the village of Yaroun has drawn widespread attention after images and video circulated showing the demolition, allegedly by Israeli forces, of a monastery and Catholic school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters.Yarounʼs mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected claims by the Israeli army that it did not know the buildings were religious places, and the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations “to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions, citing in particular the village of Yaroun,” according to the Associated Press.Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Ajaka clarified that some media outlets have been recirculating images of a destroyed church as if they were from the latest incident, but the church itself had already been targeted multiple times since 2024. He stressed that the most recent incident concerns the demolition of the monastery and the school.Responding to the Israeli army’s claim that “there were no indications that it was a religious building,” Ajaqa rejected the statement as unconvincing, noting that the site was clearly identifiable, bearing a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary. He also pointed out that the church had been targeted previously and that footage from 2024 showed the deliberate destruction of a statue of St. George. Adib Ajaka, mayor of the village of Yaroun, is pictured with the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Adib Ajaka Ajaka said images published by Israel showing the diocese and a nearby clinic were used to suggest that the monastery had not been destroyed, but in reality they referred to a separate building housing a clinic run by the Order of Malta. He suggested that the presence of the organization’s flag may have contributed to it being spared so far. According to Ajaka, the bulldozing operations took place after the ceasefire came into effect. At first, residents did not grasp the scale of what was happening, as they remained in contact with nearby towns such as Rmeish and Ain Ebel, where no strikes or shelling had been reported from Yaroun. This created the impression that the village had not been directly targeted. It later became clear, however, that what had taken place was not bombardment but the widespread bulldozing of homes.Yaroun is home to about 60 Melkite Catholic families — all of whom fled at the outbreak of the war in 2024. Seventeen families returned during the initial ceasefire period, but many others were unable to do so due to the destruction of their homes. Today, residents remain unable to return, scattered between rented accommodations, monasteries, and relatives’ homes, while some have relocated to nearby Christian villages in the south.Ajaka noted that assistance to residents has so far been limited, emphasizing that the most urgent need is direct financial support to help cover rent. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Vatican and for the continued efforts of the apostolic nuncio through regular visits and follow-up on the situation of displaced families. The historic stone presented to Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Lebanon in December 2025. | Credit: Rumi Al-Haber/ACI MENA He also recalled that during the pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, a historic stone from the village church dating back to 1872, engraved with an image of St. George, was presented to him in the hope of drawing attention to Yaroun and its people.Today, the fate of this stone remains unknown, as the church has been destroyed and residents are unable to return to see what remains. Ajaka stressed that the destroyed homes of the Catholic families there are over a century old and are purely civilian properties.Church vandalism across LebanonThe alleged demolitions in Yaroun come amid recent and varied incidents of church vandalism in Lebanon, with multiple places of worship targeted and their contents deliberately damaged. Among them, the Church of Mar Shalita in Qobeiyat was stormed and vandalized. And in Ajaltoun, the Church of Our Lady was targeted, with intruders stealing items, destroying furniture, and leaving bullets scattered on the floor.Taken together, these incidents reflect a broader climate in which Lebanese Christians increasingly feel under pressure, facing different forms of intimidation and attack from multiple actors.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.

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The mayor of Yaroun, a village in southern Lebanon, and the Melkite Greek Catholic bishops have reacted to the alleged demolition of a monastery and school by Israeli forces.

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Legionaries leader rebuilds vocation after Maciel scandal: Pain ‘opened our eyes’ – #Catholic – Can a religious congregation survive after its founder turns out to have been a sexual abuser and a liar who lived a double life for years? The Legionaries of Christ have spent 20 years answering that question with actions.They were pioneers in publishing the cases of their abusive priests — an unprecedented step in consecrated life — and in submitting 80 years of a dark history to public scrutiny. Today, they are an ecclesial reference point for transparency. Now, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, 51, the new general director elected in February, speaks with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, about the road that still lies ahead.It is a path of expiation that began in 2006 but reached a turning point in 2019 with the publication of the “1941–2019 Report,” the first of its kind to include all cases from the congregation’s founding to the present day and throughout the world. Since then, it has been updated each year through the “Truth, Justice, and Healing” reports.“Since we began facing this reality, although it was very painful, it also opened our eyes: There was a lot of work to do,” Gutiérrez López said. “In recent years we have been working hard to meet standards, following the documents issued by the Church, collaborating with canonical and civil authorities. We have been putting a certain order in place so we can attend to and respond to the needs of victims and provide comprehensive care in different areas.” Father Carlos Gutiérrez López at the Legionaries of Christ headquarters in Rome. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News His priestly vocation, marked by the wound left by MacielHis own vocational story was marked by the scandal that shook the congregation because of its founder, Mexican priest Marcial Maciel, who was responsible for extremely serious sexual abuse. Gutiérrez López was ordained a priest in 2009, just as the magnitude of Maciel’s crimes was coming to light: Maciel had sexually abused dozens of minors over several decades and had lived, as the Vatican confirmed in 2010, “a life devoid of scruples and genuine religious sentiment.”“It was definitely something very strong, something that left all of us very perplexed, frightened, and also disillusioned,” he said in an interview with ACI Prensa. “And that meant for me a very deep process of reflection in which I had to ask why I was giving my life to God and also the question: Why remain here?”Maciel died in 2008 without acknowledging his crimes or asking for forgiveness, even though a Vatican investigative commission had already revealed his criminal activity beyond any doubt.After the scandal, Gutiérrez López explained, the figure of the founder ceased to be a reference point: “Definitely, the founder is no longer a spiritual reference point, a moral reference point for us. And for me, that reference point, I saw, had always been Our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we seek to imitate and with whom we also seek to have that personal relationship.”Benedict XVI saw the light that was in themDespite all the evil committed by the founder, Benedict XVI never failed to recognize in the Legionaries of Christ “a healthy community” made up of “young people who want to serve the faith with enthusiasm,” as the pontiff himself emphasized in the book-length interview with Peter Seewald “Light of the World.”From the beginning, the Vatican established that the congregation’s review should be built around three fundamental axes: the redefinition of its charism or spirituality; the review of the exercise of authority — whose abusive control of consciences allowed Maciel to live a double life for years — and the guarantee of adequate formation for seminarians and priests. In addition, to complete the long process of purification, a constant dialogue was opened with victims inside and outside the Legion.“The Church accompanied us throughout a whole process of renewal. We reviewed constitutions, we reviewed many of the norms we had been living in the congregation, the style of apostolate we carried out — in short, it was an entire review that lasted many years,” Gutiérrez López said.For many Legionary seminarians and priests, the support of the Church was decisive; like a “mother,” the Church “showed the way,” he emphasized.“Seeing how the Legion was responding, I said: Well, I also want to help the Church with my priesthood to move this congregation forward, because the congregation can also contribute and give much to the Church in evangelization. In the end, we are here to serve God Our Lord, in the Church, and in this call that he made to me. As I have gone step by step, I have felt very happy, and that has also been my experience,” he said.First meeting with Pope Leo XIVDuring the audience the Legionaries had with Pope Leo XIV in February, the pontiff returned to several key points of the deep renewal they have carried out in fidelity to the Church. For example, he emphasized to them that authority in the Church must be lived as fraternal and spiritual service, not as a form of domination.For the Mexican priest, this is a demanding but profoundly evangelical ideal.“Yes, I really liked that part of the audience,” Gutiérrez López said. Pope Leo XIV with the former superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father John Connor. | Credit: Vatican Media He especially highlighted the moment when the pope invited the Legionaries to approach people “with a respectful and compassionate gaze,” aware that every encounter means entering “a sacred space.”Drawing on his own experience as a superior and as territorial director in northern Mexico and Colombia, Gutiérrez López said he has always been clear that authority is above all a service: “For my brothers, I am offering them a service. … What they share with me is something sacred, and I have to respect that sacredness,” he said.Gutiérrez López is not naive. He knows well that many people may wonder how it is possible to separate the deplorable actions of the founder, who was responsible for so many crimes, from the charism that the Legionaries of Christ embody today.“It is a valid question,” he said.In this regard, he noted that it was the Church herself that “from the beginning,” when she asked the Legionaries to “review our constitutions,” placed the fundamental question before them: “What is your charism? What is the charism and the contribution that the Legion makes?”“The charism, I believe, is something we have been discovering, and it is nothing other than forming apostles to transmit the love of Christ, to form apostles and also send them to evangelize the world and help the Church in this evangelization,” he said.According to the congregation’s statistics, updated as of Dec. 31, 2025, the Legionaries of Christ have 1,327 members worldwide, including 52 religious with perpetual vows and 151 with temporary vows.Despite the wounds of the past, they continue to attract vocations: Currently, 250 minor seminarians are being formed in vocational centers, reflecting the continued weight of initial formation within the congregation.The Legionaries of Christ belong to Regnum Christi, which also includes the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, with 479 consecrated women in 53 communities around the world; the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, with 47 lay consecrated men in eight communities; and lay members: 21,712 lay young people and adults older than 16 and 14,353 lay members younger than 16. The new superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, speaks with ACI Prensa in an interview. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News In Regnum Christi’s educational work — 139 schools and 14 universities — 153,219 students are being educated.The new general director explained that one of the keys to eradicating abuse from within the congregation has been swiftly applying standards for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in the 23 countries where it is present.“In recent years we have been very strict in applying these standards and in perfecting them so they can be lived well. In each of the countries where we are working, we have sought to have the necessary teams that can respond, made up of professionals. These are things that we priests cannot do alone. We need specialists — psychologists, lawyers, and so on — to help us truly be very serious in complying with these standards,” he said.An engineer-priest with broad international experienceAffable and approachable, Gutiérrez López is used to moving in international settings. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum as well as industrial and systems engineering at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. He also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Divine Mercy University in the United States.He has carried out his ministry in Chile, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico.“It has been a great richness to have that experience, to be in contact with different cultures, to know the needs of each country, to learn to listen, to adapt to what a society and a culture are like, to understand them in order to offer and bring them the message that leads to the Church, which is knowing Christ and living one’s faith,” he said.“I believe that has also been personally enriching, now that my Legionary brothers have elected me to this role, so that I can respond and accompany the different territories,” he added.Until his election as general director, he served as territorial director of northern Mexico, a region deeply wounded by violence, poverty, organized crime, and migration flows toward the United States. The Legionaries also try to be a balm for migrants — many of them deportees — amid their suffering.“The whole situation of migrants and organized crime truly causes suffering for many families affected by this reality. What we seek, above all, is to form young people and families, to instill values in them, precisely so they can begin to change their social environment,” he said.In this context, he explained that alongside the private schools the congregation operates in cities in northern Mexico, there are also the Mano Amiga schools, intended for families with limited resources and supported through subsidies and scholarships.The goal is to offer these children an education that will allow them to enter a profession and pursue university studies — “a way to change the destiny of their lives, open horizons for them, and, above all, form them in values so they can transform their environment.”With his election at the most recent general chapter, the Legionaries of Christ have entrusted Gutiérrez López with the task of continuing the congregation’s process of renewal and strengthening its evangelizing service, with special attention to the existential peripheries.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Legionaries leader rebuilds vocation after Maciel scandal: Pain ‘opened our eyes’ – #Catholic – Can a religious congregation survive after its founder turns out to have been a sexual abuser and a liar who lived a double life for years? The Legionaries of Christ have spent 20 years answering that question with actions.They were pioneers in publishing the cases of their abusive priests — an unprecedented step in consecrated life — and in submitting 80 years of a dark history to public scrutiny. Today, they are an ecclesial reference point for transparency. Now, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, 51, the new general director elected in February, speaks with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, about the road that still lies ahead.It is a path of expiation that began in 2006 but reached a turning point in 2019 with the publication of the “1941–2019 Report,” the first of its kind to include all cases from the congregation’s founding to the present day and throughout the world. Since then, it has been updated each year through the “Truth, Justice, and Healing” reports.“Since we began facing this reality, although it was very painful, it also opened our eyes: There was a lot of work to do,” Gutiérrez López said. “In recent years we have been working hard to meet standards, following the documents issued by the Church, collaborating with canonical and civil authorities. We have been putting a certain order in place so we can attend to and respond to the needs of victims and provide comprehensive care in different areas.” Father Carlos Gutiérrez López at the Legionaries of Christ headquarters in Rome. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News His priestly vocation, marked by the wound left by MacielHis own vocational story was marked by the scandal that shook the congregation because of its founder, Mexican priest Marcial Maciel, who was responsible for extremely serious sexual abuse. Gutiérrez López was ordained a priest in 2009, just as the magnitude of Maciel’s crimes was coming to light: Maciel had sexually abused dozens of minors over several decades and had lived, as the Vatican confirmed in 2010, “a life devoid of scruples and genuine religious sentiment.”“It was definitely something very strong, something that left all of us very perplexed, frightened, and also disillusioned,” he said in an interview with ACI Prensa. “And that meant for me a very deep process of reflection in which I had to ask why I was giving my life to God and also the question: Why remain here?”Maciel died in 2008 without acknowledging his crimes or asking for forgiveness, even though a Vatican investigative commission had already revealed his criminal activity beyond any doubt.After the scandal, Gutiérrez López explained, the figure of the founder ceased to be a reference point: “Definitely, the founder is no longer a spiritual reference point, a moral reference point for us. And for me, that reference point, I saw, had always been Our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we seek to imitate and with whom we also seek to have that personal relationship.”Benedict XVI saw the light that was in themDespite all the evil committed by the founder, Benedict XVI never failed to recognize in the Legionaries of Christ “a healthy community” made up of “young people who want to serve the faith with enthusiasm,” as the pontiff himself emphasized in the book-length interview with Peter Seewald “Light of the World.”From the beginning, the Vatican established that the congregation’s review should be built around three fundamental axes: the redefinition of its charism or spirituality; the review of the exercise of authority — whose abusive control of consciences allowed Maciel to live a double life for years — and the guarantee of adequate formation for seminarians and priests. In addition, to complete the long process of purification, a constant dialogue was opened with victims inside and outside the Legion.“The Church accompanied us throughout a whole process of renewal. We reviewed constitutions, we reviewed many of the norms we had been living in the congregation, the style of apostolate we carried out — in short, it was an entire review that lasted many years,” Gutiérrez López said.For many Legionary seminarians and priests, the support of the Church was decisive; like a “mother,” the Church “showed the way,” he emphasized.“Seeing how the Legion was responding, I said: Well, I also want to help the Church with my priesthood to move this congregation forward, because the congregation can also contribute and give much to the Church in evangelization. In the end, we are here to serve God Our Lord, in the Church, and in this call that he made to me. As I have gone step by step, I have felt very happy, and that has also been my experience,” he said.First meeting with Pope Leo XIVDuring the audience the Legionaries had with Pope Leo XIV in February, the pontiff returned to several key points of the deep renewal they have carried out in fidelity to the Church. For example, he emphasized to them that authority in the Church must be lived as fraternal and spiritual service, not as a form of domination.For the Mexican priest, this is a demanding but profoundly evangelical ideal.“Yes, I really liked that part of the audience,” Gutiérrez López said. Pope Leo XIV with the former superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father John Connor. | Credit: Vatican Media He especially highlighted the moment when the pope invited the Legionaries to approach people “with a respectful and compassionate gaze,” aware that every encounter means entering “a sacred space.”Drawing on his own experience as a superior and as territorial director in northern Mexico and Colombia, Gutiérrez López said he has always been clear that authority is above all a service: “For my brothers, I am offering them a service. … What they share with me is something sacred, and I have to respect that sacredness,” he said.Gutiérrez López is not naive. He knows well that many people may wonder how it is possible to separate the deplorable actions of the founder, who was responsible for so many crimes, from the charism that the Legionaries of Christ embody today.“It is a valid question,” he said.In this regard, he noted that it was the Church herself that “from the beginning,” when she asked the Legionaries to “review our constitutions,” placed the fundamental question before them: “What is your charism? What is the charism and the contribution that the Legion makes?”“The charism, I believe, is something we have been discovering, and it is nothing other than forming apostles to transmit the love of Christ, to form apostles and also send them to evangelize the world and help the Church in this evangelization,” he said.According to the congregation’s statistics, updated as of Dec. 31, 2025, the Legionaries of Christ have 1,327 members worldwide, including 52 religious with perpetual vows and 151 with temporary vows.Despite the wounds of the past, they continue to attract vocations: Currently, 250 minor seminarians are being formed in vocational centers, reflecting the continued weight of initial formation within the congregation.The Legionaries of Christ belong to Regnum Christi, which also includes the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, with 479 consecrated women in 53 communities around the world; the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, with 47 lay consecrated men in eight communities; and lay members: 21,712 lay young people and adults older than 16 and 14,353 lay members younger than 16. The new superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, speaks with ACI Prensa in an interview. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News In Regnum Christi’s educational work — 139 schools and 14 universities — 153,219 students are being educated.The new general director explained that one of the keys to eradicating abuse from within the congregation has been swiftly applying standards for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in the 23 countries where it is present.“In recent years we have been very strict in applying these standards and in perfecting them so they can be lived well. In each of the countries where we are working, we have sought to have the necessary teams that can respond, made up of professionals. These are things that we priests cannot do alone. We need specialists — psychologists, lawyers, and so on — to help us truly be very serious in complying with these standards,” he said.An engineer-priest with broad international experienceAffable and approachable, Gutiérrez López is used to moving in international settings. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum as well as industrial and systems engineering at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. He also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Divine Mercy University in the United States.He has carried out his ministry in Chile, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico.“It has been a great richness to have that experience, to be in contact with different cultures, to know the needs of each country, to learn to listen, to adapt to what a society and a culture are like, to understand them in order to offer and bring them the message that leads to the Church, which is knowing Christ and living one’s faith,” he said.“I believe that has also been personally enriching, now that my Legionary brothers have elected me to this role, so that I can respond and accompany the different territories,” he added.Until his election as general director, he served as territorial director of northern Mexico, a region deeply wounded by violence, poverty, organized crime, and migration flows toward the United States. The Legionaries also try to be a balm for migrants — many of them deportees — amid their suffering.“The whole situation of migrants and organized crime truly causes suffering for many families affected by this reality. What we seek, above all, is to form young people and families, to instill values in them, precisely so they can begin to change their social environment,” he said.In this context, he explained that alongside the private schools the congregation operates in cities in northern Mexico, there are also the Mano Amiga schools, intended for families with limited resources and supported through subsidies and scholarships.The goal is to offer these children an education that will allow them to enter a profession and pursue university studies — “a way to change the destiny of their lives, open horizons for them, and, above all, form them in values so they can transform their environment.”With his election at the most recent general chapter, the Legionaries of Christ have entrusted Gutiérrez López with the task of continuing the congregation’s process of renewal and strengthening its evangelizing service, with special attention to the existential peripheries.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, the new general director of the Legionaries of Christ, speaks about transparency, renewal, and the long road of healing after the crimes of founder Marcial Maciel.

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Families of Pakistan church bombing victims call delayed compensation ‘mockery of justice’ – #Catholic – LAHORE, Pakistan — Catholic groups have joined victims of one of Pakistanʼs deadliest church attacks in voicing concern over delayed compensation, even as authorities begin disbursing aid more than 12 years later in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The reactions followed a May 2 ceremony by the provincial Department of Endowments, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs, which distributed checks to 37 victims from minority communities affected by terrorism in the province bordering Afghanistan.The beneficiaries included 11 widows, 24 orphaned children, and two persons with disabilities, who received payments ranging from 1 million to 2 million rupees (,588 to ,175).Some recipients were linked to All Saints Church, where at least 96 people were killed and more than 150 injured in twin suicide bombings on Sept. 22, 2013.Among them was Zubair Zafar, who lost his father in the attack claimed by a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.Now working as an office assistant at the civil secretariat, Zafar said he plans to use the 2 million rupees to support his siblings' education and arrange his younger sisterʼs marriage.“I wanted to join the military, but I could not leave my family as the eldest of five children,” he said. “I started working after my grade 12 exams to support my mother, who works as a kitchen in-charge at an orphanage run by the Peshawar Diocese of the Church of Pakistan.”He said government officials, in their speeches, promised laptops, scholarships, and profit-sharing from minority funds for widows and orphans. “Given the pace, we have little hope,” he added.Delayed disbursementsWhile provincial governments in Sindh and Punjab provided compensation ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 rupees to victims soon after the attack, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delayed disbursements despite court interventions and repeated appeals.Frustration deepened after the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the Auqaf Department converted an earlier 200 million rupee compensation package earmarked for Christian victims into a broader endowment fund for minorities, a move families say diluted targeted relief.On April 1, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved increasing the fundʼs allocation from 200 million to 400 million rupees and directed authorities to expedite payments.But survivors say the process remains opaque and slow.Khuram Yaqoob Sahotra, who lost his right eye in the blast, returned from the distribution ceremony disheartened.“I was told the compensation would be given before July 1. I expected the checks the same day. Now we are told to wait again for approval,” he said.The 40-year-old father of three, a former school clerk who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, still carries ball bearings lodged in his spine.“Doctors have advised me against lifting heavy objects. I cannot sit or stand for long periods,” he said, adding that his extended family now supports him.He continues to undergo treatment for complications related to his artificial eye. “Initially, support came from across the country, but it later dried up. Now there is no clear plan. There is no transparency,” he said.Habib Khan, additional secretary of the Auqaf Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said at least 100 more minority victims would receive compensation this month.“The data is being verified. Those with incomplete documents are being contacted. No one will be left out,” he said, declining to comment on the prolonged delay.‘A mockery of justice’Rights advocates say the payments come too late for many families.The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, a Catholic charity that provided vocational training to 80 orphaned girls and widowed mothers after the attack, said many victims died over the years due to inadequate medical care and financial hardship.“More than a decade has passed, during which many injured victims lost their lives and families lost their sole breadwinners,” said Michelle Chaudhry, president of the foundation. “Disbursing funds in installments now amounts to a mockery of justice.”She urged the government to release full compensation in a single payment “with dignity and respect.”All Saints ChurchBuilt in 1883 inside Peshawarʼs Kohati Gate, All Saints Church is widely regarded as Pakistanʼs only church designed in a mosque-inspired architectural style, with domes, minaret-like towers, and Persian and Pashto biblical inscriptions. The Christian community rebuilt it at a cost of 4 million rupees (,349) without government support.Peshawar remains on the front line of militancy in Pakistan.In 2022, Church of Pakistan lay pastor William Siraj, 70, was shot dead and another pastor injured after Sunday prayers at Shaheedan (Martyrs)-e-All Saints Church in Peshawar.In 2016, security forces foiled a suicide attack on a Christian neighborhood in the cityʼs Warsak area after four suicide bombers attempted to enter the colony.
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Families of Pakistan church bombing victims call delayed compensation ‘mockery of justice’ – #Catholic – LAHORE, Pakistan — Catholic groups have joined victims of one of Pakistanʼs deadliest church attacks in voicing concern over delayed compensation, even as authorities begin disbursing aid more than 12 years later in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The reactions followed a May 2 ceremony by the provincial Department of Endowments, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs, which distributed checks to 37 victims from minority communities affected by terrorism in the province bordering Afghanistan.The beneficiaries included 11 widows, 24 orphaned children, and two persons with disabilities, who received payments ranging from 1 million to 2 million rupees ($3,588 to $7,175).Some recipients were linked to All Saints Church, where at least 96 people were killed and more than 150 injured in twin suicide bombings on Sept. 22, 2013.Among them was Zubair Zafar, who lost his father in the attack claimed by a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.Now working as an office assistant at the civil secretariat, Zafar said he plans to use the 2 million rupees to support his siblings' education and arrange his younger sisterʼs marriage.“I wanted to join the military, but I could not leave my family as the eldest of five children,” he said. “I started working after my grade 12 exams to support my mother, who works as a kitchen in-charge at an orphanage run by the Peshawar Diocese of the Church of Pakistan.”He said government officials, in their speeches, promised laptops, scholarships, and profit-sharing from minority funds for widows and orphans. “Given the pace, we have little hope,” he added.Delayed disbursementsWhile provincial governments in Sindh and Punjab provided compensation ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 rupees to victims soon after the attack, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delayed disbursements despite court interventions and repeated appeals.Frustration deepened after the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the Auqaf Department converted an earlier 200 million rupee compensation package earmarked for Christian victims into a broader endowment fund for minorities, a move families say diluted targeted relief.On April 1, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved increasing the fundʼs allocation from 200 million to 400 million rupees and directed authorities to expedite payments.But survivors say the process remains opaque and slow.Khuram Yaqoob Sahotra, who lost his right eye in the blast, returned from the distribution ceremony disheartened.“I was told the compensation would be given before July 1. I expected the checks the same day. Now we are told to wait again for approval,” he said.The 40-year-old father of three, a former school clerk who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, still carries ball bearings lodged in his spine.“Doctors have advised me against lifting heavy objects. I cannot sit or stand for long periods,” he said, adding that his extended family now supports him.He continues to undergo treatment for complications related to his artificial eye. “Initially, support came from across the country, but it later dried up. Now there is no clear plan. There is no transparency,” he said.Habib Khan, additional secretary of the Auqaf Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said at least 100 more minority victims would receive compensation this month.“The data is being verified. Those with incomplete documents are being contacted. No one will be left out,” he said, declining to comment on the prolonged delay.‘A mockery of justice’Rights advocates say the payments come too late for many families.The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, a Catholic charity that provided vocational training to 80 orphaned girls and widowed mothers after the attack, said many victims died over the years due to inadequate medical care and financial hardship.“More than a decade has passed, during which many injured victims lost their lives and families lost their sole breadwinners,” said Michelle Chaudhry, president of the foundation. “Disbursing funds in installments now amounts to a mockery of justice.”She urged the government to release full compensation in a single payment “with dignity and respect.”All Saints ChurchBuilt in 1883 inside Peshawarʼs Kohati Gate, All Saints Church is widely regarded as Pakistanʼs only church designed in a mosque-inspired architectural style, with domes, minaret-like towers, and Persian and Pashto biblical inscriptions. The Christian community rebuilt it at a cost of 4 million rupees ($14,349) without government support.Peshawar remains on the front line of militancy in Pakistan.In 2022, Church of Pakistan lay pastor William Siraj, 70, was shot dead and another pastor injured after Sunday prayers at Shaheedan (Martyrs)-e-All Saints Church in Peshawar.In 2016, security forces foiled a suicide attack on a Christian neighborhood in the cityʼs Warsak area after four suicide bombers attempted to enter the colony.

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More than 12 years after twin suicide bombings at All Saints Church in Peshawar, survivors say government aid is too little and too late.

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Catholics in Sweden receive rare electoral guidance on life issues – #Catholic – STOCKHOLM — The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm has published a document urging Catholics and “all people of goodwill” to engage actively in Swedenʼs general elections on Sept. 13 in what observers describe as a notable intervention in a largely secular Nordic political climate.The text presents political participation as a legitimate expression of Christian responsibility while encouraging the faithful to be informed, take part in public life, and vote in line with the principles of Catholic social teaching.Distinguishing between moral absolutes and matters of prudenceThe documentʼs approach rests on a crucial distinction between two categories of values. On matters of “practical wisdom,” including policy issues such as the economy, climate, crime, and migration, the document acknowledges legitimate disagreement among believers. Democracy, it explains, functions as “not a community of opinion but a system for the peaceful resolution of conflicts of values.” On these contested issues, Catholics are encouraged to apply principles such as solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good while ultimately retaining freedom of judgment.However, the document takes a different stance on what it identifies as nonnegotiable moral issues. It asserts that “every human beingʼs right to life from conception to natural death” constitutes a foundational “absolute value,” describing abortion and euthanasia as “serious violations of human dignity.”The timing of this moral clarity is significant. In Sweden, several political parties have proposed a constitutional amendment to guarantee access to abortion. Because constitutional changes in Sweden require approval by two successive parliaments with a general election in between, the proposalʼs future depends on whether the next Riksdag maintains support. If adopted, the amendment could take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Simultaneously, the government is modernizing the nationʼs abortion framework by updating its language, adding advances in abortion procedures, and expanding access to at-home chemical abortion. Young people pose at a youth pro-life event organized by the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Stockholm While acknowledging that abortion enjoys broad political support across parties, the document frames euthanasia as a still contested issue, positioning it as part of a wider cultural struggle against what Church teaching describes as a “culture of death.”A careful balance between conviction and pluralismDespite these firm moral positions, the document concludes with a call for restraint and pluralism among believers. It cautions against equating any particular political stance with Catholicism itself, noting that “two equally good Catholics, who have allowed their practical wisdom to be guided equally by faith, may and can therefore arrive at entirely different party-political conclusions in all fields of practical wisdom.” This nuanced approach reflects an attempt to guide conscience without dictating votes.EWTN News spoke to Father Thomas Idergard, SJ, chairman of the commission. He framed the document as a response to a recurring pastoral need rather than a political intervention. “With elections approaching, the faithful request some guidance on how to apply faith in their choices as voters,” he explained. Beyond pastoral concern, he noted a broader social rationale: Christians must be equipped with the “necessary tools to participate in public life,” doing so in a way that employs “secular language and secular arguments for universality” while remaining transparent about faith as a “driving force.”Idergard said the documentʼs framework for discernment operates in two stages. “The first step considers the effect my vote will have on legislation in matters regarding absolute values,” particularly those concerning life and death, “where faith binds the conscience.” The second step, he added, “considers all issues for practical wisdom where faith informs,” while allowing room for personal and secular judgment.Within this framework, Idergard identified euthanasia as the primary pro-life issue where voters may have tangible impact in the next parliamentary term, noting that “there are different positions among the political parties” across the spectrum that could influence legislation. Regarding abortion, by contrast, “all are on the same line,” he observed, a reality that highlights the documentʼs significance in a political landscape where the issue has achieved unusual consensus.Idergard said the document does not signal a new direction for the Catholic Church in Sweden but rather reflects an ongoing commitment. “The Catholic Church in Sweden has always been visibly active on pro-life issues,” he noted, citing initiatives such as the annual “Respect for Life Sunday.”A bold voice in secular SwedenBenedicta Lindberg, secretary-general of Respekt, the pro-life organization of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, described her reaction to the document as reflecting “a significant and, in the Swedish context, a rather bold step.” She pointed to the countryʼs political and cultural landscape, where abortion is widely regarded as a settled matter beyond political contestation. Attendees listen to a presentation at a Respekt event on the beginning of life in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Respekt Lindberg noted that Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius had observed in 2024 that no parliamentary parties currently seek to challenge what is commonly referred to as a “right” to abortion in any substantial way. This consensus, she suggested, has contributed to hesitation among Swedish Catholics to engage visibly in party politics.“Issuing such a document in an election year is meaningful because it makes a distinctly Catholic voice more visible in public debate,” Lindberg said. She added that the guidance “could help encourage a more visible pro-life presence, although probably not a mass political movement in the short term.”The documentʼs release arrives as Swedish society confronts fundamental questions about the scope of abortion access and the legal status of euthanasia. By grounding its argument in Catholic social teaching while respecting democratic pluralism, the Diocese of Stockholm has attempted to offer guidance that is both morally clear and pastorally sensitive, a balance that may prove instructive for Catholic communities navigating secular political contexts elsewhere in Europe and beyond.
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Catholics in Sweden receive rare electoral guidance on life issues – #Catholic – STOCKHOLM — The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm has published a document urging Catholics and “all people of goodwill” to engage actively in Swedenʼs general elections on Sept. 13 in what observers describe as a notable intervention in a largely secular Nordic political climate.The text presents political participation as a legitimate expression of Christian responsibility while encouraging the faithful to be informed, take part in public life, and vote in line with the principles of Catholic social teaching.Distinguishing between moral absolutes and matters of prudenceThe documentʼs approach rests on a crucial distinction between two categories of values. On matters of “practical wisdom,” including policy issues such as the economy, climate, crime, and migration, the document acknowledges legitimate disagreement among believers. Democracy, it explains, functions as “not a community of opinion but a system for the peaceful resolution of conflicts of values.” On these contested issues, Catholics are encouraged to apply principles such as solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good while ultimately retaining freedom of judgment.However, the document takes a different stance on what it identifies as nonnegotiable moral issues. It asserts that “every human beingʼs right to life from conception to natural death” constitutes a foundational “absolute value,” describing abortion and euthanasia as “serious violations of human dignity.”The timing of this moral clarity is significant. In Sweden, several political parties have proposed a constitutional amendment to guarantee access to abortion. Because constitutional changes in Sweden require approval by two successive parliaments with a general election in between, the proposalʼs future depends on whether the next Riksdag maintains support. If adopted, the amendment could take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Simultaneously, the government is modernizing the nationʼs abortion framework by updating its language, adding advances in abortion procedures, and expanding access to at-home chemical abortion. Young people pose at a youth pro-life event organized by the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Stockholm While acknowledging that abortion enjoys broad political support across parties, the document frames euthanasia as a still contested issue, positioning it as part of a wider cultural struggle against what Church teaching describes as a “culture of death.”A careful balance between conviction and pluralismDespite these firm moral positions, the document concludes with a call for restraint and pluralism among believers. It cautions against equating any particular political stance with Catholicism itself, noting that “two equally good Catholics, who have allowed their practical wisdom to be guided equally by faith, may and can therefore arrive at entirely different party-political conclusions in all fields of practical wisdom.” This nuanced approach reflects an attempt to guide conscience without dictating votes.EWTN News spoke to Father Thomas Idergard, SJ, chairman of the commission. He framed the document as a response to a recurring pastoral need rather than a political intervention. “With elections approaching, the faithful request some guidance on how to apply faith in their choices as voters,” he explained. Beyond pastoral concern, he noted a broader social rationale: Christians must be equipped with the “necessary tools to participate in public life,” doing so in a way that employs “secular language and secular arguments for universality” while remaining transparent about faith as a “driving force.”Idergard said the documentʼs framework for discernment operates in two stages. “The first step considers the effect my vote will have on legislation in matters regarding absolute values,” particularly those concerning life and death, “where faith binds the conscience.” The second step, he added, “considers all issues for practical wisdom where faith informs,” while allowing room for personal and secular judgment.Within this framework, Idergard identified euthanasia as the primary pro-life issue where voters may have tangible impact in the next parliamentary term, noting that “there are different positions among the political parties” across the spectrum that could influence legislation. Regarding abortion, by contrast, “all are on the same line,” he observed, a reality that highlights the documentʼs significance in a political landscape where the issue has achieved unusual consensus.Idergard said the document does not signal a new direction for the Catholic Church in Sweden but rather reflects an ongoing commitment. “The Catholic Church in Sweden has always been visibly active on pro-life issues,” he noted, citing initiatives such as the annual “Respect for Life Sunday.”A bold voice in secular SwedenBenedicta Lindberg, secretary-general of Respekt, the pro-life organization of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, described her reaction to the document as reflecting “a significant and, in the Swedish context, a rather bold step.” She pointed to the countryʼs political and cultural landscape, where abortion is widely regarded as a settled matter beyond political contestation. Attendees listen to a presentation at a Respekt event on the beginning of life in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Respekt Lindberg noted that Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius had observed in 2024 that no parliamentary parties currently seek to challenge what is commonly referred to as a “right” to abortion in any substantial way. This consensus, she suggested, has contributed to hesitation among Swedish Catholics to engage visibly in party politics.“Issuing such a document in an election year is meaningful because it makes a distinctly Catholic voice more visible in public debate,” Lindberg said. She added that the guidance “could help encourage a more visible pro-life presence, although probably not a mass political movement in the short term.”The documentʼs release arrives as Swedish society confronts fundamental questions about the scope of abortion access and the legal status of euthanasia. By grounding its argument in Catholic social teaching while respecting democratic pluralism, the Diocese of Stockholm has attempted to offer guidance that is both morally clear and pastorally sensitive, a balance that may prove instructive for Catholic communities navigating secular political contexts elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

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The Diocese of Stockholm’s justice and peace commission published a document urging Catholics to consider candidates’ positions on abortion and euthanasia.

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May 5, 1961: The first American in space

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In 1961, amidst the tensions of the Space Race, NASA made an unpopular choice: Concerned with booster issues during a January test flight with a chimpanzee, the agency chose to run additional tests without human astronauts. Project Mercury, the American push for space success in the face of strong competition from the Soviets, had beenContinue reading “May 5, 1961: The first American in space”

The post May 5, 1961: The first American in space appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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The first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV #Catholic - ‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’ “In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.’” Pope Leo XIV’s motto and coat of arms Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on May 8, 2025? Do you remember when you heard that “there’s white smoke,” that a new Pope had been elected? Do you remember when they announced his name (in Latin), “Cardinal Robert Prevost”? An AMERICAN Pope!! Could it be? Do you remember hearing that he had chosen the name “Leo XIV”? BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY Do you remember his first words (to the Church and to the World): “Peace be with all of you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you! Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s first speech as Pope Leo XIV I was in my office at the Diocesan Center. Someone had the coverage on a screen in the Conference Room, and employees were going in and out, waiting for the announcement. “An American Pope (from Chicago)!!” There was great joy as we heard the news and when he (finally) came out on the balcony. I felt blessed and grateful that I would be able to share the joy and excitement at two Masses that afternoon and evening. I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Elias Lorenzo, of the Archdiocese of Newark, at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, “… to mark the start of renovations to Several Sources Shelters’ original home for pregnant women in Ramsey. The facility has been renamed Kathy’s House, after Kathy DiFiore, Several Sources’ founder.”    Providentially, on the evening of May 8, 2025, I was scheduled to celebrate Confirmation at the Parish of St. Peter, the Apostle in Parsippany – what a joy to be able to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Confirmation at a parish dedicated to the “first Pope” just a few hours after the Church and the world received the 267th Pope, in the line of St. Peter. As we look forward to the first Anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election and we look back at the first year of his Pontificate, there is so much that we can discuss, reflect upon, and for which we can be grateful. In my own prayer and reflection, I wonder if we have given sufficient thought and consideration to his motto and his choice of name? As I wrote this column, I was happy to find the article and quote (cited above), which recounts Cardinal Prevost commenting on his “episcopal motto” – the motto he chose when he was named as a bishop (and which he kept when elected as Pope). We have seen and heard Pope Leo XIV striving to promote unity, peace, and communion. In a world which seems to be more and more divided and in our Church that struggles to find and live the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Jn. 17:20-21, I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us a Holy Father who will do all that he can to bring unity to the Church and to the human family. I believe that we have been blessed by his efforts, words, and ministry during this past year, especially as he calls us to pray and work for peace and unity. He continually invites us to reflect on the words and message of his motto, “In the one Christ, we are one.” I would like to take a slightly different approach in offering my thoughts on the Holy Father’s choice of a name, Leo XIV. When I searched online to find Pope Leo’s comments on why he chose the name, I found it interesting that the first entry I found was a Vatican post on “X” (formerly known as Twitter): Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name: “… I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” https://x.com/VaticanNews/status/1921186921838997935   Since the Holy Father mentions “the field of artificial intelligence…”, I thought I would go to that “field” and see how Google’s AI would “respond” to the request for: “A 2-page summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.” Here’s the response I received: • • • The first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV (elected Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, 2025) has been defined by his status as the first American-born pope and a pastoral style rooted in his decades of missionary work in Peru. His initial year focused on unity, Marian devotion, and addressing modern social challenges like artificial intelligence and migration. [1, 2, 3, 4] Election and Immediate Impact A Historic “First”: Elected on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first North American pontiff. The Choice of Name: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, specifically referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. This choice signaled a focus on Catholic social teaching in the face of a “new industrial revolution” driven by AI. Inaugural Message: From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first public words were “Peace be with all of you!” He emphasized a “Jesus-centric” approach, focusing on Christ’s identity rather than papal authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Key Pastoral and Diplomatic Moments International Travels: Turkey (November 2025): His first international trip included a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, marking a significant moment for interreligious dialogue. Lebanon: He visited Beirut to console families affected by the 2020 explosion and celebrated Mass for roughly 150,000 people, urging the nation to be a “prophetic sign of peace”. Advocacy for Peace and Dignity: Ukraine and Gaza: Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine—meeting with President Zelenskyy three times—and offered public prayers for those suffering in Gaza. Migration: Drawing on his missionary background, he has advocated for the humane treatment of immigrants and criticized economic systems that marginalize the poor. First Priestly Ordination: On May 11, 2025, he performed his first ordinations, emphasizing that priests must be “credible” witnesses to rebuild a “wounded Church”. [1, 2, 3] Vision for the Church Synodality and Reform: Observers noted continuity with Pope Francis’s emphasis on synodality (walking together) while detecting a more centrist doctrinal tone. Engagement with Modernity: In his Wednesday General Audiences, he began a new series of catechises dedicated to rereading the documents of the Second Vatican Council to ensure their content is understood directly rather than through interpretations. Social Justice: He has maintained a strong pro-life stance while backing death penalty abolitionists and condemning war and aggressive nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] Would you like to explore specific encyclicals he has released or more details on his appointments to the Vatican’s central administration? • • • Not bad!! In some sense, this is a good summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. One danger of AI may be the temptation to think that this summary even begins to truly describe the meaning, significance, and impact of who Pope Leo XIV is as the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Let us again consider his words describing why he chose “Leo XIV”: In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”  Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church in “offering everyone the treasury of her social teaching… (and in) the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”  
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The first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV #Catholic – ‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’ “In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.’” Pope Leo XIV’s motto and coat of arms Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on May 8, 2025? Do you remember when you heard that “there’s white smoke,” that a new Pope had been elected? Do you remember when they announced his name (in Latin), “Cardinal Robert Prevost”? An AMERICAN Pope!! Could it be? Do you remember hearing that he had chosen the name “Leo XIV”? BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY Do you remember his first words (to the Church and to the World): “Peace be with all of you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you! Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s first speech as Pope Leo XIV I was in my office at the Diocesan Center. Someone had the coverage on a screen in the Conference Room, and employees were going in and out, waiting for the announcement. “An American Pope (from Chicago)!!” There was great joy as we heard the news and when he (finally) came out on the balcony. I felt blessed and grateful that I would be able to share the joy and excitement at two Masses that afternoon and evening. I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Elias Lorenzo, of the Archdiocese of Newark, at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, “… to mark the start of renovations to Several Sources Shelters’ original home for pregnant women in Ramsey. The facility has been renamed Kathy’s House, after Kathy DiFiore, Several Sources’ founder.”    Providentially, on the evening of May 8, 2025, I was scheduled to celebrate Confirmation at the Parish of St. Peter, the Apostle in Parsippany – what a joy to be able to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Confirmation at a parish dedicated to the “first Pope” just a few hours after the Church and the world received the 267th Pope, in the line of St. Peter. As we look forward to the first Anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election and we look back at the first year of his Pontificate, there is so much that we can discuss, reflect upon, and for which we can be grateful. In my own prayer and reflection, I wonder if we have given sufficient thought and consideration to his motto and his choice of name? As I wrote this column, I was happy to find the article and quote (cited above), which recounts Cardinal Prevost commenting on his “episcopal motto” – the motto he chose when he was named as a bishop (and which he kept when elected as Pope). We have seen and heard Pope Leo XIV striving to promote unity, peace, and communion. In a world which seems to be more and more divided and in our Church that struggles to find and live the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Jn. 17:20-21, I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us a Holy Father who will do all that he can to bring unity to the Church and to the human family. I believe that we have been blessed by his efforts, words, and ministry during this past year, especially as he calls us to pray and work for peace and unity. He continually invites us to reflect on the words and message of his motto, “In the one Christ, we are one.” I would like to take a slightly different approach in offering my thoughts on the Holy Father’s choice of a name, Leo XIV. When I searched online to find Pope Leo’s comments on why he chose the name, I found it interesting that the first entry I found was a Vatican post on “X” (formerly known as Twitter): Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name: “… I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” https://x.com/VaticanNews/status/1921186921838997935   Since the Holy Father mentions “the field of artificial intelligence…”, I thought I would go to that “field” and see how Google’s AI would “respond” to the request for: “A 2-page summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.” Here’s the response I received: • • • The first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV (elected Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, 2025) has been defined by his status as the first American-born pope and a pastoral style rooted in his decades of missionary work in Peru. His initial year focused on unity, Marian devotion, and addressing modern social challenges like artificial intelligence and migration. [1, 2, 3, 4] Election and Immediate Impact A Historic “First”: Elected on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first North American pontiff. The Choice of Name: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, specifically referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. This choice signaled a focus on Catholic social teaching in the face of a “new industrial revolution” driven by AI. Inaugural Message: From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first public words were “Peace be with all of you!” He emphasized a “Jesus-centric” approach, focusing on Christ’s identity rather than papal authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Key Pastoral and Diplomatic Moments International Travels: Turkey (November 2025): His first international trip included a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, marking a significant moment for interreligious dialogue. Lebanon: He visited Beirut to console families affected by the 2020 explosion and celebrated Mass for roughly 150,000 people, urging the nation to be a “prophetic sign of peace”. Advocacy for Peace and Dignity: Ukraine and Gaza: Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine—meeting with President Zelenskyy three times—and offered public prayers for those suffering in Gaza. Migration: Drawing on his missionary background, he has advocated for the humane treatment of immigrants and criticized economic systems that marginalize the poor. First Priestly Ordination: On May 11, 2025, he performed his first ordinations, emphasizing that priests must be “credible” witnesses to rebuild a “wounded Church”. [1, 2, 3] Vision for the Church Synodality and Reform: Observers noted continuity with Pope Francis’s emphasis on synodality (walking together) while detecting a more centrist doctrinal tone. Engagement with Modernity: In his Wednesday General Audiences, he began a new series of catechises dedicated to rereading the documents of the Second Vatican Council to ensure their content is understood directly rather than through interpretations. Social Justice: He has maintained a strong pro-life stance while backing death penalty abolitionists and condemning war and aggressive nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] Would you like to explore specific encyclicals he has released or more details on his appointments to the Vatican’s central administration? • • • Not bad!! In some sense, this is a good summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. One danger of AI may be the temptation to think that this summary even begins to truly describe the meaning, significance, and impact of who Pope Leo XIV is as the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Let us again consider his words describing why he chose “Leo XIV”: In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”  Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church in “offering everyone the treasury of her social teaching… (and in) the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”  

unitedyam

The first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV #Catholic –

‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’

“In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.’”

Pope Leo XIV’s motto and coat of arms

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on May 8, 2025? Do you remember when you heard that “there’s white smoke,” that a new Pope had been elected? Do you remember when they announced his name (in Latin), “Cardinal Robert Prevost”? An AMERICAN Pope!! Could it be? Do you remember hearing that he had chosen the name “Leo XIV”?

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

Do you remember his first words (to the Church and to the World): “Peace be with all of you!
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock.

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you! Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s first speech as Pope Leo XIV

I was in my office at the Diocesan Center. Someone had the coverage on a screen in the Conference Room, and employees were going in and out, waiting for the announcement. “An American Pope (from Chicago)!!” There was great joy as we heard the news and when he (finally) came out on the balcony.

I felt blessed and grateful that I would be able to share the joy and excitement at two Masses that afternoon and evening. I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Elias Lorenzo, of the Archdiocese of Newark, at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, “… to mark the start of renovations to Several Sources Shelters’ original home for pregnant women in Ramsey. The facility has been renamed Kathy’s House, after Kathy DiFiore, Several Sources’ founder.”   

Providentially, on the evening of May 8, 2025, I was scheduled to celebrate Confirmation at the Parish of St. Peter, the Apostle in Parsippany – what a joy to be able to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Confirmation at a parish dedicated to the “first Pope” just a few hours after the Church and the world received the 267th Pope, in the line of St. Peter.

As we look forward to the first Anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election and we look back at the first year of his Pontificate, there is so much that we can discuss, reflect upon, and for which we can be grateful.

In my own prayer and reflection, I wonder if we have given sufficient thought and consideration to his motto and his choice of name? As I wrote this column, I was happy to find the article and quote (cited above), which recounts Cardinal Prevost commenting on his “episcopal motto” – the motto he chose when he was named as a bishop (and which he kept when elected as Pope). We have seen and heard Pope Leo XIV striving to promote unity, peace, and communion.

In a world which seems to be more and more divided and in our Church that struggles to find and live the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Jn. 17:20-21, I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us a Holy Father who will do all that he can to bring unity to the Church and to the human family. I believe that we have been blessed by his efforts, words, and ministry during this past year, especially as he calls us to pray and work for peace and unity. He continually invites us to reflect on the words and message of his motto, “In the one Christ, we are one.”

I would like to take a slightly different approach in offering my thoughts on the Holy Father’s choice of a name, Leo XIV. When I searched online to find Pope Leo’s comments on why he chose the name, I found it interesting that the first entry I found was a Vatican post on “X” (formerly known as Twitter):

Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name: “… I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” https://x.com/VaticanNews/status/1921186921838997935  

Since the Holy Father mentions “the field of artificial intelligence…”, I thought I would go to that “field” and see how Google’s AI would “respond” to the request for: “A 2-page summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.”

Here’s the response I received:

• • •

The first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV (elected Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, 2025) has been defined by his status as the first American-born pope and a pastoral style rooted in his decades of missionary work in Peru. His initial year focused on unity, Marian devotion, and addressing modern social challenges like artificial intelligence and migration. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Election and Immediate Impact

  • A Historic “First”: Elected on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first North American pontiff.
  • The Choice of Name: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, specifically referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. This choice signaled a focus on Catholic social teaching in the face of a “new industrial revolution” driven by AI.
  • Inaugural Message: From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first public words were “Peace be with all of you!” He emphasized a “Jesus-centric” approach, focusing on Christ’s identity rather than papal authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Key Pastoral and Diplomatic Moments

  • International Travels:
    • Turkey (November 2025): His first international trip included a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, marking a significant moment for interreligious dialogue.
    • Lebanon: He visited Beirut to console families affected by the 2020 explosion and celebrated Mass for roughly 150,000 people, urging the nation to be a “prophetic sign of peace”.
  • Advocacy for Peace and Dignity:
    • Ukraine and Gaza: Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine—meeting with President Zelenskyy three times—and offered public prayers for those suffering in Gaza.
    • Migration: Drawing on his missionary background, he has advocated for the humane treatment of immigrants and criticized economic systems that marginalize the poor.
  • First Priestly Ordination: On May 11, 2025, he performed his first ordinations, emphasizing that priests must be “credible” witnesses to rebuild a “wounded Church”. [1, 2, 3]

Vision for the Church

  • Synodality and Reform: Observers noted continuity with Pope Francis’s emphasis on synodality (walking together) while detecting a more centrist doctrinal tone.
  • Engagement with Modernity: In his Wednesday General Audiences, he began a new series of catechises dedicated to rereading the documents of the Second Vatican Council to ensure their content is understood directly rather than through interpretations.
  • Social Justice: He has maintained a strong pro-life stance while backing death penalty abolitionists and condemning war and aggressive nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Would you like to explore specific encyclicals he has released or more details on his appointments to the Vatican’s central administration?

• • •

Not bad!! In some sense, this is a good summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. One danger of AI may be the temptation to think that this summary even begins to truly describe the meaning, significance, and impact of who Pope Leo XIV is as the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Let us again consider his words describing why he chose “Leo XIV”: In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”

 Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church in “offering everyone the treasury of her social teaching… (and in) the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”
 

– ‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’ “In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for

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Guardian Mass honors first responders who made ‘ultimate sacrifice’ #Catholic - First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year. The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass took place last May, honoring law enforcement and their families. The Guardian Mass now includes fire, EMS, emergency communications, management, and their families, as well as law enforcement. During the Mass, the congregation also remembered the lives lost in or as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of those tragic events. The Mass honored guardians who died last year, including Lt. Peter E. Bruncati, SFC, William A. Casey, Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, SPC, Steven C. Tiboni, SFC, and Sean W. Acker of the New Jersey State Police, and Firefighter Howard Bennett of the Camden Fire Department. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney thanked first responders for their “patience, professionalism, training, and dedication, each day.” “We thank and honor you today. We admire your courage and your willingness to sacrifice, placing yourself in the line of fire” — and often in harm’s way — during domestic disputes, shootings, and fires, Bishop Sweeney said. “Our Lord Jesus said, ‘There’s no greater love than this: to lay down your life for your friends.’ You do this not only for friends but for anyone in need,” he said. In addition, Bishop Sweeney thanked the commitment and sacrifices made by the spouses, parents, children, and other family members of first responders. An honor guard consisting of first responders carried American flags into St. John’s during the Mass’s opening procession. First responders, families of fallen officers, and chaplains also joined the liturgy. Later, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” in remembrance of the fallen officers. At the end of Mass, Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects, thanked everyone who helped plan and assist with the Guardian Mass. He was also a member of the planning committee and a concelebrating priest. Msgr. Sylva also serves as a chaplain for first responders. In his remarks, Msgr. Geno also thanked first responders, especially in Paterson, “for being heroes to us.” “You make things better. You’ve done this by saying ‘yes’ to us, to people, and to the common good,” Msgr. Sylva said. “At times, in your daily lives, maybe what you signed up for is not what you expected. But it’s important for us to remember that our God is not found in expectations. He is found when we face reality in faith, hope, and love,” the priest said. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  
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Guardian Mass honors first responders who made ‘ultimate sacrifice’ #Catholic – First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year. The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass took place last May, honoring law enforcement and their families. The Guardian Mass now includes fire, EMS, emergency communications, management, and their families, as well as law enforcement. During the Mass, the congregation also remembered the lives lost in or as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of those tragic events. The Mass honored guardians who died last year, including Lt. Peter E. Bruncati, SFC, William A. Casey, Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, SPC, Steven C. Tiboni, SFC, and Sean W. Acker of the New Jersey State Police, and Firefighter Howard Bennett of the Camden Fire Department. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. In his homily, Bishop Sweeney thanked first responders for their “patience, professionalism, training, and dedication, each day.” “We thank and honor you today. We admire your courage and your willingness to sacrifice, placing yourself in the line of fire” — and often in harm’s way — during domestic disputes, shootings, and fires, Bishop Sweeney said. “Our Lord Jesus said, ‘There’s no greater love than this: to lay down your life for your friends.’ You do this not only for friends but for anyone in need,” he said. In addition, Bishop Sweeney thanked the commitment and sacrifices made by the spouses, parents, children, and other family members of first responders. An honor guard consisting of first responders carried American flags into St. John’s during the Mass’s opening procession. First responders, families of fallen officers, and chaplains also joined the liturgy. Later, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” in remembrance of the fallen officers. At the end of Mass, Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects, thanked everyone who helped plan and assist with the Guardian Mass. He was also a member of the planning committee and a concelebrating priest. Msgr. Sylva also serves as a chaplain for first responders. In his remarks, Msgr. Geno also thanked first responders, especially in Paterson, “for being heroes to us.” “You make things better. You’ve done this by saying ‘yes’ to us, to people, and to the common good,” Msgr. Sylva said. “At times, in your daily lives, maybe what you signed up for is not what you expected. But it’s important for us to remember that our God is not found in expectations. He is found when we face reality in faith, hope, and love,” the priest said. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org]  

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Guardian Mass honors first responders who made ‘ultimate sacrifice’ #Catholic –

First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year.

The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass took place last May, honoring law enforcement and their families. The Guardian Mass now includes fire, EMS, emergency communications, management, and their families, as well as law enforcement.

During the Mass, the congregation also remembered the lives lost in or as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of those tragic events.

The Mass honored guardians who died last year, including Lt. Peter E. Bruncati, SFC, William A. Casey, Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, SPC, Steven C. Tiboni, SFC, and Sean W. Acker of the New Jersey State Police, and Firefighter Howard Bennett of the Camden Fire Department.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

In his homily, Bishop Sweeney thanked first responders for their “patience, professionalism, training, and dedication, each day.”

“We thank and honor you today. We admire your courage and your willingness to sacrifice, placing yourself in the line of fire” — and often in harm’s way — during domestic disputes, shootings, and fires, Bishop Sweeney said. “Our Lord Jesus said, ‘There’s no greater love than this: to lay down your life for your friends.’ You do this not only for friends but for anyone in need,” he said.

In addition, Bishop Sweeney thanked the commitment and sacrifices made by the spouses, parents, children, and other family members of first responders.

An honor guard consisting of first responders carried American flags into St. John’s during the Mass’s opening procession. First responders, families of fallen officers, and chaplains also joined the liturgy. Later, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” in remembrance of the fallen officers.

At the end of Mass, Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects, thanked everyone who helped plan and assist with the Guardian Mass. He was also a member of the planning committee and a concelebrating priest. Msgr. Sylva also serves as a chaplain for first responders.

In his remarks, Msgr. Geno also thanked first responders, especially in Paterson, “for being heroes to us.”

“You make things better. You’ve done this by saying ‘yes’ to us, to people, and to the common good,” Msgr. Sylva said. “At times, in your daily lives, maybe what you signed up for is not what you expected. But it’s important for us to remember that our God is not found in expectations. He is found when we face reality in faith, hope, and love,” the priest said.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

– First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year. The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass

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Jumping The Shark: ‘The Chosen’ Criticized For Planning To Kill Off Main Character Only To Resurrect Him Next Episode #BabylonBee – U.S. — Fans of the hit faith-based series The Chosen were left reeling this week after showrunners were accused of "blatantly jumping the shark" by planning to kill off the show’s main character in one episode, only to bring Him back to life in the very next one.
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Jumping The Shark: ‘The Chosen’ Criticized For Planning To Kill Off Main Character Only To Resurrect Him Next Episode #BabylonBee – U.S. — Fans of the hit faith-based series The Chosen were left reeling this week after showrunners were accused of "blatantly jumping the shark" by planning to kill off the show’s main character in one episode, only to bring Him back to life in the very next one.

unitedyam

U.S. — Fans of the hit faith-based series The Chosen were left reeling this week after showrunners were accused of "blatantly jumping the shark" by planning to kill off the show’s main character in one episode, only to bring Him back to life in the very next one.

Read More