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Official roster of events for Fulton Sheen beatification announced

The official schedule of events for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been announced by the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois.

“I am filled with deep gratitude and great joy as we announce the schedule of events surrounding the long-awaited Mass of beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen," Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria said in a press release. "This is a momentous occasion not only for our diocese but for the Church in the United States and throughout the world.”

Events kick off on Sept. 20 with an anniversary Mass of Sheen’s ordination at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Peoria.

From Sept. 23–24, events will be taking place in St. Louis. Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will take place on Sept. 23 followed by the beatification Mass at The Dome at America’s Center on Sept. 24. Before the beatification Mass, the faithful will be able to take part in adoration and confession. After the Mass, a relic of Sheen will be available for veneration.

The website for the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation states that the choice for holding the beatification in St. Louis “was driven by the desire to include the largest number of people possible.”

While the largest venue in Peoria would only hold 15,000 people, The Dome at America’s Center — which hosted a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in 1999 — has a capacity of 100,000. St. Louis is also within a reasonable driving distance from Peoria, taking roughly two and a half hours.

Events will then head back to Peoria with Masses of thanksgiving, parish talks, and an award gala taking place on Sept. 25. The celebration concludes with a Byzantine-rite Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Mary on Sept. 26.

The faithful are also encouraged to take part in a nine-day novena beginning on Sept. 15.

Tylka explained that all of the events have been “thoughtfully planned as part of a pilgrimage to help us enter more deeply into the spiritual richness of this occasion and to encounter the Lord in a meaningful way.”

He added: “The beatification Mass itself will be the central moment of this sacred time, but it is surrounded by opportunities for formation, fellowship, and prayer that we hope will touch hearts and inspire renewed faith. The events that follow the beatification Mass in Peoria, including Masses of Thanksgiving and presentations, will allow us to continue reflecting on the gift of Archbishop Sheen and how his witness calls us forward as missionary disciples.”

“I am truly grateful for the many individuals and teams who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment, and I look forward with great anticipation to welcoming pilgrims from near and far,” Tylka said. “My hope is that through this beatification, many will come to know more deeply the love of Jesus Christ, be renewed in their faith, and be inspired to live as joyful witnesses of the Gospel in their own lives.”

Pope sends new shipment of humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine

In recent days, the new papal almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, confirmed that Pope Leo XIV sent humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine, two countries suffering from war. The prelate, who is charged with overseeing the pope’s charitable works, stated that “charity is the Gospel lived out.”

“The Dicastery for the Service of Charity serves as the conduit for the pope’s aid. In recent days, we dispatched a trailer to Ukraine containing medicines, food products, hygiene supplies, and clothing. We also sent 15,000 essential medicines to Lebanon,” the Spanish archbishop stated in a message posted on X.

As reported by Vatican News, the shipment to Ukraine took place on April 25, the same day of the papal almoner’s visit, and departed from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic basilica of Santa Sofia in Rome.

That shipment “marks the 150th truck to depart from our basilica,” explained the church’s rector, Father Marco Semehen, who highlighted the collaboration of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Pharmaceutical Bank Foundation.

The shipments include several pallets of medicines, primarily antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, intended both for hospitals and for distribution among the local population through Ukrainian volunteer networks.

Semehen emphasized that the aid was gathered with particular consideration for the most vulnerable. “We have collected everything that could be useful, taking into account in particular the needs of the most fragile — the sick and the children,” he explained, noting that “for them, donations consisted primarily of medicines, family care packages, hygiene supplies, thermal blankets, food, and a great deal of clothing of excellent quality.”

The rector also highlighted the continuity of the pope’s assistance to the Ukrainian people over time.

“For Ukraine, this continuity of aid arriving from the Vatican means a great deal,” he affirmed, while noting that “with the prolongation of the war, we have observed a decline in attention toward the needs of the population.”

‘The Church is not merely theory or doctrine’

“The Church is not merely theory or doctrine; it is also practice: It is the Gospel lived out, a testimony of charity,” he stated, adding that witnessing such generous participation “is a source of great joy.” In this regard, he underscored that “charity is the fitting response of Christians in the face of the spread of hatred in the world.”

The papal almoner also issued an appeal for peace: “The cry ‘Peace, peace, peace!’ must enter the minds and hearts of all. We still have a long way to go, and we need a true conversion.”

The pope’s assistance also extended to Lebanon. As reported by Vatican media this week, the Office of Papal Charities organized the humanitarian aid shipment to the country, sending 15,000 essential medicines, which will be distributed through the apostolic nunciature in Beirut.

The medications include antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatories, multivitamin supplements, and other drugs for the most common acute and chronic conditions.

Marín highlighted the importance of cooperation in responding effectively to humanitarian emergencies. “Our dicastery is engaged in charitable work at the international level as well, operating through nunciatures and local churches,” he explained, underscoring the need to build networks and raise awareness to shed light on “the terrible reality of war, the needs it creates, and how we can collaborate in concrete ways to help those who are suffering.”

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.

‘A generation that won’t be silenced’: Young people turn out for pro-life march in Mexico City

Chants of “Yes to life, no to abortion!”, “Life is a victory!”, and “We are the pro-life generation!” rang out this past weekend in the streets of downtown Mexico City, where young people turned out for the March for Life.

The event took place the day after the anniversary of the law passed on April 24, 2007, when the capital cityʼs government legalized abortion on demand for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

According to the Mexico City Secretariat of Public Health, nearly 300,000 abortions were performed in the countryʼs capital between 2007 and 2025.

The 2007 decision paved the way for similar laws in other states, such that 24 out of 31 states across the country currently have loosened restrictions on abortion.

To demonstrate against these regulations, groups of friends, families, young people mobilized by parishes, and other participants began gathering early at the Monument to the Revolution. From there, the contingent set off toward the Mexico City Legislature in a march that, according to organizers, drew a crowd of more than 2,000 people.

Throughout the route, young people set the pace with drums, chants, and slogans. Many wore blue handkerchiefs and T-shirts bearing pro-life messages and held signs in defense of motherhood and the unborn.

Among those in attendance was 22-year-old Macarena Muñoz, who told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that she came to demonstrate that there are still “pro-life young people here in Mexico and in all the states who want to see these laws changed, and who do not want abortion to be decriminalized.”

She said it is important to show society that there are young people who understand that “to defend any other right such as women’s rights, one must first defend the intrinsic value: the value of life.”

Other states begin to permit abortion

Although the first decriminalization of abortion in Mexico took place in 2007 in the capital, the most significant gain for laws allowing abortion occurred during the six-year term of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which began in 2018, when the political party MORENA secured a majority in various state legislatures and pushed for laws allowing abortion in 12 states.

Subsequently, with the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, also a MORENA party member, on Oct. 1, 2024, and backed by support from her party in the state legislatures, new laws permitting abortion were passed in Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Mexico, Chiapas, Nayarit, Chihuahua, Campeche, Yucatán, and Tabasco states.

The march brought together people from various regions of the country. According to the organizers, participants came from at least 20 cities.

One of them was Regina Hinojosa, 24, who traveled from Puebla. Speaking with ACI Prensa, she lamented that during the time abortion has been legal in Mexico City and other states, “there hasn’t been anything that could be positive for women.”

She maintained that above any other agenda, Mexican women “deserve more laws in favor of their well-being and that of their babies.”

Juan Pablo Perea, 21, a native of Michoacán, also participated. In an interview with ACI Prensa, he stated that he had traveled with the intention of reminding others that “it falls to us young people to fight for this because we are no longer merely the future of the country but its present; and if we do nothing at this time, no one else will.”

Although he acknowledged that this is a “struggle that, regrettably, currently seems to be losing ground,” he encouraged other young people to get involved, pointing out that “without life, there is no future.”

Young people don’t want these deadly laws

Some pro-life legislators also participated in the march, such as Juliana Rosario Hernández Quintanar of the National Action Party, a Querétaro state representative who has championed legislative initiatives such as declaring March 25 the “Day of Life.”

Hernández told ACI Prensa that more laws are needed to protect vulnerable persons including the unborn and therefore called upon her colleagues not to give up, for “there is no better cause than fighting for life, because life is the future, life is hope, and today in Mexico, we have a great demand for life [to be protected].”

Furthermore, she expressed the view that Mexico bears a “great debt” in this regard, assuring that as politicians, “we are here to defend these causes, the ones that truly matter and the ones that will allow us to make a lasting difference.”

Youth at the forefront

Another attendee was Rodrigo Baños, 20, who issued a call to other young people to participate with “attitude and determination” in the defense of human rights, particularly those of women and the unborn.

The young man also told ACI Prensa that, following the example of previous generations, “now it is our turn, this is our moment to go out and fight” for the right to life. He encouraged his contemporaries, reminding them: “We are young; we have nothing to lose. We must give it our all.”

At the close of the event , a manifesto was read from the stage ending on the same note, with a message addressed to Mexican youth and to “those who sought to convince us to give up.”

“We refuse; we are a generation that does not grow accustomed, that does not sell out, that does not remain silent, that does not surrender. We will not give up. We will not tire of defending the truth. We will not stop loving Mexico.”

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.

Here are the patron saints of World Youth Day Seoul 2027

The Local Organizing Committee for World Youth Day Seoul 2027 has officially announced the patron saints who will spiritually accompany the next major international gathering of young Catholics, which will take place in the South Korean capital Aug. 3–8, 2027.

According to a statement from organizers, the five patron saints of WYD Seoul 2027 are St. John Paul II, founder of World Youth Day; St. Andrew Kim Taegon and his companion martyrs; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini; St. Josephine Bakhita; and St. Carlo Acutis.

St. John Paul II (1920–2005) is remembered for centering much of his pastoral teaching on young people, the family, and the defense of the dignity of human life. St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), the first Korean Catholic priest, together with his companion martyrs, represents a powerful witness of faith and courage, sealed by martyrdom at a young age.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was a tireless missionary, known especially for her work on behalf of migrants and the poor. St. Josephine Bakhita (1869–1947), a former slave who became a religious sister, is a witness of hope, freedom, and faith transformed through suffering. St. Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), meanwhile, embodies the witness of holiness in the digital age and remains a model of evangelization for young people today.

As is customary for each World Youth Day, the patron saints are presented as models and guides of faith for young people through the witness of their lives and spirituality. For WYD Seoul 2027, the choices were made in light of the event’s major spiritual themes: truth, love, and peace.

The selection process began at the end of 2024 and included a nationwide survey of young people, youth ministry leaders, and formators. Following that consultation, the Local Organizing Committee reviewed the candidates and made the final selection.

After the announcement, a group of young volunteers spent two months studying the lives and spirituality of the five patron saints. Through prayer, dialogue, and shared reflection, they prepared a special prayer and a representative symbol for each saint to express the particular witness they offer to new generations.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, emphasized the importance of the selection, saying the patron saints “play a fundamental role in the preparation of each World Youth Day.” He said these models of holiness invite young people to reflect on God’s call and encourage them to respond with generosity and courage in following Christ.

“May the witness of these patron saints inspire young people throughout the world, especially in contexts marked by difficulty and persecution,” Farrell said.

Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of Seoul, president of the Local Organizing Committee, noted that the chosen saints represent different continents and generations.

“Each one of them offers a concrete path for living the faith amid the realities that young people face today,” Chung said, expressing his hope that participants will form a deep spiritual bond with the saints during the journey of preparation for WYD.

The Local Organizing Committee will continue presenting the lives and spirituality of the patron saints through the official WYD Seoul 2027 website and social media channels, while also developing new content and formation programs.

Along with the announcement, the committee also launched an interactive section titled “Meet Your Patron Saint!” Inspired by personality tests and digital quizzes, the feature asks young people a series of questions to help them discover which of the five saints most closely resembles their own personality. The goal is to help young people encounter the saints not only as historical figures but also as companions who can illuminate the questions and hopes of today.

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.

Hotline operator named Catholic Charities USA 2026 volunteer of the year

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) has named Julie Abbott its 2026 volunteer of the year for her work as “a good and faithful servant.”

Abbott has spent more than 15 years and nearly 5,000 hours answering the Relief & Hope emergency services hotline and accompanying callers, many of whom are at their lowest and most vulnerable points.

The Catholic Charities Maine hotline provides immediate support for individuals and families experiencing crises. Abbott helps with a number of challenges related to finances, mental health, job loss, car repairs, housing, hunger, or any other situation callers may find themselves in.

“When my years of home schooling my children ended, I searched for places where I could feel useful and talk freely about Jesus,” Abbot said in a press release. “I often came home feeling depressed about the need around me and how little I was able to help.”

“Callers thank me for just being willing to listen and empathize. I really feel good after those calls. And I appreciate working with people who put their faith into action every day at work," she said.

"Catholic Charities is such a nice, friendly, godly place to work. I don’t feel I do enough to have earned this award. I am flabbergasted to have received it,” she said.

The award also acknowledges Abbott’s work in developing a large database of resources covering Maine’s 16 counties. Due to its success, the state’s 2-1-1 operators, who provide residents with local health and human services information, have even been known to call her for guidance on how to refer their own callers to the appropriate services.

“Julie Abbott’s service to Catholic Charities Maine shows that sometimes, the quietest contributions can make the greatest impact,” said Kerry Alys Robinson, CCUSA president and CEO.

“Julie’s gift of presence and attention allow struggling neighbors to retain their dignity even in their most distressing and vulnerable moments. She is truly a good and faithful servant to those in need,” Robinson said.

The award has been given annually since 1998 and is bestowed on an individual “who embodies the mission of CCUSA to provide critical services to those in need, advocate for justice in social structures, and call the entire Church and other people of goodwill to do the same,” according to CCUSA.

More than 200,000 people volunteer at Catholic Charities agencies around the country each year, and agencies nominate their most deserving volunteers for the honor. Abbott was also a 2021 Volunteer of the Year finalist for her work.

Abbott will receive the award at CCUSA’s 2026 annual gathering in Richmond, Virginia, later this year.

Pope Leo XIV meets archbishop of Canterbury amid deepening church divides

Pope Leo XIV met with the archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at the Vatican on Monday. Mullallyʼs first official visit to Rome as the spiritual leader of the Church of England comes amid strained ecumenical relations and division among Anglicans.

Mullally’s delegation for her April 25–28 visit included representatives from the Anglican Communion and the recently appointed Catholic archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth.

A more difficult path to full communion

In his address to Mullally and her delegation on April 27, Leo said ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion has recently become more challenging.

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“While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern,” Leo said. “I know that the Anglican Communion is also facing many of these same questions at this time. Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together.”

The pope added that it would be “a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.”

Beyond Catholic-Anglican dialogue, Mullallyʼs election has further caused significant theological and ecumenical divides within the Anglican Communion, particularly regarding the ordination of women and sexuality.

Pope Leo has affirmed the Catholic Church’s teaching on a male-only priesthood. In the Anglican Communion, notable splits have arisen over the ordination of Mullally as a female bishop, particularly among the Global Anglican Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) and other conservative branches of Anglicanism. In March, GAFCON announced its break with the See of Canterbury.

In 2023, the General Synod of the Church of England controversially voted to approve the blessing of same-sex couples in civil marriages, another point of division among Anglicans.

Hospitality despite differences

After their meeting, the pope and the archbishop recited daytime prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, together in the Chapel of Urban VIII in the Apostolic Palace.

In her address to the pontiff, Mullally thanked him for the opportunity to pray together and encouraged mutual hospitality despite differences.

“In our ecumenical journey, I believe the Holy Spirit is inviting us into a deeper practice of hospitality, not simply as welcome, but as a form of ministry,” Mullally said. “As I begin this ministry, I hope to be a shepherd who loves and cares for the Church, who encourages hospitality despite our differences, who speaks prophetically into our present reality, and who proclaims Christian hope with the confidence that the Gospel of Jesus Christ remains good news for our world today.”

Over the weekend, Mullally also visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter’s Basilica. On Monday evening, she will preside over choral evensong at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, during which she will commission Bishop Anthony Ball as the archbishop of Canterbury’s official representative to the Holy See.

‘Stories of Light’: Christian initiation and catechesis as a way to transform lives

With the aim of demonstrating how initiation into Christian life impacts the renewal of the Church, the Paraguayan Bishops’ Conference presented the publication “Stories of Light: The Journey and Witness of Christian Initiation in Paraguay.”

In the document, by the conference’s National Coordination of Catechesis, catechesis is viewed not merely as a process of formation but as an experience that “transforms hearts and lives, leading to renewed commitment to the Gospel.”

The document is addressed specifically to bishops, priests, catechists, and pastoral workers, and seeks to serve as a “source of inspiration and encouragement” to foster in them a greater appreciation of catechesis as a driving force for evangelization.

The publication notes that catechesis "is not merely intellectual knowledge but an experience of grace that transforms the heart and one’s entire existence, making the believer a participant in Trinitarian life.”

It also emphasizes the need to move beyond the prevailing view of catechesis as simply preparation for the sacraments, proposing a paradigm shift wherein it becomes a communal, missionary, and experiential undertaking. Within this framework, the document emphasizes that Christian initiation functions by “integrating the catechized person into the community,” thereby fostering commitment to the family, society, and the Church.

The participation of families is important in catechesis; parents, godparents, and entire communities should become actively involved.

Among the documentʼs most valuable contributions are the testimonies of young people, families, and catechists, who bear witness to the spiritual growth they experienced.

“My whole life changed and my family’s as well. Now I feel fulfilled doing so much for others,” said a participant who through this process found a new opportunity for life and service.

Formation should lead to the practice of the works of mercy. Accompanying suffering families means “touching the suffering body of Christ, integrating the social and spiritual dimensions into the catechetical process,” the text points out.

Christian initiation, according to the document, “is a response to the cultural shifts and relativism affecting young people and families,” promoting integration and fostering a faith that is both lived and shared.

Finally, the document proposes Christian initiation as a journey of pastoral renewal that fosters an “ecclesial renewal ... aimed at a new vocational impetus and a new missionary awakening of parish communities.”

“Stories of Light” is thus presented as a pastoral tool that seeks to offer a model of a “Church that goes out,” one centered on encounter with Christ, on the transformative dimension of catechesis, and on living out the faith in community.

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.

U.S. bishops say violence ‘never the answer’ after shooting at White House press dinner

U.S. bishops said violence is never the answer after a shooter breached the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and injured a Secret Service agent on April 25.

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement: “We are grateful the lives of the president, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm. Let us all pray for our elected leaders and public officials that they may receive God’s blessings. Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society.”

Attendees heard gunshots shortly after the White House Correspondents' Dinner began at the Washington Hilton hotel. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several Cabinet members were evacuated by federal agents. Trump said in a press conference at the White House following the shooting that a lone suspect was taken into police custody and one federal agent was hospitalized after being hit in his bulletproof vest.

Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio, said the issue of gun violence requires attention.

Bonnar said in a statement: “The United States is built on freedom and respect for all. There is no room for violence that endangers the life of any human being. Moreover, the issue of gun violence must be addressed. Violence is never the answer. We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down. We pray for peace in moments of disagreement and discord. As we celebrate our 250th birthday may we live as a nation under God with liberty and justice for all.”

Bonnar also offered a prayer for healing.

We all must look deeper into the human heart to build each other up rather than tear each other down.”

Bishop David Bonnar

Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio

Since 2025, the United States has seen a marked escalation in political violence, including assassination attempts and lethal attacks linked to ideological extremism, threats against elected officials, and armed incidents surrounding political events.

High‑profile political actor Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, was assassinated in Utah in September 2025. In Minnesota, Rep. Melissa Hortman, the top Democratic leader of the state House of Representatives, was assassinated in her home in June 2025, and her husband was killed in the same attack. Hortman, who had served as Minnesota House speaker, was a Roman Catholic catechist.

Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, posted on X on April 26: “Iʼm grateful that the president and his entourage are unhurt after this latest attack. May I raise my voice against the viciousness and tribalism that are so prevalent on the internet and that contribute mightily to the violence we see in our political culture. Can we please remember that it is possible to disagree with a politicianʼs ideas without demonizing and dehumanizing him? Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, and that includes our ideological opponents.”

Pope Leo XIV tells new priests: ‘You are a channel, not a filter’

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV ordained 10 new priests in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, urging them to keep the doors of the Church open and to remember that their mission is to welcome, not to exclude.

“Today more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people and the Church, keep the door open! Let people in, and be prepared to go out,” the pope said in his homily for the Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday.

“This is another secret for your life: You are a channel, not a filter,” he told the ordinands.

Eight of the new priests were ordained for the Diocese of Rome, of which the pope is bishop: Guglielmo Lapenna, Giorgio Larosa, Jos Emanuele Nleme Sabate, Giovanni Emanuele Nunziante Salazar, Antonino Ordine, Yordan Camilo Ramos Medina, Daniele Riscica, and Cristian Sguazzino.

The pope also ordained Armando Roa Núñez, born in Mexico and incardinated in the Diocese of Miao in India, and Selwyn Pinto Loyce, born in Saudi Arabia and incardinated in the Institute of Christ the Redeemer, Idente Missionaries.

Reflecting on the Gospel in which Jesus says, “I am the gate,” Leo told the new priests to see themselves as servants of a suffering humanity that awaits abundant life.

“Never hide this holy door. Do not block it; do not be an obstacle to those who wish to enter,” he said. Quoting Jesus’ rebuke in Luke’s Gospel, he added: “You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

The pope said priestly ministry should be marked by communion and openness. “You belong to everyone and are for everyone!” he said. “Let this be the fundamental purpose of your mission: to keep the threshold open and direct others to it, without using too many words.”

Leo also urged the ordinands not to reduce Christian life to parish structures or ecclesial groups.

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“The Church’s doors are open, but not to cut us off from life: Life does not end in a parish, in an association, in a movement, in a group,” he said. “Whoever is saved can ‘go out and find pasture.’”

“Dear brothers, go out and discover culture, people, and life!” the pope continued. “Marvel at the things that God makes grow without our having sown them.”

The pope also spoke about celibacy, comparing it to the love of spouses.

“Certainly, like the love of spouses, the love that inspires celibacy for the kingdom of God must also be guarded and constantly renewed, for every true affection matures and becomes fruitful over time,” he said.

He told the new priests that the deeper their bond with Christ, “the more radical” their belonging to humanity becomes, adding that they are called to be “not only good priests but also honest, helpful citizens, builders of peace and social friendship.”

The pope warned against fear and the search for scapegoats, saying that the need for security today can make people aggressive and cause communities to close in on themselves.

“May your security not lie in the role you hold, but in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as well as in your participation, along with your people, in the story of salvation,” he said.

The communities to which the priests will be sent, he said, are already places where the risen Christ is present.

“These communities will also help you to become saints!” Leo said. “For your part, help them to walk together, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so that they may become places — gardens — of life that rise anew and share themselves with others.”

He added: “Facilitating encounters, helping to bring together those who would otherwise never meet, and conciliating division is one and the same as celebrating the Eucharist and reconciliation. Coming together always means planting the Church anew.”

Later on Sunday, before leading the Regina Caeli from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo returned to the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the gate of the sheepfold.

“Jesus does not come as a thief to take away our life and our freedom but to lead us along the paths of righteousness,” he said. “He does not come to ensnare or deceive our conscience but to illuminate it with the light of his wisdom. He does not come to taint our earthly joys but to open them to a fuller and more lasting happiness.”

“Those who entrust themselves to him have nothing to fear,” the pope said, “for he does not deprive us of life but comes to give it to us in abundance.”

Leo urged the faithful to be vigilant about who or what enters “the gate” of their hearts.

“‘Thieves’ can take many forms,” he said, citing those who “suppress our freedom or fail to respect our dignity,” as well as “beliefs and biases,” “mistaken ideas,” and “superficial and consumeristic lifestyles” that leave people empty inside.

He also pointed to those who harm humanity by “pillaging the earth’s resources, waging bloodthirsty wars, or fueling evil in any form,” saying they “do nothing but rob each of us of the possibility of a future marked by peace and serenity.”

The pope invited the faithful to examine their consciences: “Who do we want to guide us in life? Which ‘thieves’ have tried to break into our fold? Have they succeeded, or have we managed to ward them off?”

After the Regina Caeli, Leo recalled the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, calling it a warning about the risks of powerful technologies.

“Let us entrust those who died and all who still suffer from the aftermath of the disaster to God’s mercy,” he said. “I hope that discernment and responsibility will always prevail at every level of decision-making so that all use of atomic energy may be placed at the service of life and peace.”

The pope also offered a special greeting to the relatives and friends of the new priests of the Diocese of Rome.

“Please continue to accompany these young ministers of the Gospel with your prayers,” he said.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

U.S. to finance restoration of ‘Sistine Chapel of the Andes’ in Bolivia

St. James (Santiago) Church in the town of Curahuara de Carangas in Bolivia, which has earned the popular moniker the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” due to the murals adorning its interior walls, is going to be restored.

The project was announced April 21 during a press conference given by Bolivia’s deputy minister for the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism, Andrés Aramayo; the bishop of Oruro, Cristobal Bialasik; architect Josefina Matas, who will direct the restoration; and Debra Hevia, chief of mission at the U.S. embassy.

The U.S. will make an investment of $66,240 toward the restoration of the historic church, which dates back to the early 17th century.

Hevia said the funding comes from the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Preservation Fund, which has a history spanning more than 26 years of protecting Bolivian cultural heritage.

“This church is beautiful. Its architectural style and murals tell the story of Bolivia, and we want to protect them to share with the world,” she said, highlighting the importance of preserving Bolivia’s history and combating the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects.

“As the Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore, and Gastronomy, we view culture as a catalyst for our national pride, of our essence, but also for the social cohesion and peace we so urgently need to truly understand where we come from and where we wish to go,” Aramayo said at the press conference.

The project, which entails the repair and waterproofing of the thatched roof as well as the reconstruction of the buttresses that support the building, will respect the churchʼs architectural style and unique construction materials, the deputy minister explained. In addition, the exterior walls and façades, which have deteriorated with age, will be restored.

The building, constructed between 1587 and 1608, is located in the Andean province of Sajama at an elevation of 12,788 feet above sea level.

It is a large structure built of stone and adobe, featuring stone buttresses and a gated entrance to the church compound composed of two pilasters and a semicircular arch executed in a Renaissance style.

Inside the church, the walls and ceilings feature paintings depicting biblical scenes, which were completed in 1777 according to period documents belonging to the town of Curahuara de Carangas.

In 1960, the church was declared a national monument. With this restoration, the town hopes to become a hub for economic and social development through tourism, as part of a national religious tourism strategy.

At the press conference, the local bishop expressed his gratitude to the United States, as well as to Germany, which funded previous restoration work on the church.

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.