null / Credit: Ivan Galashchuk/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 13:38 pm (CNA).

A recent study found that among adults who attend Christian worship at least monthly, 68% agreed marriage is between one man and one woman, but only 46% defined “family” in corresponding terms of a husband and wife, their children, and relatives.

Family Research Council in partnership with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released findings this week from a new national survey of 1,003 churchgoing adults. The survey, “Social Issues and Worldview,” was conducted in July to build off a similar 2023 study. The research identified beliefs of the faithful in regard to social topics and family life.

Of the 9 in 10 respondents identifying as Christian, 39% were Catholic, 20% mainline Protestant, 18% evangelical, 9% independent or nondenominational Christian, and 4% Pentecostal.

Among the respondents, about 22% claimed the definition of family changes over time and across cultures. About 20% said family is any group of people who care for one another, 6% said family is any group of people who live together, and 6% said they did not know how to describe family.

No demographic or Christian group was found to have a clear majority in support of the biblical definition of family, but the highest support came from theologically defined born-again Christians (59%) and Pentecostal churchgoers (56%). 

The majority of respondents did agree on a number of other family-related topics. Of churchgoing adults, 70% said it is important for society to facilitate families with a father, mother, and children living together and 68% said they believe marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Christian stances on social issues and need for discipleship 

The report found churchgoers are open to more discipleship and teaching on a number of current social issues. A large majority reported that additional worldview training is desirable in areas regarding religious freedom (88%), social and political responsibility (76%), and abortion and the value of life (60%).

The research revealed more specific Christian views on pro-life topics including abortion and euthanasia. About 25% of churchgoing respondents said they would prefer their church to preach or teach about abortion at worship services more often, while 18% said they would prefer teachings on the topic less often. 

Those interested in increasing preaching on the topic mostly attend either evangelical (31%) or Pentecostal churches (31%), while adults who align with independent and nondenominational churches were the least interested in increasing the number of sermons on abortion (19%). Interest among Catholics in increasing the frequency fell from 41% to 29% since 2023.

Respondents were asked their beliefs in regard to the statement: “Euthanasia is morally wrong.” Less than half of churchgoers (43%) said they agreed, another 23% said they disagreed, and 35% said they were unsure and did not know whether euthanasia was right or wrong.

Overwhelming majorities agreed that people should be able to practice “peaceful, genuinely held religious beliefs without being punished by the government, even if those beliefs are not culturally popular” (83%), that “every person is made in the likeness of God” (84%), and that “every human being has undeniable value and dignity” (83%).

Pope Leo greets crowds in St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: Vatican Media

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 13:02 pm (CNA).

A 2025 survey of more than 1,100 American priests found high rates of self-reported personal flourishing, strong confidence in Pope Leo XIV, and a mixed level of trust in U.S. bishops.

The National Study of Catholic priests, published on Oct. 14, was commissioned by the Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and conducted by Gallup. Researchers surveyed the same priests who were surveyed in The Catholic Project’s 2022 survey to examine the U.S. priesthood. 

The survey showed strong confidence in the first-ever American pope. About 43% of those surveyed expressed “a great deal” of confidence in Leo and another 43% reported “quite a lot” of confidence in the pontiff. About 13% said they have “some” confidence, and only 1% expressed “very little” confidence.

Most priests also predicted the U.S. Church’s relationship with the Vatican will improve, with 51% saying it will improve significantly and 28% saying it will improve somewhat. About 17% said it would likely stay the same, and 3% think it will worsen.

Priests lack trust in U.S. bishops

Confidence in bishops was significantly lower. Just 52% of diocesan priests reported they trust their own bishop, which is slightly higher than the 49% who said the same in 2022. Yet, those numbers are much lower than 2001, when 63% trusted their own bishop.

About 74% of priests said their bishop cares about them, and 11% said their bishop did not. The survey also found that 83% said they can reach their bishop or superior when needed, while 8% said they could not. 

The numbers are worse for U.S. bishops as a whole. Only 27% of priests surveyed reported trust in the U.S. bishops, although this is an uptick from 2022 when only 22% had trust in them. It is much lower than 2001, when 39% of priests trusted U.S. bishops.

Personal flourishing

Priests reported high rates of personal flourishing, which is measured by mental health, physical health, purpose, character, and social relationships. The average rate was 8.2 out of 10, which is identical to the results of the 2022 survey. Diocesan and religious priests reported the same rate of personal flourishing.

When asked questions about whether their religious communities were flourishing, the results were lower. The community flourishing rate was 5.7 out of 10 for diocesan priests and 6.2 out of 10 for religious priests. 

Researchers found that 92% have a close relationship with at least one other priest, but also about one-third of those surveyed said their relationships with other priests tends to be superficial. 

Recently-ordained priests reported more loneliness. About 45% of priests ordained in 2000 or later reported loneliness, as did 34% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 27% ordained before 1980.

Burnout

The survey also measured priests’ “burnout,” which asked questions about feeling “worn out and weary” or “emotionally drained” and whether they “talk about [their] ministry in a negative way.” 

For diocesan priests, 56% said they felt no burnout while 44% felt some burnout. Among those feeling burnout, only 7% had high burnout. For religious priests, 69% said they felt no burnout, 31% felt some burnout, and among those feeling burnout only 2% had high burnout. Burnout rates slightly improved since the 2022 survey, which found half of diocesan priests and one-third of religious priests feeling some burnout.

The survey found that 96% of priests reported having access to mental health counseling if they need it, but only 11% are receiving treatment or therapy for a mental health condition.

Some priests, however, said they are “expected to do too many things that go beyond my calling as a priest.” The rate is much higher for newer priests than it is for older priests.

About 45% of priests ordained in 2000 and later reported that feeling, as did 38% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 13% of priests ordained before 1980.

The survey was conducted between May 12 and June 30 of this year. The response rate was 38%.

Pope Leo XIV meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his first state visit to the country that surrounds Vatican City State on Oct. 14, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Rome Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 12:06 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Tuesday, highlighting the strong ties between the two states and the need to work toward lasting peace in every part of the world. 

Mattarella welcomed the Holy Father and his delegation, which included Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State Sister Raffaella Petrini, to his residence in Rome to strengthen the historic political ties between the Holy See and Italy.

The Holy Father spoke of the “sincere friendship and fruitful mutual collaboration” between Italy and the popes and emphasized the need for the two states to contribute to multilateral peace processes in regions, including the Middle East and Europe.

I “renew my heartfelt appeal that we continue to work to reestablish peace in every part of the world and that the principles of justice, equity, and cooperation among peoples — principles which form its irreplaceable foundation — be ever more cultivated and promoted,” he said in his Oct. 14 speech. 

Leo XIV commended the Italian government’s commitment to “alleviating situations of hardship caused by war and poverty,” particularly its efforts to support children in Gaza. 

“These are strong and effective contributions to building a dignified, peaceful, and prosperous coexistence for all members of the human family,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Holy Father donated 5,000 doses of antibiotics for children in Gaza following the opening of key humanitarian corridors into the city after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal came into effect Monday.

In light of the 800th anniversary of the death of Italy’s patron St. Francis of Assisi, in 2026, Leo also spoke about the “urgent issue of caring for our ‘common home.’”

“St. Francis taught us to praise the Creator through respect for all creatures, proclaiming his message from the geographical heart of the [Italian] peninsula and transmitting it — through the beauty of his writings and the witness of his life and that of his brothers — across the generations down to us,” he said.

“For this reason, I believe Italy has received, in a special way, the mission of transmitting to the nations a culture that recognizes the earth as ‘a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us,’” he continued, quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’.

Earlier this month, the Italian Senate approved a bill reinstating the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi as a national holiday.

Toward the end of his speech, the Holy Father noted Italy’s declining birth rate and called for a “concerted effort” to promote choices at all levels in favor of the family and to uphold and protect life “in all its phases.”

“In particular, I wish to emphasize the importance of guaranteeing all families the indispensable support of dignified work, in fair conditions and with due attention to the needs related to motherhood and fatherhood,” he said.

“Let us do everything possible to give confidence to families — especially young families —  so that they may look to the future with serenity and grow in harmony,” he continued.

In his welcome speech, Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican and commended the work of the European Union’s founding fathers, “many of whom had a Christian background” and who rebuilt peace in the region after World War II. 

Recalling Pope Leo’s consistent messages of peace since his election, the Italian president said political leaders have the responsibility to “reject the glorification of conflict” and “foster dialogue and mutual understanding.”

“This peace, as you emphasized, begins with each of us, and that is why it is so essential to disarm, unarm our hearts and disarm our words,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Oct 14, 2025 / 08:41 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has sent 5,000 doses of antibiotics to the Gaza Strip in a humanitarian gesture aimed primarily at children and made possible by the recent reopening of key border crossings allowing the entry of aid.

According to Vatican News, the shipment of the medicines began this week, following the ceasefire and the start of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace deal.

Israel is allowing the entry of up to 600 aid trucks per day, operated by the United Nations and authorized by international organizations, private sector actors, and donor countries. On Oct. 12, more than 170 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The shipment of antibiotics to Gaza was coordinated by the Office of the Papal Almoner, the Vatican dicastery charged with carrying out charitable works for the poor and those in need on behalf of the pope, and led by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.

“We are putting into practice the words of the apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, dedicated to the poor,” Krajewski explained to Vatican News. “It is necessary to act, to pay attention to those in need.”

Infant formula delivered to Gaza

Caritas Jerusalem has become one of the first humanitarian organizations to respond to the ceasefire in Gaza, quickly mobilizing to address the urgent needs of families and children throughout the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire, Caritas Jerusalem deployed its medical teams to deliver 10,000 bottles of infant formula to families with newborns and young children who had been deprived of basic nutrition during the months of conflict.

The distribution was carried out through Caritas’ network of medical centers in Gaza, ensuring that the aid reached the most vulnerable communities quickly and safely, the Catholic organization reported.

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

Holy Family Church in Booneville, Kentucky, with solar panels implemented as part of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington’s goal of net zero emissions. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Diocese of Lexington has developed an ambitious plan to make all of its buildings net-zero by 2030 because, it noted, as Scripture says: “The earth and all in it belongs to God.” The plan includes all buildings of the 59 parishes in the diocese, spanning over 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky.

The plan is a direct response to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), which called on the global Catholic Church to engage in dialogue about the future of the planet. Within the writings, Pope Francis urged the Church to acknowledge environmental challenges.

The diocese was inspired by Laudato Si’ No. 217, which says “living our vocation as protectors of God’s handiwork is a life of virtue,” Josh Van Cleef, director of the Office of Peace and Justice for the diocese, told CNA. “It is not a secondary dimension of Christian life.”

The Diocese of Lexington’s plans stem from the seven goals of Laudato Si', which include response to the cry of the earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, and community resilience and empowerment.

Inspiration from Pope Francis

Since the encyclical was published, dioceses and archdioceses across the country have implemented ways to live out Pope Francis’ call. As this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the encyclical, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington and his leadership team have laid out one of the most ambitious plans yet.

Van Cleef, who leads the Respect Life Ministries for the diocese, said the idea began to develop in 2024. Each parish was asked and encouraged by leaders including the bishop to form Laudato Si’ teams. The teams then carried out “parish assessments based on the seven goals of Laudato Si’, to do listening sessions, and to come up with concrete action plans.”

The parishes “did not come up with a ‘net-zero plan’ but just a plan for them to implement care for creation.” These plans included “looking at what concretely they can do from their lighting, like moving to LED [light bulbs], to the different programming they can do to promote this as a faith issue in the parishes.”

“We’ve seen a lot of our parishes really take this on, and it’s been pretty inspiring,” Van Cleef said. “Then as a diocese, the action plan was published on Jan. 1, 2025, which included plans from each one of the 59 parishes, plus the diocese-wide commitments.”

The biggest undertaking within the diocese’s goals is “to move all facilities to net-zero emissions.” Diocese leaders have been working for more than a year with a group of experts in the area of sustainability to accomplish it.

Net-zero is defined by the diocese as “the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that an organization generates and the amount removed from the atmosphere.”

Net-zero plan

The four steps the diocese is taking to shape its net-zero approach include measuring, efficiency, solar development, and transitioning from gas to electric. Measuring is the first step and “identifies the main sources of emissions, calculates the overall carbon footprint, and sets the stage for developing an effective action plan,” according to the published plan.

Efficiency will be tracked through an energy audit from 2025–2026. The diocese will conduct “evaluations of energy use within a building with the goal of identifying areas where energy is being wasted,” the report explained. 

An essential part of the plan is the implementation of solar power, which “offers a pathway for the transition to renewable energy.” Finances will be discussed, including grants, low-interest financing options, and energy service agreements “to ensure that projects can fit within a location’s budget.”

The diocese will carry out a shift from gas to efficient electric to “facilitate the diocese’s overall movement towards renewable energy.” Once again, the diocese will “identify available grants, rebates, and other financing options to assist locations in this transition.”

The diocese is committed to the steps because as Catholics, “we’re not opting in to care for creation for partisan reasons, and we don’t get to opt out,” Van Cleef explained. “For us, we’re all in because of our faith. And when we look at Scripture, we see Psalm 24:1 say: ‘The earth and all in it belongs to God.’”

“Then we read in Genesis that our job is to ‘till and keep.’” Therefore, we must “cultivate and protect what belongs to God,” Van Cleef said. “It is a matter of faith. When we look to Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, and Pope Leo, it is clear that the Church is called to urgent and decisive action.”

“We know that all creation communicates God’s glory, and it is a sacred place where we encounter God.”

More Laudato Si’ inspiration 

The Diocese of Lexington’s plan is in motion and will continue to develop over the coming years to hopefully reach its goal by 2030, according to the diocese. While parts of its mission will take time, other practices Lexington and a number of other Catholic communities are carrying out are active now.

The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., created an action plan that provided a number of options for parishes, schools, and families “to become better stewards of God’s creation, help reverse climate change, and work towards sustainability as proclaimed in Laudato Si’’.” This included a volunteer group called Laudato Trees, which began in 2022 to increase the tree canopy in the D.C. area by planting trees on Catholic church and school properties. 

The Diocese of Sacramento, California, began to utilize solar panels in 2022, including at its memorial center at St. Anthony Parish. Soon after, a diocesan Creation Care Committee was established and the diocese enrolled in the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

Parishes in the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, also implemented plans by adding solar panels to buildings around the community in 2024. Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church was the flagship parish, but quickly after a number of others across the diocese joined.

Other communities across the nation including the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, and the Archdiocese of Atlanta wrote plans that offered everyday actions for parishes and families to carry out in order to further the seven goals. They called for the faithful to recycle, focus on energy production, cut back on toxic and plastic items, replace gas-fueled appliances with electric ones, and to spread the message of Laudato Si’.

The main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which was desecrated on Oct. 10, 2025. / Credit: Jorge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 17:43 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and vicar general of the pope for Vatican City, presided Oct. 13 over a penitential rite of reparation at the main altar of the church following a serious act of desecration that had taken place on Oct. 10.

After a penitential procession that began at 12:45 p.m. local time, Gambetti sprinkled the altar with holy water and incensed it to purify it.

The rite, attended by members of the chapter of the Vatican basilica, emphasized asking God for “forgiveness” for the desecration, Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communications for St. Peter’s Basilica, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

On Friday, Oct. 10, a man whose identity has not been revealed was arrested by security guards after he climbed onto the Altar of the Confession, located under Bernini’s baldachin, and urinated on it while tourists looked on in astonishment.

Pope Leo XIV expressed his consternation upon learning of the incident and asked Gambetti to perform an act of reparation to restore the sanctity of the place and ask forgiveness for what had happened.

This is the second instance of desecration in St. Peter’s Basilica in less than a year. In February, a man severely damaged part of the main altar, breaking several candelabras. In June 2023, an individual of Polish origin stripped naked in the same place as a form of protest against the war in Ukraine. 

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

Cardinal Pietro Parolin greets the parents of St. Carlo Acutis before Mass at Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 12, 2025. / Credit: Diocese of Assisi

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 16:13 pm (CNA).

In a Mass marking the first liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Sunday said the saint spoke of Jesus with a “radiant” and “smiling” face.

“Many when they see his picture are touched by his smile: Carlo spoke of Jesus above all with his radiant, luminous, and smiling face. He taught us to live out St. Paul’s exhortation: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always,’” Parolin said in his homily at the Mass he celebrated Oct. 12.

The Mass took place in St. Mary Major Church in Assisi at the Shrine of the Renunciation (Santuario della Spogliazione). The body of St. Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 of fulminant leukemia at the age of 15, rests in a glass case on the side of the nave of the church.

Before the Mass, which was attended by civil, military, and religious authorities — as well as the young saint’s parents, Antonia Salzano and Andrea Acutis — the Italian cardinal prayed for a few minutes before the saint’s final resting place.

“Carlo is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people,” Parolin said.

‘The word of God portrays Carlo’

“The word of God that we have just heard portrays Carlo and his spirituality almost photographically, and he in turn helps us understand it with the example of his life,” the cardinal noted, according to Vatican News. 

“From prison, Paul invites everyone to communion,” the cardinal said, citing the second Mass reading, in which St. Paul addresses the faithful of Philippi, the first evangelized European community.

He continued, saying that St. Paul recalled “the liturgical hymn in which it is said that Jesus emptied himself of all his divine glory to become one of us, even to death on the cross.”

“It’s beautiful to recall this here in this Shrine of the Spogliazione, which evokes not only St. Francis’ gesture of stripping himself of everything to make Christ his only treasure, but even more so the self-emptying of Christ, which St. Francis wished to imitate,” he explained, noting that the shrine bears the name of “Spogliazione” (“renunciation”) because it recalls the moment when St. Francis of Assisi renounced material goods to follow Christ.

His mother ‘misses most his jokes’

Parolin emphasized in this first liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis that the Gospel contains a clear “call to joy.”

“The entire Gospel proclamation is oriented toward joy: The Son of God came down from heaven to make us happy. And who better than Carlo can explain this? His mother, Antonia, has often said that what she misses most about him are his jokes and his good humor, with which he knew how to make us laugh and smile,” the cardinal noted.

“Christianity is a message of salvation and Jesus our savior: How can we not rejoice?” he added, noting that “sad and complaining Christians are not good witnesses of the Gospel.”

“And although life knows suffering — just think of the many horrendous wars that are fought today with so much bloodshed — this invites us to also live out Paul’s other command: ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.’ But this weeping must be one of compassion and love, which doesn’t take away joy, peace, or hope,” he noted.

Carlo, ‘teacher of beauty and goodness’

The Vatican secretary of state also referred to St. Francis of Assisi, recalling a verse from the “Canticle of the Creatures: “Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, shall they be crowned.”

In light of the first reading, he explained, “we see how the Christian way of life described by Paul fits perfectly with Carlo’s life: His existence, marked by normality, makes him a young man of our time. He loved all the beautiful things in life, and Paul’s words resonate in him: ‘Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’”

‘Jesus takes nothing away from the beautiful things in life’

Parolin also noted that St. Carlo Acutis was “a teacher of beauty and goodness, because he used the things of the world with a pure heart, making Jesus the center of his life.”

“Today more than ever, young people must be reminded that Jesus takes nothing away from the beautiful things in life; everything comes from God and is good in itself. What makes things bad is sin,” he pointed out.

“This was his program,” the cardinal noted, “‘always be united to Jesus,’ and that was also the secret of his originality. When he said that we are all born as originals and die as photocopies, he was also speaking of himself: He did not want to be a copy or follow fashions, but to be fully himself, filled with the Lord Jesus.”

‘The Eucharist, his highway to heaven’

“To be filled with Jesus,” the Vatican secretary of state continued, “Carlo understood that we have it within our reach. Thanks to the Eucharistic presence, we don’t need to look for him elsewhere in the world. He said there is a way, or better yet, a special highway, free of tolls, traffic jams, and accidents: That highway is the Eucharist.”

Parolin noted that many people come to the shrine that holds Acutis’ remains, and others receive his relics because the first millennial saint “attracts many to the path of goodness.” 

“From this shrine, together with St. Francis, he speaks to the world and reminds us that we are all called to holiness. With the simplicity of his life, he teaches us that holiness is possible at any age and in any state of life,” Parolin said.

“Carlo,” he concluded, “is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people.”

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

Bishop Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa is the apostolic administrator of the Congolese Wamba Diocese. / Credit: Radio Moto

ACI Africa, Oct 13, 2025 / 15:12 pm (CNA).

The Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization has suspended the formation of seminarians in the Diocese of Wamba in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing a “difficult ecclesial environment,” which it says undermines priestly training.

In a letter issued Oct. 7, the apostolic administrator of the Congolese episcopal see, Bishop Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa, informed the seminarians of the dicastery’s decision, alluding to the challenge of transition.

The Wamba Diocese has been experiencing a leadership crisis since the January 2024 appointment of Bishop Emmanuel Ngona Ngotsi as its local ordinary. Although he was ordained a bishop in the Congolese capital city, Kinshasa, Ngotsi has yet to take canonical possession of his episcopal see amid opposition from some members of the clergy and laity who insist that the diocese should be led by a native of the region.

In the Oct. 7 letter, Ayikuli, who also leads the Mahagi-Nioka Diocese, said the Dicastery for Evangelization has noted that the “formation of future priests in such a difficult ecclesial environment would be entirely inappropriate and has therefore ordered its suspension until further notice.”

“Therefore, the dicastery has decided that seminarians who wish to continue their priestly formation may contact other bishops who are willing to receive them after proper discernment,” Ayikuli said. 

He continued: “This means that the seminarians of the Diocese of Wamba will only be able to continue their priestly formation after fulfilling the above condition. Implicitly, this also means that if a seminarian wishes instead to pursue a vocation to religious life, he may request admission as a candidate in an institute of consecrated life or a society of apostolic life, continuing his formation according to the norms of that institute or society.”

The Vatican decision affects St. Leo Minor Seminary in Lingondo, one of the key formation centers in the diocese. Its operation has been deemed noncompliant with current ecclesial standards.

In his letter, the apostolic administrator reassured the seminarians of his support and said he is ready to facilitate their transitions.

“I am prepared to accompany the seminarians in their choices and in carrying them out, particularly concerning the written application to the local ordinary of the chosen diocese,” the bishop said.

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

St. Carlo Acutis. / Credit: carloacutis.com

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 14:42 pm (CNA).

A fire this weekend severely damaged the 17th-century Bernaga Monastery outside of Milan in northern Italy, forcing 21 cloistered nuns to flee the blaze.

The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 as the nuns — part of the Ambrosian hermitages of the Order of St. Ambrose ad Nemus — were watching a live television stream of Pope Leo XIV’s prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter’s Square. The women all escaped without harm, but the monastery, which was built in 1628, was nearly destroyed. Nine firefighting teams intervened to put out the blaze.

The Archdiocese of Milan reported that the fire destroyed documents, religious artifacts, and the nuns’ personal belongings, though the religious sisters managed to save some paintings and a relic of St. Carlo Acutis, who received his first holy Communion at the monastery on June 16, 1998.

Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan expressed his closeness and prayers following the disaster: “I know that the nuns will continue to pray and that trust in God will be the most necessary encouragement.”

“We still don’t know what really caused the fire, and we will probably never know, since almost everything has been destroyed. Thank God the nuns were quick to call for help and get to safety in a matter of minutes... Unfortunately, when the fire department arrived, the monastery was already completely engulfed in flames,” Father Emanuele Colombo told the Archdiocese of Milan.

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

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality on Oct. 12, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 13, 2025 / 14:12 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to support missionaries on World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Oct. 19.

In a video message released Oct. 13, the Holy Father — who served as a missionary bishop in the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo — stated that this day is an opportunity for the entire Catholic Church to unite in prayer for missionaries “and for the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors.”

He shared his experience as a missionary in Peru, where he saw firsthand “how the faith, the prayer, and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.”

The pope invited every Catholic parish in the world to participate in World Mission Sunday, emphasizing that their prayers and support help proclaim the Gospel, “provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.”

The pontiff also urged the faithful to reflect on their baptismal call “to be missionaries of hope among the peoples” and to renew their commitment “to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our hope to the ends of the earth.”

Pope Leo concluded his message by thanking the faithful for their support for Catholic missionaries around the world.

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