How Christ’s ascension takes the training wheels off our faith
Christ’s ascension is meant to help us to grow to full stature in Christ as we respond to his confidence in making us his missionaries, together with the Holy Spirit, to renew the face of the earth.
The celebration of the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is an annual opportunity for us not only to focus on heaven, where the Lord Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us (Jn 14:1-6) and on the joy that “eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor the human heart conceived,” which “God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9; Is 64:4), but also on the implications Jesus’ return to the Father means for each of his followers.
Jesus could have stayed on earth until the end of time as the Good Shepherd, crisscrossing the globe after every lost sheep, saving them one by one. As he ascended, however, he placed his own mission in our hands, commanding us to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).
He took the training wheels off our discipleship and removed any excuses we might have to pass the buck of sharing and spreading the faith. “You will be my witnesses,” he told us, “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
His confidence and trust in us, despite all our weaknesses, is astonishing. He wanted to incorporate us into — actually entrust to us — his mission of the redemption of the world.
But he didn’t leave us orphans (cf. Jn 14:18).
St. Luke gives us a beautiful image and detail, that Jesus “led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up to heaven” (Lk 24:50-51).
Jesus departed in the very act of blessing us. Pope Benedict XVI in his trilogy “Jesus of Nazareth” commented on how the risen Jesus in heaven is perpetually blessing us.
“Jesus departs in the act of blessing,” he states. “He goes while blessing, and he remains in that gesture of blessing. His hands remain, stretched out over this world … [which] expresses Jesus’ continuing relationship to his disciples, to the world. … That is why the disciples could return home from Bethany rejoicing. In faith we know that Jesus holds his hands stretched out in blessing over us. That is the lasting motive of Christian joy.”
Jesus is continuously blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens (cf. Eph 1:3). He’s seeking to transform us into his incarnate benediction of the world.
The great manifestation of that blessing is the descent of the Holy Spirit, for whose renewed coming we pray in the annual decenarium from the 40th to 50th days of Easter. St. Luke recalls Jesus’ words: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). That’s the power, the blessing, that came down upon the Church on Pentecost.
During the Last Supper, Jesus said something startling: “I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn 16:7). He was describing the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit’s presence as a blessing even greater than his own. That’s what the Church, huddling around the Blessed Virgin Mary, incessantly begs for after the Ascension.
The Holy Spirit helps us to fulfill, and not shirk, the awe-inspiring responsibility Christ has given us. This is the duty to give witness that Christ is alive, that he is the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection, and the Life, that he came to give us life to the full, so that his joy may be in us and our joy may be complete; he came to give and leave us the peace of his kingdom in a war-torn world; he came to help us and others to change our lives, to believe wholeheartedly in the good news, and to follow him, so that where he is we also may be and so that we might recognize that God the Father loves us just as much as he loves Jesus (cf. Jn 14:6; 11:25; 10:10; 15:11; 14:27; Mk 1:15; Jn 16:27; 15:9).
That’s a message and a mission that many no longer easily receive.
Whether they think erroneously that science has disproven faith, or the problem of evil has refuted the possibility of a good God, or the clergy sex-abuse scandals have invalidated the Church’s witness, or the frigidity with which so many secularized Christians live their faith has revealed its incapacity to inspire, or a score of other possible reasons people cite to deaden the appeal of Christian faith and life, it’s clear that proclaiming the Gospel effectively to every creature is challenging work — but so was trying to convince down-to-earth first-century pagans and Jews that a crucified carpenter had not only risen from the dead but also was the Savior of the world. The same blessing of the Holy Spirit that made their joint witness fruitful desires to give tandem testimony with us.
One of the most effective ways to do so is through charity.
Back in 1985, the future Pope Benedict XVI gave a radio address in which he focused on the “delightfully naive pictures” of the Ascension in which the disciples are looking upward as Jesus is passing through the clouds and all we see are Jesus’ feet, the same feet the women wanted to grasp onto after the Resurrection. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger commented that we need to recognize his feet and reverence them in disguise in the feet around us as we follow Christ’s example of washing the feet of others just as he cleansed the apostles’ feet in the upper room.
“The true ascent of mankind,” he stated, “takes place precisely when a man learns to turn in humility to another person, bowing deeply at his feet in the position of one who would wash the feet of the other. It is only in the humility that knows how to bow down that can raise a person up.”
In order to ascend, we need first to descend humbly in acts of corporal and spiritual works of mercy, including passing on the faith to those who don’t know it or who reject what they mistakenly believe it to be.
Christ’s ascension is meant to lead us on an exodus not merely in the future, but here and now: an exodus from the self toward God and others, a journey from fear to trust, a passover from the flat earth of a world without God to the multidimensional reality of Christ’s kingdom.
Christ’s ascension is meant to lift up our hearts as it helps us to drop to our knees. It is meant to help us to grow to full stature in Christ as we respond to his confidence in making us his missionaries, together with the Holy Spirit, to renew the face of the earth. It is meant to fill us, even now, with lasting joy.
This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, EWTN News' partner and updated for EWTN News English.
8 interesting things to know about Mildred Martínez, Pope Leo XIV’s mother
Learning about the life of Mildred Martínez, the mother of Robert Prevost, allows one to better understand the family environment that helped inspire the vocation of the man who is now Pope Leo XIV.
In his book “De Roberto a León” (“From Robert to Leo”) published by Editorial Mensajero, Armando Lovera, a native of Iquitos, Peru, provides data and insights that illuminate the maternal influence in the life of the pope.
1. Two of Mildredʼs sisters embraced religious life.
A testament to the importance of the Catholic faith in Mildred’s family is that two of her sisters, Louise and Hilda, decided to consecrate their lives to God by joining religious congregations.
Louise Eugenie, born in 1903 in New Orleans, was the first to take this step: at the age of 19, she entered the Sisters of Mercy. Years later, in 1928 at the age of 21, Hilda followed in her footsteps by professing vows in the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2. Mildred lost her father as a young teen.
Mildred’s childhood was marked by the loss of her father, Joseph Martinez, who died on July 31, 1926, when she was just 14 years old. His death left her mother, Louise, a widow who was then compelled to enter the workforce. Mildredʼs mother, the popeʼs maternal grandmother, found employment at a nut and candy factory, where she worked as a taster, evaluating the quality of the products.
At the same time, Mildredʼs older sisters, Irma and Margaret, also assumed responsibility for the family’s financial support, thereby enabling the family to stay afloat during a time of exceptional hardship.
3. She was educated to be an independent woman.
In the 1920s, Mildred began her studies at Immaculata High School, a Catholic girls' school founded by the congregation to which Hilda belonged.
The education she received was not limited to academics. The institution sought to prepare women capable of navigating public and professional life, fostering both intellectual development and Christian values, with a clear commitment to women’s independence.
4. She had a life dedicated to books and education.
At the age of 27, Mildred began working at a public library, performing administrative tasks. Three years later, she enrolled at DePaul University to study library science. She completed a postgraduate degree in education in 1949.
Her passion for books was not limited to the professional sphere. For years, she volunteered at the parish library: She organized the collections, cataloged books, and arranged public readings to promote culture.
5. She was a sacred music singer and distinguished soloist.
Mildred possessed a deep and powerful contralto voice. This was no mere hobby: She performed as a soloist in numerous sacred music concerts.
In 1941, she even appeared at the prestigious Chicagoland Music Festival, held at Soldier Field before an audience of over 100,000 people. Her repertoire centered on sacred music, and among her performances, her rendition of the “Ave Maria,” a demanding piece even for professionals, stood out in particular.
6. The first time her future husband met her family nearly ended in disaster.
The family history also yielded some singular anecdotes. Mildred met Louis, who would become her husband and the father of the future pope, at DePaul University in 1948. However, his first meeting with her family nearly ended in disaster.
Invited to their home, Louis arrived feeling unwell; he took some medication and shortly thereafter fainted in front of everyone. Joking around, one of the sisters declared that he wouldnʼt be back. But he did return. Months later, on Jan. 25, 1949, they were married at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and began their life together in Dolton, Illinois.
7. Her electric organ ended up in Trujillo, Peru.
In addition to singing, Mildred played the piano and actively participated in her parishʼs music ministry.
Years later, her electric organ was transported by her son, then-Father Robert Prevost, some 3,500 miles to the Augustinian formation house in Trujillo, the city where he worked from 1988 to 1999.
8. Mildred played a decisive role in her sonʼs vocation.
Mildred was a pillar in the spiritual life of the Prevost family, which lived parish life as if it were an extension of their own home. Their home served as a regular gathering place for priest friends, whom she would often invite over for a meal. These gatherings, characterized by simplicity and warmth, helped to kindle in the heart of the youngest of her three children his desire to be like them.
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.
Inquest finds priest and 4 Catholic civilians shot by British troops ‘unlawfully killed’
Speaking at a Mass in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following an inquest that found five Catholics, including a priest, were unlawfully killed by British soldiers in 1972, Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, of Down and Connor told Corpus Christi parishioners that the verdict “restores dignity to the deceased, and it brings a measure of justice to those who grieve.”
Father Noel Fitzpatrick, 42; Patrick Butler, 38; John Dougal, 16; David McCafferty, 15; and Margaret Gargan, 13, were shot and killed in the Springhill/Westrock area of West Belfast on July 9, 1972. The deceased were all Corpus Christi parishioners and their relatives and campaigners for justice were present at the Mass on May 3 to hear McGuckian’s words.
The shooting took place at a time of great turmoil and disturbance in the city, with an IRA ceasefire having just broken down. The British Armyʼs position was that it was engaged in a sustained gun battle. The coroner’s verdict was that there may have been some “sporadic” firing by the IRA, but those killed were unarmed, posed no threat, and should not have been killed.
The inquest was completed in 2024, just before the British government’s controversial Legacy Act shut down inquests in Troubles-related killings. Belfast High Court Judge David Scoffield, sitting as a coroner, stated that the soldiers from the King’s Regiment “lost control.”
Speaking at the Mass at Corpus Christi Church, McGuckian paid tribute to the perseverance, resilience, and persistence of the victims’ families and the parish community.
McGuckian said the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland continues to cast a long shadow across communities, families, and institutions, adding that this is a “moment of deep significance” for the families of the parish community and for all who carry the memory of the shootings.
He continued: “Three young children, John Dougal, David McCafferty, Margaret Gargan; a father of a young family, Patrick Butler; and a local priest, Father Noel Fitzpatrick, were unlawfully killed by British army soldiers who ‘overreacted and lost control’ using force that was unreasonable and unjustified. While no legal finding can ever undo the pain of such loss, the public naming of this truth is of profound importance.”
McGuckian paid tribute to Fitzpatrick, “a priest of this diocese, who in faithfulness to his pastoral calling stood with you, his people, in a time of fear and violence.”
He added that the “path towards reconciliation and recovery in Northern Ireland can only be achieved by walking together in the light of truth and justice.”
The inquest found that Fitzpatrick, at the time of his death, was unarmed, posed no threat, and was going to the assistance of others. Butler was killed by the same bullet that killed Fitzpatrick, which struck him after passing through the priest’s neck. He, too, was unarmed, posed no risk, and was assisting Fitzpatrick in helping others.
McCafferty, a schoolboy, was likely attempting to recover the body of Fitzpatrick when he was shot and killed. McCafferty was a member of the junior wing of the Official IRA. The coroner found he was not armed and was not posing a threat when he was shot by the same soldier who killed Fitzpatrick and Butler.
Dougal was an acknowledged member of Na Fianna, the juvenile wing of the Provisional IRA. The coroner found there was suspicious activity in the area that evening and said he was unable to determine whether Dougal had been armed when he was killed. The coroner found that like the other deceased in the inquest, Dougal should not have been shot dead by the army in the circumstances. He was shot in the back as he retreated from the scene.
Thirteen-year-old Gargan was standing talking to friends in the street when she was “shot directly in the face.” She was “wholly innocent.”
Scoffield said in his concluding comments: “In light of the passage of time, the difficulties in establishing to the criminal standard who fired any lethal shots and the associated difficulties in this case of even establishing the identity of the ciphered soldiers — there is little prospect of any prosecution in these cases if that is what anyone is seeking.”
The shooting of Fitzpatrick was the second killing of a Catholic priest by British soldiers within 12 months in Belfast at the time.
Father Hugh Mullan was one of 10 people killed in the Ballymurphy massacre between Aug. 9 and Aug. 11, 1971. An inquest in 2021 found all victims in Ballymurphy to be innocent.
Eyewitnesses reported Mullan was carrying a white cloth when he was shot and continued to pray as he lay dying. Prior to his shooting he had telephoned the British Army base to notify them he was going to the scene to assist a wounded man. He was shot in the back by a member of the paratroop regiment. Mullan’s sister, Geraldine, told ITV News at the time: “It made me very angry that he had died and nobody seemed to care that this young priest’s life had been taken away from him.”
Following the Springhill/Westrock verdict, Down and Connor Diocesan Vocations Director Father Conor McGrath pointed to the example of Fitzpatrick and Mullan as men of heroic virtue — both of whom were exercising their priestly ministry when they were shot.
Head of French charity warns of existential challenges facing Eastern Christians
Monsignor Hugues de Woillemont, director general of the French organization L’Œuvre d’Orient, said that Eastern Christians, especially Christians in the Holy Land, are facing existential challenges that threaten their historic presence. Chief among these challenges, he said, are migration, the pressure of economic crises, and war.
The head of the social and humanitarian association told EWTN News on the occasion of its 170th anniversary that the organization was founded in 1856 under the name “Œuvre des Écoles d’Orient,” or “Work of the Schools of the East.” From the beginning, he said, it was built on the conviction that “the formation of minds is the first act of solidarity.”
Since then, the organization has expanded its mission to include education, healthcare, social assistance, humanitarian relief, and the preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage, which he described as “the living memory of Christian communities in the East."
Building on this legacy, he explained that the organization has developed “an organized field presence through local offices and young volunteers.” This presence, he said, aims to “bring the voice of Eastern Christians to decision-makers in Europe and at the level of international institutions,” helping to strengthen their historic presence and safeguard their future in their homelands.
The challenge of migration
Speaking about the main challenges facing Eastern Christians today, de Woillemont said the current situation “is a cause for deep concern.” Political, economic, and military crises, he explained, “weaken entire societies,” while Christians often bear these consequences in a particularly heavy way.“
“The greatest challenge today is migration,” he said. “In several countries, ancient communities face the risk of disappearance because of the lack of economic and security prospects.”
Despite this, he emphasized that “Eastern Christians continue to play their role as makers of peace and dialogue in extremely difficult circumstances, even though they are facing wars they did not choose.”
Education, he added, remains “at the heart of our commitment because it helps build stable societies and limits migration.” He noted that “behind every school that opens or clinic that receives support, there is a family choosing to stay and remain rooted in its land.”
De Woillemont said the organization’s work has also expanded to include healthcare and social assistance, “especially amid the weakness of public systems,” as well as emergency humanitarian relief in times of war and disaster. He also underlined that preserving heritage is a central part of the organization’s mission, because “it is not only about buildings but about the living memory of entire civilizations.”
As part of his appeal for solidarity, de Woillemont addressed Christians in Europe and the United States, saying: “Eastern Christians are not only communities that suffer; they are a richness for the whole Church.”
“Prayer is essential,” he added, “but it must be accompanied by concrete solidarity,” including support for educational, healthcare, and social projects, as well as efforts to make their reality known to the wider public.
He also called for a better understanding of Eastern Christians within Western societies and for greater advocacy with decision-makers, noting that “action by the international community can make a real difference.”
De Woillemont highlighted the importance of building direct relationships through volunteering and twinning initiatives, saying that such experiences “leave a deep impact on the young people who take part in them.”
Looking ahead, he said three major challenges are emerging: the acceleration of migration, the preservation of education and heritage in conflict zones, and the difficulty of mobilizing resources amid multiple crises and declining international attention.“
It is becoming difficult to maintain sustained attention and mobilize the necessary resources,” he said, adding that this requires broadening the support base and strengthening awareness efforts.
At the conclusion of his remarks, de Woillemont expressed “deep appreciation and lasting closeness” to Eastern Christians, saying that “their fidelity, courage, and hope are a witness for the whole Church.”
He stressed that their presence “is essential in their countries,” adding: “They are not only heirs to history but also bearers of the future.”
In this context, he recalled Pope Leo XIV’s call for “a peace that is disarmed and disarming, humble and persevering,” emphasizing that such peace must be based on respect for the sovereignty of states and international law.“
Let them know that we are at their side for the long term, with determination and trust,” he concluded. “We do not forget them, and we remain beside them.”
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.
U.S. Embassy debunks claim Vatican honored Iran with top diplomatic award
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See has publicly rejected online claims that the Vatican granted Iran a unique or politically motivated diplomatic award, calling the allegation inaccurate and misleading.
“Contrary to news reports, Pope Leo has not bestowed an exclusive special honor on the Iranian ambassador to the Holy See,” the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See said in a May 13 social media post. “This decoration is given to all accredited ambassadors to the Holy See after 2+ years of service and has been standard practice for many years.”
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The post comes after Iranian state media outlets reported that the Vatican honored Iran’s ambassador, Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari, with an award for “strengthening diplomatic ties and serving the cause of peace and dialogue.”
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Pope Leo XIV awarded the “Vatican’s highest diplomatic honor to Iran’s ambassador” for his “efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and bilateral relations.”
The report further claimed that “officials praised the Iranian embassy’s activities in advancing peaceful coexistence, wisdom, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue,” and that in the official decree, Leo “expressed appreciation for Ambassador Mokhtari’s services in strengthening ties with the Holy See." The Holy See has had diplomatic relations with Iran since May 1953.
The U.S. Embassy explained that the award given to Mokhtari “is a personal recognition and does not imply support or opposition to any policy or country.”
“Thirteen ambassadors were recently given this recognition. Previous U.S. ambassadors have all received the same,” the post noted. “Finally, the decoration was not given in person by the pope.”
Vatican News reported that Mokhtari was among 13 ambassadors to receive the recognition for completing two years of service. The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, substitute for general affairs at the Secretariat of State, who presented insignia and official parchments to the diplomats.
The Holy See Press Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Daily Wire commentator Michael Knowles, a Catholic, described the incident as “a reminder about the ubiquity and power of propaganda, especially when we’re talking about the Iran war.”
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“It’s all propaganda,” Knowles said. “The Iranians are clearly making hay out of this rote procedure that the Vatican presented.”
FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas promises pro-life agenda, calls advocates
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas called pro-life organizations to offer reassurance about his commitment to life after some people in the movement raised concerns.
“Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas is personally committed to delivering on President Trump’s pro-life and pro-family agenda at the FDA,” Andrew Nixon, deputy assistant secretary for media relations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told EWTN News.
“Both he and other administration officials will continue regularly interacting with stakeholders in this community to inform FDA decision-making,” he said.
Diamantas is serving as acting commissioner after the May 12 resignation of Commissioner Marty Makary, who faced criticism from within the pro-life movement for failure to impose stricter regulations on the abortion drug mifepristone.
Some pro-life leaders celebrated Makary’s departure but grew concerned about Diamantas because court records show him serving as legal counsel for a Planned Parenthood affiliate while working at the Baker Donelson law firm. The case was related to a property dispute.
Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to President Donald Trump, dismissed the concern in a post on X, saying he was a junior associate assigned to the case but removed himself because of his pro-life beliefs.
Within the past two days, Diamantas has reached out to some pro-life advocates, including March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter. A spokesperson for Live Action confirmed he had scheduled a conversation with Live Action President Lila Rose as well.
“Within a few hours of being handed this big new job, he was getting on the phone with pro-life leaders and that in itself, I think, is a really encouraging sign of where his priorities are going to be,” Lichter told “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” host Abigail Galván.
Lichter said she spoke with Diamantas about her concerns with mifepristone, specifically about “the lack of safety, the lack of guardrails, [and] its easy availability.”
Under Makary, the FDA launched a study to review the 2023 deregulation of mifepristone, but so far no action has been taken to increase restrictions. Rather, in that same month, the FDA approved a generic version of the drug.
Based on her conversation, Lichter said, “I think weʼre going to see real movement” on that study and “I think that the cause of life is going to have, you know, a real champion at the FDA” under Diamantas’ leadership.
“I feel really comfortable that he is bringing in strong pro-life commitments and a commitment to transparency and to moving with all deliberate speed to take a close look at mifepristone and then take decisive action based on what that study shows,” she said.
Mark Harrington, president of Created Equal, told EWTN News he had not received a call from Diamantas and expressed hesitations about his leadership of the FDA, saying his efforts “could just be viewed as nothing more than damage control.”
“Talk is cheap,” he said. “But personnel is policy, and the fact that Diamantas [reportedly] represented Planned Parenthood makes me skeptical that he will advocate for the full mifepristone safety study. We will trust but verify. Action needs to be taken now on the abortion drug.”
Legislation would ensure parents can arrange burial or cremation after pregnancy loss
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said he is introducing legislation to ensure hospitals and freestanding birth centers provide clear information about the rights that grieving parents have regarding the cremation or burial of their miscarried or stillborn child.
Marshall, who practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist for more than 25 years, said he is naming the bill the “Bereaved Parents Rights Act.” Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida, who personally suffered an ectopic pregnancy, said she is sponsoring a companion version in the House.
Laws on the handling of fetal remains following a miscarriage or stillbirth vary state to state, and many states have no clear legal requirements regarding the disposition of remains, leaving hospitals to rely on internal policies and procedures, according to Marshall.
Students for Life Action backs the measure and is leading lobbying on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to back it, said Kristan Hawkins, the organization’s president.
The legislation would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act “to say that the hospital that she is birthing her child into, whether the childʼs born stillborn or miscarried … has to notify the parents no less than six hours after the event or before discharge“ and ”how she can get her babyʼs body to the funeral home to have a funeral if she would like to,” Hawkins said.
A standardized form from the secretary of Health and Human Services would ensure a parent has the right to cremate the child after miscarriage or stillbirth, and it would apply in every state, Hawkins said.
The legislation “is a no-brainer,” Cammack said. “This is very simple in my mind. Any parent who has lost a child needs the space, opportunity, and resources to properly grieve that child.”
To “provide a burial for your child to recover the remains of your child” is “not a partisan issue,” she said. “I believe that is a human issue and something that, if we are serious about honoring life and protecting people, we really do champion and pass this legislation to give closure to so many families around the country.”
Bill sponsors said they have been trying to find a Democratic cosponsor for the bill without success.
“Thereʼs a culture around the issue that doesnʼt allow people to get to the facts. And while you are entitled, certainly, to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts,” Cammack said.
“And the fact is that these are children, these are human beings that have heartbeats, and they deserve the same dignity that a child who was born and has been lost deserves," she said.
“It should be something very simple that every woman, regardless of where you are in the country, what hospital you find yourself in, is given the exact same rights as a woman who is in a state that values and protects life,” she said.
Personal testimonies
“I see tremendous value in women coming together and reaching across the aisle saying, ‘Weʼve all experienced loss in some form or fashion, whether yourself personally or you know someone who has,’” Cammack said.
A briefing by Students for Life Action on May 13 included numerous personal testimonials from women who have been affected by miscarriage and stillbirth who are urging lawmakers to advance the bill.
Sarah Wirtz said: “I could not go to the hospital. I actually waited three days to go to the hospital because I just was trying to research … if I was going to be allowed to have my son," she said. "He had passed away, but I still had him inside of me."
“I knew within at least the medical system, after 20 weeks I was afforded more protection” and “I was absolutely terrified what this meant legally for my baby,” she said.
Wirtz said she was asking: “Would I be given my baby? When I went in to give birth, would they take him from me?”
Wirtz said she risked her own health to spend time finding resources to ensure she was able to keep her sonʼs body. Once she found Heavenʼs Gain Ministries, a Catholic organization that helps families with pregnancy loss, she was told “Youʼre very blessed to be in Ohio,” because state law ensured she had the right to her baby.
“So I went to the hospital, I gave birth to my son Noah, and I was able to bury him,” she said. “But I was also told at the time, if [I] had been in California … I wouldnʼt be afforded the same rights under the law."
“He would have been deemed as his gestational size, which is under 20 weeks, and I wouldnʼt have been guaranteed right to disposition and ... what happened to his body,” she said.
Language of miscarriage
Hawkins also noted the importance of the language when discussing abortion and miscarriage, and ensuring women know the difference and understand the procedures.
“Something we saw in the fall of the Dobbs … was Planned Parenthood intentionally started changing the language around abortion, direct intentional abortion, and they started using the phrase ‘induced miscarriage,’” she said.
“Thatʼs largely because of the invention and the shifting of the abortion industry to the chemical abortion pill, where we know at least 70% of these abortions, that are still killing about a million children a year, are being committed using these pills,” she said.
“The way theyʼre framing these abortions to many young confused women, very scared women, is youʼre just going to ‘induce a miscarriage. Itʼs going to be just like a miscarriage,’” she said.
“We know those are two very different things. And I think apart from the evil of Planned Parenthood killing children and harming women … this is the third greatest evil theyʼve ever committed, which is trying to use the pain and the tragedy of a miscarriage to then justify and try to change the hearts of millions of Americans on their issue, which is the intentional destruction of a human being,” Hawkins said.
Thousands of pilgrims gather at Fátima to commemorate the apparitions of Our Lady
Pilgrims from all over the world descended on the Fátima Shrine in Portugal to commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Fátima.
On the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Fátima, May 12, the light of thousands of candles illuminated the night at the spot where Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children 109 years ago.
The faithful filled the shrine, gathering to participate in the recitation of the rosary and the traditional candlelight procession.
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‘We come as pilgrims and depart as missionary disciples’
Rui Manuel Sousa Valério, patriarch of Lisbon, Portugal, celebrated the Mass on May 13. In his homily, the prelate emphasized that the pilgrimage “does not end here” but rather Fátima is “a point for sending forth.”
This celebration commemorates the first of the six apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima to the three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7, in 1917.
The pilgrimage on May 13 is the most attended, welcoming more than 450,000 pilgrims last year. They gather at Cova da Iria, a neighborhood that was once the field where the three shepherd children pastured their familyʼs sheep and where the Virgin Mary appeared.
The Catholic Church officially recognized the apparitions as worthy of belief in 1930.
“We come as pilgrims and depart as missionary disciples; everything we experience here — prayer, silence, reconciliation, and communion — cannot remain confined within the Cova da Iria,” the prelate noted.
He invited the faithful to let the experience of Fátima “enter into our hearts” as well as into all areas of life — our homes, families, workplaces, and schools — and also “into the wounds and joys of daily life.”
Sousa emphasized that the message of Fátima is truly embraced “when it transforms into a mission, and what we receive becomes a light for others.”
He further recalled that in her apparitions, the Virgin called for conversion and for the responsibility of love: “True devotion to Mary never closes the heart. It opens it; it never isolates, it sends forth; it never sleeps, it awakens.”
The Virgin Mary asked the children to pray the rosary every day for the conversion of sinners and to obtain peace for the world, especially an end to the ongoing First World War. She also invited them to make personal sacrifices and offer their sufferings on behalf of sinners.
She promised to return on the 13th day of each month for the next six months and confided that she had secrets to reveal concerning the fate of the world.
To prove that the apparitions were true, Mary promised the children that during the last of her six appearances, she would provide a sign so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message. What happened on that day — Oct. 13, 1917 — has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.”
May 13, 2026, also marks the 45th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in St. Peterʼs Square. For this reason, the Mass in Fátima was celebrated using the chalice that the Polish pontiff donated during one of his visits to the site.
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.
Mental health crisis in Europe: Church calls for strengthening families and spiritual support
The Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) has published a study analyzing the mental health crisis in Europe from an ethical, social, and Christian perspective, and proposed recommendations for EU public policies.
The document, titled “Mental Health in Europe — A Call for Care,” states that Europe is facing a growing mental health crisis with increases in depression and anxiety being causes by various factors, such as loneliness, trauma, suicide, job insecurity, aging, digitalization, and forced migration.
The study notes that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the crisis while it simultaneously exposed the weaknesses of the European mental health care system.
The document, which advocates for a “comprehensive” vision of mental health that also encompasses social, relational, and spiritual dimensions, was prepared by the COMECE ethics committee.
Loneliness: One of the greatest risks to mental health
Friederike Ladenburger is a jurist, adviser on ethics, research, and health, and secretary of the commission. In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, she emphasized the need to address mental health from a “multidimensional” perspective that takes into account not only biological and psychological needs but also “spiritual support.”
She also noted that the document stems from a concern regarding “current, urgent, and pressing” issues such as loneliness, one of the greatest risks to mental health today, which “has evolved into one of the major crises of our time.”
Ladenburger clarified that loneliness is defined as “the absence of social contact and the perceived discrepancy between a person’s desires and their actual social network,” emphasizing that the problem is not solely quantitative. “It is not just about the size of your network, but also the quality of your network,” she stated, underscoring the importance of having “meaningful, authentic, and lasting human connections.”
The document states that mental well-being depends not only on clinical treatments but also on strong human relationships, social integration, a sense of belonging, and respect for the dignity of every individual.
She noted that the report rests on three fundamental pillars drawn from Christian anthropology: that “the human person is created in the image of God,” that this dignity encompasses “both body and soul,” and that human beings possess an essential relational and spiritual dimension.
“One of the most important points of our report is the communal aspect of the human person,” she said, indicating that the Church can help address social isolation with community events.
Strengthening families
The COMECE study also emphasizes the need for the European Union to promote policies that strengthen families as a fundamental place where care takes place.
The report identifies the family as “the basic cell of society” and, in this vein, warned that Europe is undergoing “an urgent and dramatic demographic change.”
Consequently, Ladenburger called for greater financial support for young families: “They need financial support, financial relief, and the opportunity to start a family” as well as “jobs and decent housing.”
Technology must not replace human contact
Ladenburger expressed concern regarding the impact of artificial intelligence, particularly among young people, underscoring the need for European regulation to protect individuals from technological abuse, digital addiction, and online harassment.
She warned that the use of digital tools must be “supplementary, not substitutive,” acknowledging that digital technologies can improve access to psychological care but emphasizing that technology should complement, rather than replace, human contact.
She said that “the priority is the human being,” whose core capacity remains “to express empathy and feel with others.”
Spiritual accompaniment
In addition, COMECE called for European policies that include spiritual accompaniment in hospitals and in other vulnerable settings, including reproductive health, palliative and end-of-life care, and migration.
Regarding surrogacy, she explained that the report outlines the psychological risks for both the pregnant mother and the child. Likewise, concerning palliative care, it advocates for comprehensive care that is not limited to the clinical aspect. “Every human being must be treated with dignity, especially those who are suffering,” Ladenburger pointed out.
Emphasizing the importance of hospital chaplaincies and of every individual’s right to practice his or her religion, especially in situations of suffering or displacement, the bishops’ commission noted that effective support would not only be "medical or clinical ... it also entails spiritual support.”
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.
Pope Leo XIV appoints Capuchin priest and former missionary to lead Florida diocese
Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, as the third bishop of Venice, Florida, on May 13. The Capuchin Franciscan priest has been pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C., since 2018 and served for more than 20 years as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and Cuba.
The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, 76, who has reached the usual age of retirement after leading the diocese since 2007, after having first served for nine months as its coadjutor bishop.
Agüero, who was born in Fairfax, Virginia, on Dec. 15, 1964, entered the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin in 1987. He was ordained a priest on May 21, 1994.
With his consecration and installation, the bishop-designate will become the only active Capuchin Franciscan bishop currently heading a U.S. diocese. Bishop Matt Elshoff, OFM Cap, serves as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Agüero begins his new role in Florida after having served as a missionary for more than two decades. He served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea from 1994–2006 and in Cuba from 2007–2019.
According to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Agüero speaks Spanish and Tok Pisin (a Creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea) in addition to English.
The bishop-designate also holds several academic degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Borromeo College earned in 1987; masterʼs degrees in theology and divinity from Oblate College earned in 1992; and a licentiate in sacred theology from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., earned in 2007.
His most recent assignment has been pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. He belongs to the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh.
Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, D.C., said in a statement: “St. Francis burns in the heart of Father Emilio.”
He is “one of the finest pastors in the Archdiocese of Washington,” a man whose “piercing” proclamation of the Gospel draws people to Christ and inspires genuine conversion, McElroy said. The bishop-designate “has been unswerving in reaching out to the poor and the marginalized, and the undocumented. He is also a bridge-builder who reaches across the boundaries of polarization to forge real solidarity in the family of God,” McElroy said.
This story was updated at 1:25 p.m. ET on May 13, 2026, to include the statement from Cardinal Robert McElroy.