News from EWTN Norway

News in the Church | Evening News 27.06.2024By Pål Johannes NesThis is a summary of the evening news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/news-in-the-church-evening-news-27-06-2024/Photo credit:Archbishop Carlo Vigano. (photo: Edward Pentin. / National Cathoilic Register Sources for Today's News:EWTN Norway - Vatican Rules Apparitions of Virgin Mary Near Rome Not SupernaturalNational Catholic Register - What is Schism and Excommunication in the Catholic Church?EWTN Norway - Kenya's Religious Leaders Support Gen Z-Led Peaceful Protests Against Finance Bill 2024EWTN Norway - Paraguayan Bishops Speak Out at OAS General Assembly Amid Threats to Life and FamilyACI Africa - Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana Reflects on His ServiceACI Prensa - Pope Francis Proposes St. Juan Diego as Inspiration for Latin America

Paraguayan Bishops Speak Out at OAS General Assembly Amid Threats to Life and FamilyBy Diego López MarinaAs the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) takes place in Paraguay through June 28, the Paraguayan Bishops’ Conference (CEP) and other leaders in the country are emphasizing the importance of defending the fundamental values of life and family. This year’s assembly theme is “Integration and Security for the Sustainable Development of the Region.”Full text story:https://ewtn.no/paraguayan-bishops-speak-out-at-oas-general-assembly-amid-threats-to-life-and-family/Photo credit:The Presidential Palace in Asuncion, Paraguay on July 10, 2015. | Credit: Alan Holdren/CNA

Vatican Rules Apparitions of Virgin Mary Near Rome ‘Not Supernatural’ By Courtney MaresThe Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) announced Thursday that the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Trevignano Romano, a town about 30 miles northwest of Rome, are not supernatural. This decision supports the local bishop's ban on Masses and pilgrimages to the site.Full text storyPhoto credit:Bishop Salvi has determined that the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Trevignano Romano are not supernatural. | Credit: Shutterstock

“We support them fully”: Kenya’s Religious Leaders on Gen Z-led “peaceful” Protests against Finance Bill 2024By ACI Africa StaffReligious leaders in Kenya have expressed their support for the ongoing Generation Z (Gen Z)-led protests against the controversial proposed Finance Bill 2024, calling for the withdrawal of the Bill which they say has “punitive tax measures.”Full text story:https://ewtn.no/we-support-them-fully-kenyas-religious-leaders-on-gen-z-led-peaceful-protests-against-finance-bill-2024/Photo credit:Bishop Willybard Lagho of Malindi Catholic Diocese reading a statement of the Interreligious Council of Kenya (IRCK) on Kenya's Controversial Finance Bill. Credit: IRCK Facebook page

News in the Church | Morning News 27.06.2024By Pål Johannes NesThis is a summary of the morning news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/news-in-the-church-morning-news-27-06-2024/Photo credit:U.S. Capitol viewed through the columns of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. | Credit: ShutterstockSources for Today's News:Catholic News Agency - Oceania Speaks Conference in Rome Highlights Pacific Islands' Climate PerilEWTN Norway - Opus Dei Founder St. Josemaria Escriva: You Can Be a Saint Doing Your Ordinary JobEWTN Norway - Pope Francis Unveils Plan for Vatican to Go SolarCatholic News Agency - Biden Administration Pressured Healthcare Association to Back Sex Changes for MinorsVatican News - Pope Greets Ukrainian Wives and Mothers After Audience, Appeals for Peace

Opus Dei founder St. Josemaría Escrivá: You can be a saint doing your ordinary job By ACI PrensaToday the Catholic Church honors St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer y Albás (1902–1975), Spanish priest, founder of Opus Dei, and author of “The Way” (1934), a book that continues to be of great spiritual benefit for millions of Catholics. Full text story:https://ewtn.no/opus-dei-founder-st-josemaria-escriva-you-can-be-a-saint-doing-your-ordinary-job/(opens in a new tab)Photo credit:Central to the charism of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer was his insistence that all Christians are called to aim for holiness in their ordinary lives, especially through their everyday work. | Credit: Opus Dei / Flickr

Pope Francis unveils plan for Vatican to go solarBy Kristina MillarePope Francis has announced measures to transition Vatican City to using solar energy as its main source of electricity, as outlined in his latest motu proprio titled Fratello Sole, or “Brother Sun.”Full text story:Photo credit:Pilgrims shield themselves from the sun at Pope Francis' general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

News in the Church | Evening News 26.06.2024By Pål Johannes NesThis is a summary of the evening news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments.Good evening, and welcome to the Church News on EWTN Norway. Here are today’s top stories.Sources for Today's News:EWTN Norway - Pope Francis: Drug Cartels are 'Traffickers of Death and Murderers'EWTN Norway - Kenya's Catholic Bishops Condemn Police Brutality and Killings Amid Anti-Tax ProtestsNational Catholic Register - Archbishop Viganò: 5 Things to ConsiderNational Catholic Register - War and Adoration: Why Eucharistic Devotion is Surging in CameroonCatholic News Agency - Expert Says Supreme Court Should 'Do the Right Thing' on Child Transgender ProceduresVatican News - Cardinal Krajewski Delivers Pope's Gift of Ambulance to Ukraine

Pope Francis: Drug cartels are ‘traffickers of death’ and ‘murderers’By Courtney Mares Pope Francis called drug traffickers criminals, murderers, and “traffickers of death” during his general audience on Wednesday.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-drug-cartels-are-traffickers-of-death-and-murderers/Photo Credit:Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

What are schism and excommunication in the Catholic Church?By Walter Sánchez Silva Recently a community of Poor Clare nuns in Spain announced their decision to leave the Catholic Church, thus committing the canonical crime of schism and incurring excommunication. Italian Archbishop Carlo María Viganò is also undergoing a Vatican extrajudicial process for schism. Just what are schism and excommunication in the Catholic Church? An explanation follows.Photo credit:Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Pope Francis donates ambulance, opens war trauma center in UkraineBy Courtney MaresThe Vatican has announced the opening of a war trauma rehabilitation center this month in Ukraine named after St. John Paul II.Full story text: https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-donates-ambulance-opens-war-trauma-center-in-ukraine/Photo credit:Pope Francis blesses the ambulance that he donated in June 2024 to to treat the wounded in Ukraine’s Ternopil region. | Credit: Dicastery for the Service of Charity

Kenya’s Catholic Bishops Condemn “in strongest terms” Police Brutality, Killings as Anti-Tax Protests Rock Major CitiesBy Agnes AineahMembers of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have strongly condemned the killing of a section of protesters, who took to the streets in major Kenyan cities and townships to oppose the country’s controversial proposed Finance Bill 2024.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/kenyas-catholic-bishops-condemn-in-strongest-terms-police-brutality-killings-as-anti-tax-protests-rock-major-cities/Photo Credit:Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)

News in the Church | Morning News 26.06.2024By Pål Johannes NesThis is a summary of the evening news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments.Sources for Today's News:EWTN Norway - Pope Francis Meets with Leaders of Institute of Christ the King, a Latin Mass GroupEWTN Norway - Former Anglican Priest Ordained a Catholic BishopEWTN Norway - Pope Francis Meets with Russian Ambassador to the VaticanEWTN Norway - EU Bishop Elections Show Citizens Concerned About Ukraine WarVatican News - Patriarch Pizzaballa Discusses Holy Land Challenges in InterviewNational Catholic Register - Chinese Communist Party Erasing Religion with Village Renaming EffortFull text story:https://ewtn.no/news-in-the-church-morning-news-26-06-2024/Photo credit:The renaming occurs within the context of the greater persecution of all religious expression within China. (photo: Maxx Studio / Shutterstock)

EU bishop: Elections show citizens concerned about Ukraine warBy Hannah BrockhausCitizens of the European Union want EU politicians to be more actively engaged in international issues such as the Ukraine war, an Italian bishop said after the EU elections earlier this month. Full text story:https://ewtn.no/eu-bishop-elections-show-citizens-concerned-about-ukraine-war/Photo credit:At his Angelus address June 9, 2024, Pope Francis asked people to pray for the people who are suffering in Myanmar and in Ukraine, giving a special shoutout to some Ukrainians who were in the crowd waving flags. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis meets with Russian ambassador to the VaticanBy Jonah McKeownPope Francis on June 22 met with Ivan Soltanovsky, Russia’s ambassador to the Holy See, in their first meeting since Soltanovsky presented his diplomatic letters to the pontiff last September. Soltanovsky, a 69-year-old career diplomat, was appointed to his current role in May 2023. No details of the pair’s most recent meeting have yet been released. Full text story:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-meets-with-russian-ambassador-to-the-vatican/Photo credit:Pope Francis meets with Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky on Sept. 18, 2023, at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis meets with leaders of Institute of Christ the King, a Latin Mass groupBy Tyler ArnoldPope Francis on Monday met with three leaders of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) — an institute whose priests celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and live according to the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-meets-with-leaders-of-institute-of-christ-the-king-a-latin-mass-group/Photo credit:Monsignor Gilles Wach (center), prior general of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, is received in private audience by Pope Francis on June 24, 2024. He is accompanied by Monsignor Rudolf Michael Schmitz, vicar general of the institute, and Canon Louis Valadier, provincial of France. | Credit: Courtesy of Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Former Anglican priest ordained a Catholic bishopBy Peter PinedoIn a first, a former Anglican priest has been consecrated as a bishop in the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Located in Great Britain, the ordinariate was created to give Anglicans a pathway to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/former-anglican-priest-ordained-a-catholic-bishop/Photo credit:Father David Waller will become the first bishop ordinary of the Walsingham Ordinariate. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

News in the Church | Evening News 25.06.2024By Pål Johannes NesThis is a summary of the evening news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments.Links in todays program:Catholic News Agency - Trump Condemns Biden DOJ for Targeting of Catholics and Pro-Life ActivistsCatholic News Agency - Catholic Charities of Trenton Apologizes for Sponsoring 'Moving Beyond the Gender Binary' Book ReadingNational Catholic Register - Pope Francis: Comedy and Humor Can Uplift as Well as DegradeNational Catholic Register - Vatican and Father Rupnik’s ArtNational Catholic Register - The Prophetic Saint Who Foretold What the End of the World Will Be LikeThe Pillar - Why Does Buenos Aires Have So Many Roads Named After Dates?The Pillar - Syro-Malabar Bishops Break RanksACI Africa - Nigerian Cardinal Encourages Church Leaders to Speak Out Against Injustice Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the Church as we continue to share important news and stories from around the world. Photo credit: John Cardinal Onaiyekan

The First Church Named After Blessed EstefanBy: ACI MENA TeamAbout a month and a week before his beatification Mass, the first signs of the new small church (chapel) named after the soon-to-be Blessed Estefan Douaihy have appeared. Construction work in the town of Ardeh, in the Zgharta district of Northern Lebanon, is progressing significantly.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/the-first-church-named-after-blessed-estefan/Photo credit:The New Blessed Estefan Douaihy and the Construction of the Small Church Bearing His Name in Ardeh-Zgharta, Lebanon | Source: Patriarch Estefan Douaihy Cultural Association

This is a summary of the morning news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments. Special South African Catholic Bishop on Transparency Conference in RomeChristians in Egypt Embark on Construction of Churches as Persecution EbbsPope Francis Meets with Opus Dei Prelate Monsignor Fernando OcárizCatholic Authorities in Spain Excommunicate, Expel Renegade NunsTexas Investigates Children's Hospital Over Alleged Secret Sex Changes on MinorsIrish Bishops Decry Assisted Suicide Proposal as ‘A Failure of Hope’Full text storyhttps://ewtn.no/news-in-the-church-morning-news-25-06-2024/Photo credit:Christ Church Cathedral (Holy Trinity) in Dublin, Ireland. | Credit: Bas van den Heuvel/Shutterstock

“Special”: South African Catholic Bishop on Transparency Conference in RomeBy Silas IsenjiaBishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa of South Africa’s Catholic Diocese of Kokstad, a participant in the June 16-22 workshop on Transparency and Accountability in the Catholic Church in Rome, has described the convention as “special”.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/special-south-african-catholic-bishop-on-transparency-conference-in-rome/Photo credit:Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa of South Africa’s Catholic Diocese of Kokstad

Christians in Egypt Embark on Construction of Churches as Persecution EbbsBy ACI Africa StaffChurch projects that had been halted in Egypt when the Northern African nation was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood are being resumed as Christians in the country begin to enjoy some measure of freedom.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/christians-in-egypt-embark-on-construction-of-churches-as-persecution-ebbs/Photo credit:ACN

Pope Francis Meets with Opus Dei Prelate Monsignor Fernando OcárizBy Nicolás de Cárdenas, Walter Sánchez SilvaThe press office of the Holy See reported that Pope Francis received Monsignor Fernando de Ocáriz, the “moderator general” of Opus Dei, on Monday. He was accompanied by Monsignor Mariano Fazio, auxiliary vicar of the prelature. The term “moderator general” has been used interchangeably with the traditional name of prelate since the last motu proprio of Pope Francis regarding Opus Dei, as explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, by Clara Fontan of the communications office of Opus Dei in Rome.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-meets-with-opus-dei-prelate-monsignor-fernando-ocariz/Photo credit:Pope Francis meets with the prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, at the Vatican on June 24, 2024. | Credit: Vatican Media

Catholic authorities in Spain excommunicate, expel renegade nunsBy Walter Sánchez SilvaThe Catholic Church in Spain has decreed the excommunication and expulsion from consecrated life of the Poor Clare nuns of Belorado for committing the crime of schism.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/catholic-authorities-in-spain-excommunicate-expel-renegade-nuns/Photo credit:he decision was announced by Mario Iceta, archbishop of Burgos. | Credit: Archdiocese of Burgos, Spain

Texas investigates Children’s Hospital over alleged secret sex changes on minorsBy Peter PinedoTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into allegations that illegal sex-change procedures are being performed on minors at Texas Children’s Hospital. Full text story:https://ewtn.no/texas-investigates-childrens-hospital-over-alleged-secret-sex-changes-on-minors/Photo credit:Texas Children's Hospital. | Credit: Zereshk|Wikipedia|CC BY-SA 3.0

Irish bishops decry assisted suicide proposal as ‘a failure of hope’ By Jonah McKeownThe Catholic bishops of Ireland on Monday issued a statement laying out the Church’s teaching on end-of-life issues and advocating for palliative care amid a push by Irish politicians to introduce legislation to legalize assisted suicide. “We believe that every person who is seriously ill, together with all those who are concerned with his or her care, however difficult the circumstances, is held in the unconditional love of God,” the bishops noted.Ful text:https://ewtn.no/irish-bishops-decry-assisted-suicide-proposal-as-a-failure-of-hope/Photo credit:Christ Church Cathedral (Holy Trinity) in Dublin, Ireland. | Credit: Bas van den Heuvel/Shutterstock

This is a summary of today's significant news stories in the Church from EWTN Norway. We bring you key updates and insights to keep you informed about important events and developments. Who Was St. John the Baptist? 11 Things to Know and SharePope Francis Appoints Gänswein to Diplomatic Role in Baltic StatesSummer Christmas: Why Does the Church Celebrate the Birthday of St. John the Baptist?Pope Francis: Jesus in the Eucharist Strengthens Us in Times of TrialFull text story:https://ewtn.no/news-in-the-church-today-24-06-2024/Credit:Pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ Sunday Angelus on June 23, 2024, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Who Was St. John the Baptist? 11 Things to Know and ShareWhat do we know about the mysterious John the Baptist? Here are 11 things to know and share...John the Baptist is a mysterious figure in the New Testament.He was famous in his own day, even before he became the herald of Christ.We even know about him from outside the New Testament.The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24, and the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist is Aug. 29, so it’s an excellent time to catch up on him.Here are 11 things to know and share ...Full text story:https://ewtn.no/who-was-st-john-the-baptist-11-things-to-know-and-share/Credit:Diego Velázquez (attr.), “Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness,” between 1618 and 1625 (photo: Register Files / Public Domain)

Pope Francis appoints Gänswein to diplomatic role in Baltic statesBy Courtney MaresPope Francis has appointed Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the former private secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI, to a diplomatic role in the Baltic states.The Vatican announced Monday that Gänswein will serve as the apostolic nuncio, or papal ambassador, to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.The appointment comes after months of speculation and rumor across Rome and the Church in Germany as to Gänswein’s future after the death of Benedict XVI.Ful text:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-appoints-ganswein-to-diplomatic-role-in-baltic-states/Credit:Archbishop Georg Gänswein was the personal secretary of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. | Bohumil Petrík

‘Summer Christmas’: Why does the Church celebrate the birthday of St. John the Baptist?By Hannah BrockhausSt. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, is one of only three people in history — after Jesus and Mary — whose birthday is celebrated in the Church’s liturgy.In fact, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 is a solemnity, meaning it is the highest form of Catholic feast day. And because it falls exactly six months before the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, it is sometimes known as “summer Christmas.”Full text story:https://ewtn.no/summer-christmas-why-does-the-church-celebrate-the-birthday-of-st-john-the-baptist/Photo:Statue of St. John the Baptist with golden cross, Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic. | Credit: Oldrich Barak/Shutterstock

Pope Francis: Jesus in the Eucharist strengthens us in times of trialBy Courtney MaresJesus does not spare us from difficulties but strengthens us with the Eucharist to have the courage to face them, Pope Francis said in his reflection on Sunday’s Gospel.Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on June 23, Pope Francis asked the crowd gathered below in St. Peter’s Square to reflect on how they usually deal with times of trial.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-jesus-in-the-eucharist-strengthens-us-in-times-of-trial/Photo creditPope Francis delivers a message to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus on June 23, 2024, at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

‘Do This in Memory of Me’: Eucharistic Art Exhibit Highlights Mystery of Jesus’ Real Presence‘I want them to see the sacrificial Lamb of God who willingly laid down his life for us.’By Joseph Pronechen Among the many ways the Eucharist is being highlighted and honored during the current Eucharistic Revival is through a major sacred art exhibit called “Do This in Memory of Me.” The juried show now being hosted at the Knights of Columbus’ Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven, Connecticut, has 109 pieces of original sacred art from living artists chosen from more than 660 entries.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/eucharistic-art-exhibit-highlights-mystery-of-jesus-real-presence/Photo credit:‘Agnus Dei,’ by Neal Hughes (Photo: Courtesy of St. Edmund's Retreat and Neal Hughes)

Canadian man offered euthanasia ‘multiple times’: ‘I don’t want to give up my life’By Daniel PayneAmid ongoing efforts to expand euthanasia in Canada under the name of “medical aid in dying” (MAID), one Ottawa man says he has been offered euthanasia “multiple times” as he struggles with lifelong disabilities and chronic pain from a disease called cerebellar ataxia. Full text story:https://ewtn.no/canadian-man-offered-euthanasia-multiple-times-i-dont-want-to-give-up-my-life/Credit:Roger Foley enjoys taste-testing three different kinds of hummus, his favourite food, on the day of a video shoot with Amanda Achtman of the Dying to Meet You project in Canada. The two spoke about Foley's difficulty accessing quality care for his needs and being offered Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) "several times." | Courtesy of Amanda Achtman

Vaticano UpdateHello and welcome to this week’s Vaticano Updates – the most important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican. Vatican Published Papal Primacy DocumentThe Vatican published a 130-page study on papal primacy containing suggestions from Orthodox and Protestant Christian communities for how the role of the bishop of Rome might look in a future “reunited Church.” The study document, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogue and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum Sint,” is the first Vatican text since the Second Vatican Council to outline the entire ecumenical debate on papal primacy. Vatican Library to Award NFTs to DonorsThe Vatican library announced that it will expand its use of Web3 technologies by awarding nontransferable nonfungible tokens – so-called NFTs – to supporters of the manuscript collections. For the time being, the project, considered “experimental,” only applies to Italian donors to the Vatican Apostolic Library. The future of the project, the Vatican said, may also include the ability to visit the library through immersive extended reality (XR) experiences, like augmented or virtual reality.New Metropolitan See in ZambiaPope Francis has erected the Archdiocese of Ndola in Zambia and appointed Bishop Benjamin Phiri as its first archbishop. The southern African nation has had two metropolitan sees — the Archdiocese of Lusaka, headquartered in the country’s capital city, and the Archdiocese of Kasama in northern Zambia. The newly erected metropolitan has a population of 3.2 million, of which 1.9 million are Catholic, representing 59.6% of the total population of the archdiocese, according to the Holy See Press report.Pope Met Armenian Church LeaderFor the first time in 10 years, Pope Francis met with Aram I, the leader of the Armenian Church of Cilicia with jurisdiction over some 800,000 Armenian Christians in Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Iran, and Greece. The meeting took place behind closed doors in the Holy Father’s personal office and the Vatican has not offered any further details. The Armenian Church has over 5 million members worldwide.Theologians Conclude Evaluation of Synod ReportsA group of 20 theologians concluded an evaluation of 107 synod reports from national bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches following nearly two weeks of meetings in Rome. The theologians, who met from June 4 through June 14, were asked to provide an analysis of the reports, which will help synod officials draft the Synod on Synodality’s “Instrumentum Laboris 2” — the document that will guide the work of the second session of the synod in October.

Pope Francis advances martyred Albanian priests along path to sainthoodBy Daniel PaynePope Francis on Thursday advanced the cause for sainthood for two martyred Catholic priests who were killed “in hatred of the faith” in Albania in the first decades of the 20th century. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints made the announcement of the priests’ martyrdom and subsequent beatification in a press release on Thursday. When the pope declares that a person was martyred for the faith, that individual is beatified, and the title “Blessed” is granted.Full text story:https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258056/vatican-announces-martyrdom-of-priests-killed-during-albania-sainthoodPhoto credit:Father Luigi Paliq (left) and Father Gjon Gazulli were declared martyrs by Pope Francis on June 20, 2024. | Credit: Screen capture from aciprensa.com of photo courtesy of The Order of Friars Minor, Episcopal Conference of Albania

Diocese of Rome closes first step toward sainthood for young wife and motherBy Hannah BrockhausThe Diocese of Rome on Friday officially closed the diocesan phase of the investigation into the life and virtues of Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a joyful 28-year-old wife and mother who died from cancer in 2012 in Rome.Full text story:https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258069/diocese-of-rome-closes-first-step-toward-sainthood-for-young-wife-and-motherPhoto credit: An attendee holds a photo of Chiara Corbella Petrillo at the closing of the diocesan phase of the investigation into her life and virtues in Rome on Friday, June 21, 2024. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Mother Angelica’s shrine fills to capacity as National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passes throughBy Peter Pinedo“I live because of the Eucharist,” Mother Angelica once said.The foundress of EWTN and member of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Mother Angelica made no secret of her love and devotion to the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.Full text story:Photo: Hundreds of faithful filled the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, site of Mother Angelica's tomb, beyond capacity as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage St. Juan Diego Route passed through on June 20, 2024. | Credit: EWTN

Is there a satanic element in rock music? An expert explainsBy Almudena Martínez-BordiúClaudia Caneva, an Italian professor at Roma Tre University, recently gave a presentation on “Music and Satanism” during the course “Exorcism and Deliverance Prayer” held in Rome and sponsored by the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum and the Italian Socioreligious Research and Information Group.Full text story:https://ewtn.no/is-there-a-satanic-element-in-rock-music-an-expert-explains/Photo Credit: NOVODIASTOCK/Shuterstock

The Catholic Church in France will have 105 new priests in 2024 By Walter Sánchez SilvaThe French Bishops’ Conference (CEF) reported that, in 2024, 105 new priests will be ordained, 17 more priests than in 2023, when 88 new priests were ordained in the European country.Full story:https://ewtn.no/the-catholic-church-in-france-will-have-105-new-priests-in-2024/Credit: Priests concelebrate a Mass in Rome. | Credit: Martha Calderón/ACI Prensa

Pope Francis names Chinese bishop who attended Synod on Synodality to Archdiocese of Hangzhou By Hannah BrockhausPope Francis has named Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang to lead the Archdiocese of Hangzhou in China, transferring him from the Diocese of Zhoucun, the Vatican announced Saturday.The June 12 nomination took place “within the framework of dialogue concerning the implementation of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China,” the Vatican’s June 22 press release said.Full storyhttps://ewtn.no/pope-francis-names-chinese-bishop-who-attended-synod-on-synodality-to-archdiocese-of-hangzhou/Credit:Bishop Yao Shun of Jining and Bishop Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun (right) of the People's Republic of China at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis fields questions from students about gender identity and LGBTQ discriminationBy Courtney MaresPope Francis participated in a live Q-and-A video call with university students on Thursday in which a bisexual student from the Philippines asked the pope to stop using “offensive language” and an Australian student expressed concern that teachers in Catholic schools are espousing gender theory.Full story:Photo: Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his general audience on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. | Credit: Vatican Media

By AC WimmerArchbishop Carlo Maria Viganò on Thursday claimed that the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has initiated proceedings against him over the alleged crime of schism.Read the story here:https://ewtn.no/former-u-s-nuncio-vigano-to-undergo-church-trial-for-schism-rejecting-pope-francis/Photo: Archbishop Carlo Vigano. | Edward Pentin/National Catholic Register

Pope Francis tells Communion and Liberation leader: ‘Do not look at your navel’EWTN Norge · Pope Francis tells Communion and Liberation leader: ‘Do not look at your navel’By Jonah McKeownPope Francis in an audience last week with the president of Communion and Liberation (CL) reportedly told the leader not to “look at your navel” but to share their movement with the whole Church.Read more:https://ewtn.no/pope-francis-tells-communion-and-liberation-leader-do-not-look-at-your-navel/Photo: EWTN

Argentine bishops speak out about interrupting Mass with political chantsBy Julieta VillarIn two separate recent incidents, participants at Mass in Argentina started chanting the political slogan “the country is not for sale,” an expression of opposition to the policies of President Javier Milei. Videos showing the chanting have circulated on social media, leading several bishops to speak out about the situation.Read more:https://ewtn.no/argentine-bishops-speak-out-about-interrupting-mass-with-political-chants/Photo: Credit: Shutterstock

By Catalina Scheider Galiñanes, The National Catholic Register Dappled Things, a literary and artistic magazine that describes itself as “wholeheartedly Catholic,” announced the winners of its “Sacred Heart Art Competition” on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Read more:https://ewtn.no/burning-with-love-catholic-art-competition-honors-the-sacred-heart/Photo: ‘The Sacred Heart,’ by Matthew Conner (Photo: Courtesy of Dappled Things and Matthew Conner)

German president laments Church’s diminished role at ‘Catholics Day’By AC Wimmerphoto Credit: Filip Singer - Pool/Getty ImagesAmid an exodus from Catholicism and ongoing struggles over the controversial German Synodal Way, both Pope Francis and the German president addressed participants at a national Catholic event underway in Germany this week.Speaking at the opening of the “Katholikentag” in the central German town of Erfurt on Wednesday, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier decried the Church’s diminishing role and standing in German society.The German president called for a self-critical debate about countering indifference to religion and growing alienation from institutions: “Are the churches failing to inspire us? Is their message too quiet, too neutral, too nondescript?”Steinmeier, a Protestant, noted that “committed Catholics [are] among the most sturdy pillars of our democratic society rooted in freedom.” Therefore, it was all the more regrettable “that the churches are seeing people’s support and trust fall away on such a scale.”“The shift is certainly dramatic,” the German president said, pointing to “the horrendous reality of massive abuse and the long history of cover-ups” in the Church as one cause of the decline.In the face of this development, Steinmeier challenged Christians to ask themselves if “those who are really searching receive convincing answers, do they receive spiritual guidance, are they received with empathy in our groups, congregations, and initiatives?”Pope Francis calls for ‘genuine reorientation’In his message to the “Katholikentag,” Pope Francis emphasized the event’s motto: “The future belongs to the man of peace,” a reference to Psalm 37.The Holy Father called for a “genuine reorientation” toward God and highlighted the interconnectedness of various societal crises.“The many moral, social, economic, and political crises we are experiencing are all interconnected. Care for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, the protection of life and the family, the defense of the dignity of all human life as well as outer and inner peace all belong together,” the pope stated.Synodal Way organizers take the stageThe Katholikentag (“Catholics Day”) is a biannual event organized by a local diocese together with the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), the lay organization supported by the German bishops’ conference.Before the backdrop of the German exodus from Catholicism and lack of support for the German Synodal Way, concerns over dwindling public interest, relevance, and participant numbers were raised.As reported by CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr of Erfurt said before the event that the Katholikentag was an opportunity to showcase the Church.According to organizers, some 6,000 people heard Steinmeier’s address on Wednesday. Overall, organizers hope to attract around 20,000 participants.On Thursday, the German Synodal Way co-presidents addressed Erfurt participants. While Bishop George Bätzing assured the audience the controversial process was not guiding the Church in Germany toward a new schism, his co-president, Irme Stetter-Karp of the ZdK, called for “gender equality” as well as “a separation of power and authority and a different style of working together” in the Catholic Church.This week’s topics include peace and reconciliation, climate and social justice, democracy and right-wing extremism, and polarization in the Church.On Thursday, a podium discussion titled in the official program “The Body of Christ Is Queer — What Now?” saw one German theologian praising “increased visibility for queer people” thanks to campaigns such as “Out in Church,” though the theologian also demanded further “reforms.”A speaker from the German Lesbian and Gay Association called on bishops to show “active repentance” for long-standing discrimination against “queer people,” for example, by supporting the addition of the term “sexual identity” to the German Basic Law.Previously, the German event made headlines for different reasons. In 2022, a Muslim politician and at least one Protestant politician received Communion at Masses celebrated at the event.The event in Erfurt concludes on June 2. Another “Catholics Day” is expected to take place in Würzburg in 2026.

Pope Francis: The Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the heartBy Almudena Martínez-BordiúOn the occasion of the solemnity of Corpus Christi, Pope Francis on Thursday said, “the Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the true hunger.”The solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated on the Thursday following the solemnity of the Holy Trinity. However, for pastoral reasons, in many countries, including the United States, the celebration will not take place until this Sunday, June 2.On this day, on which the Eucharist — the real presence of Christ — is given public and solemn adoration, love, and gratitude, the Holy Father on his X account said in the Eucharist “Christ himself is truly in our midst to nourish us, console us, and sustain us along the way.”As part of the celebration, the procession of the Body and Blood of Christ takes place after the main Mass.The Holy Father himself will offer the Mass and lead the traditional Eucharistic procession from St. John Lateran Basilica to St. Mary Major Basilica this Sunday, June 2, which has not happened since 2018.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Francis hails ‘immense gift’ of vocation to the consecrated lifePhoto Credit: Vatican MediaBy ACI Prensa Staff, May 30,Pope Francis on Thursday addressed a message to participants in a conference on consecrated religious life currently taking place in Brazil.In his message, he expressed his gratitude for “the immense gift of the vocation to consecrated life which, in its most diverse charisms, enriches ecclesial communion and contributes greatly to the mission of the Church throughout the world.”The pontiff noted that in many places “the first proclamation of the Gospel is made by consecrated men and women, who take up with great commitment and with the dedication of their lives the mandate of the Lord.”The Holy Father also said that “the gift of vocation must be safeguarded and cultivated every day, so that it produces good fruits in the life of each religious.”Pope Francis expressed his joy for the theme chosen for the conference, which is the exhortation that Jesus made to the apostles at the Last Supper: “Remain in my love.”According to Pope Francis, “to live the divine call well, it is necessary to remain in his love, through constant dialogue with Jesus in daily prayer and fidelity to the vows that so beautifully express our consecration.”The pope also said that “the consecrated life, if it remains firm in the love of the Lord, sees beauty. It sees that poverty is not a titanic effort but rather a much greater freedom, which gives us God and others as true riches.”The consecrated life “sees that chastity is not austere sterility but the way to love without possessing. It sees that obedience is not discipline but victory over our unruliness as exemplified by Jesus,” he said, recalling his homily of Feb. 1, 2020, on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life.Finally, he encouraged the attendees to live the present “sustained by the mysticism of the specific charisms of each religious family and [by being] prophetically committed to the proclamation of the Gospel.”He also invited them to “look to the future with hope” and not to forget “to pray for me.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Benedictine Bishop Dominicus Meier replaces Bode in Osnabrück Diocese in GermanyPhoto: Bishop Dominicus Meier OSB. | Credit: Besim Mazhiqi, Archdiocese of PaderbornBy AC Wimmer, May 30, 2024More than a year after a German bishop resigned under pressure over his handling of clerical sexual abuse, the Vatican announced a successor on Tuesday.The Diocese of Osnabrück in northwestern Germany will be led by a Benedictine monk and bishop: Dominicus Meier will follow in the footsteps of Franz-Josef Bode, who resigned in March 2023 after having come under pressure from abuse survivors.At the time, the German Bishops’ Conference president and Synodal Way leader Bishop Georg Bätzing said he was losing a close companion.The new bishop-elect is currently serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, reported.As a voting member of the German Synodal Way, the German monk has consistently voted in favor of controversial resolutions.According to CNA Deutsch, Meier supported resolutions demanding female deacons and granting women access to the sacramental ministry. He also endorsed regular baptism by laypeople, lay preaching at Mass, and making priestly celibacy optional.On issues regarding homosexuality, Meier supported the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples and argued for evaluating access to ordained ministries and pastoral professions for intersex and transgender individuals on a case-by-case basis.Among other degrees, Meier holds a doctorate and habilitation in canon law and has taught at Vinzenz Palloti University. Meier also served as abbot of Königsmünster Abbey from 2001 to 2013.Meier will turn 65 in July, giving him roughly 10 years before reaching the mandatory retirement age for bishops. On the news of his appointment, he told Catholics he had spent “two sleepless nights” before accepting the role “with a happy heart.”Following the public announcement of his appointment Meier will now pledge an oath of allegiance — required by the concordat of 1965 — before the prime minister of the State of Lower Saxony.Afterward, the new bishop will be inaugurated in a solemn ceremony in the Cathedral of Osnabrück. Officially, the diocese’s vacancy ends with the inauguration.

The ‘Gen Z’ flip: Why young women are leaving religion — and how to bring them back - Read by AIBy Kate QuiñonesFor the past 20 years, men have left religion at higher rates than women; but for the first time in decades, young men are more likely to stay with it, while young women are leaving, according to a recent study.For the past three generations — baby boomers, Generation X, and millennials — men when surveyed were more likely to have left religion than women.Now, the opposite is true — Generation Z women are more likely to disaffiliate than men, at 54% to 46%, respectively, according to an April survey by the Survey Center on American Life and American Enterprise Institute (AEI).Why they leaveResearchers point to influences such as church teaching on controversial issues. Fifty-four percent of young women are pro-choice, according to a 2022 General Social Survey, and when it comes to the LGBTQ divide, 31% of Gen Z women identify as LGBTQ compared with 15% of Gen Z men. Young women in general are simply becoming more liberal and progressive, while the newest generation of Catholic priests are markedly more conservative. Meanwhile, secular media such as the Associated Press is observing a traditional renewal in the Catholic Church among young people. What can be made of these trends?Daniel Cox, who headed the survey, believes that the flip has to do with political issues such as abortion.“My own view is that the growing political liberalism among young women, and the rising salience of abortion after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision, is largely responsible for this shift,” Cox told CNA in an email.While 57% of boomers who left their religion were men, only 43% were women. The pattern in men and women continued in Generation X (55% and 45% respectively) and again in the millennial generation (53% and 47%). But Generation Z has flipped the pattern, as only 46% of those who left their formative religion were men, while 54% were women.Noelle Mering, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Centerand author of “Awake, Not Woke,” speculates that the generational shift might be rooted in how popular political ideologies that are “detached” from “what human beings are” are affecting the core of what it means to be a woman.“We are more bodily — in our capacity to bear and nurture life, and we are more vulnerable in our embodiment,” Mering told CNA in an email. “Ideology tells us that our bodies can be anything — but that just means that our bodies mean nothing.”While popular pro-abortion rhetoric pronounces “my body, my choice,” the Catholic perspective continues to affirm the dignity of human life at all stages.Young women are also more likely to identify as feminists, with nearly two-thirds of Gen Z women (ages 18-29) saying they believe that churches do not treat men and women equally, the survey found. Millennial women also tend to agree with this (about 64% of women ages 30-49).How they return But Gen Z is also the loneliest generation, according to a Pew survey — and they’re not turning to their local churches to find community.Americans who are affiliated with a religion are more likely to feel close to others than non-religiously affiliated Americans by a wide margin (73% to 51%), according to a May study from Pew Research. Mering suggests “the apostolate of friendship, hospitality” for bringing Gen Z women back. Mering co-authored the series “Theology of Home” about how women can live out their vocations at any stage of life through bringing beauty into the home. “That is one of the main goals of ‘Theology of Home’: To show — not just tell — what a true Christian anthropology of embodiment looks like,” she continued. “The popular imagination is filled with dominant pop culture distortions. Catholics should be pushing back on that by putting out media that reflects our true nature.” There is one area of society where the Catholic Church is seeing large numbers of conversions: Vibrant, traditional parishes seem to draw in both young men and young women.Young people on college campuses such as Texas A&M and Hillsdale College are flocking to the Church, as the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, reported in April. Rebuilding community may also be a key to bringing the least religious generation back to church.Political scientist and statistician Ryan Burge, co-author of “The Great Dechurching” with Michael Graham and Jim Davis, found in his research that disaffiliated people would go back to church if their friends were there.“We fielded a series of three surveys to find out why people left and what would get them back in the door,” he told CNA in an email. “Friends scored near the top of the list for every type of dechurched group… Theological reasons often scored very low.”The apostolate of friendship and hospitality may not only be a compassionate response to the loneliness crisis but might also bring people closer to religion. “We might not be able to get our friends to church, b