U.S. bishops post $43.6M gain despite refugee-program revenue plunge
Financial reports for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) revealed a $43.6 million increase in net assets from 2024 to 2025 despite a 60% decline in federal refugee program grants.
The bishops said their money grew mostly because long-term investments did well in 2025. Altogether, the investment pool made a 15.2% return, said Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the conference. The conference ended 2025 with an increase in net assets from $340.4 million to $383.9 million.
"The increase in net assets was due primarily to the performance of the long-term investment pool in 2025, which received $16.3 million in investment income (interest income and dividends) as well as an increase in unrealized gains of $27.2 million due to positive market performance,” Noguchi said.
The USCCB’s financial audits for 2024 and 2025 showed total operating expenses fell about $100 million because migrant program activity contracted. Funding for refugee programs fell from $180.46 million to $72.23 million.
The $43.6 million increase in net assets represents a nearly 13% increase, according to the audit, which reflects the USCCB’s financial position as of Dec. 31, 2025.
The USCCB said in its audit that it did not renew its refugee‑resettlement agreements after the federal suspension of grants “rendered the programs financially unsustainable leading to a reduction in conference staff whose positions were funded by those programs.”
According to the audit, the reduction of the refugee program and its staff contributed to a decrease in the conference’s overall operational expenses, which declined from $281.9 million in 2024 to $189.6 million in 2025.
Overall, the USCCB’s financial position has strengthened over the past four years, with its net assets growing from $268.4 million in 2022 to $304.9 million in 2023, according to its 2022-2023 audit, to $340.4 million in 2024, and $383.9 in 2025.
The year-to-year increase in net assets comes despite fluctuations in the conference’s investment portfolio. In 2022, the USCCB reported $75.4 million in unrealized investment losses. The portfolio returned to gains in the following years, with the conference reporting $35.4 million in unrealized investment gains in 2023, $11.6 million in 2024, and $27.2 million in 2025.
National collections declined slightly from $82.3 million in 2024 to $80.6 million in 2025, while national collections program expenses increased by $9.1 million, according to the report. However, national collections are “restricted by the donor for a specific purpose” and therefore do not play a role in offsetting the conference’s loss of refugee program funding.
Zambia archbishop released on bail after night in jail
LUSAKA, Zambia — Archbishop Alick Banda of the Archdiocese of Lusaka in Zambia has been released from Chimbokaila Correctional Facility after meeting the bail conditions set by the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
The archbishop spent a night in custody after he could not complete the bail process before close of business, despite the court granting him bail of 80,000 Zambian kwacha (about $4,094) on Sept. 28.
Banda was arrested by Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) over the alleged possession of property suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code.
The charge relates to a blue Toyota Hilux bearing registration number ALF 7734, which the DEC alleges Banda had in his possession between April 22, 2021, and Dec. 27, 2023.
According to the particulars of the case, the vehicle is alleged to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
The DEC said the vehicle forms part of a wider investigation involving approximately 22 ZRA motor vehicles allegedly disposed of improperly.
The archbishop appeared before Magistrate Mwandu Nakazwe, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court granted him 80,000 Zambian kwacha (about $4,094) bail on his own recognizance (meaning he does not need to pay up front), requiring three working sureties (guarantors — usually family members or responsible parties) who are each bound to pay the sum of 50,000 Zambian kwacha (about $2,560) if the accused takes off or skips court.
The court also ordered the archbishop to surrender his travel documents.
Following his release, Banda will remain subject to the court process as he awaits further proceedings in the case.
The allegations against him remain unproven, and the archbishopʼs “not guilty” plea means the matter will now proceed through the judicial process.
The archbishop’s arrest has generated varied reactions among members of the public, with calls for calm and for the legal process to be allowed to proceed without inflammatory statements.
Members of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed solidarity with Banda as he appeared before the DEC, calling for fairness, dignity, and due process.
In a statement issued Sept. 28, the Zambian bishops also called for spiritual solidarity with Banda as he faces the charges.
The bishops affirmed their deep respect for Banda’s pastoral ministry and his tireless dedication to serving the Church and the nation.
“In this moment, we recall the Church’s teaching that every person is entitled to fairness, dignity, and due process. We therefore call upon all concerned to ensure that these principles are upheld without prejudice or intimidation,” they said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Massachusetts report reveals ‘nearly 1,000 children’ abused by hundreds of priests across 3 dioceses
Nearly 1,000 children were abused by hundreds of priests across three dioceses in Massachusetts for decades, a report by the state’s attorney general said.
The report, published on Sept. 30, found evidence that “more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children over the course of a century in the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester,” state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said.
Leaders of the three dioceses failed to respond to allegations of abuse over the years, the attorney general said; diocesan leadership often transferred accused priests to other parishes and “failed to consistently report allegations to law enforcement,” according to the report.
Among the contributing factors to the abuse epidemic, according to the report, was a “culture of reverence and indulgence” toward priests.
Around mid-century, priests “were viewed as holy, and their attention or attachment to a particular family was encouraged,” the report says. These social dynamics “allowed offending priests easy access to victims.”
The investigation was launched in 2019 and involved more than 300,000 pages of documentation as well as interviews with more than 100 people, including victims of child sex abuse.
The inquiry is similar to those that have been undertaken in other states, including in Michigan, where the state’s attorney general has periodically released reports on the seven dioceses there.
The Massachusetts report covers every diocese in the state except the Archdiocese of Boston. That archdiocese has been subject to lengthy scrutiny after having been among the earliest subjects of abuse inquiries starting in 2002.
The attorney general’s report said the three dioceses “often intentionally did not document child sexual abuse allegations or used coded and euphemistic language to conceal them.” The office said it “worked diligently to create as complete a record as possible” of abuse in the dioceses.
As with similar reports in other states, the Massachusetts investigation mostly concerned abuse that was decades old. The “majority of known abuse” occurred “before 2002,” prior to major public awareness of the clergy abuse scandal, the report said.
The report expressed hope that the investigation would “result in a stronger commitment to a safer environment within these dioceses.” It thanked the child abuse victims who came forward to contribute to the inquiry.
It was not immediately clear how many of the instances of abuse in the report had already been identified and/or reported by the three dioceses. A query to the state attorney general’s office was not immediately returned.
Dioceses apologize
Both the Worcester Diocese and the Fall River Diocese had issued responses to the report by the afternoon of Sept. 30 in which they apologized to victims of sexual abuse. A statement from the Diocese of Worcester said it would study the report to “identify any additional improvements” it could make to its child safety policies.
The diocese noted that the report found the “vast majority of cases” occurred decades ago and that it had significantly updated its screening procedures in the years since.
Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV, meanwhile, said in a statement that he was “filled with sorrow” over the details of the report.
The diocese has developed a “culture of protection” to ensure children are not abused, including reporting abuse allegations to law enforcement and enhancing safety protocols, the bishop said.
Da Cunha said that during his time as bishop he has “learned much about the best practices for protecting children and vulnerable adults in our care.”
Bishop Barron in Rome: Despite tension, Catholicism is deeply aligned with American ideals
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, argued that Catholic theology is deeply compatible with the founding of the United States as it marks its 250th anniversary.
The evangelist and founder of Word on Fire Ministries delivered the keynote address at the “America at 250” event at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome on Sept. 30. The embassy sponsored the event, and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch was present.
Catholicism and America: A shared but tense history
In his speech, Barron praised the relationship between the Catholic Church and the U.S. while acknowledging tense moments in their shared history.
“I speak to you today as both a proud American and a proud bishop of the Catholic Church,” Barron said. “I stand with those who see no essential or fundamental tension between these two identities. To be sure, Catholicism and America have had a somewhat rocky relationship over the past two and a half centuries, and their rapport has been variously interpreted.”
Burch, speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines, described this tension as indicative of a unique moment in U.S. history, particularly with the first U.S.-born pope, Leo XIV.
“You have this extraordinary confluence of circumstances where you have an American pope, and you have a president and an administration filled with many Catholics,” Burch said. “The American experiment itself has a lot of common ground with the Churchʼs teaching and social doctrine.”
Catholic praise for America’s commitment to human rights
Barron said the U.S. founders drew on a mix of sources and that their ideas shouldn’t be reduced to modern secular philosophy alone. St. John Paul II explained rights differently, he said.
“During his first trip to the U.S. as pope in 1979, John Paul praised our country for its commitments to human rights, defined in a theological rather than Hobbesian way,” Barron said. “Instead of grounding rights in individual desire, John Paul II grounds them in human dignity.”
Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines, Barron also described his involvement with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which is tasked with defending religious freedom, as a Catholic bishop.
“Well, Iʼve just started on that commission. I spent a year with the national commission that President Trump established, but this one was established by Congress many years ago. We just had our first meetings by Zoom because I was here in Rome,” Barron explained.
“Itʼs a watchdog group to keep an eye on violations of religious liberty.”
Barron will ordain 18 deacons for the Pontifical North American College at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 1.
Brian Schumacher contributed to this report.
Vatican official says Vatican finances need more scrutiny despite progress
A Vatican official called for greater scrutiny of Vatican finances after roughly 15 years of reforms.
Monsignor Anthony Ekpo, assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State and president of the Financial Security Committee, spoke at a conference at Rome’s Luiss University on Sept. 29. According to Vatican News, the event marked 15 years since Pope Benedict XVI introduced anti-money-laundering legislation at the Vatican in late 2010.
Ekpo, in his remarks, stressed that ongoing financial reform at the Vatican is necessary to confront new technologies used in financial crime that may threaten it.
“The next 15 years will bring risks that would have been difficult to imagine in 2010: increasingly complex financial technologies, instantaneous cross-border transactions, activities involving virtual assets, artificial intelligence, and new forms of financial crime,” Ekpo said.
In 2010, Italian authorities seized 23 million euros from accounts linked to the Vatican bank during an anti-money-laundering investigation and later returned the funds. In response, Pope Benedict established the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF), a Vatican institution to prevent money laundering.
Ekpo highlighted the context in which Benedict implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and noted the progress made by Popes Francis and Leo XIV, who approved a new ASIF statute in June.
“Today, 15 years on, we can recognize significant progress,” Ekpo said.
“A culture of financial integrity has gradually developed through the patient work of legislators, regulatory and supervisory authorities, financial intelligence experts, law enforcement agencies, judges, and institutions.”
Documentary about St. Carlo Acutis premieres at the Vatican
Roughly a year after the canonization of Carlo Acutis — the first millennial saint — an authorized documentary about him is set to premiere worldwide.
“Carlo Acutis: The Young Saint” premiered at the Vatican Film Library on Sept. 29. The documentary, featuring never-before-seen footage of Acutis’ life and family, also marks the 20th anniversary of his death from leukemia in 2006.
From home videos to photos of his pilgrimages to sites such as Rome, Milan, and Fátima, the film, according to a press release, will convey the impact of Carlo’s message and his relatable holiness.
The documentary will be shown in Italian theaters from Oct. 15–21 before premiering in Europe and then in North America in February 2027.
‘Carlo still works miracles in a world no longer interested in God’
Among those present at the Vatican for the screening was Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano Acutis. Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines after the screening, she reflected on the impact of Carlo’s 2025 canonization. Antonia described his legacy as proving that God exists in a world where he is often forgotten.
“In todayʼs world, it almost seems as if faith has become something obsolete: People are distant, technology is idolized to the extreme, as though people no longer care about God,” she told EWTN News. “Carlo, on the other hand, calls us back to eternal life and reminds us of the truth that God exists.”
She also spoke on the comfort of seeing the impact of her son’s intercession worldwide, particularly after his death 20 years ago.
“Carlo used to say, 'We will all climb Golgotha sooner or later, wonʼt we?’ But he also said that a good life isnʼt necessarily a long life; it is a life where one truly manages to put God first,” she recounted.
“Many parents unfortunately lose their children, because some go earlier and some go later. But seeing everything happening now is certainly a powerful witness to my own faith, because I can genuinely see how the Lord works through Carlo.”
Pope Leo XIV canonized Carlo Acutis together with Pier Giorgio Frassati on Sept. 7, 2025.
“I Am With You,” an EWTN special documentary about Carlo’s life, is available to watch online.
Vatican nuncio to German bishops: Pope and Eucharist prevent a ‘Christian-flavored NGO’
The popeʼs ambassador to Germany told the countryʼs bishops this week that the Churchʼs visible unity rests on two pillars: the papacy and the Eucharist.
Without them, he warned, the Church would become “a mere federation of individual communities, or even a Christian-flavored NGO [nongovernmental organization],” CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, reported.
Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, the apostolic nuncio, spoke at the opening of the German bishops' conference fall plenary assembly in Fulda, which runs through Oct. 1.
The bishops' conference published the full address.
“The Catholic Church rests on two great pillars of its visible unity — the Petrine ministry and the Eucharist,” van Megen told the German bishops on Sept. 28. “The pope safeguards the unity of faith and ecclesial communion, while the Eucharist sacramentally realizes and nourishes this unity.”
The Eucharist “is not merely a symbol of unity,” van Megen said, but “actually creates and strengthens the communion of the Church.” The popeʼs ministry, he added, “is not an end in itself.” Its task is “to protect and foster that communion which finds its highest expression in the celebration of the Eucharist.”
The Dutch prelate cautioned that the two do not guarantee unity “in a purely organizational or mechanical sense.” Still, he said Christ “has given his Church enduring means through which its unity can be preserved and continually renewed.”
Speaking “as a representative of the Holy See,” the nuncio called Rome “the visible center and the guarantor of the unity of the universal Church, to which the Church in Germany also belongs.” He noted that the Church in Africa differs from the Church in Europe and that “no local Church is more or less a Church than another.”
Van Megen said synodality “can never be the concern of individual groups alone, while others are left behind.” He closed by telling the bishops that “where we remain in communion with him, where we listen to one another, where we preserve unity with the universal Church and the successor of Peter — there the Holy Spirit can open up new paths.”
The gathering in Fulda, in the central German state of Hesse, is also taking up life-protection questions and discussing artificial intelligence.
At a Sept. 29 press conference, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen said the Church “clearly” rejects legalizing surrogacy, arguing that it makes the child “the object of a contract among adults,” CNA Deutsch reported.
Auxiliary Bishop Anton Losinger of Augsburg warned that gene editing and prenatal genetic testing raise questions about the dignity of people with disabilities.
A question of ‘power’
Five days earlier, in an interview with katholisch.de, a portal run on behalf of the German bishops' conference, van Megen said his “impression is that Germans often want too much, too quickly.” He called the word “power,” common in documents of the controversial Synodal Way, “almost dangerous,” and said he hoped to travel to Rome at the end of October.
The Vatican has been reviewing the bylaws of the Synodal Conference, a planned permanent body meant to implement the Synodal Way, since late March.
The Roman Curia and the German bishops have held talks on its statute since 2025.
Pope Leo XIV to contemplative nuns: In a world of speed, silence is precious
Pope Leo XIV encouraged contemplative nuns to uphold their commitment to silence amid a noisy world and aging religious communities.
“[Silence] is particularly important in a world characterized by speed, where everything must be immediately visible and every void must be filled in a hurry,” Leo said.
The pontiff made these remarks during a private audience with a delegation from the International Commission of Dominican Contemplative Nuns on Sept. 30.
In June, Leo declared Sister Maria Petra Giordano venerable. An Italian Dominican nun, Giordano was selected to help revise the constitutions of Dominican nuns after the Second Vatican Council.
‘Silence helps people hear God’s voice’
In his address, Leo encouraged the sisters to remain faithful to their charism of silent contemplation and become more attentive to themselves, the outside world, and God.
“In this regard, your constitutions call for diligent observance of a fundamental value of cloistered life: silence,” Leo said.
“Keeping silence is an act of the will that engages the whole person and helps to cultivate solid relationships, because they are animated by the Word of God,” he added.
He also praised the silent witness as a “precious” service to the Church.
An uncertain future for vocations
Like his audience to a delegation from the Federation of Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Italy on Sept. 21, the pope addressed their declining vocations.
“Your experience… also leads you to encounter situations of difficulty: aging communities, deaths outnumbering new vocations, a decline in working capacity with consequent financial problems,” Leo remarked.
The pope then encouraged the nuns to adapt to current needs by listening to the Spirit rather than merely trying to survive.
“I invite you not to ask yourselves so much how to maintain structures that are becoming empty. Rather, listen to what the Spirit is asking of the Dominican contemplative life today,” the pope said.
Pope Leo XIV says ‘rebirth’ is key to understanding France trip
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reflected on his recent four-day pastoral visit to France, calling it a “great gift” and saying the trip could be understood through one central image: the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
“It is precisely Notre-Dame, with the tragedy it has endured, that can symbolically shed light on this entire apostolic journey, offering a perspective that I would summarize in one word: rebirth,” the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Leo recalled that the cathedral, devastated by fire seven years ago and once thought to be mortally wounded, has been rebuilt and is now “more splendid than ever.”
He said its restoration demonstrated what can be achieved through collaboration among the Church, the state, public institutions, and civil society.
“This approach made it possible to make the most of both the generosity of benefactors and the expertise of professionals and skilled workers,” he said.
The pope added that such cooperation for the common good should become the norm for institutions, political and social forces, and those with civic and economic responsibilities.
Firm commitment to preventing abuse
The pope also recalled his private meeting during the trip with seven victims of clerical abuse and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to listening to survivors, accompanying them as they seek healing, and preventing future abuse.
“In this context I met some people who were victims of abuse, and I asked them to help me express to other victims too my own wish, and that of the whole Church, to listen to them and walk alongside them as they seek healing, acknowledging the pain inflicted upon their lives and working to prevent abuse,” he said.
The meeting took place Sunday at the bishop’s residence in Lourdes and lasted about two hours. Leo also spoke privately with each participant.
The Church is made of people, not stones
The Holy Father reflected on the prayer vigil he celebrated with thousands of young people at the Stade de France, describing it as a powerful sign of vitality in the Church.
“The Church, which is not made up of stones or cement but of people who love Jesus Christ because they have been loved by him,” he said.
Leo spoke of a “new French generation,” new not only in terms of age but, as he said, “even more so in spirit, in the freedom of heart and faith.”
“Young people who sang and shouted, but who also remained silent, listening. Attentive and emotional faces, which revealed hearts yearning for truth and love,” he said.
“To them I said with joy: ‘You are the saints of France!’ The vigil was a great sign of hope.”
He also highlighted the remarkable and growing number of young people and adults seeking baptism, calling it a beautiful “surprise” from God and a sign of renewal within the Church.
Lourdes and the ‘civilization of love’
Recalling his visit to Lourdes, the pope emphasized the message of hope offered to pilgrims, especially those suffering physically or spiritually.
“In Lourdes, the Lord, through the maternal care of the Virgin Mary, conveys to everyone, pilgrims and especially those who are sick in body and spirit, a message of hope and rebirth,” he said.
The pope also strongly defended the dignity of every human life, particularly in situations of profound vulnerability.
“Every human life, in whatever condition, even in the most extreme frailty, retains its inviolable dignity and deserves to be cared for, accompanied, and relieved of suffering with human compassion and with the aid of the means offered by science,” he said.
For that reason, he added, Lourdes represents for the entire world “a sanctuary of the civilization of love.”
Europe, dialogue, and peace
The final stage of Leo’s trip took him to Metz, a city in a region ravaged by World War II and closely associated with Robert Schuman, one of the principal architects of European integration.
The pope compared the reconstruction of Notre-Dame with Europe’s rebirth after World War II. He noted that the European project arose from principles of democracy, solidarity, and fraternity among peoples that owe much to the continent’s Christian roots.
He also highlighted his meeting with representatives of various religious traditions, who read and signed the “Metz Appeal” for dialogue and peace in his presence.
‘That the world may have life’
The pope concluded by recalling that the theme of his pastoral visit was “Pour que le monde ait la vie” (“That the World May Have Life”), drawn from John 6:51.
He said the words of Jesus encapsulate Christ’s mission of salvation and expressed the Gospel meaning of every encounter during the journey.
Leo ended by praying that the visit would bear “abundant and lasting fruit.”
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.
Digital distractions could erode silence needed for prayer, Nigerian Catholic bishop warns
ABUJA, Nigeria — A Catholic bishop in Nigeria has warned that the growing culture of digital distraction risks undermining the silence needed for prayer and spiritual discernment, urging Christians to resist the constant demands of notifications, social media, and online interactions.
In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Sept. 25, the auxiliary bishop of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Abuja cautioned that digital technology, despite its benefits, should not displace Christians’ relationship with God, authentic human relationships, and sacramental life.
“Our world has changed, and the way human beings connect, think, and communicate has been radically rewritten by the digital revolution. But we must not allow digital noise to replace our silent prayers and quiet moments with our God,” Bishop Anselm Umoren told ACI Africa at the seventh annual general assembly of the Archdiocese of Abuja held under the theme “Christian Faith and the Evolving Communication Technology.”
Umoren challenged Christians to reflect on how they can preserve their faith amid rapid technological changes, warning that the digital environment encourages constant communication at the expense of contemplation.
“One of the dangers is that the digital world often demands constant communication. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. But the digital world sometimes tells us that we must speak constantly,” he said.
He added that social media platforms encourage users to react immediately to trending topics, share content, and express opinions, leaving little room for reflection.
“The danger is that we can become so busy scrolling, commenting, posting, and reacting — even inside the church during Mass — that we no longer know how to sit in holy silence,” the bishop said.
Emphasizing the importance of silence in the spiritual life, he explained that constant exposure to digital noise could make it difficult for Christians to hear Godʼs voice, reflect on their lives, and discern God’s will.
“Technology should not take away our capacity for contemplation. We must learn that there are moments when the phone must be put away, the notifications must stop, and the human heart must become quiet enough to listen to God,” he said.
Umoren highlighted what he described as a paradox of the digital age: unprecedented technological connectivity alongside growing loneliness.
“Our generation is living through a strange paradox. We live in an age of extraordinary technological connectivity and high productivity, yet we are also confronted by profound loneliness,” he said.
Umoren, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul Nigerian, observed that having thousands of online friends and followers does not necessarily translate into meaningful relationships or genuine companionship, particularly during difficult moments.
“A person may have thousands of friends and followers online but very few people who actually know them deeply or are physically present when they are in difficulty,” he said.
Umoren emphasized that Christianity is fundamentally rooted in relationships, both with God and with other people, rather than merely exchanging information.
“The Christian faith is about relationship. Christianity is not merely an exchange of information. It is communion with God and communion with other human beings,” he said.
While warning against the dangers of digital technology, Umoren acknowledged its potential to advance the Churchʼs evangelizing mission, describing cyberspace as a new mission territory.
“The digital world has become a new mission territory. Every Christian who has the motivation to proclaim the Gospel must recognize that cyberspace is now part of the mission field,” he said.
Reflecting on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), he noted that digital tools can assist with communication, research, education, and evangelization but cannot replace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
“If we ask a machine to give us information about Jesus, that is different from knowing Jesus personally. Faith is not merely information about God. Faith is a relationship with God. Our digital tools can assist us, but they cannot believe for us. They cannot pray for us in the deepest sense. They cannot replace the encounter between the human heart and God,” he said.
The bishop also defended the pastoral value of livestreamed Masses, particularly for people who are sick, elderly, hospitalized, or otherwise unable to attend church physically.
He cautioned, however, against treating online participation as a substitute for gathering physically to celebrate the Eucharist.
“Livestreaming holy Mass is a beautiful pastoral provision … But livestreamed Mass can never replace the physical gathering of the Christian community around the altar,” he said.
He further underscored the importance of physical participation in the sacraments, noting that digital platforms cannot provide the experience of receiving the Eucharist or participating fully in sacramental life.
“You cannot receive the holy Eucharist through a phone screen. You cannot experience the healing touch of the sacraments through an application. You cannot fully substitute physical Christian fellowship with a digital connection,” he said.
According to Umoren, the Church must ensure that technological advances strengthen rather than weaken authentic Christian communion.
“The Church is a community of real people; we must safeguard the sanctity of real, physical, human, and authentic presence. Technology should support communion, not destroy it,” he said.
Turning to the formation of young people, the bishop called on the Church to go beyond discouraging excessive phone use and equip young people to engage responsibly with digital technology and use it to proclaim the Gospel.
“We should not simply tell young people, ‘Put your phones away.’ We should also teach them how to use their phones responsibly and evangelically. A young person who understands technology and has a strong relationship with Christ can become a powerful digital missionary,” he said.
He also urged the Church to help young people develop critical thinking and discernment amid the vast amount of information available online.
“Our children are growing up in an environment where they are exposed to enormous quantities of information. Not everything they see online is true, beautiful, or beneficial. They must develop the capacity to discern,” Umoren said.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.