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Key Monastery in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located at an elevation of 4,166 m (13,668 ft) on a hill rising above the Spiti valley, where it is the largest monastery and houses hundreds of monks. It is said to have been founded in the 11th century and belongs to the Gelugpa school of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. This view shows the monastery in winter, overlooking the snow-covered Spiti river valley with the Himalayas in the background.
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Almighty and loving Father,
I thank you for giving St. Gerard to us
as a most appealing model and powerful friend.
By his example,
he showed us how to love and trust You.
You have showered many blessings
on those who call upon him.
For Your greater glory and my welfare,
please grant me the favours
which I ask in his name.
(Mention your needs here…)
And you, my powerful patron,
intercede for me before the throne of God.
Draw near to that throne
and …
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to help strengthen laws that protect people with disabilities from assisted suicide, saying “we can’t be a moral society” with these laws in place.
![Panel explores Gen Z perspectives on Jewish-Catholic relations – #Catholic – Catholics of Jewish descent shared their faith journeys and urged renewed dialogue and theological clarity to counter antisemitism at a Benedictine College panel.The panel was part of an April 22 event, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Jewish-Catholic Friendship at a Moment of Crisis,” cosponsored by the college and the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism.Featured speakers on the panel included Yarden Zelivansky, an active reserve sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a Jewish convert to Catholicism; Gideon Lazar, an American Jewish convert to Catholicism; and Aviva Lund, a Catholic of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.The panel was moderated by Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism founding member Simone Rizkallah and Peter Wolfgang, president of the Family Institute of Connecticut Action.Gen Z and Jewish-Catholic RelationsObserving an uptick in antisemitism among Catholics online, Lazar pointed to Gen Z’s reticence to accept arguments rooted in “brotherhood” or theological similarities between Catholics and Jews.Lazar said Gen Z men are looking for answers related to theological and political differences, and that when arguments fail to address these differences, “what they’re hearing is you don’t have answers to their questions.”“Gen Z men in many ways see a culture that has failed them, and they’re looking for answers and feel that because the older generations failed them, they don’t have those answers,” Lazar said. “When Gen Z men don’t get those real answers,” he said, “theyʼre going to get them from random antisemites online who have quote-mined a bunch of random Church fathers to make the Church fathers and the tradition look antisemitic.”He further condemned the weaponization of the phrase “Christ is King,” saying “one of the worst things that’s happened is this beautiful message, the kingship of Christ, has been corrupted by people who are fundamentally opposed to Christ.”“How are we possibly supposed to tell our Jewish brothers and sisters that Jesus is their Messiah when we tell that to them, they think that means you hate us?” he said. “This should be a message of love.”Being a Jewish Catholic convert in IsraelZelivanksy, who co-hosts “The Voice of Jacob” podcast with Lazar, shared that his experience being a Jewish convert to Catholicism living in Israel has been “mostly surprisingly benign.”“It seems to me that especially since Oct. 7, [2023], thereʼs been a shift in how Israelis view what kind of makes you a part of the nation of Israel,” Zelivansky said, explaining even if Israelis disagree with your theological position, he said, it is more important to them that “you do what everybody else does to be a part of the nation of Israel.”“I canʼt say life is too complicated for me as a Christian. Generally, people seem to just not really care,” he said, noting that his IDF gear and car are marked with the Jerusalem cross.“A lot of the problems people speak of in Israel are kind of centered in Jerusalem,” said Zelivanksy, who lives just outside Tel Aviv. “My friends who live in Jerusalem do experience some of the spitting and the cursing that you hear about, but Iʼve never experienced it anywhere else.”Zelivansky, who attended the conference virtually after his flight was delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, also offered his view as a Catholic regarding the war.“Faith comes first. Faith informs morals. Morals inform politics," he said. “And serving in a certain countryʼs military certainly does not entail agreeing with every single policy.”“I wouldnʼt say itʼs my place to comment on politics,” he said. “I would say that we all need to inform ourselves on current events that are relevant to us and examine them in the light of faith and not examine faith in the light of politics, which is something that tends to happen a lot, left and right, these days.”Jewish-Catholic identityDuring her remarks, Lund said embracing her Jewish roots as a cradle Catholic among her extended Jewish family has been a mostly positive experience, noting: “From my experience, Jews are not evangelical. They just care about their own people.”“For me itʼs honestly kind of been an evolution,” she said. “The way I approach it now is basically our Jewish brethren are our brethren, theyʼre our older siblings, and so, we might as well just enjoy them as fellow human beings.”Lund said her Jewish roots have influenced her Catholic faith, because “the more I meet Jewish brethren, the more I deepen into the mystery of Jesus, especially with evangelizing.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/panel-explores-gen-z-perspectives-on-jewish-catholic-relations-catholic-catholics-of-jewish-descent-shared-their-faith-journeys-and-urged-renewed-dialogue-and-theological-clarity-to-counter-antis.jpg "Panel explores Gen Z perspectives on Jewish-Catholic relations – #Catholic – Catholics of Jewish descent shared their faith journeys and urged renewed dialogue and theological clarity to counter antisemitism at a Benedictine College panel.The panel was part of an April 22 event, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Jewish-Catholic Friendship at a Moment of Crisis,” cosponsored by the college and the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism.Featured speakers on the panel included Yarden Zelivansky, an active reserve sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a Jewish convert to Catholicism; Gideon Lazar, an American Jewish convert to Catholicism; and Aviva Lund, a Catholic of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.The panel was moderated by Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism founding member Simone Rizkallah and Peter Wolfgang, president of the Family Institute of Connecticut Action.Gen Z and Jewish-Catholic RelationsObserving an uptick in antisemitism among Catholics online, Lazar pointed to Gen Z’s reticence to accept arguments rooted in “brotherhood” or theological similarities between Catholics and Jews.Lazar said Gen Z men are looking for answers related to theological and political differences, and that when arguments fail to address these differences, “what they’re hearing is you don’t have answers to their questions.”“Gen Z men in many ways see a culture that has failed them, and they’re looking for answers and feel that because the older generations failed them, they don’t have those answers,” Lazar said. “When Gen Z men don’t get those real answers,” he said, “theyʼre going to get them from random antisemites online who have quote-mined a bunch of random Church fathers to make the Church fathers and the tradition look antisemitic.”He further condemned the weaponization of the phrase “Christ is King,” saying “one of the worst things that’s happened is this beautiful message, the kingship of Christ, has been corrupted by people who are fundamentally opposed to Christ.”“How are we possibly supposed to tell our Jewish brothers and sisters that Jesus is their Messiah when we tell that to them, they think that means you hate us?” he said. “This should be a message of love.”Being a Jewish Catholic convert in IsraelZelivanksy, who co-hosts “The Voice of Jacob” podcast with Lazar, shared that his experience being a Jewish convert to Catholicism living in Israel has been “mostly surprisingly benign.”“It seems to me that especially since Oct. 7, [2023], thereʼs been a shift in how Israelis view what kind of makes you a part of the nation of Israel,” Zelivansky said, explaining even if Israelis disagree with your theological position, he said, it is more important to them that “you do what everybody else does to be a part of the nation of Israel.”“I canʼt say life is too complicated for me as a Christian. Generally, people seem to just not really care,” he said, noting that his IDF gear and car are marked with the Jerusalem cross.“A lot of the problems people speak of in Israel are kind of centered in Jerusalem,” said Zelivanksy, who lives just outside Tel Aviv. “My friends who live in Jerusalem do experience some of the spitting and the cursing that you hear about, but Iʼve never experienced it anywhere else.”Zelivansky, who attended the conference virtually after his flight was delayed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, also offered his view as a Catholic regarding the war.“Faith comes first. Faith informs morals. Morals inform politics,\" he said. “And serving in a certain countryʼs military certainly does not entail agreeing with every single policy.”“I wouldnʼt say itʼs my place to comment on politics,” he said. “I would say that we all need to inform ourselves on current events that are relevant to us and examine them in the light of faith and not examine faith in the light of politics, which is something that tends to happen a lot, left and right, these days.”Jewish-Catholic identityDuring her remarks, Lund said embracing her Jewish roots as a cradle Catholic among her extended Jewish family has been a mostly positive experience, noting: “From my experience, Jews are not evangelical. They just care about their own people.”“For me itʼs honestly kind of been an evolution,” she said. “The way I approach it now is basically our Jewish brethren are our brethren, theyʼre our older siblings, and so, we might as well just enjoy them as fellow human beings.”Lund said her Jewish roots have influenced her Catholic faith, because “the more I meet Jewish brethren, the more I deepen into the mystery of Jesus, especially with evangelizing.”")
A panel at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, discussed Jewish-Catholic identity and antisemitism among Gen Z.
Blessed Savior, I thank you that this operation is safely past, and now I rest in your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of your healing life into every part of my being. In moments of pain I turn to you for strength, in times of loneliness I feel your loving nearness. Grant that your life and love and joy may flow through me for the healing of others in your name. Amen.
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Rudder and propeller on beached fishing vessel Skagerrak, Nørre Vorupør beach, Denmark.
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The Catholic bishops of New York state are providing guidance on the Church’s teaching on assisted suicide and end-of-life decisions after the state legalized euthanasia.
![Canary Islands bishop on migration: ‘We feel powerless’ - #Catholic - The bishops of the dioceses of the Canary archipelago shared their concerns regarding immigration just weeks before Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Spain, a journey that will conclude on the islands.The situation on the Canary Islands, arising from pressure caused by immigration from Africa, was behind Pope Francis’ desire to visit the islands; this wish will now be fulfilled by his successor, Pope Leo XIV, who will visit the islands June 11–12 as well as Madrid and Barcelona on June 6–10.The bishop of Tenerife, Eloy Santiago, acknowledged that the fact that the archipelago serves as “Europeʼs southern frontier — the point of arrival for immigration coming from the African continent” — is a reality “that often overwhelms us.”“We lack the human and economic resources to address this dramatic reality. We feel powerless in the face of this deadly Atlantic route,” Santiago explained during a meeting with the press.Since the arrival of the first boat carrying two immigrants from Africa in 1994 and over the course of more than three decades, thousands of people — generally young men — have reached the shores of the Canary Islands in search of a future. Thousands of others have drowned in the attempt.The Holy Father’s visit will signify “support and motivation“ and will ”draw attention to this sad drama,” the bishop of the Diocese of Tenerife added.The bishop of Canary Islands (which include the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and La Graciosa), José Mazuelos, also expressed his hope that “the Holy Father will shed light on the matter, to see if it is possible to put an end to the Atlantic route,” although he also noted that the popeʼs presence in the islands is pastoral in nature and encompasses other aspects of the life of the Church.“It’s not as if the pope is coming to the Canary Islands to use the issue of migration as a stick to politically beat one side or the other,” he emphasized.Mazuelos also suggested that for many people “you’d have to put them on a ‘cayuco’ (a large, flat-bottomed wooden boat) spending five days in the Atlantic, day and night, without food so that they can see when [the migrants] get here what it is that we’re doing,” he said in reference to those who criticize the Catholic Church’s work of welcoming migrants, protecting them, and integrating them into society.Mazuelos noted that if the countries of origin receive development aid intended to help them eliminate the causes that lead so many to leave their homes, “we must hold them accountable, and we must crack down on the mafias.”
José Mazuelos, bishop of Canary Islands in Spain. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/ACI Prensa
Furthermore, he expressed support for “seeking ways for migrants to come to work through alternative channels.” He cited as an example that during the second half of the 20th century, Spaniards legally emigrated to central European countries “with their proper work papers.”He mused about whether this same outcome could be achieved regarding African migration, though he acknowledged that this approach is “a bit idealistic.”Caya Suárez, secretary-general of Caritas for the Diocese of Canary Islands who was present at the meeting, said that “the pope’s visit is not only a recognition of the welcome extended but also a call to prayer for the victims who have lost their lives on the Atlantic route,” a figure she estimated is more than 19,000 people since 2020.Awaiting details on Pope Leo XIV’s visitRegarding Leo XIV’s visit to the Canary Islands, where so far the celebration of two large Masses has been confirmed, Mazuelos expressed his conviction that personal testimonies will be shared during at least one of the gatherings, as one of the Catholic Church’s priorities is to “put a human face” on the reality of migrants.The island of El Hierro, part of the Diocese of Tenerife, is one of the places in the archipelago where this reality has become most palpable. Just last year, 25,000 migrants arrived to a local population of 9,000 inhabitants.The prelate, aware that “the people of El Hierro are eagerly anticipating” the possibility of a visit from the pope, realistically pointed out that given the timing and the necessary logistics, “while not impossible,” it will be “difficult” for such a visit to take place.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/canary-islands-bishop-on-migration-we-feel-powerless-catholic-the-bishops-of-the-dioceses-of-the-canary-archipelago-shared-their-concerns-regarding-immigration-just-weeks-befor.webp)
The bishops of the two Canary Islands dioceses discuss migration there from Africa, an issue likely to be addressed by Pope Leo XIV during his June visit.
The Holy Father is wrapping up his papal trip to the African continent after visiting multiple countries there.
Heavenly Father,
in glorifying Jesus
and sending us your Spirit,
You open the way to eternal life.
May my sharing in this Gift increase my love
and make my faith grow stronger.
Send Your Spirit to cleanse my life
so that the offering of myself to You at Mass
may be pleasing to You.
May my sharing in the Eucharist,
our Bread of Life,
bring me eternal life.
Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Virginia, urged vigilance in child protection, and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago posted a video message about the month’s observance on behalf of U.S. bishops.
In response to a shooting at a Mexican archeological site that left two dead and 13 injured, Bishop Guillermo Escobar urged people to look to Jesus Christ and return to Christian values.
The Holy Father has already visited Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola as part of his papal visit to the continent.
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O most merciful Jesus,
Lover of souls,
I beseech Thee,
by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart,
and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother,
wash clean in the Thy Blood
the sinners of the whole world
who are to die this day.
Remember most especially the soul I spiritually adopt
with the intention of entrusting him or her to Thy Shepherd’s care:
I beseech Thee for the grace to move this sinner,
who is in danger of going to Hell, to repent.
I ask this …
![Charlotte Diocese says priest did not violate conduct policies during confession with teens – #Catholic – The Diocese of Charlotte has found that a priest did not violate any of its conduct policies during confessions with teens at Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina last December.Multiple families whose teens attend the school had complained that a priest stepped over the line into “inappropriate” talk during confession, but in a statement to EWTN News, the diocese said it “looked into complaints raised about conversations that occurred during confession at Charlotte Catholic High School last December” and did not identify any “violations of our conduct policies” in the priest’s behavior.The families, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their daughters, said that during the sacrament of reconciliation, a priest asked the young women “unexpected and personal questions,” according to a report by WCNC Charlotte.One father said the priest, who has not been identified, asked his daughter about sexual sins.According to the young woman’s mother, the question was unrelated to the sins she was confessing at the time. “‘Mom, I was telling him about missing Mass and lying to you and fighting with my brother … and we were not talking about anything sexual at all and he just asked me that,’” the mother said.Another mother reported that the priest asked her daughter “if she’s ever had a sexual relationship with a boy.”Those two families and others said they informed the school as well as the Diocese of Charlotte of their concerns.In its statement, the diocese said it has communicated about the matter “with all involved at the time and has addressed the issue with all priests of the diocese, reiterating the need for pastoral sensitivity in celebrating the sacrament.”According to the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin also responded by letter to the families, who told WCNC they received similar responses.“I am sorry that your daughter had a conversation in confession that made her feel uncomfortable,” Martin reportedly said in his letter.He said priests sometimes ask clarifying questions during confession or lead a penitent who has not properly examined his or her conscience.The Catholic Church teaches that the faithful should examine their consciences regularly, but especially prior to the sacrament of reconciliation in order to make a good confession.“Penitents frequently come to the sacrament having engaged in a limited examination of conscience,” Martin continued, saying a priest might “raise common age-appropriate struggles with sin … to jog his or her memory or give them the benefit of having only to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ so they do not have to describe the sin in too much detail."He reminded the families that priests are prohibited from breaking what is known as the “sacramental seal,” or discussing what they hear in confession.Charlotte Catholic High School did not respond to EWTN News in time for publication.Several of the parents who raised the issue expressed dissatisfaction with the bishop’s response, however, with one parent saying she felt her concerns were “dismissed.” “The whole letter felt like we were being gaslighted,” another mother told the local news outlet. “We understand what is appropriate and inappropriate.”Nevertheless, one of the mothers said “I’m still a faithful Catholic. I just want this to be about doing the right thing.”The dioceseʼs statement continued: “Confession is a sacrament meant to address sins so a priest can offer a penitent absolution and guidance. A variety of topics come up during confession, and according to Church norms, a priest may ask clarifying questions and, if necessary, assists the penitent to make a complete confession.”“Confession is a sacrament Catholics learn about at home and at their church, through required sacramental preparation classes. Confession is offered on a voluntary basis at our schools, and as Catholics, students are encouraged but not required to participate at school,” the statement concluded.Priests' perspectiveA priest who serves as a chaplain to middle and high school students told EWTN News that he knows of only one case personally where a penitent was “scandalized that the priest was asking for clarifying information,” which he acknowledged priests sometimes do to help the penitent make a “good confession.”“People are sensitive about topics like that right now,” said the priest, who wished to remain anonymous. “Even with completely innocent intentions, things can play out really badly. We’re in the ‘Me Too’ season, we’re in the ‘priests are pedophiles’ time of history.”The priest told EWTN News that he does not “regularly lead [penitents] in examination of conscience” during confession. He added: “I donʼt know of a single priest that does.”In addition, the priest noted that there “is a beauty of the seal of confession,” he said, but because of it, a priest accused of wrongdoing “is helpless, not that he’s necessarily innocent, but his ability to defend himself is really limited.”Another priest and former high school chaplain who also wished to remain anonymous told EWTN News that it is possible there was a misunderstanding, because young people, “especially teen girls, are often embarrassed to speak of sins of a sexual nature and are sometimes not clear during confession, requiring the priest to ask clarifying questions.”“But the priest should not bring up questions unrelated to the sins the penitent is confessing, and then, they should be clarifying questions only to help him or her make a better confession,” he said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/charlotte-diocese-says-priest-did-not-violate-conduct-policies-during-confession-with-teens-catholic-the-diocese-of-charlotte-has-found-that-a-priest-did-not-violate-any-of-its-conduct-policies-d.jpg "Charlotte Diocese says priest did not violate conduct policies during confession with teens – #Catholic – The Diocese of Charlotte has found that a priest did not violate any of its conduct policies during confessions with teens at Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina last December.Multiple families whose teens attend the school had complained that a priest stepped over the line into “inappropriate” talk during confession, but in a statement to EWTN News, the diocese said it “looked into complaints raised about conversations that occurred during confession at Charlotte Catholic High School last December” and did not identify any “violations of our conduct policies” in the priest’s behavior.The families, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their daughters, said that during the sacrament of reconciliation, a priest asked the young women “unexpected and personal questions,” according to a report by WCNC Charlotte.One father said the priest, who has not been identified, asked his daughter about sexual sins.According to the young woman’s mother, the question was unrelated to the sins she was confessing at the time. “‘Mom, I was telling him about missing Mass and lying to you and fighting with my brother … and we were not talking about anything sexual at all and he just asked me that,’” the mother said.Another mother reported that the priest asked her daughter “if she’s ever had a sexual relationship with a boy.”Those two families and others said they informed the school as well as the Diocese of Charlotte of their concerns.In its statement, the diocese said it has communicated about the matter “with all involved at the time and has addressed the issue with all priests of the diocese, reiterating the need for pastoral sensitivity in celebrating the sacrament.”According to the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin also responded by letter to the families, who told WCNC they received similar responses.“I am sorry that your daughter had a conversation in confession that made her feel uncomfortable,” Martin reportedly said in his letter.He said priests sometimes ask clarifying questions during confession or lead a penitent who has not properly examined his or her conscience.The Catholic Church teaches that the faithful should examine their consciences regularly, but especially prior to the sacrament of reconciliation in order to make a good confession.“Penitents frequently come to the sacrament having engaged in a limited examination of conscience,” Martin continued, saying a priest might “raise common age-appropriate struggles with sin … to jog his or her memory or give them the benefit of having only to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ so they do not have to describe the sin in too much detail.\"He reminded the families that priests are prohibited from breaking what is known as the “sacramental seal,” or discussing what they hear in confession.Charlotte Catholic High School did not respond to EWTN News in time for publication.Several of the parents who raised the issue expressed dissatisfaction with the bishop’s response, however, with one parent saying she felt her concerns were “dismissed.” “The whole letter felt like we were being gaslighted,” another mother told the local news outlet. “We understand what is appropriate and inappropriate.”Nevertheless, one of the mothers said “I’m still a faithful Catholic. I just want this to be about doing the right thing.”The dioceseʼs statement continued: “Confession is a sacrament meant to address sins so a priest can offer a penitent absolution and guidance. A variety of topics come up during confession, and according to Church norms, a priest may ask clarifying questions and, if necessary, assists the penitent to make a complete confession.”“Confession is a sacrament Catholics learn about at home and at their church, through required sacramental preparation classes. Confession is offered on a voluntary basis at our schools, and as Catholics, students are encouraged but not required to participate at school,” the statement concluded.Priests' perspectiveA priest who serves as a chaplain to middle and high school students told EWTN News that he knows of only one case personally where a penitent was “scandalized that the priest was asking for clarifying information,” which he acknowledged priests sometimes do to help the penitent make a “good confession.”“People are sensitive about topics like that right now,” said the priest, who wished to remain anonymous. “Even with completely innocent intentions, things can play out really badly. We’re in the ‘Me Too’ season, we’re in the ‘priests are pedophiles’ time of history.”The priest told EWTN News that he does not “regularly lead [penitents] in examination of conscience” during confession. He added: “I donʼt know of a single priest that does.”In addition, the priest noted that there “is a beauty of the seal of confession,” he said, but because of it, a priest accused of wrongdoing “is helpless, not that he’s necessarily innocent, but his ability to defend himself is really limited.”Another priest and former high school chaplain who also wished to remain anonymous told EWTN News that it is possible there was a misunderstanding, because young people, “especially teen girls, are often embarrassed to speak of sins of a sexual nature and are sometimes not clear during confession, requiring the priest to ask clarifying questions.”“But the priest should not bring up questions unrelated to the sins the penitent is confessing, and then, they should be clarifying questions only to help him or her make a better confession,” he said.")
Several families at Charlotte Catholic High School alleged that a priest asked their teenage daughters “inappropriate” questions during confession in December, but the diocese found no wrongdoing.
Ordinands on average are 33 years old and are lifelong Catholics preparing for diocesan ministry, according to the 2026 survey by The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
Catholic parents in Colorado are anticipating the results of an ongoing lawsuit over a Colorado “universal” preschool tuition program as the U.S. Supreme Court has just agreed to hear the case.
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Glendale tea estate with silver oak shade trees, verdant green and bright blue during a break from the monsoon rains. View from NH-181, Kattery, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India
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Dear Lord! Fill our parents with Thy choicest blessings;
enrich their souls with Thy holy grace;
grant that they may faithfully
and constantly guard that likeness to Thy union with Thy Church,
which Thou didst imprint upon them on their wedding day.
Fill them with Thy spirit of holy fear,
which is the beginning of wisdom;
inspire them to impart it to their children.
May they ever walk in the way of Thy commandments,
and may we their children be their joy on earth …
The pontiff told young Angolans that Our Lady entrusts them with the task of building a better world shaped by the Gospel.
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The pontiff urged the country to overcome old divisions, reject corruption, and help young people recover hope.
Almighty and ever-faithful Lord,
gratefully acknowledging Your mercy
and humbly admitting our need,
we pledge our trust in You and each other.
Filled with desire,
we respond to Your call for discipleship
by shaping our lives in imitation of Christ.
We profess that the call requires us
to be stewards of Your gifts.
As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully,
cherish and tend them in a responsible manner,
share them in practice and love with others,
and …
The Holy Father will spend several days in Angola before finishing his trip in Equatorial Guinea.
Memories of Algeria’s independence struggle stirred by pope’s visit, Catholic film on dating makes splash in Vietnam, Kenyan bishops make plea for marriage, and more in this week’s world news roundup.
As the pope’s brother, you have to take it “day by day because you never know, in a sense, what each day is going to bring,” John Prevost said.
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Sun rises over a wintry landscape. Location, Langweerderwielen (Langwarder Wielen) and surroundings.
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After the Vatican halted the sainthood cause of Father Walter Ciszek, a proponent of his cause said the suspension “does not diminish the enduring spiritual value” of Ciszek’s witness.
Special services for student with disabilities will resume in Chicago Catholic schools, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced.
The bishop of Savannah, Georgia, looks forward to “welcoming many visitors” this fall for the upcoming beatification of the 16th-century Jesuit missionaries known as the “Georgia Martyrs.”
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Entrance to U-Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, Berlin. Taken by
Willem van de Poll in November 1935. |
God, my Father,
may I love You in all things and above all things.
May I reach the joy which You have prepared for me in Heaven.
Nothing is good that is against Your Will,
and all that is good comes from Your Hand.
Place in my heart a desire to please You
and fill my mind with thoughts of Your Love,
so that I may grow in Your Wisdom and enjoy Your Peace.
![Bishop reminds Venezuelan people: ‘Christ’s resurrection is a source of solace and strength’ – #Catholic – To Venezuelans gripped by anxiety and fear after years of political violence, economic collapse, famine, and family separation, the newly-appointed bishop of Caracas said the hardships they have endured for too long can be faced with the certainty that the Lord has triumphed over sin and death.José Dionisio Gómez, who was recently appointed by Pope Leo XIV as auxiliary bishop of Caracas, reminded the Venezuelan people that Christʼs resurrection is “a source of solace and strength.”“In Venezuela, we have the hope of rising again at every moment in the face of every suffering and obstacle that confronts us,” Gómez said in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.“To rise with Christ is to strive to be better people and better witnesses to his resurrection,” Gómez said. “Throughout history, it has been demonstrated that human beings possess the capacity through the grace of God and with the solidarity of their brothers and sisters to overcome situations of suffering caused by wars, pandemics, holocausts, abuses of power, and harassment.”The capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States military in the early hours of Jan. 3 ushered in “a new political era," presenting a scenario that was previously unimaginable.The prelate cited the episcopate’s latest pastoral exhortation, published in mid-February, in which the bishops stated that “Jesus Christ consoles us and encourages us to move forward with hope.” Gómez noted that Venezuelans are not alone amid their daily lives: “We are all aware of [the need to] and are eager to move our country forward, a country we love so much.”On March 18, Gómez and José Manuel León were named the two new auxiliary bishops-elect of Caracas. They join Auxiliary Bishop Carlos Márquez in assisting Archbishop Raúl Biord in the governance of the Church in the Venezuelan capital.Venezuelans ‘bear signs of Christ’s passion’Reflecting on Venezuelaʼs political situation, Gómez, who also serves as rector of St. Rose of Lima archdiocesan seminary in Caracas, said that, regrettably, “all Venezuelans bear signs of Christ’s passion, whether through imprisonment, exile, or migration under duress; through acute poverty as wages aren’t enough to have a decent life; or because we witness others suffering even more and we are powerless to help them.”“Indeed, Jesus came to have compassion on us. That is why he drew near to and remained alongside the abandoned and suffering members of society, inviting them to bear that suffering with love and patience,” he noted.Gómez also referred to Pope Leo’s Lenten message, which echoed the words God addressed to Moses: “I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cries of pain” (Ex 3:7).Law on amnesty and national reconciliationIn mid-February, the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling socialist party, approved the Law on Amnesty and National Reconciliation, which led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners.However, various independent organizations have said the new law has not benefited all detainees and have charged that its application serves the interests of the regime. According to the Foro Penal, 485 people remain unjustly detained in Venezuela.“There is not the slightest doubt that we all wish to live in justice and truth. The amnesty law is also the law of God’s mercy, who desires that all men be saved. For this reason, he offers his forgiveness to all,” Gómez explained.“A wounded country and a wounded human being are healed through forgiveness and reconciliation by setting aside interests of any kind and always seeking paths toward the common good and brotherhood, where we are all one despite our differing ways of thinking, accepting one another. Therefore, it is important to set aside what divides us and embrace what unites us,” he said.‘Let us make our lives a journey of peace and reconciliation’Gómez noted that “the new era” for Venezuela coincides with the Franciscan Jubilee Year, which serves as “a good opportunity to embark on a path of education for peace, one that entails nonviolence and reconciliation.”“It’s not about forgetting but rather about remembering, repairing the damage, and building bonds of fraternity. A society achieves reconciliation and rebuilds itself not with heroes but with free, responsible people capable of living together with dignity and building a future worthy of hope,” the auxiliary bishop-elect emphasized.Finally, he prayed that Catholics might make their “great contribution” to Venezuela, following the example of St. José Gregorio Hernández, who offered his life for the end of World War I.“Let us make our lives a journey of peace and reconciliation so that all Venezuelans may return to the source of our essence: a people of solidarity — friendly, humorous, and joyful — with a simple faith and fervent religious expressions, and ready to help anyone in need,” he urged.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/bishop-reminds-venezuelan-people-christs-resurrection-is-a-source-of-solace-and-strength-catholic-to-venezuelans-gripped-by-anxiety-and-fear-after-years-of-political-v.webp "Bishop reminds Venezuelan people: ‘Christ’s resurrection is a source of solace and strength’ – #Catholic – To Venezuelans gripped by anxiety and fear after years of political violence, economic collapse, famine, and family separation, the newly-appointed bishop of Caracas said the hardships they have endured for too long can be faced with the certainty that the Lord has triumphed over sin and death.José Dionisio Gómez, who was recently appointed by Pope Leo XIV as auxiliary bishop of Caracas, reminded the Venezuelan people that Christʼs resurrection is “a source of solace and strength.”“In Venezuela, we have the hope of rising again at every moment in the face of every suffering and obstacle that confronts us,” Gómez said in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.“To rise with Christ is to strive to be better people and better witnesses to his resurrection,” Gómez said. “Throughout history, it has been demonstrated that human beings possess the capacity through the grace of God and with the solidarity of their brothers and sisters to overcome situations of suffering caused by wars, pandemics, holocausts, abuses of power, and harassment.”The capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the United States military in the early hours of Jan. 3 ushered in “a new political era,\" presenting a scenario that was previously unimaginable.The prelate cited the episcopate’s latest pastoral exhortation, published in mid-February, in which the bishops stated that “Jesus Christ consoles us and encourages us to move forward with hope.” Gómez noted that Venezuelans are not alone amid their daily lives: “We are all aware of [the need to] and are eager to move our country forward, a country we love so much.”On March 18, Gómez and José Manuel León were named the two new auxiliary bishops-elect of Caracas. They join Auxiliary Bishop Carlos Márquez in assisting Archbishop Raúl Biord in the governance of the Church in the Venezuelan capital.Venezuelans ‘bear signs of Christ’s passion’Reflecting on Venezuelaʼs political situation, Gómez, who also serves as rector of St. Rose of Lima archdiocesan seminary in Caracas, said that, regrettably, “all Venezuelans bear signs of Christ’s passion, whether through imprisonment, exile, or migration under duress; through acute poverty as wages aren’t enough to have a decent life; or because we witness others suffering even more and we are powerless to help them.”“Indeed, Jesus came to have compassion on us. That is why he drew near to and remained alongside the abandoned and suffering members of society, inviting them to bear that suffering with love and patience,” he noted.Gómez also referred to Pope Leo’s Lenten message, which echoed the words God addressed to Moses: “I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their cries of pain” (Ex 3:7).Law on amnesty and national reconciliationIn mid-February, the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling socialist party, approved the Law on Amnesty and National Reconciliation, which led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners.However, various independent organizations have said the new law has not benefited all detainees and have charged that its application serves the interests of the regime. According to the Foro Penal, 485 people remain unjustly detained in Venezuela.“There is not the slightest doubt that we all wish to live in justice and truth. The amnesty law is also the law of God’s mercy, who desires that all men be saved. For this reason, he offers his forgiveness to all,” Gómez explained.“A wounded country and a wounded human being are healed through forgiveness and reconciliation by setting aside interests of any kind and always seeking paths toward the common good and brotherhood, where we are all one despite our differing ways of thinking, accepting one another. Therefore, it is important to set aside what divides us and embrace what unites us,” he said.‘Let us make our lives a journey of peace and reconciliation’Gómez noted that “the new era” for Venezuela coincides with the Franciscan Jubilee Year, which serves as “a good opportunity to embark on a path of education for peace, one that entails nonviolence and reconciliation.”“It’s not about forgetting but rather about remembering, repairing the damage, and building bonds of fraternity. A society achieves reconciliation and rebuilds itself not with heroes but with free, responsible people capable of living together with dignity and building a future worthy of hope,” the auxiliary bishop-elect emphasized.Finally, he prayed that Catholics might make their “great contribution” to Venezuela, following the example of St. José Gregorio Hernández, who offered his life for the end of World War I.“Let us make our lives a journey of peace and reconciliation so that all Venezuelans may return to the source of our essence: a people of solidarity — friendly, humorous, and joyful — with a simple faith and fervent religious expressions, and ready to help anyone in need,” he urged.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.")
Caracas Auxiliary Bishop-elect José Gómez reminded Venezuelans that they “possess the capacity, through the grace of God and with the solidarity of their brothers and sisters, to overcome” suffering.
Numbers of U.S. young men and women who frequently attend religious services have increased, Gallup data shows.
![Donald Trump on tensions with Pope Leo XIV: ‘I have nothing against the pope’ – #Catholic – U.S. President Donald Trump on April 16 downplayed his recent public criticism of Pope Leo XIV, stating that he has “nothing against the pope” while continuing to falsely suggest that Leo wants Iran to develop nuclear weapons.While speaking to the press on April 16, Trump was asked why he was “fighting with the pope.” Trump responded that he himself “[has] to do whatʼs right.”“Itʼs very simple, I have nothing against the pope,” Trump said. “… Iʼm not fighting with him. The pope made a statement, he says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The president had slammed Leo as “weak on crime” and “weak on nuclear weapons” in an April 12 social media post while suggesting that the pope “thinks itʼs OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Leo has several times in recent weeks called for peace while criticizing the ongoing U.S.-led war against Iran, but it is unclear why Trump has repeatedly claimed that Leo has advocated for nuclear weapons in Iran. The pope has spoken out explicitly against the expansion of global nuclear armaments in the recent past.‘I want him to preach the Gospel’Asked at the April 16 press gaggle about the popeʼs obligation to preach the Gospel, the president responded: “I want him to preach the Gospel.” “Iʼm all about the Gospel,” Trump told reporters. “But I also know that you cannot let [Iran] have a nuclear weapon. If they did, they would use it, and I think theyʼd use it quickly, and they would kill many millions of people.”“As president of the United States of America, I canʼt allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “And hereʼs the story: They wonʼt have [it]. Theyʼve already agreed not to have [it]. Thatʼs good news. And I think the pope will be very happy.”Asked by a reporter if he would meet with the pope “to even out your differences,” Trump said: “I donʼt think thatʼs necessary.” During a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump claimed that Iranian officials had contacted him seeking a peace deal. “Theyʼd like to make a deal very badly,” the president said.Earlier peace talks in Islamabad, led by Vice President JD Vance, collapsed last weekend after Iran refused to meet U.S. demands to end its nuclear program. Trumpʼs support among Catholics dipped notably after the launch of the Iran war, with bipartisan polling finding that 48% of Catholic voters approve of the job Trump is doing as president and 52% disapprove. The president won 55% of the Catholic vote in the 2024 election. The poll found that most Catholics disapprove of Trump’s actions in Iran and the use of military force against the country but still favor some American influence in the region.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/donald-trump-on-tensions-with-pope-leo-xiv-i-have-nothing-against-the-pope-catholic-u-s-president-donald-trump-on-april-16-downplayed-his-recent-public-criticism-of-pope-leo-x.jpg "Donald Trump on tensions with Pope Leo XIV: ‘I have nothing against the pope’ – #Catholic – U.S. President Donald Trump on April 16 downplayed his recent public criticism of Pope Leo XIV, stating that he has “nothing against the pope” while continuing to falsely suggest that Leo wants Iran to develop nuclear weapons.While speaking to the press on April 16, Trump was asked why he was “fighting with the pope.” Trump responded that he himself “[has] to do whatʼs right.”“Itʼs very simple, I have nothing against the pope,” Trump said. “… Iʼm not fighting with him. The pope made a statement, he says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The president had slammed Leo as “weak on crime” and “weak on nuclear weapons” in an April 12 social media post while suggesting that the pope “thinks itʼs OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Leo has several times in recent weeks called for peace while criticizing the ongoing U.S.-led war against Iran, but it is unclear why Trump has repeatedly claimed that Leo has advocated for nuclear weapons in Iran. The pope has spoken out explicitly against the expansion of global nuclear armaments in the recent past.‘I want him to preach the Gospel’Asked at the April 16 press gaggle about the popeʼs obligation to preach the Gospel, the president responded: “I want him to preach the Gospel.” “Iʼm all about the Gospel,” Trump told reporters. “But I also know that you cannot let [Iran] have a nuclear weapon. If they did, they would use it, and I think theyʼd use it quickly, and they would kill many millions of people.”“As president of the United States of America, I canʼt allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “And hereʼs the story: They wonʼt have [it]. Theyʼve already agreed not to have [it]. Thatʼs good news. And I think the pope will be very happy.”Asked by a reporter if he would meet with the pope “to even out your differences,” Trump said: “I donʼt think thatʼs necessary.” During a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump claimed that Iranian officials had contacted him seeking a peace deal. “Theyʼd like to make a deal very badly,” the president said.Earlier peace talks in Islamabad, led by Vice President JD Vance, collapsed last weekend after Iran refused to meet U.S. demands to end its nuclear program. Trumpʼs support among Catholics dipped notably after the launch of the Iran war, with bipartisan polling finding that 48% of Catholic voters approve of the job Trump is doing as president and 52% disapprove. The president won 55% of the Catholic vote in the 2024 election. The poll found that most Catholics disapprove of Trump’s actions in Iran and the use of military force against the country but still favor some American influence in the region.")
The president downplayed his public criticism of Leo while falsely claiming that the Holy Father said Iran “can have a nuclear weapon.”
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The Ziegeleisee in Böckingen, Heilbronn, Germany, view in spring. In the centre a landing mute swan (Cygnus olor).
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Blessed are you, loving Father,
Ruler of the universe:
You have given us Your Son as Your Leader,
And have made us temples of Your Holy Spirit.
Fill our family with Your light and peace.
Have mercy on all who suffer,
And bring us to everlasting joy with You.
Father,
We bless Your Name for ever and ever.
Amen.
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The Holy Father spent several days touring Algeria and meeting with Catholics and religious leaders before heading south to the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé.
![Bishop Báez on Nicaragua: ‘The people’s wounds will be scars healed by the love of God’ – #Catholic – Amid the fierce persecution against the Catholic Church by the regime of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Báez denounced the “false peace” that “dictators seek to impose through fear and weapons.”In the homily delivered during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, April 12, at St. Agatha Church in Miami, Baez, who has been living in exile since 2019, warned that the wounds inflicted on the Nicaraguan people will remain but that "they will be scars healed by the love of God — wounds glorious forever, wounds of love destined for eternity. So too will be the wounds and sores of our people. One day, they will just be historical scars reminding us of a painful past of injustice and oppression, so that we may never repeat it,” he underscored.A message of hopeThe Nicaraguan prelate reflected on the Gospel passage in which the risen Jesus shows his wounds so that the apostle Thomas may touch them and believe. Báez affirmed that “just like the glorious wounds of Jesus, so too one day will be the wounds we endured as we alleviate and heal, with respect and mercy, the wounds of others.”“And those very wounds — scarred over yet eloquent — will spur us to build the future, acting as artisans of peace, ready to foster processes of healing and reconciliation with ingenuity and boldness,” the prelate continued.Báez denounces ‘false peace’The bishop also referred to the vigil for peace led by Pope Leo XIV on April 11 at the Vatican and pointed out that “peace is not merely the absence of war. Political systems that impose themselves upon people through terror, stripping them of their freedom, are enemies of peace.”“Even if they speak of peace, if they repress, control, imprison, and force people into exile, they are enemies of peace. For peace is not a mere balance of forces, nor is it synonymous with the tranquility of cemeteries. We must not grow accustomed to the false peace and deceptive normality that dictators seek to impose through fear and arms, solely to preserve their privileges,” he continued.For the fourth consecutive year, the Nicaraguan dictatorship has banned thousands of processions and public events during Lent and Holy Week, permitting only a few on the streets and always under police surveillance.Currently, 309 religious including bishops, priests, and nuns have been forced to leave the country, while the regime has confiscated at least 39 properties belonging to the Catholic Church and has banned the ordination of priests in several dioceses.A call to be builders of peaceThe prelate emphasized that “we, the disciples of Jesus, having received his peace are called to be builders of true peace: a peace that springs from justice, is lived out in freedom, and bears the fruit of reconciliation.”The bishop expressed the hope “that the mercy of the Lord, welcomed into our hearts, may make us mature believers, earnest builders of peace in the world, and people capable of bending down with mercy [to heal] the wounds of our brothers and sisters.”“Our lives may not be easier, but they will be fuller, more vibrant, and more filled with light and love,” he said.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/bishop-baez-on-nicaragua-the-peoples-wounds-will-be-scars-healed-by-the-love-of-god-catholic-amid-the-fierce-persecution-against-the-catholic-church-by-the-regime-of-n.webp "Bishop Báez on Nicaragua: ‘The people’s wounds will be scars healed by the love of God’ – #Catholic – Amid the fierce persecution against the Catholic Church by the regime of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, exiled Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Báez denounced the “false peace” that “dictators seek to impose through fear and weapons.”In the homily delivered during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, April 12, at St. Agatha Church in Miami, Baez, who has been living in exile since 2019, warned that the wounds inflicted on the Nicaraguan people will remain but that \"they will be scars healed by the love of God — wounds glorious forever, wounds of love destined for eternity. So too will be the wounds and sores of our people. One day, they will just be historical scars reminding us of a painful past of injustice and oppression, so that we may never repeat it,” he underscored.A message of hopeThe Nicaraguan prelate reflected on the Gospel passage in which the risen Jesus shows his wounds so that the apostle Thomas may touch them and believe. Báez affirmed that “just like the glorious wounds of Jesus, so too one day will be the wounds we endured as we alleviate and heal, with respect and mercy, the wounds of others.”“And those very wounds — scarred over yet eloquent — will spur us to build the future, acting as artisans of peace, ready to foster processes of healing and reconciliation with ingenuity and boldness,” the prelate continued.Báez denounces ‘false peace’The bishop also referred to the vigil for peace led by Pope Leo XIV on April 11 at the Vatican and pointed out that “peace is not merely the absence of war. Political systems that impose themselves upon people through terror, stripping them of their freedom, are enemies of peace.”“Even if they speak of peace, if they repress, control, imprison, and force people into exile, they are enemies of peace. For peace is not a mere balance of forces, nor is it synonymous with the tranquility of cemeteries. We must not grow accustomed to the false peace and deceptive normality that dictators seek to impose through fear and arms, solely to preserve their privileges,” he continued.For the fourth consecutive year, the Nicaraguan dictatorship has banned thousands of processions and public events during Lent and Holy Week, permitting only a few on the streets and always under police surveillance.Currently, 309 religious including bishops, priests, and nuns have been forced to leave the country, while the regime has confiscated at least 39 properties belonging to the Catholic Church and has banned the ordination of priests in several dioceses.A call to be builders of peaceThe prelate emphasized that “we, the disciples of Jesus, having received his peace are called to be builders of true peace: a peace that springs from justice, is lived out in freedom, and bears the fruit of reconciliation.”The bishop expressed the hope “that the mercy of the Lord, welcomed into our hearts, may make us mature believers, earnest builders of peace in the world, and people capable of bending down with mercy [to heal] the wounds of our brothers and sisters.”“Our lives may not be easier, but they will be fuller, more vibrant, and more filled with light and love,” he said.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.")
The exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua pointed out that the wounds suffered today will be a reminder of a painful past, but like the wounds of the risen Christ will be made glorious.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in East Bristol has stood in the community for over 130 years.
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Solitary tree with frost and fields near Hausdülmen, Dülmen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Holy Mary, mother fair,
Filled with love for God,
Pray for us in all our needs.
Pray for us today.
The People of Hope Museum offers personal stories of Catholic Charities workers, an immersive poverty‑simulation experience, and interactive data displays.
Pro-lifers call the win “a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to speak our minds peacefully in a law-abiding way without fear of our own government.”
Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide. Amen