Northwoods Catholic Churches -- St. Anne, Boulder Junction; St. Mary, Sayner; St. Rita, Presque Isle

Priests designated as "Missionaries of Mercy" gather for a special Mass in Rome on March 30, 2025. To date, approximately 1,250 priests have been commissioned by the Vatican to embrace the call in Misericordiae Vultus to be “living signs of the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon.” / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Rome Newsroom, Mar 30, 2025 / 16:11 pm (CNA).

The Holy Mass for the Jubilee of Priests instituted as Missionaries of Mercy was celebrated on Sunday at the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome.

Hundreds of “Missionaries of Mercy” — priests with the authority to “pardon sins reserved to the Holy See” (Misericordiae Vultus, 18) — gathered in Rome’s basilica dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle to concelebrate Mass with Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.

In his homily, Fisichella reminded missionaries of mercy priests that they are “special instruments of reconciliation” who offer God’s great love to those who come to the sacrament of confession in search of forgiveness for their sins.

Fisichella encouraged the priests to be confessors who open their hearts and minds to “welcome those who approach us" but to also go out in search of those who are still far from the Church.

Recalling the example of the merciful father who restores dignity to his prodigal son in St. Luke’s Gospel, Fisichella said: “Love forgets sin, and forgiveness forces us to look directly to the future.”

The number of Missionaries of Mercy priests continues to grow worldwide. To date, approximately 1,250 priests have been commissioned by the Vatican to embrace the call in Misericordiae Vultus to be “living signs of the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon.” 

Approximately 500 priests from around the world — commissioned as missionaries of mercy during the 2016 Jubilee of Mercy — participated in a variety of spiritual and cultural activities as part of the 2025 holy year dedicated to hope, including training sessions held inside the Vatican and a pilgrimage through the holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica.     

The March 28-30 special jubilee concluded Sunday with a free symphonic concert of “Missa Papae Francisci,” composed by Enni Morricone, in Rome’s Basilica of Sts. Ambrose and Charles on the Corso.

Pope Francis prays during his Wednesday general audience on Feb. 5, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Mar 30, 2025 / 09:18 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Sunday encouraged Christians to continue their Lenten journey as a time of healing and faith in Jesus Christ. 

The Vatican released the Holy Father’s Sunday Angelus message while the 88-year-old pontiff continues his convalescence in his Casa Santa Marta home after being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital a week ago.

In his written reflection on the parable of the merciful father with two sons recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel, the Holy Father said the Pharisees were “scandalized” by Jesus and would “murmur behind his back” because he welcomed sinners.

“Jesus reveals the heart of God: He is always merciful toward all; he heals our wounds so that we can love each other as brothers,” he wrote in his March 30 message.

Encouraging Christians — who are united in God as brothers and sisters — the Holy Father said people should especially “live this Lent as a time of healing” in the Jubilee Year of Hope, adding: “I too am experiencing it this way, in my soul and in my body.”

“Frailty and illness are experiences we all have in common; all the more, however, we are brothers in the salvation Christ has given us,” he wrote. 

In his message, released on the March 28-30 weekend of the special Jubilee of Missionaries of Mercy, the pope also expressed his heartfelt thanks to all who reflect the “image of the Savior” and work as “instruments of healing” through their prayers and action.

Petitions for peace and healing

The Holy Father concluded his Angelus address with petitions for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan.

“Trusting in the mercy of God the Father, we continue to pray for peace,” he wrote.

Speaking about his concern about the political unrest in South Sudan and Sudan, the Holy Father insisted that the international community work together to bring about peace in the two African nations.

“Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability,” he said.

“And in Sudan, the war continues to claim innocent victims, I urge the parties concerned in the conflict to put the safeguarding of the lives of their civilian brothers and sisters first,” he continued.

Turning to “positive events” in Central Asia, the Holy Father thanked God for the ratification of the March 13 country border agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, describing the deal as “an excellent diplomatic achievement.”

The Holy Father concluded his message with a prayer asking the Blessed Virgin Mary — the “Mother of Mercy” — to “help the human family to be reconciled in peace.” 

Catholic Charities USA President Kerry Alys Robinson. / Credit: Catholic Charities USA

CNA Staff, Mar 30, 2025 / 09:02 am (CNA).

Catholic Charities USA President Kerry Alys Robinson will receive the University of Notre Dame’s 2025 Laetare Medal, the university announced on Sunday, with the school bestowing the prestigous award for her “boundless compassion” and “faith-filled service” at the helm of the national charity. 

Established in 1883 and granted annually, the school’s Laetare Medal is named after the fourth Sunday of Lent, “Laetare Sunday,” the date on which its recipient is announced. It is “the oldest and most prestigious honor given to American Catholics,” the school says. 

It is awarded to an American Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

Robinson joined the national Catholic charity organization as president and chief executive officer in 2023. She previously served as the founding executive director of Leadership Roundtable, a group that brings together clergy and laity to address the Church’s abuse crisis. 

“I have always loved the Church and held its potential in the highest esteem,” Robinson said on Sunday. “The Church’s explicit religious mission has formed the person I am.”

She noted that Catholic Charities is “the largest humanitarian network in the world” and described herself as “forever committed to its health and vitality.”

The award comes as Catholic Charities affiliates in states around the country have been struggling to maintain services and retain staff amid major budget cuts by the Trump administration. 

Multiple Catholic Charities agencies have been forced to lay off workers and roll back programs amid the budget cuts. Catholic Charities Fort Worth, meanwhile, sued the federal government at the beginning of March after the Trump administration froze tens of millions of dollars in grants for refugee services in Texas. The charity subsquently dropped the lawsuit after the Trump administration began paying out its grants again. 

In January, Robinson herself called on the White House to rethink its decision to slash aid budgets, arguing that Catholic Charities agencies provide “vital services” nationwide including “food pantries for those who can’t afford groceries, child care programs for low-income families, meal deliveries for homebound seniors, job training resources for veterans,” and other programs. 

Notre Dame President Father Robert Dowd, CSC, said in a statement on Sunday that Robinson has “dedicated her career to serving the Church, standing in solidarity with those on the margins so that they may experience the abundant love of God.”

Robinson “inspires us all to dedicate our lives more fully to answering the Gospel call,” he said. 

Past recipients of the Laetare Medal include Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, novelist Walker Percy, actor Martin Sheen, and Civil War general William Rosecrans, the latter known in part for his execution of the Middle Tennessee campaign in 1863. 

Robinson is scheduled to receive the award at Notre Dame’s commencement ceremony on May 18. Adm. Christopher Grady, a Notre Dame alumnus and the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will give the commencement address, a choice that has stirred controversy on and off campus because of the university’s history of inviting the president or vice president to deliver the address.

A monumental cross towers above the Valley of the Fallen complex. / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Madrid, Spain, Mar 30, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

In a statement published by the Archdiocese of Madrid, Cardinal José Cobo defended his role as an interlocutor between the Vatican and the Spanish government in the process of resignifying the Valley of the Fallen, a massive monument dedicated to both sides of the Spanish Civil War.

The statement, issued after the recent change of the prior of the Benedictine community at the historic site, seeks to clarify the agreements reached and the scope of the planned modifications to the monument.

Released just after 10:30 p.m. local time on March 26, the Archdiocese of Madrid’s statement regretted “the leak and dissemination of some recently published information about the resignification of the Valley of the Fallen, within an open process of dialogue.”

The concept of “resignification,” in the case of historical or symbolic spaces such as the Valley of the Fallen, seeks to reinterpret or redefine their meaning in order to adapt them to new contexts, perspectives, or purposes.

The statement from the Archdiocese of Madrid specifies that “to date, the only definitive agreement has been the permanence of the Benedictine community and the non-desacralization of the basilica, as well as respect for all religious elements located outside it.”

However, the statement admits that some type of modification to the church has been agreed upon, but it has not been specified: “Regarding any alterations within the church, they will be studied respecting the liturgical criteria and the purpose for which the basilica was built, guaranteeing independent access.”

The archdiocese also emphasized that “any other aspect related to the resignification is the exclusive responsibility of the Holy See and the government, which are the parties that conducted the negotiations.”

Furthermore, the statement emphasizes that the Spanish cardinal “has participated in this process as a designated interlocutor within an ecclesiastical commission,” which has entailed “an exchange of private notes on how to articulate the resignification of the Valley of the Fallen, always ensuring respect for the religious elements and the permanence of worship in the basilica.”

Finally, the Archdiocese of Madrid emphasized that, “beyond pastoral activity,” Cobo’s role is one of “accompaniment, but without having jurisdiction over the basilica or the religious community residing there.”

The statement came just hours after El Diario published that an agreement had been reached between the Vatican and the Spanish government to achieve the intended political “resignification” of the monument.

This agreement, in whose process Cobo allegedly participated, was reportedly finalized in a meeting between Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Minister of the Presidency Félix Bolaños on Feb. 25 in Rome.

In response to this statement, numerous X subscribers responded with accusations of treason and other forms of accusations against Cobo.

Changes to the interior of the pontifical basilica

The recent replacement of the prior at the Benedictine community, confirmed March 25, is reportedly part of the agreement reached. In addition, it is not ruled out that both the previous prior, Santiago Cantera, and one other monk may be transferred from the community because the Spanish government disapproves of them. 

According to the same information, only the altar and pews are expected to remain untouched, but changes may be made to the dome, vestibule, atrium, and nave, which are part of the Pontifical Basilica of the Holy Cross.

Brief history of the Valley of the Fallen

The Valley of the Fallen, inaugurated in 1959, is a monumental complex built after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and is located about 30 miles from Madrid. It consists of a basilica situated underground in an excavated space in the mountain, an imposing cross, a Benedictine monastery, a school, and a monumental Stations of the Cross.

Among the monument’s founding purposes are “to pray to God for the souls of those who died in the National Crusade, to implore the blessings of the Almighty for Spain, and to work for the understanding and establishment of peace among men, based on Christian social justice.”

The complex was commissioned by Gen. Francisco Franco, Spain’s longtime head of state and leader of the winning Nationalist side in the bloody conflict with leftist Republican forces.

The controversy over the monument is colored by the fact that Franco supported the Catholic Church, which was caught in the middle and was being severely persecuted by elements of the Republicans. 

Between 33,000 and 50,000 Spaniards from both sides are interred there. In 1975, King Juan Carlos decided that Franco should be buried there. José Antonio Primo de Rivera, the founder of the Spanish Falange political party, who was executed for sedition in the early months of the war, was also buried there. 

Since 2007, the government led by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE, by its Spanish acronym) implemented a series of measures to resignify the site, which leftist parties decry as a monument to Franco and his dictatorship. 

These measures have been reinforced since 2018 when Pedro Sánchez, also of the PSOE, took office as prime minister in a coalition with communist and separatist parties and heirs of terrorist groups.

In October 2019, the government ordered Franco’s remains to be exhumed and moved to another cemetery, an event broadcast live on public television.

In 2023, the same procedure was followed with Primo de Rivera’s remains, but at the family’s request and in a discreet manner in anticipation of the government’s wishes.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL) unveils its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain, on March 28, 2025. / Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

ACI MENA, Mar 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Lebanon will soon have its own “camino,” according to the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL).

On March 28, the group unveiled its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain.

The launch event, held in Bkerké, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, gathered prominent figures, including Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud, and Father Khalil Alwan alongside a diverse audience of clergy, religious leaders, and stakeholders.

Beyond hiking

The Caminos Lebanon project seeks to highlight Lebanon’s rich religious heritage by creating a comprehensive network of pilgrimage trails that connect historical and spiritual sites across the country. 

During the launch, Father Khalil Alwan, president of the APL, articulated the project’s core mission. 

“Lebanon is not just a country of natural beauty and a pleasant climate; it is a land of saints and a land of message,” he declared. Connecting the initiative to the Maronite Patriarchal Synod of 2006, which recognized the importance of religious tourism, Alwan emphasized the spiritual significance of rediscovering mountain trails and the home to numerous shrines, deeply intertwined with the liturgical calendar.

The trail network is ambitious, spanning four distinct routes that traverse Lebanon’s diverse terrain: Religious Mountain Trails will follow historic routes where saints once walked. Cross Trails will connect areas like Tartij, Qartaba, and Smar Jbeil, allowing pilgrims to walk through the Stations of the Cross. Thematic Trails will trace significant religious journeys, including the footsteps of Jesus in southern Lebanon and the Transfiguration Trail on Mount Hermon. Cultural Religious Trails will highlight regions such as Zahle, Ghosta, and Bchaaleh, offering visitors a deep dive into local traditions and heritage.

Roots of the project

What began as a plan for a single route has expanded into a comprehensive exploration of Lebanon’s spiritual landscape. The APL has been working on the ground since 2009, receiving the blessing of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East in 2011. As its research has progressed, it has discovered the depth and diversity of Lebanon’s religious heritage.

Currently, the association has published a booklet in Arabic detailing the 24 shrines along the trails. Alwan hopes to secure funding for an English translation to reach a broader international audience. “This is an open invitation for pilgrims and tourists from Lebanon and beyond to walk these trails and experience their spiritual richness,” he said.

Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi described the project as a powerful spiritual initiative. “These paths are trails of faith and holiness, carrying the essence of the divine message,” he said. “When believers walk these paths, they experience popular devotion, which is the source and strength of faith.”

Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud framed the initiative as an opportunity for cultural exploration. “The Paths of Lebanon are not merely walking trails,” she affirmed. “They are a spiritual journey and a genuine chance to explore our rich heritage.”

Journey of spiritual unity

Nour Farra Haddad, a consultant with a doctorate in religious tourism and project coordinator of Caminos Lebanon, provided critical insights into the project’s conception. 

Drawing inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, the initiative introduces an innovative “pilgrim’s passport” system. The project showcases Lebanon’s remarkable religious diversity, with over 6,000 religious sites evenly divided between Christian and Muslim landmarks.

The trail network spans 24 shrines, each offering a unique spiritual experience. From the Theology of Waiting in Maghdouche to the Personal Relationship with God in Annaya, the paths promise a deep dive into Lebanon’s spiritual landscape.

“These were pedestrian routes, once traveled by Christ and the Romans,” Alwan explained. “For centuries, the faithful walked them to fulfill vows and pray for personal intentions. Today, this initiative allows both Christians and Muslims to reconnect with these sacred paths, engaging in meaningful spiritual conversations along the way.”

As Caminos Lebanon prepares to welcome its first pilgrims, it stands as a reflection of the country’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Alwan closed by noting: “Lebanon is not a desert, as some abroad may believe. It is a land of breathtaking beauty, home to both Christians and Muslims who have lived here for centuries — a landscape waiting to share its sacred stories with the world.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The proposed restoration of the frontage of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit. / Credit: Pulte Family Charitable Foundation

CNA Staff, Mar 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A major U.S.-based initiative is providing tens of millions of dollars to Catholic parishes and organizations across the country to “restore and endow” Catholic communities around the country “for generations to come.”

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation earlier this month announced the launch of the Catholic Initiative, described in a press release by the organization as “an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model” to help ensure the continuation of Catholic properties and parishes.

The unique model is “the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising, one that “shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization” created solely for that purpose, the foundation said.

Kevin Doyle, the chief operating officer of the foundation, told CNA in an interview that the initiative plans to start with five projects, all of which share “some similarities” with each other. 

“We’re investing with organizations or parishes or schools where there is already a vibrant community, strong leadership, a strong ethos around the place, and where the community being served from our investment is under-resourced and underserved,” he said. 

The first major project for the initiative is the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit, a historic parish in that city that dates back to the late 19th century. It is among the oldest continually operated Catholic parishes in the United States. 

Doyle said the effort will be “probably about a three-year project.” 

“One aim is to restore this historic basilica,” he said. “We’re not calling it a ‘renovation,’ we’re calling it a ‘restoration,’ to bring back to life what is already a spectacular design.”

“We’ll be restoring the stained glass, fixing the pews, and restoring and modernizing the infrastructure itself,” he said, stressing that the architectural form of the building would not be altered.

“We’re also trying to create more of a campus feel on the property,” he said. “We’re building a plaza out front of the parish and creating more of a campus alongside the basilica with green space and walkways.”

“We want this to be a place where both Catholics and the local non-Catholic community will want to come multiple times a week, and not just for Mass,” he said.

The initiative is further investing in the historic Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. Similar to the Detroit basilica, the school dates to the late 19th century; it was founded by the Sisters of Christian Charity. 

“There’s a real opportunity for the school, like St. Anne’s, to become more of a community hub,” Doyle said. 

The program is also offering an endowment for Bulldog Catholic, Father Mike Schmitz’s youth ministry at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, that offers Mass, the sacraments and fellowship to Catholic students there. Schmitz is on the initiative’s board of advisers; the ministry is “dedicated to forming and inspiring the next generation of young Catholics,” the foundation said. 

“Other projects are planned,” Doyle said, adding that the foundation will wait for further endowments before it launches any more restoration and support programs. 

He said the first wave of projects includes a mix of recipients who requested the foundation’s support as well as recipients whom the foundation reached out to. 

In the future “we will have a process and selection criteria that we utilize to prioritize which ones to support,” Doyle said, though “we are probably a couple years away from launching that.”

The foundation is further backing some innovative housing initiatives, he noted. Among them are a southern Florida housing development for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and an affordable rental housing development in Immokalee, Florida, for the region’s low socioeconomic population.

All told, the foundation’s housing and Catholic initiatives so far have totaled more than $100 million in commitments.

Regarding the Catholic program, Doyle said earlier this month that the initiative is working at “pioneering a new model of investing in vibrant churches, schools, and parishes in underserved communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability.” 

“This model frees religious leaders and Catholic educators from their financial burdens,” he said, “and allows them to focus on their true mission: serving their parishioners and students.”

Pope Francis looks out at the crowd gathered below his hospital window at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on March 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media/Screenshot

CNA Newsroom, Mar 29, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

As hundreds of Missionaries of Mercy gathered in Rome this weekend, Pope Francis commended their distinctive ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation that continues to flourish worldwide.

Approximately 500 priests are participating in a special jubilee dedicated to their role as part of the broader 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

In a message addressed to these priests and written while still in the hospital, Pope Francis expressed his “gratitude and encouragement” for their work as special confessors who possess faculties to absolve certain sins typically reserved to the Holy See.

“Through your service,” the pontiff wrote, “you bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and constantly renews us with his forgiveness.”

The missonaries’ March 28–30 gathering included training sessions, communal prayer, and a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis reflected on the profound connection between mercy and hope in his message. “Conversion and forgiveness are the two caresses with which the Lord wipes every tear from our eyes,” he stated. “They are the hands with which the Church embraces us sinners; they are the feet on which we walk in our earthly pilgrimage.”

The Holy Father encouraged these priests to maintain a compassionate approach in their ministry, urging them to be “attentive in listening, ready in welcoming, and steadfast in accompanying those who desire to renew their lives and return to the Lord.”

First commissioned during the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, these priests have seen their mandate extended twice by Pope Francis. Their numbers have grown substantially, now surpassing 1,250 worldwide, with approximately 100 serving in the United States.

In Spes Non Confundit, the papal bull of indiction for the 2025 Jubilee Year, Pope Francis wrote that Missionaries of Mercy should “exercise their ministry by reviving hope and offering forgiveness whenever a sinner comes to them with an open heart and a penitent spirit.”

The pontiff concluded his message to the missionaries with a blessing and his customary request: “Please, do not forget to pray for me.”

Speakers present at the briefing presenting the report “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem” by the Rossing Center on March 27, 2025. From left to right: Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology; Federica Sasso (Rossing Center)), moderator, Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

Jerusalem, Mar 29, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

On March 27 in Jerusalem, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from its annual report, “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem,” and from a survey conducted in December 2024 with 300 Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insight into their perceptions of various aspects of life.

The briefing was held at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. A panel of experts who shed light on the challenges and anxieties facing the local Christian population included Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; Jesuit Father David Neuhaus; and Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology.

The report documents a rise in incidents of intimidation and aggression targeting Christian communities throughout 2024. Currently, there are approximately 180,000 Christians living in Israel (about 1.8% of the Israeli population), and 78.8 % of them are Arab.

Physical attacks emerged as the most prevalent category among the 111 documented cases, with the majority targeting clergy, easily identifiable by their religious attire. Spitting was identified as a common form of physical harassment. Vandalism and desecration targeting Christian churches, including graffiti, stone-throwing, and arson, were also documented. 

According to the report, the perpetrators in all known cases were identified as Jewish individuals, primarily young men from ultra-Orthodox and national-religious circles, driven by a mixture of nationalist fervor and religious extremism.

These events cause Christians to feel threatened and unwelcome in their own homeland. That’s even more clear in the survey, which revealed mixed feelings regarding acceptance by Israeli Jewish society. While 30.8% of Christians feel accepted as part of Israeli society, 34% do not, with a higher feeling of nonacceptance (56%) among the 18-29 age group.

After the approval of the basic law “Israel the Nation State of the Jewish People” in 2018, 64.8% of the respondents believe it confirms Christians as second-class citizens. A significant portion (36%) are considering emigration, with a higher percentage in Haifa (48%). Security reasons (44%) and the socio-political situation (33%) were identified as key motivational factors. 

Regarding religious freedom, a majority (58.5%) feel comfortable wearing visible religious symbols in mixed or predominantly Israeli-Jewish areas, though discomfort is higher in East Jerusalem (42%).

Very significant is the theme of identity: 34% of the respondents identified themselves as Arab Christian, 23% as Israeli Christian, and 13% as Palestinian Christian, indicating a complex interplay of religious and national affiliations.

Interviewed by CNA after the briefing, Sabella noted the feeling among Christians as being “in the middle.”

“After the Iranian revolution in 1979 there was a transformation across the region,” he explained. “Palestinians and Arabs started identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims. As a reaction, Palestinian Christians and Israeli Arab Christians started identifying themselves as Christians.”

Sabella cautioned against an overemphasis on religious identity at the expense of a broader, inclusive identity tied to the place.

“The risk is of making society not an inclusive society but a society divided along religious and ethnic creeds or differences. Therefore you lose that inclusive and comprehensive identity that ties you to the place irrespective of the nation or irrespective of the religion,” he said.

“If you become more entrenched in your religious identity,” Sabella continued, “there is a danger of losing the larger identity to which you belong. As Christians, we need to find a shared space with all others.”

Bendcowsky highlighted a worsening political and social climate, especially after Oct. 7, 2023 — the report devotes considerable space to analyzing the context — characterized by increased extremism, polarization, and a lack of tolerance toward minorities. 

She emphasized a growing willingness of churches and Christians to report and denounce attacks as well as an increased presence of law enforcement — although there is often a lack of real dialogue and involvement of authorities in understanding and responding to the needs of the Christian communities.

The situation on Mount Zion, where Jewish and Christian religious traditions converge in a compact space, was presented as a case study of a complicated place facing neglect and negative elements leading to attacks on visitors. In recent years the number of incidents increased, resulting in vandalism to Christian religious buildings and cemeteries, in addition to physical harassment of Christian clergy and tourists.

The Rossing Center report points out that “the targeting of Christianity is not part of the political agenda” but is more linked to “a socio-political climate” and “a growing sense of nationalism, and the emphasis on Israel primarily as a state for the Jewish population.”

Challenges that churches face in dealing with authorities include visas for clergy, permits for religious holidays, the tax status of churches, and attempts to expropriate some land. “Christians are simply not a priority and they do not care,” Bendcowsky told CNA at the end of the meeting. “They are not purposely attacking Christians, but it is on purpose to not care about them.”

The briefing highlighted a complex and concerning situation for Christian communities in Israel and East Jerusalem. While there are positive developments in reporting and public awareness, significant efforts are needed to ensure the security, religious freedom, and continued presence of Christian communities in the Holy Land.

That’s also why the report includes “recommendations” for all the stakeholders. The focal point is to work on mutual understanding and dialogue. The Rossing Center encourages the development of greater awareness of these issues at the political and diplomatic levels as well as actions by those affected to condemn them on the part of the authorities.

Mural of Archbishop Oscar Romero, / Credit: Douglas Radamez Barahona, Giovani Ascencio Ardón and Raul Lemus- Grupo Cinteupiltzin CENAR El Salvador (CC BY-SA 3.0).

ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The apostolic nunciature in El Salvador issued a correction for the irregularities that occurred March 24 during a Mass marking the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero, who served as archbishop of San Salvador during that country’s civil war.

The Mass, held in the chapel where Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, included the unauthorized presence of a female Anglican bishop at the altar and banners in opposition to proposed gold mining, violating Catholic liturgical norms.

In several photos released by Salvadoran media, a female Anglican bishop can be seen behind the altar along with the bishop of the Salvadoran Old Catholic Church and anti-mining activist Neftalí Ruiz; the celebrating bishop, Oswaldo Estefano Escobar Aguilar; and Raúl Vera, bishop emeritus of Saltillo, Mexico.

In some of the photos, banners can also be seen in front of the altar with slogans such as “Every mine pollutes. No to mining, yes to life” and “Freedom for environmental defenders.” 

Statement of nunciature in El Salvador

In a statement released after the Mass on the same day, March 24, the apostolic nunciature in El Salvador reminded that “ecumenical celebrations shared with members of non-Catholic churches include only the Liturgy of the Word and its commentary, along with prayers of the faithful and the prayer that Our Lord taught us: the Our Father.”

Furthermore, and according to liturgical norms, the text continues, “it must be taken into account that the altar is reserved solely for the Eucharistic celebration.”

“What happened this morning in the Chapel of the Hospitalito should not have taken place because it is prohibited by ecclesiastical law,” the statement concludes.

Sources from the Archdiocese of San Salvador who asked not to be identified told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that the banners were unauthorized and that they were placed at the end of the Mass. Regarding the presence of the Anglican “female bishop” and anti-mining activist Ruiz, the archdiocese emphasized that the nunciature had already issued a statement on the matter.

ACI Prensa contacted the office of the archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar, the following day on March 25 to inquire about the irregularities at the March 24 Mass. In an email, his secretary responded that “unfortunately, the archbishop had more commitments than he had planned and will be out of town, so we apologize for not being able to assist with the request.”

Canon 908 of the Code of Canon Law, the law that regulates the universal Church, states that “Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of churches or ecclesial communities which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church.”

Additionally, Canon 844 emphasizes that “Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone.”

In February, a female Anglican minister “concelebrated” a Mass for the installation of the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chapecó in Brazil. 

Tensions between Church, Bukele over mining 

The controversy that arose during the commemorative Mass for the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero reflects current tensions in El Salvador, particularly around the metal mining law promoted by President Nayib Bukele.

The presence of anti-mining banners and non-Catholic religious figures at the altar during the celebration served to highlight opposition to the government initiative.

On March 19, the bishops of El Salvador presented a letter to the Legislative Assembly, supported by 150,000 signatures, seeking the repeal of the Metallic Mining Law. Mining had been banned in the country since 2017 but approved in December 2024 with the support of Bukele.

In December 2024, Bukele called the ban absurd, because the wealth given by God “can be used responsibly” to achieve high economic and social development.

The president said on his X account that “studies carried out in only 4% of the potential area identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued today at $131.565 billion. This is equivalent to 380% of El Salvador's GDP.”

However, the bishops fear that these activities will increase “water and air pollution ... irreversibly causing death and illness,” especially among the poor.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Bishop Christian Carlassare (center), President Salva Kiir (left), and Dr. Riek Machar (right). / Credit: Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/Office of the President - Republic of South Sudan

ACI Africa, Mar 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A Catholic bishop in the Africa’s youngest country has directed the people under his care to participate in daily prayers for peace amid testimonies of rising tension in South Sudan and reports of the arrest of the country’s first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar.

“First vice president” is a position that was created in 2015 as part of a coalition agreement. Five more such positions were created in 2020. They are temporary positions to assist during a transition period.

“As we witness rising tensions in South Sudan, I invite our parishes to pray every day for peace,” Bishop Christian Carlassare wrote in a March 26 note obtained by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa.

The local ordinary of the Bentiu Diocese in South Sudan, who also serves as the apostolic administrator of the country’s Diocese of Rumbek, directed that “the prayer for peace in South Sudan” be said “at the end of the Mass” and that there be in parishes “a weekly initiative for peace — either Eucharistic adoration or the Way of the Cross.”

Hours after Carlassare’s directive on daily prayers for peace in South Sudan, reports emerged of the arrest of Machar.

“South Sudanese security forces placed first vice president and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar under house arrest in Juba on Wednesday night amid escalating political tensions, raising fears of a return to civil war,” Radio Tamazuj, an independent daily news service covering current affairs in Sudan and South Sudan, reported on March 26.

According to a March 26 Reuters report, Machar’s party, the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), is “trying to locate him after the defense minister and chief of national security ‘forcefully entered’ his residence and delivered an arrest warrant.”

The Reuters report cites a statement from Machar’s SPLM-IO party condemning “a blatant violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” which refers to the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan that ended a 2013–2018 civil war between armed forces loyal to Machar and those aligned to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir.

“The house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar is widely seen as jeopardizing the peace agreement,” Radio Tamazuj reported. The news service quoted Reath Muoch Tang, the acting chairperson of the SPLM-IO’s Committee on Foreign Relations, sharing details of Machar’s house arrest. 

“The security forces came and chased everyone away from the compound, and the minister of defense left, but many security vehicles remained in the compound,” Muoch Tang is quoted as telling Radio Tamazuj, adding: “Technically, Dr. Machar is under house arrest, but the security officials initially tried to take him away.”

In a statement obtained by ACI Africa, the official spokesperson of SPLM-IO, Pal Mai Deng, confirmed “with grave concern” that Machar “has been placed under house arrest.”

“This is an unfortunate move, and this violates the revitalized peace agreement,” Mai Deng said.

“For the sake of South Sudan’s future nationhood and nation-building, the physical security of Dr. Riek Machar is paramount,” said the SPLM-IO spokesperson, who serves as South Sudan’s minister of water and irrigation under the power-sharing agreement. “The region and the international community have the obligation to ensure his safety.”

According to Reuters, foreign governments have cautioned against a renewed civil war in South Sudan “following weeks of escalating tensions that originated in fighting between government troops and a militia that has historically been close to Machar’s forces.”

Earlier, in a media briefing on March 24, the special representative of the secretary-general for South Sudan and head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, described the security situation in South Sudan as “dire.”

According to him, efforts to realize lasting peace in the east-central African nation can only succeed if the country’s president and its first vice president, Machar, have the will to engage and especially to “put the interests of their people ahead of their own.”

Meanwhile, in his directive on daily prayers for peace in South Sudan, Carlassare is considering the possibility of having more public prayer for peace.

This story was first publshed by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.