St. Andrew Catholic Church

The port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. / Credit: Tahir mq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 16, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In Saudi Arabia, a theocratic monarchy where Islam is the official and only permitted religion, religious freedom does not exist. However, according to data maintained by the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, a considerable number of Catholics live in its vast territory — which covers more than 772,200 square miles, slightly larger than Mexico.

“The vast majority of non-Muslims have no religious freedom. Among them, there are more than 1 million Catholics,” explained Bishop Aldo Berardi, who has headed this ecclesiastical jurisdiction since 2023, which also includes Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The entire apostolic territory is home to nearly 35 million people, of whom more than 2 million are Catholics.

Unlike other countries in the region that have shown small signs of religious openness — such as Qatar, where the construction of a church complex was permitted in 2008 — when it comes to religious freedom Saudi Arabia remains one of the most restrictive states in the world, as reported by organizations such as Open Doors and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

In the country, ruled with an iron fist by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, conversion to another religion is considered apostasy and is punishable by death, as is any blasphemy against Islam.

‘Lives are at stake’

“I can’t tell you everything because lives are at stake. But what I can say is that they are not abandoned. We communicate, we organize ourselves, we enter [the country] when we can, and if not, we are present online. There is a living Church, discreet, but deeply connected to the universal Church and the bishop,” Berardi cautiously emphasized.

He explained, without going into detail, that the faithful gather clandestinely “according to language, rite, spirituality.”

“There are charismatics, Marians, Trinitarians. The families who arrive there look for Christian groups to share with, and news spreads among them,” he stated.

The Catholics residing in Saudi Arabia are, above all, foreign workers who have to live their faith in complete secrecy.

As the bishop explained in a press conference organized by Institutional Communications (ISCOM, by its Italian acronym), these faithful — mostly Filipinos and Indians — live scattered throughout Saudi Arabia, unable to meet officially and under constant surveillance.

Catholic families “follow Mass online,” he explained. However, “they don’t do so with the sacraments as we know them, but rather they develop groups for prayer, formation, and catechesis.”

Amid the repression, the internet has become a formidable tool: “Now everything is a little easier with the internet. It offers us certain possibilities, such as those for formation, courses we can teach, retreats… Everything is done with absolute discretion, because everything is prohibited,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, when there is a possibility to preside over “a celebration, there is one, but always with protection.”

A dispersed Church in the hands of the laity

However, the apostolic vicar noted that the majority “have no access to anything,” as many live in rural areas or small towns. “There are Catholics all over the country, because they hire nurses or technicians for hospitals and teachers for schools everywhere. There is a complete dispersion of Catholics,” he explained.

Berardi, a member of the Trinitarians, whose charism entails helping persecuted Christians, also explained that, despite the restrictions, the Catholic Church has managed to sustain believers thanks to a network of lay-led communities.

“It’s a beautiful experience to see the laypeople responsible for communities, for education, for prayer, and for worship. They, the families, [teach] the catechism. Everything is in their hands,” he stated.

Wave of repression after the 1979 Iranian revolution

The repression intensified, as the vicar explained, after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. The Sunni Kingdom of Saudi Arabia further tightened its internal religious control in an attempt to consolidate its legitimacy in the face of the Shia ideological challenge from Tehran. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini harshly criticized the Saudi regime for “allowing missionaries, priests, and pastors to enter,” he explained.

As a consequence, “they expelled them and totally prohibited non-Muslim worship. Since then, nothing has been authorized,” he lamented.

The apostolic vicar stressed that having the presence of the clergy in the country could be beneficial even for the Saudi authorities.

“Our form of organization is hierarchical, well identified. It’s not like in other communities where it’s not known who’s in charge, who speaks in the name of who. For Catholics, everything is more systematic. If we are allowed to be present with a clergy and an organization, it would be even safer for all,” he said.

This proposal, presented as a factor of stability for the regime, has not been fruitless: “Sometimes they invite someone from Rome to their conferences on Islamic dialogue. But nothing concrete for the moment. We are subject to politics, to the vagaries of the region.”

Fleeting contacts with the Holy See

Furthermore, although Saudi Arabia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Holy See — unlike other countries in the region such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Emirates — Berardi confirmed that informal contacts have taken place on specific occasions.

“Sometimes it has happened that a letter that has passed through the hands of diplomats, between embassies, or a letter from the Saudi Embassy in Rome reaches the Holy See. It seems there is a desire for dialogue, but Islamic tradition blocks it. For them, Saudi Arabia is a great mosque. Steps are taken little by little,” he noted.

Despite these circumstances, the vitality of the Catholic communities in the gulf has not disappeared. Berardi confirmed that some people will participate in the Jubilee of Youth from July 28 to Aug. 3: “We always send someone, even if it’s just one person. For the Jubilee of Priests, we sent 10. Now, about 40 young people from the four countries will attend.”

“Between the visa, the cost, and getting time off from work, it’s not easy, but we’re taking care of it,” he added.

In any case, he made it clear that at this time they are not demanding full religious freedom from the Saudi regime, “understood as being able to have a religion, change religion, or have none at all,” but rather to be guaranteed freedom of worship.

“We ask that those who are not of their religion be allowed to conduct their worship. We want to care for the millions of Catholics there,” he stated.

Saudi Arabia’s youth want change

Asked about the future prospects, Berardi was cautious but hopeful: “Social openness in the country has taken hold very quickly, although the older generation is still alive and there can be tensions. However, 60%-70% of the country is under 30 years old, and this younger generation wants change because they see what’s happening in the world and don’t understand why their country can’t be open.”

Therefore, his hope is for progress in the short term: “They will allow it one day. Not complete religious freedom, but freedom of worship. That’s what we’re asking for.”

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

Keizersberg Abbey in Leuven, Belgium. / Credit: Johan Bakker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Leuven, Belgium, Jul 16, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Benedictine community at Keizersberg Abbey in Leuven, Belgium, has been temporarily dissolved following allegations of abusive behavior among adults, according to an official declaration released by the head of the Sublacense-Cassinese Benedictine Congregation.

Abbot President Ignasi M. Fossas, OSB, announced sweeping disciplinary measures affecting multiple monasteries in the Flemish-Dutch province, including the suspension of community life at Keizersberg Abbey and the temporary prohibition of public ministry for several monks. 

“The archdiocese is not publishing any statement on Keizersberg,” the press office said in response to a request from CNA, referring to the abbey’s comprehensive statement.

In his declaration, Fossas announced an extraordinary canonical visitation of all monasteries in the Flemish-Dutch province, including Dendermonde, Affligem, Steenbrugge, and Doetinchem/Slangenburg. The comprehensive review aims to verify the situation of each community and ensure effective governance structures.

“The work of the visitation may continue for several months,” Fossas stated in the official document released from Rome.

The extraordinary measures follow a canonical visitation that began in 2022 and was completed in January as well as a commission of inquiry into abuse allegations established in November 2024.

Community life suspended, multiple disciplinary actions taken

The four remaining monks at Keizersberg Abbey have been required to relocate to other abbeys since November 2024, when Fossas first suspended the community’s common life. Each monk maintains a residence imposed by the abbot president, and the situation will be reviewed during the ongoing extraordinary visitation.

According to Belgian media reports, complaints were filed with the Church’s reporting center for sexual abuse, which forwarded the case to federal prosecutors. The Leuven prosecutor’s office confirmed receiving the case for detailed review.

The investigation has resulted in several disciplinary measures across the province.

At Keizersberg Abbey:

— A monk has been temporarily suspended from diaconal ministry due to “defects of form in his ordination to the diaconate.”

— The same individual is prohibited from any public activity as a Benedictine monk as a precautionary measure.

— His case will be presented to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for final determination.

At Doetinchem/Slangenburg:

— The abbot has been suspended from his office as a precautionary measure.

— He is prohibited from public exercise of priestly ministry.

— His dossier will also be forwarded to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for decision.

Fossas emphasized that the allegations do not involve sexual abuse of minors but rather “transgressive behavior between adults.” He described the situation as revealing “personal and structural fragility” affecting the monasteries in various ways.

“The canonical measures decided are precautionary and not punitive,” Fossas explained. “They are temporary measures that suspend the exercise of a ministry, but do not suppress it, until the corresponding legislative body gives a conclusion.”

Keizersberg Abbey, located above the Vaartkom in Leuven, has been operating with only four monks in a separate wing. The remainder of the large complex continues to house entrepreneurs, creative professionals, artists, and student housing.

The Abbey of Affligem, also part of the investigation, was found to have “no concrete evidence of abusive behavior that constitutes criminal offenses,” though the small number of monks poses “canonical and structural difficulties” that the congregation will address.

Apology and commitment to justice

In his declaration, Fossas expressed “sadness, shame, and pain for the harm caused to the victims” and offered sincere apologies while making himself available to assist within his possibilities.

He emphasized his determination to continue the reform process begun at the start of his service and expressed “full availability of the Benedictines to collaborate with the judicial authority.”

The abbot president also acknowledged the complexity of the situation, noting that while the process highlights failings in some individuals and governance structures, “we must take note of the fidelity, goodness, and self-denial of many other monks in living their vocation to serve the Church and society.”

The extraordinary canonical visitation is expected to continue for several months as Church authorities work to address the structural and personal issues identified in the investigation.

“The canonical visitation continues, but it will take a long time because it involves several monasteries,” a press spokesperson for the abbot told CNA in a statement Monday.

Fossas concluded his statement by acknowledging the gravity of his decisions and the pain they may cause but maintained they are “necessary to be able to offer light, truth, justice, reparation, and hope to all those involved.”

The case represents one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken against a Benedictine province in recent years, as the Catholic Church continues to address allegations of abuse and implement reforms to prevent future incidents.

null / Credit: NS Natural Queen/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 16, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

When speaking of the brown scapular, Pope Pius XII once said: “The devotion to the Carmelite scapular has brought down on the world a copious rain of spiritual and temporal graces.”

On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, here are 12 keys to explaining the brown scapular and its use:

1. It is not an amulet.

The scapular is not a charm or an automatic guarantee of salvation, nor is it a dispensation from living the demands of the Christian life. St. Claude de la Colombière once said: “You ask, what if I would want to die with my sins? I answer you, then you will die in sin, but you will not die with your scapular.”

2. It was an article of clothing.

The word “scapular” comes from the Latin “scapulae,” which means “shoulders” and was originally an overlapping article of clothing worn over the shoulders by monks at work. The Carmelites adopted it as a sign of special dedication to Our Lady, seeking to imitate her dedication to Christ and neighbor.

3. It is a gift from the Virgin Mary.

According to tradition, the scapular, as it is now known, was given by the Virgin Mary herself to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251. Mary told him: “It must be a sign and a privilege for you and for all Carmelites: Whoever dies wearing the scapular will not suffer eternal fire.” Later, the Church extended the use of the scapular to the laity.

4. It is a mini habit.

The scapular is like a miniature Carmelite habit that all devotees can wear as a sign of their consecration to the Virgin Mary. It consists of a string that is worn around the neck with two small pieces of brown cloth attached. One is placed on the chest and the other on the back, and it is usually worn underneath clothing.

5. It is a service uniform.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, a doctor of the Church, said: “Just as men are proud that others wear their uniform, so Our Lady, Mother Mary, is pleased when her servants wear their scapular as proof that they have dedicated themselves to her service, and they are members of the family of the Mother of God.”

6. It has three meanings.

The scapular stands for the maternal love and protection of Mary, for belonging to Mary, and for the gentle yoke of Christ that she helps us to bear.

7. It is a sacramental.

The brown scapular is recognized by the Church as a sacramental — that is, a sign that helps us to live a holy life and to increase our devotion. The scapular does not impart grace as the sacraments do, but it disposes the person wearing it to the love of the Lord and to repentance if it is received with devotion.

8. It can be given to a non-Catholic.

A dying man was reportedly brought to St. Simon Stock Hospital in New York City. A nurse noticed he was wearing the brown scapular and called a priest. As prayers were said over him, the man regained consciousness and told the priest that he wasn’t Catholic but wore the scapular as a promise to his friends. The priest asked the man if he wanted to become Catholic, and before he died the man received baptism and anointing of the sick.

9. It was seen in one of the Fátima apparitions.

Lucia, the visionary of Our Lady of Fátima, reported that in her last apparition (October 1917), Mary appeared with the Carmelite habit, the scapular in her hand, and said that her true children wear it with reverence. Mary also asked that those who consecrate themselves to her wear it as a sign of that consecration.

10. The scapular has been discovered undamaged after burial.

Blessed Pope Gregory X was buried with his scapular and, 600 years later when his tomb was opened, the object was intact. Something similar happened with St. Alphonsus Liguori. St. John Bosco and St. John Paul II also wore the scapular, and St. Peter Claver vested the scapular with those he converted.

11. There’s a preferred way to receive the scapular.

The imposition of the scapular should preferably be done in community, and in the ceremony the spiritual meaning and commitment to the Blessed Virgin should be clearly expressed. The first scapular must be blessed by a priest and placed on the devotee while reciting the following prayer:

“Receive this blessed scapular and ask the Most Holy Virgin Mary, on her merits, that you may wear it without any stain of sin and that she guard you from all adversity and bring you unto everlasting life.”

12. Only the first scapular you receive needs to be blessed.

When the first scapular one receives is blessed, the devotee does not need to ask subsequent scapulars to be blessed. Those that are worn out, if they were blessed, should not be thrown away but should be burned or buried, as is suitable for sacramentals.

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 visits the Poor Clares of Albano on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 19:07 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV made his first “getaway” from Castel Gandolfo to visit the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares of Albano, located within the Papal Villas.

After celebrating Mass on Tuesday morning in the chapel of the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying during his vacation, Pope Leo headed to the nearby monastery, where he was warmly welcomed by the nuns.

The pontiff paused in prayer in the monastery chapel, sharing a moment of silence and contemplation with the sisters, whom he later greeted one by one, emphasizing that “it is beautiful that the Church knows your life, because it is a valuable testimony.”

The encounter generated various images of tenderness, reflected in the joyful and grateful faces of the Sisters of St. Clare, whose mission is to pray for the pope, for the Church, and for all of Vatican City.

The Monastery of the Poor Clares of Albano, founded in 1631 during the pontificate of Urban VIII, has maintained a special bond with the Holy See since its origins.

According to the official website of the Vatican City State, its foundation was due to the generosity of Princess Caterina Savelli and the prince and princess of Albano, who donated the monastery to Sister Francesca Farnese, founder of the Farnese Monastery in Viterbo and promoter of a reform of strict Poor Clare observance.

Throughout the centuries, the nuns have lived in this monastery a life of silence, prayer, and contemplation, faithful to the charism of St. Clare of Assisi. They have also received visits from pontiffs, especially during the summer months.

Pope Francis visited the community for the first time in July 2013, where he emphasized the “incalculable value” the sisters attribute to prayer.

“I came here because I know you pray for me! I am so grateful for all you do for the Church: prayer, penance, caring for one another... Your vocation to the contemplative life is beautiful,” Francis said.

During a visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the monastery in 2007, the pontiff emphasized that “the spiritual bond that exists between you and the successor of Peter is very close.”

St. John Paul II, during a meeting with them in August 1979, affirmed that, of all the people “the pope loves dearly, you are certainly the most precious.”

“The vicar of Christ has an extreme need for your spiritual help and counts above all on you, who, by divine vocation, have chosen the better part, which is silence, prayer, contemplation, the exclusive love of God.”

Aware of this tradition, Pope Leo XIV chose to visit them as well. Before saying goodbye, he signed the monastery’s book of honor and prayed the Lord’s Prayer with the sisters.

As a sign of gratitude, Pope Leo gave the community a chalice and paten for the celebration of Mass, and the sisters, in turn, presented him with an icon of the face of Jesus.

Archbishop Jacques Mourad denounced the practice of people driving around in official cars with loudspeakers proclaiming verses from the Quran and calling on Christians to convert. / Credit: Courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 17:46 pm (CNA).

The Syrian Catholic archbishop of Homs in Syria, Jacques Mourad, has issued an urgent appeal for the future of the Christian presence in Syria amid a situation marked by violence, poverty, and the collapse of institutions.

Born in Aleppo and a member of St. Moses the Abyssinian Monastery, Mourad — who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2015 and managed to escape after five months of captivity — painfully expressed his concern for the present situation in his country: “Today, Syria has ceased to exist as a country,” he stated in an interview with the Vatican news agency Fides.

However, he has not lost hope or his spiritual conviction: “Jesus wants his Church to remain in Syria. And this idea of emptying Syria of Christians is certainly not God’s will.”

Syria is going through a period of great uncertainty following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Although the end of his government raised expectations of a democratic transition, violence has intensified and the humanitarian crisis continues.

Various armed factions are vying for power, especially in key cities such as Idlib, Aleppo, and Damascus, resulting in targeted killings, massacres, arbitrary arrests, and people disappearing.

Consecrated the archbishop of Homs, Hama, and Nabek in 2023, Mourad recalled with regret the recent massacre of Orthodox Christians in Damascus on June 22 as they participated in the Divine Liturgy at St. Elijah Church. At the command of the Lord in biblical times, the prophet Elijah anointed Hazael as king of Syria.

Back in 2013, two Orthodox archbishops were abducted and have never been found. 

“Every government is responsible for the security of its people. And I’m not just referring to Christians. Many Sunni Muslims, many Alawites have also been killed, many have disappeared. This government is persecuting the people. All the people,” he openly charged.

According to the prelate, both the Assad regime and the current one “have no respect for the Syrian people and their history.”

Adding to the violence is the daily hostility suffered by the baptized. The archbishop denounced the practice of people driving around in official cars with loudspeakers proclaiming verses from the Quran and calling on Christians to convert.

“They drive by in government security cars and through loudspeakers, call on Christians to convert. If we then ask the security officials why they are acting this way, they tell us it’s an individual initiative. But meanwhile, they continue to use the security cars… The people no longer believe in this government,” he commented.

Regarding rumors about a possible renewal of the armistice with Israel, Mourad said that “almost all the Syrian people want peace, including with Israel, because everyone is tired of war. But if an agreement were reached now, it would only be because Syria is weak. It would be another act of humiliation for the people.”

The humanitarian situation in Syria

According to the archbishop, the humanitarian situation in Syria is also devastating. “A large part of the population lives below the poverty line; we are massacred, humiliated, and worn out.”

“We lack the strength to regain our dignity on our own. If there is no sincere political support for the people, and not the government, we are finished,” he firmly stated.

Despite everything, the archbishop insisted that the Church can and must be a source of hope: “The Church is the only reference point for hope for all the Syrian people, not just for Christians. We do everything possible to support our people.”

That’s why he has personally visited all the parishes in his archdiocese to encourage the faithful. “Thanks be to God, I always feel the Lord accompanying me in the words I address to the people,” he said.

Mourad also emphasized the importance of dialogue between religious communities in a deeply wounded country: “In Homs, encounters are encouraged with all communities: Alawites, Ismailis, Sunnis, and Christians.”

“Everyone we meet is concerned about government policy, including Muslims. We are united because we are all in the same boat,” the archbishop remarked.

The reconstruction of Syria

In his vision for the reconstruction of the country, Mourad highlighted the role of the Church in specific areas: “It is essential that the Church be deeply involved in the reconstruction of schools and the entire educational system in Syria. And also in the construction of decent hospitals for our people.”

Currently, schools are functioning in Aleppo and Damascus, but “in Homs there’s nothing,” he lamented.

The prelate therefore urged action also on behalf of young people: “We need to revive pastoral and cultural centers that can support the human and cultural growth of our young people. And also homes for young people who want to get married. In this way, all young people can be encouraged to stay in the country, not to leave.”

Finally, with firm hope, the archbishop said that “resources are lacking, but the horizon is clear: This is how we can go forward on our Church’s journey in Syria. Because this is, without a doubt, the will of Jesus.”

“Jesus wants his Church to remain in Syria. This idea of emptying Syria of Christians is certainly not the will of God. We have a duty to protect our faithful and do everything possible to guarantee the future of the Church in Syria,” he affirmed.

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

A nuclear explosion. / Credit: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 15, 2025 / 15:58 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is calling on churches across the nation to mark the “somber milestone” of the 80th anniversary of the detonation of the first nuclear bomb, which took place in New Mexico in 1945.

The detonation of the Trinity explosion in the Jornada del Muerto desert, part of the Alamogordo Bombing Range, occurred at 5:29 a.m on July 16, 1945. In a statement released July 14, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe invited churches to ring their bells at that time this Wednesday, July 16, “as a call to prayer for peace and nuclear disarmament” and to remember “humanity’s entry into the atomic age.” 

To commemorate the anniversary, the archbishop, along with Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces and Bishop James Wall of Gallup, “will gather with select faith and lay leaders at the Trinity test site for a private prayer and meditation service.”

“Together, they will pray for the end of the wars that plague our world and to protect us from the ongoing threat of nuclear devastation,” the archdiocese said.

The Trinity explosion was felt within a 160-mile radius that covered an area populated by about 500,000 people, most of whom were Latino or Native Americans.

Those near the test area reported that they did not receive warnings about the detrimental effects of the nuclear explosion, which took place just a few miles from their homes. Following the detonation, nearby residents reported a surge in cancer cases, an increase in infant deaths, and other health issues related to contamination and radiation.

“Additionally, clergy are encouraged to include prayers for peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons in the prayers of the faithful during the Mass of the day, celebrated in honor of the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a significant Marian feast in the Catholic Church.”

The archdiocese stated that it “is fitting to seek Our Lady’s intercession for peace, protection from the threats of war and nuclear weapons, and for the conversion of hearts away from violence.”

“As the mother of Christ, the prince of peace, invoking her aid on this feast emphasizes the Catholic Church’s hope for a world free from the peril of nuclear conflict.”

On July 13, the archdiocese held an interfaith vigil in Albuquerque with a number of groups calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide.

At the event, Wester called Pope Francis‘ statement that nuclear weapons are immoral “groundbreaking” and asked the faithful to “to speak the truth” on the matter.

Catholic apologist Alex Jurado, known as Voice of Reason on social media. / Credit: Courtesy of Alexandro Jurado

CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 15:28 pm (CNA).

Alex Jurado, a popular Catholic apologist known for his social media ministry Voice of Reason, is denying allegations in a bombshell report that he sexually groomed an underage teenage girl when he was 21 years old.

The Protestant website Protestia on Monday published a report alleging that “whistleblowers within the Catholic community” had revealed sexually explicit texts Jurado, now 28, allegedly sent to a girl possibly as young as 14 years old.

The website shared screenshots of the alleged conversations between Jurado and the young girl. The site further alleged that Jurado had sent “sexually explicit messages” to several other women. 

Jurado sharply denied the allegations on Tuesday. The influencer said in a statement on his Instagram page that the claims were untrue and that he is “voluntarily cooperating in an investigation that will allow the truth to come to light.” 

“​​[T]he accusation that I was having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl is a complete fabrication,” he said. 

He added that he is “prepared to undergo legal action against those who have defamed me,” describing the allegations as an “awful and vicious rumor.”

In his statement, the content creator went on to apologize to all those who have “been hurt, shocked, and scandalized by these rumors.” 

Amid the controversy, several Catholic outlets, including Catholic Answers and Catholic Speakers, appeared to have removed pages featuring Jurado on their websites as of Tuesday afternoon.

Jon Sorensen, chief operating officer at Catholic Answers, told CNA in an email that “Alex Jurado has never been a staff member of Catholic Answers. He was an occasional guest on our radio program, ‘Catholic Answers Live,’ and, like all our radio guests, he had a profile page on Catholic.com.”

He added: “In light of the recent serious allegations about Alex, we have removed this profile from Catholic.com. We pray that the full truth may come to light, we pray for Alex, and we pray for everyone who may have been victimized, scandalized, or disedified by these reported events.”

Catholic Speakers did not respond to requests for comment on the apparent removals. Jurado also did not respond to a query from CNA.

Jurado began his Voice of Reason social media ministry in 2023. The influencer has over half a million followers across his social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. 

His content is primarily apologetical, sharing and defending the faith and engaging with other non-Catholic points of view. As a Byzantine Catholic, he also promotes the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church.

This story was updated on July 15, 2025, at 5:19 p.m. ET with the comments from Jon Sorensen of Catholic Answers.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo on July 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:58 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on July 15 in the chapel at the Carabinieri station in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where he is on vacation. The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy, a form of military police. 

Reflecting in his homily on the day’s Gospel (Matthew 11:20-24), the pontiff emphasized that there is a bond “stronger than blood” that unites every man and woman who is in Christ. 

In this regard, he explained that “we are truly brothers and sisters of Jesus when we do the will of God,” that is, “when we live loving one another, as God has loved us.”

“Every relationship that God lives, in himself and for us,” the pope continued, “thus becomes a gift: when his only Son becomes our brother, his Father becomes our Father, and the Holy Spirit, who unites the Father and the Son, comes to dwell in our hearts.”

The Holy Father thus noted that “God’s love is so great that Jesus does not even keep for himself his mother, giving Mary as our mother at the hour of the cross.”

From the chapel of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo explained that Mary becomes the mother of Jesus “because she listens to the word of God with love, welcomes it into her heart, and lives it faithfully.”

The pope also emphasized her fidelity to the Word she received from God: “the Word of life that she welcomed, carried in her womb, and offered to the world.”

Don’t give in to temptation ‘of thinking that evil can triumph’

He then noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the faithful Virgin, the “Virgo fidelis,” as patroness of the Carabinieri, Italy’s national military police force after which the chapel at Castel Gandolfo is named.

He also recalled when, in 1949, Pope Pius XII welcomed this “beautiful proposal” from the Carabinieri’s general command.

“After the tragedy of the war, in a period of moral and material reconstruction, Mary’s fidelity to God thus became a model of fidelity” of the Carabinieri “toward the homeland and the Italian people,” he emphasized.

This virtue, for Pope Leo, “expresses the dedication, purity, and constancy of commitment to the common good, which the Carabinieri safeguard by guaranteeing public safety and defending the rights of all, especially those in danger.”

The pontiff expressed his profound gratitude, especially for the “noble and demanding” service they provide to Italy and the Holy See.

After also recalling the Carabinieri motto, “Nei secoli fedele” (“Faithful throughout the centuries”), which expresses “the sense of duty and self-denial of each member of the armed forces, even to the point of self-sacrifice,” he asked them not to give in “to the temptation of thinking that evil can triumph.”

“Especially in this time of wars and violence, remain faithful to your oath: as servants of the state, respond to crime with the force of law and honesty. This is how the Carabinieri, the ‘Benemerita’ [well-deserving], will always deserve the esteem of the Italian people,” he emphasized.

In conclusion, he remembered the police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty, such as Venerable Salvo D’Acquisto, whose beatification process is ongoing.

The Holy Father will remain at the papal summer complex, located about 18 miles from the center of Rome, until July 20 and will return again Aug. 15–17.

After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV visited the monastery of the Poor Clares in Albano, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

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

The exterior of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. / Credit: John Maurer

CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).

The Diocese of Green Bay can close down a historic parish in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the Vatican has ruled, bringing an end to efforts by a small group of parishioners to prevent the permanent shuttering of the church.

The Apostolic Signatura, the highest court at the Holy See, ruled against parishioner efforts to save St. Boniface Church from closure. The ruling affirms Bishop David Ricken’s 2023 order relegating the parish building to “profane but not sordid use.”

“Planning for the disposition of the church, contents, and property is underway,” the diocese said in a statement announcing the Vatican’s decision.

“Please continue to pray for the parish and community,” the diocese added.

The order brings an end to a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to save St. Boniface from closure. The parish itself dates to the 1850s while the current building was constructed in 1886. 

Parishioners raised around $2 million to help bankroll a restoration of the parish. And last year advocates launched a GoFundMe to fund $8,000 worth of attorney’s fees for a canon lawyer to argue their case before the Holy See. 

John Maurer, a Manitowoc resident who helped lead the effort, told CNA last year that advocates had exhausted several avenues of appeal before seeking the ruling from the signatura. 

“We went to the Court of the Dicastery for the Clergy. They ruled in favor of Bishop Ricken’s decree,” he said at the time. “We then went to the Supreme Tribunal. They sided with the lower court.”

Reached on Tuesday, Maurer told CNA that the decision to abandon the parish’s “rich history and architectural grandeur” is “a huge mistake that will be regretted for decades to come.”

“There has been a huge outpouring of support for St. Boniface as many do recognize its significance and the importance of protecting our Catholic patrimony [and] reverencing God,” he said.

The only way to stop the church’s demise, he said, would be for Ricken to “realize the gravity of this long-lasting decision and to bring it to a stop and instead give it to an oratory to take care of.”

The parish church was originally built by German immigrants. Wisconsin welcomed tens of thousands of immigrants from Germany throughout the 19th century. 

Declining attendance saw the church merged with other parishes in 2005, though it was still used for some special observances and occasions. 

The last regularly scheduled Mass took place in the building in 2005, while the most recent Mass overall was held in 2013.

Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza, a priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse. / Credit: Courtesy of the Franklin Police Department

CNA Staff, Jul 15, 2025 / 13:23 pm (CNA).

A priest in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, will serve seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sex abuse.

Father Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza was indicted last year on several counts of sexual battery and other crimes, some of which involved children and some adults. The priest was charged with eight crimes in February 2024 and two more in June of that year.

The Diocese of Nashville said in the Nashville Catholic this week that Garcia had pleaded guilty to the February charges. Those crimes include “continuous sexual abuse of a child,” aggravated sexual battery, and “sexual battery by an authority figure.” 

In addition to the prison sentence, the priest will be listed in the state sex offender registry.

The diocese also indicated that he would be removed from the priesthood. Garcia “agreed not to contest laicization from the priesthood,” the statement said.

The Nashville Diocese said last year that it first learned of accusations against Garcia in November 2023 when “a teen in the parish had made a report of improper touching” involving the priest.

The diocese made a report to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services; it also contracted with a former FBI agent to oversee the diocesan investigation into the claims.

The Vatican, meanwhile, was “informed and involved from the outset of this matter, directing the appropriate canonical processes,” the diocese said this week.

The Franklin Police Department on Monday confirmed the report of the guilty plea via a post on X.

“Thanks to our detectives and the District AG’s Office for their hard work on this case,” the police department said.