Medjugorje youth festival participants receive message from Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV urged the thousands of young people gathered in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the Mladifest International Youth Festival to rediscover the beauty of encountering Christ and not to be deceived by promises of fleeting happiness.
The event is proceeding normally, despite the grave act of vandalism that took place on July 28 at the Parish of St. James the Apostle, where the outdoor altar used for celebrations was set on fire and a statue of the Virgin Mary was found defaced with offensive graffiti.
In his message, read by the apostolic visitor for the parish of Medjugorje, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, shortly before the opening Mass presided over by the apostolic nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, the pontiff invited participants to return to the source of true joy, following this yearʼs motto: “Ad fontem! To the source!”
Addressing participants from 73 countries, the pope warned against the false promises offered by the contemporary world. “Promises of easy and immediate happiness are alluring, but they often vanish without a trace,” the pope noted, while reminding them that the deepest questions of the human heart — and the longing for lasting joy — endure.
The Holy Father emphasized that these very yearnings can become an opportunity for growth in faith when they lead to the “beauty of a personal encounter with the Lord, who satisfies every heart and gives the strength to always begin anew.”
For that reason, he encouraged the participants to turn to Christ — the “source of new life and authentic joy” — through prayer, listening to the word of God, and receiving the sacraments.
Likewise, the pontiff encouraged the young people to sincerely seek “the truth that sets us free,” without “letting yourselves be captivated by fleeting happiness.”
He concluded his exhortation by inviting them to let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit and to trust in the intercession of the Virgin Mary, so as to become “luminous witnesses of the Gospel, promoters of fraternity, and builders of peace in society.”
Mladifest has been held annually in Medjugorje since 1989, bringing together tens of thousands of young people from around the world.
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.
Armenian Catholic youth from 9 countries unite in prayer and service in Lebanon
From Anjar, the Lebanese town known among Armenians as “Little Armenia,” the voices of young Armenian Catholics rose this week “with one heart in Christ” (Acts 4:32).
The gathering, held from July 28 to Aug. 3, brought together participants from Europe, the Middle East, and North America. More than simply a youth event, it offered a space for prayer, service, fellowship, and a renewed understanding of what Christian witness means in an increasingly complex world.
Catholicos-Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church presided over a festive Mass on Sunday at the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar. In his homily, Minassian noted that the participants came from different countries and dioceses, bringing with them diverse cultures, experiences, and hopes, yet they had gathered under the banner of "Christ the Savior.”
The patriarch said the people of the Middle East live amid recurring crises and suffering while continuing to long for peace, freedom, and dignity. The young people’s gathering, he said, sent a clear message: The final word belongs not to pain and division but to hope, love, and fraternity.
Minassian stressed that the gathering should not remain merely a cherished memory but should become a “spark” that continues to burn in the participants’ hearts, inspiring them to draw closer to others, build peace, and serve with love.
He urged the young people to take initiative in their churches and communities, to offer words that unite when others are divided, and to extend a helping hand when others withdraw. Faith, he emphasized, is not simply an inheritance from the past but a calling that must continually be renewed.
Concluding his homily, the patriarch explained that the gathering sought to entrust a new generation with the deposit of faith that the Church had preserved through adversity. It is now their responsibility, he said, to live that faith and pass it on to those who come after them.
Fadi Beshkenji, general coordinator of the Armenian Catholic Youth Union of Lebanon, which organized the event, told ACI MENA that participants came from France, Luxembourg, Italy, Canada, Iraq, Jordan, Armenia, Lebanon, and Syria.
The Syrian delegations included young people from Aleppo, the country’s northeastern Jazira region, Damascus, and Kessab in the Latakia countryside.
Beshkenji explained that the program was organized around three principal areas. Its spiritual component included talks on the gathering’s theme, drawn from Acts 4:32, as well as reflections on the participants’ relationships with God, others, and themselves.
The service and humanitarian component included a visit to a home for the elderly, activities with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and service and beautification projects at the Armenian Catholic church and complex in Anjar.
The gathering also included pilgrimages to the Shrine of St. Charbel in Annaya, the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, and the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar, where participants visited the monastery’s museum and viewed its historical collection, including items associated with St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Ignatius Maloyan.
A cultural evening also gave each delegation an opportunity to present the heritage of its country.
Beshkenji said Lebanon was chosen to host the gathering because it is a “country of message” and should remain a source of hope for young people in Lebanon, the Middle East, and around the world.
He encouraged participants to trust that Christ accompanies them and to use their talents in the service of their churches and communities.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Countdown to World Youth Day Seoul 2027 begins: Here’s what we know so far
One year from now, Catholics from around the world — alongside Pope Leo XIV — will gather for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, from Aug. 3–8, 2027.
The announcement was made by Pope Francis at the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Catholics from South Korea in attendance responded with happiness and excitement to the news.
This is only the second time an Asian country has hosted a World Youth Day — the last being in Manila, Philippines, in 1995 — and the first hosted in a nation where Catholicism is a minority religion.
With the date quickly approaching, South Korea is already preparing for this historic event. Here’s what you need to know:
The venues
The specific venues for the many events taking place are still being finalized by the Vatican and the WYD Seoul 2027 local organizing committee (LOC), which is led by Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul, with Bishop Paul Kyung-Sang Lee serving as the general coordinator. Additionally, Bishop Job Yobi Koo helps the LOC as the episcopal coordinator.
The theme
The theme of WYD 2027 is taken from the Gospel of John 16:33: “Take Courage! I Have Overcome the World.”
The program
While the schedule is still being finalized, attendees can expect an opening Mass to be celebrated by the archbishop of Seoul, morning catechesis sessions led by bishops from around the world, a papal welcome ceremony, the Way of the Cross, a pilgrimage walk to the grounds where the closing Mass will take place, Eucharistic adoration, and a prayer vigil with Pope Leo XIV as well as the closing Mass celebrated by the Holy Father.
Additionally, the youth festival will include concerts, cultural performances, and other events for the young people in attendance. Attendees will also be able to visit reconciliation park and the vocations fair.
The patron saints
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.
The official theme song
The official theme song for WYD 2027 was released on Aug. 3. The song, “Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum” (“Take Courage! I Have Overcome the World,” in Latin), was the winning composition from 434 submissions and was written by Korean composer Francis Jiyoon Kim.
How many Catholics are in South Korea?
According to data released by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea in 2022, South Korea has approximately 6 million Catholics, which is just 11% of the total population.
A 2020 survey by a Korean research journal tracking recent religious demographic changes in the country found that now about 50% of South Koreans are nonreligious, while 32% are Protestant Christians and 16% are Buddhist.
Pray for WYD 2027
You can find the official prayer for WYD Seoul 2027 here.
Michigan ends restriction on Catholic counselors who treat kids with gender dysphoria
Catholic counselors in Michigan who offer Catholic-based “talk therapy” to children who struggle with gender dysphoria and gender identity will be allowed to continue their services, according to a federal court order issued on July 31.
Government officials in Michigan have agreed they will not enforce the state ban on "conversion therapy” on the counselors who work for Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties or any other counselors engaged in “talk therapy.”
The Catholic Charities affiliate sued Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other state officials after the governor signed into law a ban on “conversion therapy.” This prohibited treatments that seek to “change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” This includes “efforts to change behavior or gender expression.”
According to the law, counselors were allowed to offer “acceptance, support, or understanding” of a child who self-identifies with a gender inconsistent with his or her sex. The lawsuit filed by the Catholic Charities affiliate argued the law forced them to “affirm” that the child could identify with a gender that is inconsistent with his or her sex, which conflicts with Catholic teaching.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity.” The Vatican’s 2019 document “Male and Female He Created Them” teaches that sexual identity is a reality “given” through one’s biological and physiological nature.
Officials in Michigan consented to a court order that acknowledges that the law — as enforced against the Catholic Charities affiliate — violates the counselors’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
According to the court order, the state cannot enforce this law against the Catholic counselors or any other counselors in the state if the treatment “consists exclusively of talking.” The order is permanent and took effect immediately, upon the signature of Judge Jane M. Beckering.
The Catholic Charities affiliate was represented by lawyers at the Becket Fund. Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the counselors, said in a statement that the order is “a major victory for children, counselors, and common sense.”
“Kids who are hurting deserve compassion, not a one-way ticket to harmful drugs, hormones, and surgery,” he said. “Now counselors can offer compassionate counseling without fearing that state bureaucrats will come knocking.”
This agreement comes four months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that a similar ban on “conversion therapy” in Colorado violated the First Amendment rights of counselors, warning the state-level bans “suppress speech based on viewpoint.”
Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for Michigan’s attorney general’s office, said in a statement to EWTN News that Michigan entered into the agreement because of the Supreme Court ruling, but added: “We remain deeply disappointed in this decision and have grave concerns for the implications this could bring for the safety and welfare of Michigan’s children.”
A spokesperson for Whitmer also expressed disappointment in the agreement in a statement to EWTN News.
"Governor Whitmer believes that every young person deserves the right to grow up safe, supported, and free to be themselves,” the spokesperson said.
“This order is disappointing and represents a step back for the LGBTQ+ community,” the spokesperson added. “Michigan will never support any practice that harms or shames LGBTQ+ youth. The governor will continue to fight to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals are protected from attacks and that their voices are heard.”
In June, Oregonʼs Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists withdrew disciplinary action against Catholic counselors who engaged in similar talk therapy, citing the Supreme Court decision as its reason.
Pope Leo XIV to Peruvian youth: Do not be afraid to be God's instruments
In a video message on the occasion of Peru’s National Youth Congress, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to not be afraid to be God’s instruments in rekindling the hope of many suffering hearts.
The message was shown as part of the July 30–Aug. 2 event, held in Chulucanas, a town in the Piura region, that brought together thousands of young people from throughout the country.
Chulucanas is the site of then-Father Robert Prevost’s first missionary assignment in northern Peru in 1985, when the man who would become pope — and who has held Peruvian citizenship since 2015 — arrived as an Augustinian missionary in this region entrusted to his order.
In his message, the pope thanked the country’s young people “from the heart, for having responded to this initiative, which renews and strengthens the life of the Church.”
“The motto bringing you together for this gathering is: ‘Be brave, Christ lives.’ It is precisely the certainty of the Lord’s living presence in our midst that is the inner fire driving us to be brave and to step out of the comfort of individualism — to become part of a community of brothers and sisters in faith, to forge true bonds of friendship, and thus bear witness that it is possible to live united in Christ,” Pope Leo declared.
“I invite you to open your hearts wide to welcome the gifts the Lord wishes to pour out upon you,” the Holy Father continued in his message.
“And do not keep what you experience during this event just for yourselves — do not let it remain only in photos on your phones or videos on social media; share it, reflect it in your lives, because today many people need that joyful and contagious witness that a young person in love with Christ can convey,” Leo encouraged.
“Do not be afraid to be God’s instruments in rekindling hope for so many — for so many suffering hearts,” he emphasized.
In closing, the pope entrusted the young people to “the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Evangelization. May she intercede for you, so that you may be Christ’s ‘salt and light’ in this beloved Peruvian land. May God bless you!”
Highly anticipated papal visit
Peruvians are preparing to welcome the Holy Father this November to the country where he served as bishop of Chiclayo and apostolic administrator of Callao, prior to his tenure as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the Vatican.
Although the Vatican has not yet officially confirmed it, the cities Pope Leo is expected to visit in Peru include Lima, Chiclayo, Piura, Cusco, and Pucallpa as part of a trip that is also expected to include stops in Argentina and Uruguay.
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.
West Virginia Catholic parishes rally to support communities hit by flash flooding
Bishop Evelio Menjívar-Ayala has charged parishes in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, with carrying out special collections to support disaster relief efforts after severe flash flooding on July 21.
State Treasurer Larry Pack said the deadly flash flooding that swept through Upshur, Lewis, and nearby counties killed at least two people. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said preliminary assessments show about 151 homes in Upshur County suffered damage.
Morrisey, a Catholic Republican who was elected governor in 2024, acknowledged the work of “faith-based organizations” in aiding relief efforts in a July 27 statement.
“Volunteer organizations remain at the heart of the recovery effort,” Morrisey said.
Menjívar-Ayala, who was installed on July 2, asked parishes to hold the collections on Aug. 1–2 or Aug. 8–9. All of the funds collected will remain in West Virginia and will be managed by Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa), a July 22 press release said. CCWVa will direct funds first to parishes aiding families, then to CCWVa regional staff assisting victims, followed by partner agencies, with any remaining money supporting CCWVa’s long‑term recovery work, the statement said.
“West Virginia is truly one community. The way the people of this state support each other, especially in times of great need like this, is a testament to how we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves,” Menjívar-Ayala said in the release. “Let us now put that love into action by helping our sisters and brothers during this tragic time.”
“Please remember in prayer all those whose lives have been changed in the wake of these disasters. Let us come together now to support our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been injured and lost their homes, cars, employment, and access to food and water,” Menjívar-Ayala said.
Bartek Krakowiak: From professed convert to troubled vandal at Medjugorje
Following the recent vandalism at the famous Marian shrine of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorities arrested alleged perpetrator Bartłomiej Włodzimierz Krakowiak, a 31-year-old Polish national with a troubled past.
Krakowiak was apprehended in the village of Cerno, near Ljubuški, shortly after the incident on July 28. A local man, Ivan Vučić, recognized and detained him before handing him over to the authorities. Bosnian judicial authorities have charged him with damaging or destroying religious property. He could face a prison sentence ranging from six months to five years.
A hearing was held July 30 in which the prosecution proposed ordering the accused held in pretrial detention “due to the risk that he might flee or repeat the offense,” according to the local outlet Avaz.
The prosecutor reported that Krakowiak “showed no remorse during questioning” and stated that, through the attacks, he sought to demonstrate “that the visions are a fraud and that the whole thing is a fabrication.” The Polish national declined legal representation during the hearing and, according to local media, said he wanted to remain in prison.
A difficult childhood
“Bartek,” a common diminutive of his name in Poland, has his own conversion story from Medjugorje, which he recounted in a film released in 2024: “Called 2” produced by the Powołany Film Foundation.
Sharing his testimony in the film, Krakowiak recalled coming “from a family with a history of alcoholism,” a disease that afflicted his great-grandfather, his grandfather, and his father. “Because of that, from a very young age, I thought it was normal,” he noted.
His father was “very aggressive” and abused him. He began to feel “more at ease” on the streets, so he started running away from home. Amid an environment of poverty and deprivation of all kinds, his father’s beatings grew worse, until eventually his mother decided to move out.
“I also became a very peculiar person because I took out all the anger I carried inside on others. I wanted people to suffer as much as I did,” Krakowiak said.
At the age of 18, he met a girl who soon became pregnant. Krakowiak said that this pregnancy made him feel “unconditional love for the first time,” marking a turning point in his life. Sadly, his girlfriend suffered a miscarriage in her sixth month.
“That was when I realized that what my father had said — that I didn’t deserve love, that I would never achieve anything, that I was worthless — was true. That was when I sank even deeper into alcoholism, drugs, and violence,” he remarked.
Amid despair and resentment toward God and his family, Krakowiak decided to take his own life: “I was deeply in debt and suffering from depression and anxiety. I knew I was going to do it that day, and I remember the moment I opened the window and the fear left me.”
‘I am with you’: A journey to Medjugorje
Standing at the window, no longer afraid of the suffering he would leave behind upon his death, Krakowiak received a notification on his phone: A rapper had released a new song titled “I Am With You.”
The song was about the love of Jesus Christ and his closeness during times of greatest difficulty. “That I would overcome this, that he loves me, fights for me, and desires me. It was such a powerful experience — so powerful for me — that I closed the window, and a great hope simply filled my heart that something would change,” Krakowiak recalled.
Afterward, having surrendered himself to God’s will, asking only to be made happy, he heard the word “Medjugorje” deep within himself, though he could not quite describe how. He then understood that he “had to go there” and that, through that journey, God would transform his life. Without delay, he began preparing for the trip of over 800 miles.
“During this trip, I experienced a powerful presence of God. I simply felt his physical presence, that he was with me. During that time, extraordinary miracles occurred in my life, and I saw things I had never seen before,” he said.
“I remember passing the Medjugorje sign and, for the first time in my life, feeling proud of myself. For the first time in my life, I felt proud of who I was and what I was. And although I still had much to process and experience, I simply came to know the living God, the living Christ, who exists and who rose from the dead,” he added.
After returning from Medjugorje, he dedicated himself “to evangelizing, serving, and bringing people closer to God,” striving to show them that “he loves them, fights for them, and that there is hope.” By the time the film premiered, Krakowiak stated that he had been married for five years and was then a father for three.
The shrine restored in record time
The Medjugorje shrine reported on July 28 that the statue of Our Lady that was vandalized on the hill of the alleged apparitions has already been completely restored, thanks to the work of the parish community and members of the Cenacolo Community.
In addition, the outdoor altar of St. James the Apostle Parish was also restored and activities at the shrine have resumed.
Instagram post
“The shrine remains open to all pilgrims. The prayer program is taking place regularly, and all the spaces are being rapidly cleaned and prepared so that they can once again be a place of prayer and encounter with the Lord through the intercession of the Queen of Peace,” the parish office reported in a statement.
“In a special way, we invite all faithful to respond to this event in the way that Our Lady has been teaching us for over 40 years in Medjugorje: with prayer, fasting, and forgiveness,” the parish stated.
The Vatican has approved the “spiritual experience” taking place in Medjugorje, without recognizing the supernatural nature of the alleged apparitions.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
‘The Chosen’ cast heads into the wilderness with Bear Grylls in new series
Several cast members from the hit series “The Chosen” will be trading in the sets of Jerusalem for the wilderness of America as they leap from planes, scale cliffs, eat scorpions, and zip-line over canyons in “The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls.”
The new survival series is the latest project from 5&2 Studios — the production company behind “The Chosen.”
The show will include six episodes featuring actors Jonathan Roumie (who plays Jesus in “The Chosen”), Noah James (Andrew), Paras Patel (Matthew), Luke Dimyan (Judas Iscariot), Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), and creator, writer, and director of “The Chosen,” Dallas Jenkins.
Each individual will join renowned adventurer and survivalist Bear Grylls — known for his series “Running Wild” on FOX — on an adventure in the wild where they will be pushed beyond their comfort zones while exploring what makes them who they are and share personal conversations about their lives and their faith.
Some of the places visited in the series include Utah’s Castle Valley and Canyonlands, the Great Basin Desert, the Colorado River, the Ausable River, and the Adirondack Forest.
The series premieres on Aug. 9 on Prime Video.
Grylls spoke to EWTN News in an interview and shared that he has always been a fan of “The Chosen,” with the series having a great impact on his own faith.
“I was one of those fans. I loved it,” he said. “But I kind of always felt that, unlike big movies or big TV shows normally where you sort of also know the characters as human beings, so few people actually knew much about the actors. Jonathan Roumie, for example, who plays Jesus, what has actually that journey been like for him?”
When speaking with Jenkins, the two thought it would be great to do a spinoff show “where we take some of these [actors], and we actually introduce you to what theyʼre like as human beings, what their journey has been like playing these characters, [and] how itʼs impacted their lives.”
He added: “I think what I wasnʼt ready for is just what a huge effect this TV show has had on all of their lives personally. And that was a really emotional sort of beautiful part of the whole ‘Chosen in the Wild’ series for me.”
Reflecting on the episodes featuring the cast members of “The Chosen,” Grylls shared that the episode with Roumie is the one that “in terms of an experience of an episode — out of all the ‘Running Wild’s’ and everything Iʼve done — I actually would rate that for me the one that will always stay in my heart.”
“Heʼs such a sort of icon of a guy, and his portrayal of Jesus is so powerful. Iʼm a man of faith, and at the start of every episode I do, I always say a prayer, like, ‘Jesus be with me,’” he recalled. “And on this one, it was about as close as youʼre going to get, you know. So, I kind of really wanted to honor that and do it well.”
He added that Roumie “was wonderful” and “incredibly honest,” talking about “things heʼd never spoken about before,” which was a “great privilege” for Grylls.
“I think out of all the roles an actor is going to play, that one is going to mess with your head and heart a lot, because you know at heart, youʼre not that guy. And he was really open about that. I think that conversation sat with him. There was a lot of emotion there,” he shared. “I mean, I donʼt want to kind of over-spiritualize it, but you could feel a presence there. And both of us said that afterwards, [we] said that was kind of weird, but good.”
When asked why the wild sparks so many deeper, more vulnerable conversations, Grylls said: “The wild opens people up. And as you know, you go into the outdoors, and you hike, and you face a few fears, and you cross a river or climb a cliff, you get to see the real people.”
He highlighted that each cast member who participated arrived “ready to be honest and to talk about their journey and how this show, ‘The Chosen,’ has impacted their lives.”
“I really value that honesty. And the wild is a great space — it gives it the space to breathe and to have those sorts of conversations on a level you never normally have,” he said.
Grylls said he hopes viewers will take away a strong “connection with the characters they love” after watching the series.
“This show is made specifically for those hundreds of millions of people around the world who love this TV show and are invested and care about the characters and just want to know more. And I think thereʼs no better way to get to know people than going on an adventure together,” he said. “Weʼve only done a few of these episodes — there are only six of them — [but] theyʼll always hold a really special place in my heart. And I canʼt wait for people to see it.”
Spanish bishops’ president: ‘The invasion of Ceuta is a test. Demography is a weapon’
The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym), Archbishop Luis Argüello, stated that "the invasion of Ceuta is a test. Demography is a weapon," referring to the crisis in recent days caused by the massive illegal entry of migrants into the Spanish city located on the African coast — a situation Pope Leo XIV has also described as "alarming."
In an Aug. 2 message shared on X, Argüello declared: “Biopolitics is key to current global power. Life is toyed with, and people — their dreams, hunger, sexuality, and data — are exploited for the sake of profit and power.”
“Migration is part of this strategy. The invasion of Ceuta is a test. Demography is a weapon,” the prelate added. Since July 31, the Spanish city of Ceuta — located on the African coast of the Strait of Gibraltar — has been facing an extremely grave situation following the illegal entry of some 60,000 people who swam from Morocco, skirting the Tarajal breakwater.
As a result, at least 72 people are believed to have lost their lives during the crossing, though the death toll is estimated to potentially exceed 100. While it is estimated that the majority of those who crossed the border irregularly have returned to Morocco, around 5,000 people still remain on the streets of the autonomous city.
Up to 22 European Union countries have pointed to the recent mass legalization of immigrants carried out in Spain — and backed by the Catholic Church — as a contributing factor to the current migration crisis.
Meanwhile, a recent Spanish court ruling invalidated the practice of so-called “hot returns” (immediate, summary expulsions) in cases where illegal entry into the country was made by swimming, as occurred on July 31.
The bishop of Sant Feliú de Llobregat, the Dominican Xabier Gómez — speaking in his capacity as the official responsible for Migration and Interculturality for the Tarraconense Episcopal Conference — stated in a reflection that "we are not facing an ordinary migration crisis."
The “terrible and very real human drama” that unfolded has benefited neither those who took to the sea risking their lives nor the citizens of Ceuta, who “have the right to live in safety, free from alarm, and in peaceful coexistence.”
However, it has served the interests of “those who use human mobility as a tool for political pressure, those seeking to strain diplomatic relations through potential ‘hybrid threats,’ those who play on public fear, and those who turn the suffering of others and fear into electoral gain.”
After ruling out the recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling or the regulatory process as the root causes of the situation, Gómez recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV regarding the migration issue — spoken during his recent trip to Spain, which included a visit to the Canary Islands, a region that has also been heavily impacted by the mass migration phenomenon.
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.
Spanish persecution survivors reveal hidden stories of faith and resistance
Anti-Christian violence claimed the lives of numerous clergy, religious, and lay Catholics in Spain during the 1930s, producing one of the most extensively studied chapters in the modern history of the Church.
The memory of that religious persecution, however, has largely been constructed around its martyrs, leaving in the background those who endured the same brutality but did not receive the palm of martyrdom.
A new book by Spanish priest and theologian Monsignor Melchor Sánchez de Toca Alameda brings to light the stories of Catholics who survived the upheaval and violence of those years.
Published in Spanish by publishing house Didaskalos under the title “Los mártires que no fueron. Salvados, clandestinos, refugiados, evadidos y muertos de la persecución religiosa en España (1936–1939)” (“The Martyrs Who Were Not: Survivors, Underground Catholics, Refugees, Escapees and Victims of Religious Persecution in Spain, 1936–1939”), the book recounts the experiences of people who escaped death, lived in hiding, fled dangerous areas, or died during the Spanish Civil War under circumstances that did not meet the Church’s criteria for martyrdom.
Sánchez de Toca, a relator at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, has worked on numerous causes of martyrdom connected with the religious persecution of the 1930s.
That experience, he told ACI Prensa, inspired him to begin collecting the stories of those whose lives had received less attention.
“Those who went through the persecution and did not die in it, or who died during that period but without the grace of martyrdom, had been left somewhat in the shadows,” he said.
Would-be martyrs
The book presents a broad collection of men and women who endured the same trial as the martyrs but met a different fate.
Some escaped death through unexpected circumstances. Others remained hidden for years while sustaining a Church forced underground. Some fled the most dangerous areas, while others died during the war without their deaths being recognized as martyrdom.
“Not all saints who live through a religious persecution attain the palm of martyrdom by dying in it, and not everyone who dies during a persecution is a martyr,” Sánchez de Toca explained.
Rather than attempting an exhaustive catalog, the author selected figures who have been canonized or are currently the subjects of beatification causes, offering a different perspective on the dramatic events of the period.
Among the better-known figures are St. Maravillas of Jesus, St. Josemaría Escrivá, Blessed Álvaro del Portillo, Venerable José María García Lahiguera, Blessed Pere Tarrés, Isidoro Zorzano, and Servant of God Carmen Hidalgo, co-founder of the Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest.
The book also features lesser-known people whose lives were marked by the persecution, including Ismael de Tomelloso, known as “the saintly militiaman”; Antonio Rivera, called “the angel of the Alcázar”; and Jesuit Father Fernando Huidobro, a chaplain to the Spanish Legion.
Those three cases initially attracted the author’s interest. Although all suffered the consequences of the war and two died from wounds or at the front, none can be considered martyrs in the strict sense.
“There were attempts to present them as martyrs, especially during the postwar period through Francoist propaganda,” Sánchez de Toca said.
They were sometimes described using a phrase common at the time, “fallen for God and for Spain.” The circumstances of their deaths, however, did not satisfy the requirements established by the Church for the recognition of martyrdom.
The underground Church
One of the book’s most distinctive sections reconstructs the daily lives of Catholics who remained in Republican-controlled territory and were forced to practice their faith clandestinely.
A chapter devoted to “the underground and the prayerful home front” recounts the experiences of courageous men and women who organized secret networks to assist priests in hiding, enable the celebration of the sacraments and keep Catholic religious practice alive.
“They created assistance networks that would not be out of place in the best spy novels,” Sánchez de Toca said.
Isidoro Zorzano, Venerable José María García Lahiguera and Mother Carmen Hidalgo organized a network of financial assistance for priests who had survived.
“They provided them with the materials needed to celebrate Mass and then redistributed Communion, taking it to homes through underground agents,” he explained.
Crossing the front lines
Another chapter recounts the stories of Catholics who crossed the front lines through exceptionally dangerous operations.
They include Blessed Álvaro del Portillo, who crossed through the battlefront; Servant of God Tomás Alvira, who accompanied St. Josemaría Escrivá across the Pyrenees; and Venerable Sister Justa Domínguez de Vidaurreta, a superior of the Daughters of Charity who escaped Madrid after numerous difficulties and eventually settled in Pamplona.
The burden of survival
Sánchez de Toca was also struck by what is commonly known as survivor’s guilt, a psychological phenomenon experienced by many who escaped persecution.
Although a chapter devoted to the subject was removed for editorial reasons, the author said many survivors spent the rest of their lives wrestling with a troubling question: Why had they survived while so many of their companions had been killed?
“It is not always easy to answer the question: ‘Why did the Lord not want me to be a martyr when so many of my companions were killed?’” he said.
Saved at the last moment
Some of the book’s most dramatic passages recount the experiences of people who escaped what appeared to be certain death.
One of the most striking accounts concerns an Augustinian friar imprisoned in Madrid during the persecution.
According to Sánchez de Toca, the friar’s hands had already been tied and he was preparing to be transported to Paracuellos when an unknown person cut his ropes and whispered: “Turn around and go back to your cell. Don’t look back.”
The friar obeyed mechanically and survived.
“He returned to his cell and began trembling and convulsing from the post-traumatic shock so violently that several companions had to hold him down,” Sánchez de Toca recounted.
Others survived because of errors in prisoner lists or the unexpected intervention of anonymous people. Many interpreted their rescue as an act of divine providence and spent the rest of their lives wondering why they had been chosen to survive.
The author also addresses crimes committed by Nationalist forces. Father Huidobro, for example, denounced the summary executions of prisoners in complaints submitted to Gen. Francisco Franco’s headquarters.
A lesson for today
Beyond their historical value, Sánchez de Toca said he believes the biographies offer lessons of particular relevance to Christians today.
“They all lived with a clear vocation to martyrdom,” he said.
According to the author, martyrdom was part of the spiritual horizon of many Spanish Catholics even before the outbreak of the Civil War.
“This can be seen in their letters, homilies, and conversations as an expression of their willingness to give their lives for Christ if necessary,” he said.
Sánchez de Toca also highlighted the extraordinary apostolic creativity Catholics demonstrated under extreme circumstances.
“This is another enduring lesson for our time,” he concluded. “The Holy Spirit inspires apostolic creativity in the circumstances in which each person lives.”
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.