Michael Knowles: U.S. founding mirrors Catholic political philosophy
WASHINGTON — Commentator Michael Knowles believes that the U.S. Constitution may be more closely aligned with Catholic political philosophy than commonly recognized, suggesting the nation’s founding echoes ideas laid out centuries earlier.
Speaking as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Knowles on March 19 tied the American system to Aquinas’ concept of the “mixed regime,” which combines elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy — a framework that, he noted, is mirrored in the Constitution’s balance of executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
The remarks came during a March 19 fireside chat at The Heritage Foundation, where Knowles appeared alongside Jay W. Richards, the foundation’s William E. Simon senior research fellow in American principles and public policy, for a conference titled “Catholicism and the American Founding.” The event explored the philosophical and religious influences behind the American experiment, highlighting how ideas from classical and Catholic thinkers helped shape the founders’ vision.
“The government that they established,” Knowles said, “is very closely in accord with the ideal regime laid out by St. Thomas Aquinas.” He pointed to the Constitution’s combination of a strong executive, a deliberative Senate, and a more directly representative House as reflecting the “kingly, aristocratic, and democratic” aspect of Aquinas’ model.
Although the founders were largely Protestant and influenced by Enlightenment thought, Knowles emphasized that their ideas were part of a broader intellectual tradition that included Catholic thinkers.
“It’s not that Madison and Jefferson were reading Thomas Aquinas,” he said. “But they were reading him two degrees removed.” He traced that influence through figures such as Francisco Suárez and Robert Bellarmine, whose work shaped Protestant theorists and ultimately informed the American founding generation.
Knowles also highlighted the language of the Declaration of Independence, particularly its appeal to “the laws of nature and of nature’s God,” as evidence of a moral and philosophical tradition extending beyond purely secular Enlightenment reasoning.
“There is something delightful in Providence,” he said, “that this country, founded by a bunch of ardent Calvinists, would end up so beautifully resembling the regime of the common doctor [St. Thomas Aquinas] of the Catholic Church.”
Prayer breakfast speaker
Earlier the same day, Knowles — who is Catholic and host of “The Michael Knowles Show” at The Daily Wire — spoke at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, noting the continued influence of Catholicism in the United States.
“Catholics today make up a little over 20% of the U.S. population,” he cited, “but we make up 28% of congressmen, 38% of governors, and at least two-thirds of the Supreme Court … Not only is the sitting vice president Catholic, but every presently viable candidate for president in 2028 of both parties is a baptized Catholic.”
“Not only can a Catholic become president,” he added, “but an American can even be a pope.”
Only a “firm faith in Providence” could have permitted this, he said.
During the Heritage discussion, Knowles reflected briefly on his own return to the faith after falling away as a teenager.
“I noticed the smartest people believe in God,” he said, recalling his time at Yale and the influence of philosophical arguments and Christian writers such as C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, who ultimately converted to Catholicism.
That experience, he suggested, parallels a broader renewed interest in objective truth and natural law, particularly among younger Americans. “There is a real desire to return to something like objective reality,” he said.
The conversation also touched on the role of religion in public life. Knowles rejected the idea of a formal theocracy but argued that some shared moral framework is unavoidable. “We do have established religion in the country,” he said, noting that cultural norms and public expectations function in practice like a civic creed.
Heritage panelists weigh in
Following the fireside chat, a panel of Catholic scholars — including Elizabeth Edwards Spalding of Pepperdine University, Matthew Mehan of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College, and Carson Holloway of the University of Nebraska at Omaha — led by Brenda Hafera of The Heritage Foundation, examined these themes in more detail, particularly the influence of natural law on the American founding.
Mehan described natural law as rooted in “the rule of right reason,” drawing on Aristotle, Cicero, and Aquinas before shaping modern political thought. Spalding highlighted Jefferson’s acknowledgment of a broad intellectual tradition in the Declaration, noting references to both ancient and modern sources.
Panelists debated whether the American founding is compatible with Catholic political thought.
Holloway acknowledged that the United States may not embody the “best regime” in a classical sense but emphasized it as “a regime for which we can be grateful” — one “worth preserving and worth understanding,” especially as it enables the free practice and proclamation of faith.
Spalding stressed that early Americans distinguished between liberty and license, linking freedom to moral responsibility and the common good.
Several speakers also noted that concepts like natural rights predate the Enlightenment, emerging over centuries in classical and theological traditions. “Natural rights are very old … they’re not a creature of the Enlightenment,” Spalding said.
For Knowles, interpreting the founding in this broader philosophical and religious context helps Americans today understand the nation’s enduring principles as it marks its 250th year.
“We can totally grant that these men were not endeavoring to establish a Catholic republic,” he said. “But … what they have done has created a meaning that is very much in line with the natural law tradition.”
The discussion at The Heritage Foundation, Knowles suggested, is not just about historical interpretation but also about how the founding principles might inform contemporary civic life.
“Catholics in America are an improbable community because this country was founded by people who did not take kindly to them,” he told the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News. “And yet, paradoxically, Catholics have thrived in America and contributed to America perhaps more distinctly than any other group.”
“This would have shocked many of our forefathers,” he added. “But our most insightful ancestors saw it coming because America, despite her outward appearance, has a profoundly Catholic character.”
This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Cesar Chavez Mass canceled in Los Angeles Archdiocese after bombshell sexual abuse allegations
An annual Mass in the nation’s largest Catholic diocese honoring legendary labor leader Cesar Chavez will not take place this year after a bombshell report alleged that the activist sexually abused multiple girls at the height of his popularity decades ago.
The explosive allegations came on March 18 in an investigation by the New York Times, one that alleged that Chavez abused multiple young girls in a “pattern” of sexual misconduct for years.
The revelations sent numerous organizations scrambling to distance themselves from Chavez, who has loomed large in U.S. politics for decades, including being honored by President Joe Biden with a bust in the Oval Office during his administration.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said it would not be holding its regular Mass this year honoring Chavez’s legacy. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels has held an annual Mass in March to acknowledge the advocate’s “commitment to the struggle for justice and dignity for all workers,” but an archdiocesan spokeswoman said the Mass would not take place in at least 2026.
“The Chavez family informed the archdiocese that they had decided not to move forward with having a Mass this year,” the spokeswoman told EWTN News.
The United Farm Workers of America, a labor union founded in part by Chavez, said ahead of the Times’ report that the allegations were “deeply troubling.” The group said it would “not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities” amid the controversy.
Cesar Chavez Day is normally observed in the United States on March 31, the activist’s birthday. It was first recognized by then-President Barack Obama in 2014.
Internal emails reviewed by the Times said that union leaders have been aware “for years” of allegations of misconduct regarding Chavez, while women he allegedly abused were reportedly discouraged from publicly revealing the allegations.
Openly Catholic during his life and labor efforts — including by regular Mass attendance — Chavez has been celebrated by Catholics for decades for seeking to apply the social teachings of the Church while advocating for better labor conditions for workers.
Chavez has drawn praise from U.S. Catholic leaders in the past. The California Catholic bishops in 2012 hailed the construction of a national monument to the labor advocate, noting that he was “profoundly influenced by Catholic social justice teaching.”
He “strived to be a good disciple of the Lord Jesus by bringing the kingdom of God to the vineyards, fields, and groves of America,” the bishops said at the time.
On its website, meanwhile, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a resource for educators referred to Chavez as a “champion” of “life and dignity” alongside others such as Dorothy Day and St. Oscar Romero.
U.S. bishops spokesperson Chieko Noguchi told EWTN News that the abuse allegations were “distressing” and that the bishops were “in the process of reviewing our website to identify references to [Chavez] for the purpose of removing them.”
“If the references to Chavez are part of historical archives, we cannot erase them, but the Catholic Church is committed to addressing the sin of sexual abuse,” she said.
“No matter where the abuse took place, the Catholic Church is committed to keeping children safe, and accompanying survivors of abuse in their healing.”
Day herself in 1966 hailed Chavez for his labor activities and urged readers to support his advocacy.
Chavez’s activism on behalf of the plight of laborers, Day wrote at the time, is “a result of living for a lifetime with these problems, and the sense that God plays a hand in these events.”
This story was updated at 6:50 p.m. ET on March 19, 2026 with a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Notre Dame announces tuition assistance for families with income below $150,000
Here’s a roundup of the latest Catholic education news in the U.S.:
Notre Dame announces tuition assistance plan
The University of Notre Dame announced it will cover the full tuition cost for students from families with an annual income below $150,000.
“With this announcement, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to ensuring that cost will never be a barrier between a promising student and a Notre Dame education, and we are ensuring that families have greater clarity as they consider this important and formative step for young scholars,” Micki Kidder, Notre Dame vice president for undergraduate enrollment, said in the March 18 announcement.
The move comes as “a bold expansion” of its Pathways to Notre Dame Initiative, launched by Notre Dame President Father Robert A. Dowd, CSC, in September 2024.
Families who make under $60,000 per year will also receive need-based financial aid covering tuition, fees, housing, and food, while families who make under $200,000 can receive need-based aid that covers half of the cost of tuition, as part of the program’s expansion.
“Navigating the financial aid process can often feel like the most daunting part of the college selection journey,” Kidder said. “By implementing income-based scholarship thresholds, we are providing the clarity families need to see that a world-class education is within their reach.”
Belmont Abbey College launches leadership and policy semester at D.C. campus
Belmont Abbey College announced a program that will allow its students to study for a semester at its campus in Washington, D.C.
“Open to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the American Semester Experience allows students to immerse themselves in specialized coursework on Catholic social teaching while completing full-time internships with congressional offices, federal agencies, and policy organizations,” the college said in a March 16 press release.
The program will be housed at Belmont House, the college’s formation center on Capitol Hill.
“The Belmont House exemplifies our mission as a Catholic Benedictine college, which is to order the hearts and minds of students to Christ as they serve in the world as competent professionals,” Belmont Abbey President Jeffrey Talley said. “In a city where decisions shape the lives of millions, our students learn to act with conscience, courage, and conviction.”
New York Archdiocese announces school closures as part of ‘School Renewal Plan’
Three schools will be shut down at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the Superintendent of Schools Office for the Archdiocese of New York said in a March 16 press release.
“These decisions were made after extensive reflection, study, and prayer, as we face significant challenges that make it impossible to continue our mission at these locations,” Sister Mary Grace Walsh said in the press release. “It is our hope that all students will continue their Catholic school education in one of our other Catholic schools.”
Incarnation School in Manhattan, Sacred Heart School in Hartsdale, and Most Precious Blood School in Walden will close, while St. Paul School in Valley Cottage will be consolidated with St. Anthony School in Nanuet.
Transfiguration School in Manhattan will also consolidate from three locations to two.
The move comes as a part of the archdiocese’s School Renewal Plan, “a faith-filled initiative aimed at sustaining and strengthening Catholic education across the archdiocese.”
Using the name of God to justify wars is ‘gravest sin’ of our time, Cardinal Pizzaballa says
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said this week that “the manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit in this time.”
The cardinal was commenting in response to the words of U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who quoted Psalm 144 during a press briefing on March 10 to invoke a divine blessing on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, according to Vatican News.
The prelate made his remarks during a March 15 webinar organized by the International Oasis Foundation and the Milan Cultural Center at a time when the Middle East is once again in turmoil due to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
In his remarks during the event, titled “War Devours the Middle East and Its Peoples,” the prelate emphasized that “there are no new crusades, and God has nothing to do with any of this.”
“If God is present in this war, he is among those who are dying, who are suffering,” he stated.
Pizzaballa addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, where “medicines are scarce — even basic antibiotics. People are literally living in sewers and tents. Almost all the schools have been destroyed.”
“Fifty-three percent of the [Gaza] Strip where more than 2 million displaced persons live is under direct Israeli control; 47% — where the majority of Palestinians reside — is under Hamas control. Eighty percent of the Strip has been destroyed, and reconstruction has not even begun,” he stated.
He also noted that the border crossings are virtually closed. Regarding the Board of Peace initiative promoted by President Donald Trump, the cardinal said: “It’s not yet operational, and we don’t know if it ever will be. Nor have I yet understood what it intends to do.”
During his remarks, the cardinal noted that the situation in the Gaza Strip is also at a standstill because Hamas refuses to hand over its weapons until Israel withdraws, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government refuses to withdraw until the Islamist movement disarms.
Regarding the West Bank, he decried that “there are attacks by settlers against Palestinians — including Christians — almost daily.”
Furthermore, he said there are Israeli legislative initiatives to re-register land to the detriment of the Palestinian population, and traveling to the area has become more difficult.
More than 200 Christian teachers living in the West Bank city of Bethlehem are no longer able to reach the 15 Christian schools in Jerusalem.
“We are always under constant tension,” the cardinal added, “and the situation remains very complicated for all of us.”
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.
UK bishops, pro-life leaders react to vote decriminalizing women who end their own pregnancies
A majority of peers in the U.K.’s House of Lords voted late Wednesday to decriminalize women who terminate their own pregnancies. An amendment was agreed to in a clause in the Crime and Policing Bill.
The clause does not change the 24-week abortion limit but aims to remove criminal liability for women who end their own pregnancies at home.
The move comes after more than 100 women were prosecuted under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act in recent years, which campaigners argue is outdated and harmful.
Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool said he was “deeply distressed,” saying “this move is likely to lead to more late-term abortions putting pregnant women and their babies at risk. Many women could likely also face even greater risks of isolation, coercion, and pressure.”
He added: “I also recognize the many organizations who accompany women with practical support when faced with an unexpected pregnancy. The genuine hope they provide is now more urgent than ever. As we prepare to face this challenge, I encourage the faithful to support them in practical ways, including through prayer.”
Baroness Rosa Monckton, MBE (member of the Order of the British Empire), tabled the amendment in the House of Lords, which aimed to overturn support for a previous amendment in the Commons, telling peers it had been “added to the bill after less than an hour of debate by MPs [members of Parliament], and without the necessary scrutiny required for an issue of such seriousness.”
Her amendment was rejected by 185 votes to 148.
She told EWTN News: “I am profoundly sad but not surprised. Much emphasis is put on the vulnerability of the mother [but] almost none on the vulnerability of the unborn infant who has no voice. I will fight on.”
Previously, if a woman was arrested for having an abortion after the 24-week limit, even when no charges had been brought, the arrest might still show up in an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, because abortion offenses are classed as violent crimes.
Archbishop John Wilson of the Southwark Diocese said: “This is a truly tragic moment for our nation. How can this frightening legislation, which, following royal assent [the approval of the monarch], will permit the abortion of children right up until the moment of birth for any reason, have any place in a civilized society?”
“We can never underestimate the challenges [of] women and men facing difficult decisions,” he continued. “There is, however, another life involved which is now to be ignored and silenced.”
Wilson added: “There are also serious concerns for the safety of women. While there is an even more difficult journey now to protect the unborn child, we must continue to speak up for the voiceless and work to protect the most vulnerable who are no longer protected by the law.”
Louise McCudden, head of external affairs at MSI Reproductive Choices UK, said it would be “a huge relief to the women who have faced traumatic investigations as well as those still living with the anxiety and uncertainty created by the current law.”
Peers also rejected a bid to move back to compulsory in-person consultations by 191 votes to 119, which would have reinstated a requirement for pregnant women to have an in-person consultation.
It is currently legal for a woman less than nine weeks and six days pregnant to take prescribed medication to terminate a pregnancy.
The change was made permanent in 2022 after being introduced as a temporary measure during COVID-19 in 2020 to allow women to have medical abortions at home following a virtual consultation.
Sarah Mullally, archbishop of Canterbury, said in the debate: “The Church of England’s view on abortion is one of principled opposition, recognizing that there can be limited conditions under which abortion may be preferable to any available alternatives.”
“The infinite value of human life is a fundamental Christian principle that underpins much of our legal system and has shaped existing laws on abortion.”
She continued: “We therefore need to recognize that women confronted with the very complex and difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy deserve our utmost understanding, care, and practical support as they face what is often a heart-wrenching decision.”
Vatican secretary of state urges end to Iran war, warns of escalation
Cardinal Pietro Parolin urged an immediate halt to escalating conflict involving Iran, warning that the risk of a broader war in the Middle East is imminent and calling on world leaders to pursue dialogue and diplomacy instead of military action.
Speaking March 19 to journalists at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Parolin said that if he were to meet Donald Trump, he would urge him “to stop as soon as possible, because the danger of escalation is imminent.” He added that the same appeal “should also be addressed to the Israelis,” encouraging them to seek “peaceful solutions.”
The cardinal also called for Lebanon to be “left in peace” and stressed that the urgent priority is “to truly try to resolve problems — whether real or perceived — through the peaceful means of diplomacy and dialogue.”
However, he acknowledged that amid the “dramatic events inflaming” one of the world’s most complex regions, there are currently no signs of de-escalation.
Parolin made the remarks during a book presentation on Pope Leo XIV titled “Leo XIV: Who Do You Say That I Am? I Am a Son of St. Augustine.”
He also reflected on the communication style of Pope Leo XIV, describing it as “disarmed and disarming,” measured in tone and content in contrast to a world where “the loudest voice often prevails.”
Addressing comparisons with Pope Francis, Parolin said each pope exercises the Petrine ministry in a unique way while maintaining continuity in the Church guided by the Holy Spirit.
He emphasized that Leo XIV’s repeated calls for peace — delivered “with serene and firm insistence every Sunday” — invite the world to “lay down arms” and abandon the “logic of profit, national interests, and power groups.”
Parolin highlighted “listening” as a central element of the current pontificate, describing it as a “great lesson” both within and beyond the Church. He said the pope’s vision of a “disarmed and disarming peace” continues the teaching of modern popes from Benedict XV to Paul VI.
Warning of growing global instability fueled by rising military spending and power-based international relations that disregard international law, Parolin said the pope instead proposes “listening, dialogue, and love” as the path forward.
He also pointed to the challenge of unity within the Church amid tensions, noting that Leo XIV promotes “patient dialogue” to preserve communion.
Finally, Parolin underscored the pope’s “synodal style” of governance, marked by shared decision-making and an understanding of authority as service. “It is not a weak form of primacy,” he said, but rather an expression of participation and co-responsibility.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Archbishop Sample urges Catholics to ‘reject conspiracies and lies’ that lead to antisemitism
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released a video ahead of Easter decrying antisemitism and calling on Catholics to “speak out clearly” against it.
“The Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism directed against Jews at any time and by anyone,” Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, said in a March 18 video message posted by the USCCB.
“The Jewish community is attacked at a far higher rate than any other religious group in the United States,” he said. “If we Catholics, in truly living out the Gospel, are to defend religious freedom with integrity, we must clearly speak out against antisemitism.”
The USCCB’s message comes less than 20 days before the Easter Triduum, during which Catholics “celebrate the central events of our faith,” Sample said. However, the archbishop said, “sadly, the celebration of Easter has at times been the occasion for outbursts of hatred and even violence against Jews.”
“The guilt for the suffering of Jesus is especially great in us because we who profess to know Christ deny him with our sins,” he said, citing the Catechism of the Council of Trent, which rejects the claim, known as the myth of deicide, that the Jewish people bear the guilt for the death of Jesus, as well as the Second Vatican Council document Nostra Aetate.
“Indeed, Good Friday ought to be an occasion for us to return to the Lord, not to scapegoat others,” he said, describing the myth of deicide as “a profound misunderstanding of what took place on Good Friday” and a significant source of historic and modern antisemitism.
“As Catholics, we are called to walk in the truth, and so to reject the conspiracies and lies that lead to harassment and even violence against our Jewish brothers and sisters,” Sample said.
Nathan Diament, executive director of public policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations in America, welcomed Sample’s remarks, telling EWTN News: “The statement by Archbishop Sample on behalf of the USCCB could not come at a more important time with bad actors weaponizing Catholicism to spread antisemitic views.”
“We are grateful for the leadership of the Church itself stating unequivocally that the Church rejects those assertions and repudiates antisemitism,” he said.
The Church’s views on antisemitism recently became the center of controversy when media personality Carrie Prejean Boller was removed from the White House-sponsored Religious Liberty Commission last month for remarks she made during a hearing focused on antisemitism.
The former Miss California repeatedly stated during the hearing that her Catholic faith prevented her from embracing Zionism, despite Catholic teaching that does not oppose Israel as a nation or the Jewish people. Boller also repeatedly pressed Jewish panelists on whether her views made her an antisemite.
Catholic teaching does not explicitly oppose Zionism, the movement supporting Jewish self‑determination in a homeland in Israel. Ancient Israel is seen as God’s chosen people through whom God revealed himself and prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church universally condemns antisemitism. The Church recognizes Israel’s fundamental right to exist.
Catholics in Kuwait find refuge in prayer in time of war
The outbreak of the latest confrontations in the Middle East has presented residents of several Gulf countries with unprecedented challenges as they face the whir of missiles, the roar of drones, and the sound of air defenses and explosions, which they have never known in countries long known to be safe havens.
Amid anxiety and uncertainty, prayer has emerged as a spiritual refuge and a source of peace and serenity for these Christian communities.
Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Catholic faithful living in Kuwait shared their moving experience of clinging to prayer and seeking shelter in it during difficult times.
Norma and Angela Fernandez recalled their shock at hearing news of the war’s outbreak on the evening of Feb. 28 as they were preparing to attend Mass after participating in a talk on the Seven Sorrows of Mary during a training course for catechism teachers at Our Lady of Arabia minor basilica in Ahmadi.
“We offered the Mass for the intention that the war would end quickly and that peace would return,” they said.
In the days that followed, “we were stunned and somewhat afraid, because in Kuwait we are not used to the sound of sirens, followed by the buzz of air defenses intercepting missiles and drones, and the frightening blasts and rumbling they leave behind.” Iranian missiles targeted American bases across Gulf countries, including Kuwait.
“But we witnessed the courage of the country’s leaders and its people in confronting the attacks, and their vigilance in protecting Kuwait’s security and the safety of all who live there, citizens and residents alike,” they said.
”The Church, too, kept watch over its faithful and worked hard to accompany them spiritually, doing everything possible to remain in contact with them. “Thanks to all the clergy, we were able to continue celebrating holy Mass online, with churches closed in the first days in response to the civil authorities’ instructions. What a great blessing. We are all blessed.”
The Fernandez sisters said that gathering in prayer for peace and seeking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, patroness of the apostolic vicariates of Northern and Southern Arabia, fills the hearts of the faithful with peace and strengthens their hope and trust in the Lord Jesus, “for he cares for us and protects us.”
Our Lady of Arabia Church reopened its doors on March 9 to worshippers praying for peace and for the safety of every human person.
“We are not called to judge those who harm us but to ask God to purify their hearts, fill them with mercy, and forgive them, repeating the words of Our Lord: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,’” the sisters said.
Another Kuwaiti Catholic, Sharan Diaz, said the difficult times the Middle East is living through are a powerful reminder of God’s grace, because they remind the faithful that Christ is present whenever they gather in prayer and in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Diaz said being unable to attend Mass in person and receive Communion during the period when churches were closed left an emptiness in her heart and reminded her of the importance of the Eucharist.
“As soon as the churches reopened, they were filled with faithful eager to celebrate the Eucharist and receive holy Communion. It is a great blessing,” Diaz said. “Despite all that is happening in our world, being able to visit the church, encounter Jesus, and receive him in holy Communion fills my heart with gratitude.”
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.
Nigerian bishops tell the pope: Our people are dying
VATICAN CITY — Amid increased religious violence and insecurity in Nigeria, a group of Nigerian bishops recently met Pope Leo XIV during their “ad limina” visit to Rome. The Nigerian bishops described it as an opportunity to amplify the “cries of their people” to the Vatican and to counter “false narratives” from government officials about the situation facing Nigerian Christians.
Under canon law, every diocesan bishop must visit Rome — ideally every five years — to meet the pope and report on the state of his diocese. The visit also includes meetings with the dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
The Nigerian bishops spoke of their visit March 1–16 as an expression of filial communion with Pope Leo and an opportunity for him to confirm the faith of their beleaguered people.
A pilgrimage to Rome with a nation under fire
Nigeria continues to be plagued by ethnic and religious violence, accounting for 72% of Christian killings, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List in 2026. A study by the World Watch List found the number of Christian killings and kidnappings in Nigeria was the highest in the world in 2024, underscoring the disproportionate targeting of Christians.
Pope Leo has raised awareness of religious violence in Nigeria. Last November, he commented to EWTN News on the issue that both “Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered.”
Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, who was recently elected head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, told EWTN News that the bishops recounted the reality of the situation to the pope.
“Before we came to Rome, we bishops sent reports on our dioceses to the Vatican, and the summary was given to the Holy Father,” he told EWTN News. “But beyond what was written, we discussed with him the violence, the insurgencies, and the difficulties we face as apostles on the ground.”
Archbishop Adewale Martins of Lagos added that “the issue of Christian violence came up very strongly with the pope, and he told us that he will use whatever possibilities he has to highlight our situation and see what he can do for us.”
Rebuttal to Nigerian first lady’s comments on Christian genocide
Several of the bishops spoke to EWTN News about the comments made in a recent interview by the Nigerian first lady, Oluremi Tinubu. In the face of growing concerns of Christian persecution in Nigeria, the first lady denied that Christians were being targeted for genocide. Cardinal Peter Okpaleke, however, insisted that the plight of Christians in Nigeria is concerning.
“There are many interpretations depending on what people understand as persecution,” Okpaleke said. “So, whatever vocabulary people want to use is not our concern. But the reality is that many people are dying.”
Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri also noted the discrimination of Nigerian Christians in the federal constitution.
“When you look at the constitution, you see that it is lopsided in favor of Islam,” he told EWTN News. “Christians are often excluded. The Fulani militia has uprooted many communities. These groups are emboldened because of the government’s inability or unwillingness to act.”
Ndagoso also criticized the narrative denying the targeting of Christians in religious violence.
“For anyone to say there is no persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria is simply not living in reality. In some of our dioceses, the Muslim population is 98% or 99%. We Christians are an eternal minority. I can tell you that for over a century, we have been discriminated against and excluded from government and employment.”
The office of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu did not respond to a request for comment from EWTN News.
A stagnant canonization cause of Blessed Iwene Tansi?
The bishops rejected claims in the Nigerian press that the cause for the canonization of Blessed Iwene Tansi, whom Pope John Paul II beatified in 1998, is stalled. Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha assured EWTN News that the canonization process is ongoing for Nigeria’s only beatified person.
“It is not true that the cause has stalled,” he told EWTN News. “It is proceeding according to the style of the Church. The Church is still waiting for that miracle that will defy all doubt and alternative explanations. The supernatural reality of the event will be so clear even to the uninitiated. The Church is waiting for that, and we are hopeful that it will come.”
Okpaleke also addressed Blessed Tansi’s canonization. “We are not worried that others are ‘faster’ than us. In our own case, yes, we look forward to Blessed Iwene Tansi being canonized, but this also reminds us of the need to continue to invoke him in our prayers,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2027 general elections
Before their pilgrimage to Rome, the Nigerian bishops held their first plenary assembly from Feb. 19–26. They then issued a communiqué regarding the upcoming Nigerian general elections in 2027.
Ugorji, who formerly served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, spoke of the need for political leaders to stop promoting their own interests ahead of those of the nation.
“Nigeria is a country where people get into leadership and put their private interests above the common good. So, we needed to emphasize the fact that the common good of society is tied to individual welfare,” he said.
Bishop John Niyiring, OSA, of Kano added: “All we want is for them to ensure security for all. Providing security is a constitutional responsibility. Instead of defending a narrative or their own interests, they should protect all citizens.”
National Catholic Prayer Breakfast celebrates Catholic contributions to USA
Michael Knowles, Catholic author, political commentator, and Daily Wire host, highlighted the accomplishments throughout the 250-year journey of Catholicism in the United States during his keynote address at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
About 1,500 guests, including about a dozen Catholic U.S. lawmakers, attended the 21st annual breakfast held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on March 19.
U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Protestant, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Catholic, both Republicans from Louisiana, also spoke. Former apostolic nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre addressed attendees via video, and Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump provided written messages.
Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, took the stage at the event, receiving a standing ovation. She provided an update on her father and discussed the work U.S. officials have done to win his release from prison after Lai was found guilty of violations of China’s national security laws.
Knowles spoke about Catholicism at the founding of the United States in the context of the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He noted that Catholics faced forms of discrimination early on but argued the country was well suited for Catholicism to flourish.
“Here we find ourselves, a quarter millennium later, a people and a place so improbably and perfectly suited for each other that not only can a Catholic become president, but an American can even be the pope,” Knowles said.
Knowles noted that many states had laws that restricted Catholics from holding office, and the anti-Catholic Know-Nothing Party had a strong foothold in certain parts of the country, but Catholics since have achieved representation in Congress, among recent White Houses, and in the Supreme Court.
“If you count vice presidents and first ladies, we have now had baptized Catholics in the White House for 17 consecutive years,” he said. “What a surprise it must be to the ardent Calvinists who settled our country that America would come not only to tolerate Catholics, not only to appreciate the contributions of Catholics, but even to elect them.”
Pope sends greetings
Pope Leo XIV addressed the breakfast through a letter delivered by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, in which the Holy Father offered his “cordial greetings and good wishes” to all those gathered.
“You have gathered for fellowship as well as to pray for the United States,” Leo wrote. “The tradition of interceding for one’s own nation goes back to biblical times,” he added, citing the writings of St. Paul.
Pierre also highlighted the importance of prayer for the country, especially “at a time when we are witnessing grave tensions and violence in different parts of the world.”
Vince Haley, a Catholic and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, delivered the message from Trump that referenced the president’s statement issued March 19. “Today, I’m also proud to be the first president to honor the feast of St. Joseph, in recognition of one of the greatest saints to ever live,” Trump wrote.
Scalise recalled when he was shot in 2017 and spoke about the importance of his Catholic faith and the need to “understand the power of prayer.”
“I turned to prayer,” Scalise said. “I started praying and put that burden in God’s hands; the weight of the world was lifted.”
Though he knew death was possible, and he prayed that he would not die, Scalise said he knew that “if this was the day and this was the plan, then it was up to me to just get right with God.”
“Prayer is such a powerful thing because it’s a direct conversation with God, and God is listening,” he said.
Johnson, who was recently criticized by Santa Fe, New Mexico, Archbishop John C. Wester for putting forth a biblical defense of Trump’s mass deportation efforts, said during the 250th anniversary of the country, it’s important to “reflect on the essential role that faith plays and has always played” and said the nation is “sustained by prayer.”
“It is in the DNA of our nation and who we are,” he said.
Tessa Gervasini contributed to this story.