Theo is a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents. / Credit: Theo

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Theo, a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents, plans to host the largest Advent celebration for children to help them discover the true meaning of the season.

From Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, more than 1 million children are expected to take part in a 25-day journey filled with stories, songs, activities, and reflections.

The Advent campaign will be led by Theodore, a cheerful animated donkey who is described as a direct descendant of the donkey that carried the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. It will also feature several special guests including Catholic actor David Henrie and Father Ambrose Criste, among others.

Participants will read through the first two chapters of Luke, which will be accompanied by some meditations and reflection questions for children to do with their parents as well as hearing the stories of several saints, listening to songs, and explaining activities that both parent and child can do together.

Francisco Cornejo, CEO of Theo, told CNA in an interview that this campaign will help children “hear the word of God” and “prepare their hearts for the birth of Jesus.”

“We prepared these four weeks in a way that is engaging; it’s fun, but it’s also educational,” he added.

While Theo can be used for children of all ages, Cornejo pointed out that the Advent campaign is best suited for children between the ages of 4 and 12.

“The content tends to be on the more mature side of things, I would say, meaning 6 to 8 and older, but again this is the beauty of creating an app that is for the parent and the child — if the theme or the topic is a little hard to grasp or we want to go deeper in the learning, you have your parent by your side,” Cornejo said. “So you can discuss that and we’ll provide those discussion points and all the guidance there.”

Theo launched seven months ago and already has over 2 million users. Cornejo attributes the app’s success first and foremost to God but also to the need among Catholics families for a tool like this.

“We’ve seen over the last few years how families and how parents specifically wanted to have something like Theo because it’s not enough to take kids to Mass every Sunday or to get them through holy Communion preparation or confirmation preparation,” he said. “What happens every other day of the year or of their lives? So we really wanted to create a tool that makes faith accessible and teachings accessible for everyday kids and families regardless of where they are in their faith journey.”

He added: “It’s not meant to replace all the good things that we parents have to do, but it’s meant to help make faith an everyday thing. Something that kids want to hear more because it’s packed in a way that it’s accessible for them.”

The content on Theo includes daily Scripture readings, prayers, bedtime stories, faith-based affirmations, meditations, novenas, stories of the saints, the rosary, and much more. 

Cornejo also highlighted the importance of having both child and parent involved in using the app because “education needs to be done together.”

“You need to exemplify what you want to try to teach and you have to do it with your kids — that’s the domestic Church. That’s what we are meant to do as parents,” he added. 

As for what he hopes children and their parents will take away from participating in the Advent campaign, Cornejo said: “I think the main thing is remembering and living the actual meaning of Advent — the waiting for Jesus’ birth, preparing our hearts as the manger to welcome Jesus into our hearts” and that participants “forget about the fluff and the gifts and the ‘me me me’ and start thinking about what this actually represents.”

Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, speaks at the premiere of “The Kingship of Christ” at the Vatican on Nov. 18, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Marking the 100th anniversary of the feast of Christ the King, which this year falls on Nov. 23, EWTN has released “The Kingship of Christ,” a four-part docuseries that explores some of the core aspects of the kingship of Christ. 

The four 30-minute episodes look at the origin of kingship in the Old and New Testaments, what type of kingship is that of Christ’s, the growth in interest and devotion to kingship in the 1800s and 1900s, and how Christ’s kingship is being realized today. 

Currently airing on EWTN, the docuseries features Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ; Father Dominic Holtz, OP; and Father Mark Lewis, SJ.

The four-part series was filmed across five principal locations in Rome that are highly relevant to Christ’s kingship, namely St. Peter’s Basilica, the Gesù (the main Jesuit Church in Rome), the Scala Santa, the Basilica of Santa Croce Gerusalemme, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ the King. 

Additionally, many other churches, basilicas, and monuments are featured across many countries throughout the world that were built in honor of the kingship of Christ.

Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, who co-produced the series alongside EWTN Studios and EWTN Vatican, told CNA in an interview that he was approached by McGuckian 18 months ago to see if he was interested in making a series on the kingship of Christ to “commemorate and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of feast of Christ the King in 1925, which had followed Pope Pius XI’s papal encyclical Quas Primas.”

From there, they worked to create a comprehensive series looking into this devotion and its importance. 

“At the heart of this work lies the desire that the kingship of Christ is recognized, realized, and accepted by individuals, peoples, societies, countries across the entire world so that Christ can reign in all hearts and thus be truly king of the world, leading us to peace,” he said. 

He explained that extensive work “has been put into researching and evidencing the fact that Jesus Christ is King, where we highlighted relevant Scripture across thousands of years from the Old Testament and New Testament. So, for thousands of years it has been there, and we hope that people will take away this fact from watching the series.”

The film premiered at the Filmoteca Vaticano, a screening room in the Vatican, on Nov. 18. Ambassadors to the Holy See, journalists, and dignitaries were present for the screening. 

Gallagher shared that it was “very well received” and “there was excitement about watching the full series online.”

After watching the series, he said he hopes that “people will understand the type of kingship which Christ presents and that recognition and allegiance to his kingship can ultimately lead us to peace, holiness, and the betterment of human existence — both in this life and the next.”

“The Kingship of Christ” can also be viewed on EWTN Ireland’s website.

null / Credit: Kara Monroe via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

As Advent quickly approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to make its way into our lives, here are five resources to help you prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas. 

From Ascension: 

Join Father Mike Schmitz this Advent for “Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz” on the Ascension app. 

Beginning Nov. 30, a 26-day video series will guide viewers on becoming aware of how God is shaping them through seasons of waiting and how to wait well. Each day a five-minute video will be released and feature a reflection from Schmitz that unpacks the daily Mass reading as well as Scripture versus, catechism excerpts, and reflection questions to encourage participants to go deeper into the meaning of Advent. 

Schmitz’s weekly homily videos during Advent are part of the “Waiting Well” series and available for free on YouTube. However, the daily reflections will only be available on the Ascension app with a subscription or free trial.

This year’s video reflections will also be accompanied by the “Waiting Well” printed journal for individuals, parishes, and small-group study. It is designed to help readers slow down for 15 minutes a day as they prepare to meet Christ in the manger. Each day includes a word or Scripture verse to pray with, a reflection, and a prompt to write down your thoughts and insights. 

From Hallow:

Hallow’s annual “Advent Prayer Challenge” is back once again. Beginning Dec. 1, “Pray25: Be Still” features Jonathan Roumie; Chris Pratt; Gwen Stefani; Father John Burns; Mother Natalia; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; and Father Pierre Toussaint, CFR. This Advent, listeners are invited to discover deeper stillness amid the chaos of the holiday season, just like the Blessed Mother did that first Christmas. 

Roumie and Heidland will lead reflections on “The Reed of God” by Caryll Houselander, while Pratt will guide sessions on “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. Stefani and Mother Natalia will guide sessions focusing on being still, using the lives of saints as inspiration. Burns will guide listeners through sessions of imaginative prayer and Toussaint will offer homily reflections each Sunday during Advent.

From Blessed Is She:

Blessed Is She has Advent devotionals for the whole family this year — women, men, and children. “In Time: An Advent Devotional for Women” invites readers to reflect on God’s continuous presence in our lives. Written by Claire Dwyer, this devotional helps women see that waiting is filled with God’s loving action. 

“Feast: An Advent Devotional for Men” is written by Paul George, rooted in Scripture, and inspired by the story of the prodigal son. This devotional invites men to return to God the Father with courage, humility, and hope. It also aims to encourage those seeking renewal, healing, and deeper faith during Advent. Both the devotionals for men and women include daily Scripture readings, prayer, and reflection.

Lastly, “Watch and Wait: A Kids Advent Devotional” written by Olivia Spears helps kids prepare for Christmas with daily prayers, reflections, and simple Scripture-based activities. This devotional teaches children to wait with hope and joy as they prepare for the birth of Christ. It is recommended for children older than 7 years old.

From the Augustine Institute:

The Augustine Institute is inviting Catholics to enter into the Advent season with renewed purpose and joyful expectation with a new video series titled “How To Advent.” 

The video series will consist of four 12- to 15-minute-long episodes that explore the beauty and meaning of Advent traditions in an engaging and meaningful way and highlight a different cherished Advent tradition — the Advent calendar, Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, and Nativity scene. The video series is available on Formed. 

From EWTN’s Religious Catalogue:

The EWTN Religious Catalogue offers a wide variety of Advent devotionals including “Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Heather Khym, cohost of the “Abiding Together” podcast, and “The True Gifts of Christmas” by Megan Alexander, which takes readers on a journey through the deeper meaning of our most cherished Christmas traditions. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)

The Chapel of Christ the King at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. / Credit: Courtesy of Christendom College

Dublin, Ireland, Nov 23, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 following his encyclical Quas Primas. Today it is celebrated on the final Sunday before Advent. 

Quas Primas was Pope Pius XI’s profound response to the rising tide of secularism and nationalism in the early 20th century. 

In his introduction, Pope Pius wrote: “Manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics; and we said further that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations.”

Composed in the aftermath of World War I and the tumultuous revolutions between 1917 and 1923 — which resulted in the downfall of the Hohenzollerns, Romanovs, Habsburgs, and Ottomans — the encyclical underscores the enduring sovereignty of a king “whose kingdom shall have no end.”

Irish historian Father Fergus O’Donoghue, SJ, told CNA that ”Pius XI was thinking about emerging ideologies of power and strong leadership.”

Yet although Quas Primas and the inauguration of the feast of Christ the King were undoubtedly influenced by the affairs of the early 20th century, they were not new ideas.

The origins of the establishment of Christ the King as a feast day lie with a request to the papacy in 1870 from a Jesuit, Father Jean-Marie Sanna-Solaro. The Congregation of Rites in the Vatican rejected it, and the Holy Father had just responded favorably to Maria Drostezu Vischering’s request to consecrate the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This request for a feast day consecrating his kingship came at an inopportune time. 

Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ, told CNA: “The cause of bringing the feast of Christ the King to the Church was taken up by a marvelous French woman, Marthe de Noaillat, who had taken over the running of the Hieron museum at Paray Le Monial from the very wealthy Baron Surruchaga. Marthe decided that the kingship of Christ should be highlighted properly, and she wrote to the pope, urging him to establish the feast day. She was told that rather than the decision be made merely by the pope, she must seek the support of the teaching Church, the bishops, and the listening Church, which is the faithful, so she set about contacting all the bishops in the world, all the big religious orders, all the apostolates.”

Remarkably, her efforts gathered momentum and attracted widespread support around the world. “It began to become obvious that there was a groundswell of opinion in favor of this,” McGuckian said, and this evidence was brought to the attention of the pope.

Convinced of the support from the faithful, Pope Pius XI let Marthe know of his intention to establish the feast in a Mass on the last day of the holy year of 1925, to which she and her husband were invited as guests of honor. 

Biblical origins

The concept of the kingship of Christ is biblical and is rooted in the Old and New Testaments.

Father Dominic Holtz, OP, vice dean of the faculty of philosophy at the Angelicum in Rome, explains in the new EWTN Ireland series “The Kingship of Christ”: “In the Old Testament God uses the kings to be the place where his promises will be fulfilled. So even though the kings of Israel often fail them, God’s promises don’t fail. And he says, ‘I will give you a king, and through this Davidic line, I will give you one to come from that line, who will fulfil all of my promises.’ A king who is, of course, Jesus Christ.”

Jesuit Father Mark Lewis, rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, explains in his contribution to the new “Kingship of Christ” series: “In the 16th and 17th centuries, you get the sense of the divine right of kings, and that there’s an absolute authority that comes directly from God and somehow covers imperfection. But in fact, we realized that they were just as imperfect as their predecessors.”

He added: “In the 20th century, you start getting governments that react against this idea of a single divine-right king in favor of a more scientific kind of government. There’s the liberal revolutions of the Enlightenment, where reason triumphs everything, and there’s no more strong man, or there is a strong man, but it’s not tied to God, not tied to being anointed. And what ends up happening is, is it goes from a sort of theism, it doesn’t matter whether you have religion or not, to atheism.”

Now a century later, many of the themes and concerns that prompted Quas Primas are still relevant. Lewis explains the relevance of the Kingship of Christ to our world now as it was then. 

“The challenge of us celebrating the anniversary of the Christ the King is to not see kingship as something that’s just another defective form of government, but to see Christ the King as the embodiment of perfection that we can aspire to, that we aspire to become people who want to live our lives with integrity, with honesty,” he says, “in some ways, as people who are responsible citizens, we can be witnesses to what we we know are the characteristics of God’s reign, justice, peace, care for one another, care for the places, the place that we live. And I think a lot of the things that the Church talks about today, especially peace with justice, are calling us to witness to the reign of God that’s represented by Christ.” 

null / Credit: peacepix/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed:

Majority of Australian and French priests are thriving, reports say

A report has found that the majority of Australian priests and deacons are thriving in their ministry roles. 

In the first-ever survey of well-being among Australia’s clergy, the National Centre for Pastoral Research and the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office found 75% of clergy reported having “good” or “very good” self-confidence, 66% reported they maintain a healthy diet, 61% said they get sufficient rest, and 55% reported high energy levels.

In addition, the vast majority of clergy, at 90%, described their connections with their parishes as positive. Overall, 71% reported feeling hopeful, and 61% said they felt joyful frequently. 

This comes on the heels of an October survey in France that found most Catholic priests — 80% of those who responded — said they “are happy in their mission” and feel “faithful to their calling,” useful, and “at peace,” according to the Catholic Weekly. The survey by the Observatory of Catholicism was conducted with the French Institute of Public Opinion. 

Dutch bishop says Cardinal Fernández ‘Co-Redemptrix’ title decision is ‘mistaken’

Bishop Rob Mutsaerts, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, has called Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez’s decision to advise against using the “Co-Redemptrix” Marian title “mistaken.” 

“There is no truth that cannot be misunderstood,” he wrote in a blog post, according to the Catholic Herald. The prelate argued that the cardinal’s new guidance, issued via the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, is “mistaken to claim that it is no longer advisable to use the title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ for Mary.”

“If he is concerned that people will equate Mary with Christ, the problem lies with him, not Mary,” the bishop said. “Christ’s position is so absolute that it is nonsensical to imagine anyone overshadowing him. Cooperation does not imply rivalry.”

South African sister at G20 summit calls Africa’s debt crisis ‘ethical and spiritual tragedy’ 

The associate secretary general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has described Africa’s debt crisis as “an ethical and spiritual tragedy” that needs to be addressed. 

Presenting during the G20 Social Summit side event that was held in Johannesburg on the theme “A Jubilee for Solidarity: Towards a People and Planet Driven Financial Architecture for Africa,” Sister Dominica Mkhize said Africa’s debt crisis wounds human dignity, ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, reported Nov. 20. 

“Across Africa, the debt crisis has become one of these wounds,” she said. “As a Catholic family, guided by the Gospel and by our social teaching, we cannot remain silent in the face of this ethical and spiritual tragedy.”

House of Nazareth Listening Center opens in Syria to support families

In the heart of Homs, Syria, the new House of Nazareth Listening Center has opened its doors with a mission to provide safe, compassionate support for families, young people, and individuals facing emotional, spiritual, or psychological challenges. 

The initiative, launched with a special liturgy, aims to strengthen family life and promote healing in a city still recovering from years of conflict, according to a Nov. 17 report from CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, ACI MENA.

Staffed by religious sisters and trained counselors, the center offers marriage preparation, youth guidance, individual accompaniment, and programs designed especially for women navigating hardship, including widows and women supporting their households alone. Counselors say the demand for such services has grown significantly, particularly among young people.

Pope Leo’s visit to revise symbolism of Istanbul’s patriarchal church

As Turkey prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 27, attention is turning toward the historic St. George’s Patriarchal Church in the Phanar district of Istanbul. 

The church, regarded as the spiritual heart of global Orthodoxy, will once again host a pivotal moment of Christian unity, as the pope joins Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the Great Doxology and the signing of a joint declaration, ACI MENA reported.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who has worked closely with four popes over the past several decades, continues to play a central role in nurturing dialogue between Rome and Constantinople. 

Cash reward offered in Indian state for reporting violations of anti-conversion laws 

A cash reward is being offered in the northern Indian state of Punjab for anyone who provides evidence-backed tips of violations of the state’s anti-conversion laws. 

The Save Punjab Movement is offering 200,000 rupees ($2,250) for any “information with proof” of conversions to Christianity, according to a UCA News report. The group’s president, Tejasvi Minhas, said identities of informants would be kept confidential as it seeks to counter “large-scale illegal religious conversions across Punjab.” 

Minhas claimed that the Christian population has “grown to nearly 15%” and that “around 65,000 pastors” are engaged in conversion schemes involving manipulation and pressure tactics such as promises of miraculous cures. “The Catholic Church has never indulged in religious conversion activities,” Father Daniel Gill, vicar general of the Jalandhar Diocese, said in response to the allegations. 

Hope persists in Haiti amid ongoing violence, kidnapping, natural disasters

A Catholic missionary in Haiti expressed hope amid ongoing violence and natural disasters in the beleaguered country.

Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, told Agenzia Fides he has “finally managed” to return to his parish in Pourcine-Pic Makaya after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

While the natural disaster has destroyed bean crops, orchards, and livestock, he said, banana groves, “after being cleared, are beginning to raise the flag of hope: the first large leaf, a sign of rebirth.”

The devastation of Hurricane Melissa comes amid clashes between gangs and the U.S. military, and continued violent crime.

null / Credit: Courtesy of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

Dublin, Ireland, Nov 22, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).

Marthe de Noaillat, called the “Apostle of Christ the King” by her biographer, had a singular mission in life that she believed had been entrusted to her: to promote the universal kingship of Jesus Christ.

“Marthe was the woman who single-handedly brought this to the Church. This is not unusual, indeed the hard lifting in many of these causes was done by women of profound faith,” Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ, host of a new EWTN Ireland television series, told CNA.

De Noaillat was the seventh child in a family of 12 whose parents, Jean-Baptiste Devuns and Anne Zélina, were pious Catholics.

After spending seven years discerning a cloistered vocation, de Noaillat was led instead into the heart of the world as a missionary. With the encouragement and approval of Popes Benedict XV and Pius XI, she organized a global referendum aimed at gathering the faithful to acknowledge the “sovereign rights” of Christ, meaning that Christ is king over everything, including the entire universe.

Her efforts, carried out over six demanding years, helped pave the way for the Church’s solemn proclamation of Christ’s kingship and the establishment of the feast of Christ the King, which was formally instituted by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Quas Primas in December 1925.

A life devoted to the kingship of Christ

Jean-Claude Prieto de Acha, author of a 2025 biography of de Noaillat, told CNA: “No trace of the kingship of Christ is found in Marthe’s early writings. On the other hand, St. Joan of Arc was greatly venerated in her family home. The mention of this kingship is very present in the life of St. Joan of Arc, from the exhortation of the archangel St. Michael: ‘Go, daughter of God! The King of Heaven will help you.’” 

From Joan’s meeting with the Dauphin in Chinon she reportedly said: “I come from the King of Heaven to lift the siege of Orléans,” and “Gentle Dauphin, my name is Joan the Maid, and the King of Heaven informs you through me that you will be consecrated and crowned in the city of Reims.” And when she reached Orléans, she said: “I bring you the help of the King of Heaven.”

De Noaillat wanted to be a nun and entered the convent where, despite numerous health problems, she was determined to take vows. Eventually, however, her poor health became too much, and she left the convent at her mother superior’s instructions. 

“Each of her stays at the convent resulted in considerable physical weakness, forcing her to return regularly to her family home to regain her health,” de Acha told CNA.

“Her desire for religious life constantly drew her back to the cloister, but with each new attempt at religious life, her health deteriorated further, and she found herself in such a state of physical decline that when she finally had to renounce this cloistered life, it took her months to stand again. But she remained faithful throughout her life — even after her marriage — to her religious vows. Her husband, Georges de Noaillat, attested to this in writing after his wife’s death.”

Georges also relayed that one of his wife’s superiors in the convent said: “Marthe is not made to live within four walls; it is in the public squares that she must preach… She had only one thought: to win souls for Jesus Christ.”

De Acha pointed out that it is likely that de Noaillat’s natural eloquence was noticed at the convent “not during the daily routine of community life, during which silence was imposed, but when she was asked to speak before the sisters.”

Marthe and Georges’ relationship was reportedly a happy one — two zealous servants of Christ in a Josephine marriage, living as brother and sister, with the blessing of their bishop. After their marriage, each continued their work. In 1918, Marthe took up the role of director of the Hieron Museum in Paray-Le-Monial. There she redoubled her efforts in support of the kingship of Christ.

De Acha told CNA: “It is certain that she knew — and perhaps felt more keenly than others — her utter powerlessness to carry out the tasks entrusted to her without the help, support, and inner strength drawn from Eucharistic adoration and daily Communion. Marthe never relied on her own strength; the experience of her profound physical weakness during her attempts at religious life certainly marked her forever.”

The Italian Jesuit Father Jean-Maria Sanna-Solaro in 1870 initiated a request to institute the feast of Christ the King. The Congregation of Rites in the Vatican rejected that request. 

Explaining de Noaillat’s subsequent initial petition to the pope to establish a feast of Christ the King, de Acha explained: “This initial petition to Rome was merely a personal initiative by Marthe, even though it had been forwarded and thus approved by Bishop Berthoin of Autun. Benedict XV’s response — a request that would be echoed by his successor, Pius XI — was therefore legitimate: to establish this feast, the request had to be universal and therefore bear the signatures of bishops from around the world. The head of the Church will only accept the petition on the day it is signed by a majority of the episcopate.”

Finally convinced of the support from the faithful, Pope Pius XI let de Noaillat know of his intention to establish the feast in a Mass on the last day of the holy year of 1925, to which she and her husband were invited as guests of honor. The feast of Christ the King is now celebrated on the last Sunday before Advent. 

De Noaillat’s unexpected death

Marthe de Noaillat died unexpectedly and suddenly along with her secretary on Feb. 5, 1926, not long after the feast of Christ the King was inaugurated. 

“Marthe had her breakfast as usual with the parish priest after Mass in Paray Le Monial — the church where the Sacred Heart appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — and went back to her office to work,” McGuckian explained. “When she failed to return later for lunch as agreed, she was found dead in her office along with her secretary, Jeanne Lépine; both had succumbed to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.”

He added: “It was a tragic and unexpected end to the life of such a remarkable woman. It is hoped now that with the anniversary of the inauguration of the feast day, and 100 years since the publication of Quas Primas, that Marthe will receive the recognition that she never sought for herself but which is fully deserved for her devoted and tenacious advocacy for the kingship of Christ.”

Georges de Noaillat, 10 years later, was ordained to the priesthood and died in January 1948.

Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with the Roman Rota on Nov. 21, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.

During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.

The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.

Judicial processes at the service of truth

In this context, Pope Leo stressed that ecclesial judicial processes must be “at the service of the truth” and also reiterated that “the mystery of the conjugal covenant” must be kept in mind.

“A fundamental aspect of pastoral service operates in judicial authority: the diaconia [ministry] of truth. Every faithful person, every family, every community needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church,” he stated.

Consequently, the Holy Father pointed out that “the sacred authority is participation in the authority of Christ, and its service to truth is a way of knowing and embracing the ultimate truth, which is Christ himself.”

A manifestation of justice and mercy

He then recalled that in God’s judgment on salvation, “his forgiveness of the repentant sinner is always at work, but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”

“Any activity contrary to the service of the process of truth must certainly be deemed unjust. However, it is precisely in the proper exercise of judicial authority that true mercy must be practiced,” he emphasized.

In this regard, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the process of matrimonial nullity can be seen as “a contribution by legal practitioners to satisfy the need for justice that is so deeply rooted in the conscience of the faithful, and thus to accomplish a just work motivated by true mercy.”

“The aim of the reform,” he added, “which is to make the process more accessible and expeditious, but never at the expense of truth, thus appears as a manifestation of justice and mercy.”

The pontiff also emphasized the urgency of ensuring realism in annulment cases and appealed to the responsibility of the judges of the Roman Rota. He thus encouraged them to view the institution of the judicial process “as an instrument of justice” in which there is “an impartial judge” and the aim is to seek “a great benefit for all concerned and for the Church herself.”

He stressed the importance of making “efforts to promote reconciliation between spouses are very important, including, where possible, through the validation of the marriage.”

“Behind the procedural technicalities, with the faithful application of the current legislation, the ecclesiological presuppositions of the matrimonial process are therefore at stake: the search for truth and the ‘salus animarum’ itself [the salvation of souls],” he noted.

Synergy between justice and pastoral care

Pope Leo recalled in this regard that, in recent years, there has been “a growing awareness of the inclusion of the Church’s judicial activity in the field of marriage within the overall pastoral care of the family.”

“This pastoral care,” he pointed out, “cannot ignore or underestimate the work of ecclesiastical tribunals, and the latter must not forget that their specific contribution to justice is a piece in the task of promoting the good of families, with particular reference to those in difficulty.”

Thus, he emphasized that “the synergy between pastoral attention to critical situations and the judicial sphere has found significant expression in the implementation of preliminary investigations aimed at ascertaining the existence of grounds for initiating a case of nullity.”

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

Pope Leo XIV meets with the Augustinian nuns of Montefalco on Nov. 20, 2025, in Italy. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

“A moment of great familiarity” is how Abbess Maria Cristina Daguati of the Augustinian convent in Montefalco, Italy, described Pope Leo XIV’s visit on Thursday.

After visiting the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi and meeting with the Italian bishops on Nov. 20, the pope traveled to the Italian city of Montefalco to celebrate Mass at the monastery of the Augustinian nuns, erected in the 13th century and one of the oldest and most significant spiritual centers in the Umbria region.

After meeting with the Italian bishops in Assisi, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Augustinian monastery of St. Clare of Montefalco, where he wished to spend some time with the cloistered nuns. The Holy Father spoke informally with the community, celebrated Mass, and shared lunch with the nuns.

The pope arrived by helicopter in the city, known for its medieval architecture, and landed in the sports field, where he was greeted by Mayor Alfredo Gentili and Deputy Mayor Daniele Morici.

At the gates of the monastery — where 13 nuns currently live — residents of this small region of Perugia gathered, awaiting his arrival with great anticipation.

“We have known him for years; it was a moment of familiarity. He has a very peaceful personality,” Mother Maria Cristina explained in a statement to Vatican News.

Leo XIV had already been to the convent when he served as superior of the Order of St. Augustine, and on Nov. 20, he returned as pope, becoming the first pontiff to do so.

This convent is intrinsically linked to the figure of St. Clare of Montefalco (1268–1308), also known as St. Clare of the Cross, an Augustinian mystic whose contemplative life left a profound mark on the spiritual tradition of the Catholic Church.

“It’s a great friendship, because obviously we’ve known him for many years, so I would say that everything unfolded in an atmosphere of great familiarity,” the abbess said.

The pope spoke with the Augustinian nuns, then celebrated Mass and shared lunch with them. For the nuns, the day was characterized by “great simplicity” spent with “a disarmed and disarming man” with a personality that sets you at ease. 

“Pope Leo XIV brings with him a great atmosphere of prayer. So it wasn’t that he inconvenienced us too much; it was truly beautiful,” Daguati added. Before lunch, the pope celebrated Mass in the convent church, built in the 17th century and designed by the Peruvian architect Valentino Martelli.

Before returning to the Vatican, the nuns presented the pope with a 2026 calendar titled “Toward an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” featuring texts from his speeches and homilies as well as from St. Augustine.

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

null / Credit: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/CNA

CNA Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 08:20 am (CNA).

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

4 out of 5 Americans have concerns with embryonic screening, study finds

Four in five voters have some at least some concerns about embryo screening, a recent Ethics and Public Policy Center poll found.

Embryonic screening is the practice of selecting some babies to be born because of their genetic traits — such as appearance, health, or predicted intelligence — while discarding other unborn babies. 

The Ethics and Public Policy Center poll, led by center fellow Patrick Brown, comes in the wake of some Silicon Valley-funded startups saying they will give parents the ability to screen embryos.  

The poll found that very few Americans want Silicon Valley to “hack” reproduction.

“While Americans support measures to help infertile couples have children, they express concerns about broader implications of these technologies,” the report says. 

Across demographic groups, voters voiced support for “commonsense regulations.” 

Women were more likely to have concerns about embryo screening than men, while older voters (ages 46+) were more likely to have concerns than younger voters (ages 18-45).  

South Carolina right-to-life group opposes proposed bill to criminalize women who have abortions

A South Carolina bill would enable prosecution of women who have abortions — a practice that South Carolina Citizens for Life (SCCL) and most pro-life groups oppose. 

The bill, which would designate abortion as equivalent to the homicide of a born person, contains no provisions protecting women who obtain abortions. 

While pro-life groups tend to support prosecution of abortionists who illegally perform the deadly procedure, most groups oppose the prosecution of abortive mothers themselves, whom they also consider to be victims of abortion. 

Holly Gatling, who heads South Carolina Citizens for Life, called the bill “unacceptable.” 

“This provision of the law alone would shut down post-abortion ministries such as Rachel’s Vineyard and jeopardize the livesaving, compassionate work of pregnancy care ministries,” she told CNA.

The Catholic bishops ask that Project Rachel, a counseling resource for post-abortive women, be present in every diocese in the U.S.

Gatling said she opposes the bill “because it criminalizes post-aborted women, jeopardizes the work of pregnancy care centers and post-abortion ministries, and undermines the pro-life legislation previously passed by the General Assembly.” 

“Not only are post-aborted women subject to criminal prosecution, but pastors, counselors, and any ‘person’ also can be compelled to testify in the criminal prosecution of a post-aborted woman,” Gatling said. 

Gatling noted that South Carolina’s current heartbeat law has saved thousands of lives while explicitly protecting women from prosecution. 

“SCCL and many other pro-life and pro-family organizations in South Carolina oppose legislation that reverses this protection for women,” Gatling said. 

U.S. government can’t compel Christian employers to accommodate abortions, judge rules

A federal court has issued a permanent injunction ruling that Christian employers will not be compelled to accommodate abortions.

The Herzog Foundation in a lawsuit had argued that a Biden-era rule requiring employers to accommodate abortions for pregnant employees violated the First Amendment. 

On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri granted the permanent injunction protecting faith-based employers.

Herzog Foundation spokeswoman Elizabeth Roberts lauded the court’s decision in a Nov. 20 statement, saying that the ruling “solidifies that the government cannot overstep its authority by trying to dictate or suppress our beliefs.” 

3 state attorneys general file challenge to mail-in chemical abortion drugs

Attorneys general of Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri filed a challenge to stop mail-order abortion drugs and block the recent approval of generic mifepristone.

The Nov. 20 challenge claims that the FDA “cut corners when it removed safeguards from this dangerous drug.” 

Mifeprisotone’s label says that 1 in 25 women will go to the emergency room after taking the drug, while other studies have found that it poses a risk to the women and girls who take it.  

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a statement that Missouri “will not stand by while manufacturers gamble with women’s lives.” 

“Mifepristone is sending women to the hospital with life-threatening complications, and yet drug companies continue pushing new versions of it into the market without basic medical safeguards,” Hanaway said.

Texas sees decrease in minors getting abortions

After Texas implemented a heartbeat law protecting unborn children when their heartbeats are detectable, the state has seen a marked drop in abortions among minors, a recent study found. 

Published online on Nov. 13 by the American Journal of Public Health, the study found that abortions decreased by more than 25% among minors in Texas.

Additionally, among Texans ages 18-24, abortions decreased by about 20%; for Texans aged 25-29, abortions decreased by 17%, the study found. 

The study, which cited concerns about “young people’s reproductive autonomy,” has several authors affiliated with abortion clinics including Planned Parenthood as well as two authors affiliated with a pro-abortion research center, Resound Research for Reproductive Health.

Pope Leo XIV greets young American Catholics from the Vatican during a digital dialogue held between the Holy Father and participants in the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 07:56 am (CNA).

The 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference features prayer, community, evangelization, and service among Catholic teenagers from Nov. 20–22 in Indianapolis.

Note: CNA has concluded this live blog. Please visit our main website for ongoing coverage and other Catholic news.