St. Andrew Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus address on July 13, 2025, from Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where he is spending a two-week summer break. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 24, 2025 / 15:35 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV in a letter this week encouraged the prior provincials of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to “listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide the Church in the fullness of truth.”

The pope expressed his hopes and prayers for the Dominicans in the letter addressed to Father Gerard Francis Timoner III, OP, master of the Order of Preachers, on the occasion of the general chapter of prior provincials taking place in Krakow, Poland, July 17 to Aug. 8.

‘The most important assembly’ of the Dominicans

The Dominicans emphasized on their website that the meeting, held at Most Holy Trinity Convent, is “the most important assembly” for the order. 

“The deliberations will be very intensive,” the Dominicans stated, explaining that “the friars will work in commissions and plenary sessions, considering hundreds of proposals submitted from around the world — from individual friars, convents, and provinces. Each of these voices expresses a desire to build unity, faithfulness to the charism of St. Dominic, and an even deeper listening to what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.”

Furthermore, they noted that the meetings held within the framework of the general chapter will bring together diverse perspectives — cultural, linguistic, and spiritual — from friars in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

“This makes prayer all the more necessary, to open the hearts of the capitulars to the Holy Spirit and help them discover God’s will for the order in these times. We desire that every decision, every word, and every entry in the acts of the chapter be born from prayer, from listening to the Word, and from deep concern for the Church and the world,” they noted.

‘An opportunity for renewal’

In his letter, the pope said: “As you gather during this jubilee year, I trust that these grace-filled days will prove to be an opportunity for renewal, rooted in the hope which never disappoints and in the knowledge that the Lord has called you as preachers to proclaim the good news in the midst of today’s unique challenges.”

“Your chosen theme to address in a more dedicated way your varied forms of preaching to “four publics” — those who do not yet know Jesus, the Christian faithful, those who have fallen away from the Church, and the young people found in these situations — is particularly timely,” he added.

“I pray that your deliberations will enable you to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide the Church in the fullness of truth,” the pope continued.

Leo XIV also expressed his hope that “this time together will strengthen your commitment to serve the body of Christ in the form of evangelical life chosen by St. Dominic. May your shared experience of fraternity and prayer enhance the bonds of communion that unite you as Dominicans and inspire you to live out your vocation ever more fully as contemplative preachers.”

“In this way, faithful to the charism and the spirituality of your founder, you will surely continue to carry out your mission in the heart of the Church,” he added.

The Holy Father concluded his letter by entrusting the general chapter to Our Lady of the Rosary, who, according to tradition, appeared to St. Dominic de Guzmán — founder of the Order of Preachers — and gave him the rosary, taught him how to pray it, and encouraged him to promote the Marian prayer.

The ‘indispensable foundation’ of the Dominicans

In March of this year, in his Relatio — a report on the current situation of the Order of Preachers, in view of this general chapter — Timoner emphasized that “the form of evangelical life chosen by Dominic is not an adjunct of our apostolic mission; on the contrary, it is an indispensable foundation.”

The report shows a downward trend in the number of professed Dominican brothers, who currently number 5,145 worldwide. A graph shows that after a significant increase between the 1920s and 1960s, when they reached almost 10,000 professed brothers worldwide, a steady decline has been observed in subsequent years.

Timoner emphasized in the Relatio that “Dominican life has various constitutive elements or aspects: religious consecration, common fraternal life, intellectual life, apostolic life, etc.,” noting his surprise that “we sometimes feel the need to ‘balance’ or ‘harmonize’ life and mission, as if there could be a ‘Dominican mission’ that is not rooted and nourished by the ‘Dominican life’ with all its integral elements.”

Spiritually accompanying the general chapter

The Dominicans have invited the faithful throughout the world to “spiritually accompany the chapter,” saying: “Pray for the friars participating in the chapter, that they may be instruments of God’s peace and light.”

They also encouraged people to offer “fasting or the difficulty of daily duties” for this intention, and to ask for “the light of the Holy Spirit for all those who will discern and make decisions.”

“May common prayer ensure that the fruits of the chapter are a blessing for the entire order and the Church,” the Dominicans encouraged.

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

Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. / Credit: eurobanks/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Jul 24, 2025 / 15:05 pm (CNA).

Missouri filed a lawsuit this week against the national Planned Parenthood organization, alleging that the abortion giant has “systematically misled” women about the risks associated with chemical abortion pills.

On Wednesday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office had filed a lawsuit in state circuit court against Planned Parenthood Federation of America, alleging that the corporation “systematically misled women about the dangers of chemical abortions in order to cut costs and drive up revenue at the risk of women’s health and safety.”

Bailey said the abortion provider promulgates “dangerous claims” about the drug, including claiming that it is safer than common household drugs such as Tylenol.

This is “despite FDA labeling and peer-reviewed studies” showing severe adverse events associated with the pill rising in some cases to the double digits.

Concerns about the safety of chemical abortion pills have been heightened in recent months after a bombshell study in April found that more than 10% of women who take an abortion pill will suffer “serious adverse events,” including hemorrhaging, infections, and other health crises. 

U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary said in June that his agency will conduct a review of the abortion drug mifepristone following that study and several other investigations into the safety of the pills.

The lawsuit alleges that Planned Parenthood violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, a state-level consumer protection law.

Bailey’s office said the state is seeking nearly $2 million in civil penalties as well as “up to $1,000 in damages or restitution for every Missouri woman Planned Parenthood provided abortion pills to in the past five years.” The suit is also demanding paybacks into the state Medicaid system.

“The lies must stop. We’re holding the national Planned Parenthood entity accountable for the lies it tells women in Missouri and across the nation,” Bailey said in the release, adding: “No one is above the law, not even Planned Parenthood.”

Though the government has moved in recent months to investigate the safety of abortion pills, President Donald Trump said prior to his inauguration in January that it was his “commitment” to ensure that abortion pills remain available in the U.S.

Chemical abortions account for about half of the abortions in the United States every year.

Abortion advocates have increasingly turned to chemical abortions in the wake of the 2022 repeal of Roe v. Wade. Numerous states have instituted abortion bans after that repeal, though abortion pills have remained widely available.

Pope Leo XIV meets with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on July 24, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 24, 2025 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

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

Pope Leo XIV meets Algerian president, discusses Church life and peacebuilding

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Vatican, where they discussed the state of the Catholic Church in Algeria and emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue and cultural cooperation for global peace, reported ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. 

Tebboune also met with top Vatican diplomats, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The visit coincided with an Algerian-Italian business forum in Rome aimed at strengthening economic ties through 30 new trade agreements. Tebboune and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced efforts to register sites linked to St. Augustine on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, noting the shared heritage between the two Mediterranean nations.

Egyptian youth head to Rome for global Catholic encounter

Bishop Jean-Marie Shamie of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Egypt is leading 58 young Egyptian pilgrims to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, part of the Vatican’s holy year celebrations, according to ACI MENA.

He described the trip as a profound spiritual journey where youth can deepen their faith, experience the richness of the universal Church, and embrace their missionary role in a secularized world. Set to begin July 28, the Jubilee of Youth is expected to draw half a million young people to Rome. The Egyptian group will walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, visit important pilgrimage sites like Assisi and San Giovanni Rotondo, and pray with Pope Leo XIV in a candlelight vigil and final Mass. 

German priest sharply criticizes home diocese for LGBT activism 

Father Winfried Abel, a priest of the Diocese of Fulda in Germany, is denouncing his home diocese for participating in LGBT activism, stating in an open letter in German: “I no longer want to be a priest in this diocese!” according to a report from CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, on Monday. 

Abel stated in the letter that in view of the diocese’s position on LGBT issues, he would no longer call himself a priest of the diocese but a “priest of the Roman Catholic Church.” He continued: “I am really deeply shocked that ‘my’ Catholic Church in this country, which I have served for 61 years, has become so unbalanced that even our bishops no longer know the difference between sexual, erotic, friendly, and divine love … but indiscriminately approve and bless everything that comes under the term ‘love’!”

Nigeria apostolic nuncio denounces exploitation of Eucharist 

Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, apostolic nuncio to Nigeria, in an interview on Thursday with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, expressed concern about the growing trend of “commercializing the Eucharist” among Catholic priests in the West African country. 

“The increasing commercialization of the liturgy, where sacramental celebrations, weddings, funerals, and baptism are seen as opportunities for making money, is never to be tolerated in the Catholic Church,” Crotty told ACI Africa. “We call it the holy sacrifice of the Mass. A priest should be holy, and anything that distracts from that needs to be avoided.”

A month after Damascus church bombing, Christian despair deepens

A month has passed since the bombing of St. Elias Church in Damascus, Syria, yet the Christian community still feels abandoned, ACI MENA reported. Beyond increased security presence, no concrete measures have been taken to protect Christians, who have already been reeling from targeted killings, desecration of religious sites, and sectarian violence across Syria.

The March massacres in the coastal Alawite region and recent unrest in Sweida, where Christians and even an American citizen were killed, have only added to fears and heightened the desire among many to flee the country. Despite these grim realities, the Orthodox Church in Sweida has opened its doors to displaced families of all faiths, offering shelter and aid.

Bishop Antonios Saad, who led the relief efforts, emphasized that the Church must serve all humans with unconditional love, seeing the image of Christ in each person. However, state inaction, media incitement, and societal pressures continue to erode hope and deepen divisions, leaving Syria’s Christian presence hanging by a thread.

Elderly Pakistani Catholic man arrested on fabricated blasphemy allegations

A 60-year-old Catholic man, Amir Joseph Paul, has been arrested in Pakistan over claims that he made offensive comments about the Muslim prophet Muhammad, according to an Agenzia Fides report on Tuesday.

The accusations were made by Munawar Ali, a shop owner in Lahore, who, according to Fides, “mobilized local religious leaders within minutes to claim that Amir had made blasphemous statements, which were denied by the accused and the other witnesses present.” Fides noted that local residents testified that the accusation was made due to a “personal grudge related to a sewage dispute between Amir’s home and the complainant’s shop.”

Bishop in Central African Republic fights allegations in sexual abuse case

Bishop Jesús Ruiz Molina of the Central African Republic Diocese of Mbaïki is fighting back against accusations of silence and complicity in an anonymous allegation of sexual abuse involving a diocesan priest, ACI Africa reported on Tuesday.

In a July 18 statement, Molina described the accusations as false, insisting: “I declare that both I and the Catholic Church are firmly opposed to all forms of sexual abuse and that we have always denounced such acts with clarity and rigor.”

He added: “The truth will set you free and peace will be possible if everyone does their part.” Molina further noted that the anonymously accused priest has been removed from his assigned parish and that further steps are being taken to provide support to the alleged victim.

Archbishop Nelson Pérez of Philadelphia (pictured at his installation Mass in 2020) issued a pastoral letter in support of immigrants on July 23, 2025. / Credit: Sarah Webb/Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 24, 2025 / 14:05 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia has expressed “sorrow” for and “prayerful solidarity” with the immigrant community as arrests continue to take place across the United States. 

“You are not alone,” Perez wrote to U.S. immigrants in a July 23 pastoral letter. “The Church is a community of faith, and the divine person of Christ, who was forced to flee his homeland as a child, holds you in his compassionate arms.”

Perez called for the support of immigrants as many “came to the United States seeking new opportunities far away from oppressive regimes,” adding that their “presence and contributions to society through hard work and upright living are a blessing to our country and to our Church.”

“Recent news reports detailing the arrest of immigrants throughout the country, including the Philadelphia region, have produced a great deal of fear and unleashed a broad range of other emotions,” Perez wrote. “As the son of immigrants, I have found recent events particularly heartbreaking.”

“I am witnessing your sorrow with great sadness and concern as are people of goodwill from all walks of life,” he wrote.

“As Catholics, we believe our eternal homeland is heaven and that as citizens of earth, the dignity of every person means everyone should have a safe place to live, with the opportunity to work for a just wage,” Perez continued. “No one should be forced to live in fear of unjust persecution.”

The letter acknowledged the need for law enforcement while simultaneously calling for policies that uphold the dignity and respect of the American immigrant community.

“We recognize that our country is rightly safeguarded by law enforcement officials. They uphold the common good by protecting all of us from human trafficking, the exploitation of children, and any other criminal offense against human dignity,” he wrote.

Perez added: “At the same time, we strongly advocate for immigration policies that guarantee the protection of life, liberty, and property of all those who call the United States of America home, natural born citizens and those working toward citizenship alike.”

Since “there is no instant solution to the challenges pervading immigration policy,” Perez said, he urged that parish communities “unite through prayer and social unity with the immigrant faithful under the leadership of parish pastors.”

Perez asked for the intercession of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph that “Our Lord bless our country with peace and inspire comprehensive immigration reform that respects the law and provides meaningful opportunities for all those who wish to call the United States of America their home.”

null / Credit: Sergi Lopez Roig/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 24, 2025 / 13:35 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Catholic bishops’ 2024 Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa has awarded $2.6 million to support 96 pastoral projects across 32 African countries and multinational regions.

In a July 22 statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said the “boundless growth of the Catholic faith” throughout Africa “can challenge the Church as much as material poverty does.”

The “gifts of American Catholics to the USCCB’s Solidarity Fund” help preserve a “spirit of unity” within the universal Church, the bishops said.

Compared with the 2023 effort, funding has increased by $500,000, expanding grant projects by 28%. 

“The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa makes it possible for African Catholics to carry out vital spiritual and social ministries,” said Dubuque, Iowa, Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa.

“The African Church gives generously to the U.S. Church as thousands of African priests serve in parishes of the United States,” Zinkula pointed out. 

The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa was created “as a concrete way for Catholics in the United States to express a spirit of unity with their brothers and sisters in Africa,” the USCCB says.

The U.S. bishops “created the national collections so that, by combining resources, we can more effectively carry out our mission as Catholics.”

The Solidarity Fund last year supported nearly 100 bishop-backed grants, funding projects such as peacebuilding in South Sudan, catechetical training in Zambia, and church administration workshops in Togo.

Also funded was intergenerational teaching in Malawi as well as climate advocacy in Eastern Africa, where parishes are becoming hubs for practical environmental action.

Supported by dioceses across the country, the faithful can contribute year-round through the #iGiveCatholicTogether collection program or participate in their parish’s collection on a date scheduled by the local diocese.

Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles greets perpetual pilgrims of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles in Los Angeles, California, on June 22, 2025. / Credit: Jeffrey Bruno/EWTN

CNA Staff, Jul 24, 2025 / 13:05 pm (CNA).

Archbishop José H. Gómez has announced a new initiative of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to support parishes in providing essential services to immigrant families affected by recent immigration enforcement policies. 

The archdiocese will partner with area businesses and philanthropists to administer the Family Assistance Program, which will ensure that “every dollar” will provide direct aid such as groceries, meals, and prescription deliveries to those in crisis.

“Many of our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow parishioners, are afraid and anxious,” said Gómez, who unveiled the new program at a press conference at St. Patrick Church in South Los Angeles on July 23. “These are good, hardworking men and women, people of faith, people who have been in this country for a long time and are making important contributions to our economy who are now afraid to go to work or be seen in public for fear that they will get arrested and be deported.” 

At the press conference, the archbishop said he is working with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to “find a practical, peaceful solution to the situation with the federal authorities.”

Residents of the city have been on edge after weeks of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids by heavily armed agents at area businesses. A federal judge in Los Angeles temporarily blocked ICE’s actions on July 11 after local business leaders and civil and immigrants’ rights groups sued the Trump administration on July 2.

The Catholic Association for Latino Leadership (CALL) and Parishioners Federal Credit Union have donated funds to the archdiocesan initiative, along with Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of grocery stores that specializes in Mexican food, which has pledged to donate grocery gift cards to the program.

“Never in my life did I think that I would see the day where Catholics are afraid to go to church, afraid to send their children to school,” said Michael Molina, chair of CALL’s board of directors, who announced the organization of local business leaders will make a $10,000 donation to the program. He also said the group will encourage its members to make individual donations.

“As Catholics, we are called to share God’s mercy with those in need,” Molina said. “We reiterate our commitment to live the teachings of the Gospels of love and compassion for our immigrant brothers and sisters.”

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate and businessman Rick Caruso donated $50,000 to the initiative and committed to matching additional donations up to $50,000 made through the archdiocese’s website.

“I am proud to help support these families who work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our economy,” Caruso, a parishioner of St. Monica’s Church in Santa Monica, said. “America is a nation of immigrants, which is why I am teaming up with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to provide direct support for families that are struggling financially.”

The CEO of the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, David Socha, made a financial contribution and donated toys to comfort children affected by the Trump administration’s enforcement actions.

“We can’t forget the human aspect of these issues,” Socha said. “No matter what side of this issue you are on, the children are some of the worst affected … We are glad to be able to bring them, and their loved ones, comfort and support.”

Across Southern California, Catholic parishes have witnessed the impact of family separations, with parents detained and households left without income. Many immigrants fear leaving their homes, getting arrested, and being separated from their families.

The bishop of San Bernardino, California, Alberto Rojas, recently granted a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday for those with such fears.

Pope Leo XIV waves as the popemobile passes by a crowd of American pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the pope’s general audience on June 18, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Jul 24, 2025 / 12:35 pm (CNA).

A new bill before Congress would “safeguard” the domestic citizenship of any American who is elected pope of the Catholic Church, including exempting him from paying taxes to the IRS.

Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colorado, proposed the bill, saying it “ensures that any American who answers the call to lead more than a billion Catholics worldwide can do so without risking his citizenship or facing unnecessary tax burdens.”

While the text of the bill is not yet available, Hurd said in a statement on his congressional website the bill is meant “to protect the citizenship of, and provide tax-exempt status to, any American elected as the supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.”

“This legislation recognizes the extraordinary nature of the papacy — a role at the intersection of faith, leadership, and global responsibility,” the Colorado representative said.

The measure would “[exempt] the individual from U.S. tax obligations while serving as pope,” Hurd’s website states.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 17.

The current pope, Leo XIV is thus far the only U.S.-born pope in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history.

Since Leo’s election on May 8, speculation has centered on what his role as pope means for his U.S. citizenship.

The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the bill on Thursday.

According to the IRS, U.S. citizens are “subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where they live or where they earn their income.” Citizens living abroad also have the same filing requirements as those living in the U.S. itself.

Paul Hunker, an American immigration attorney and a Catholic, told CNA in May that U.S. federal law spells out the conditions under which a U.S. citizen can lose his or her citizenship.

Such conditions include committing an act of treason, obtaining naturalization in a foreign state, and accepting a position as a foreign head of state, though those actions must be done by a person voluntarily and with the intention of relinquishing his or her U.S. nationality.

The U.S. State Department says it generally presumes that U.S. citizens, even if they accept a foreign government post, want to keep their citizenship unless “clearly and credibly” established otherwise.

Vatican law dictates that the Holy Father maintains “the fullness of the power of government, which includes the legislative, executive, and judicial powers” of the Vatican City State and the Holy See, the latter of which is the central governing authority of the Church.

The “Alta Sartoria” Dolce & Gabbana fashion show took place July 15, 2025, on the pedestrian-only Sant’Angelo Bridge, found directly in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, an ancient mausoleum later used as a papal fortress. / Credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images

Rome Newsroom, Jul 24, 2025 / 12:05 pm (CNA).

The Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana put a spotlight on a new design collection inspired by Catholic liturgical garb in a show on the Sant’Angelo Bridge in Rome last week, prompting a discussion about whether it is appropriate to use Catholic imagery for secular purposes.

The luxury brand called the fashion show, part of three days of showcases in the Eternal City, “an homage to clerical tailoring” with creations inspired by priests’ vestments and other ecclesiastical clothing, including “capes, trains, chasubles, dalmatics, soles, bodices, and bibs.”

Images from the July 15 catwalk depict designs with clear ties to traditional Catholic liturgical clothing, including white, lace shirts similar to a priest’s chasuble or the surplice worn by altar servers. While many of the 106 designs were all white or all black, some feature green, red, and purple — colors used by the Church to denote different liturgical seasons.

Dolce & Gabbana declined to give CNA permission to use images from the event, but the designs can be viewed at its website or on YouTube.

Crosses were heavily featured in the collection, and some models wore or carried what appeared to be Catholic objects such as rosaries, thuribles, and metal incense burners used at Mass and other liturgical celebrations.

The runway, lined with movie extras dressed as cardinals, also showcased less clerical- or papal-looking outfits, with white bodices made to look like marble sculptures of St. Peter and St. Paul, inspired by religious art.

“Every creation strikes a perfect balance between solemnity, devotion, discipline, and aesthetic as well as iconographic codes,” according to information from the fashion brand.

Theology student Nicola Camporiondo was not a fan of the fashion show, which he commented on in an Instagram story for his 12,800 followers.

The 19-year-old from Vicenza in northern Italy told CNA he thought Dolce & Gabbana’s use of ecclesiastical style was a “usurpation” of a spiritual and liturgical heritage for the purpose of entertainment and “a mere commodification of the sacred.”

“After the sacred has always been a monopoly of the religious, now fashion agencies are using it for their own worldly and profane purposes,” he said.

Camporiondo, who also shares Catholic content on TikTok, where he has 160,000 followers, said he hopes the show can prompt a reflection for the Church about how people still find traditional Catholic aesthetics fascinating, even while the number of practicing Catholics in countries such as Italy declines.

For Father Alberto Ravagnani, a 31-year-old priest of the Archdiocese of Milan, the Dolce & Gabbana show also prompted a reflection on the Church’s tradition of beautiful art and vestments, but he told CNA he was “very much in favor, I really liked it, because I actually believe it’s a way they’ve given value to tradition.”

The “Alta Sartoria” show took place on the pedestrian-only Sant’Angelo Bridge, found directly in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, an ancient mausoleum later used as a papal fortress. The monument is connected to the Vatican by a 2,600-foot-long raised corridor. Part of the Dolce & Gabbana show took place with St. Peter’s Basilica in the distant background.

The approximately 40-minute, invitation-only fashion show opened with what appeared to be an enactment of a religious procession, including men dressed like altar boys and carrying candles, incense, and small canopies often used for Eucharistic processions. 

While Ravagnani had not seen footage of that part of the event, he thought if a fashion house could help restore “luster, value, meaning, and allure” to a religious practice in decline — even if only for a moment and in a secular context — it might not be a bad thing.

The young priest, who is one of the most followed Catholic “influencers” in Italy, also asked his 250,000 followers on Instagram to share their thoughts about the Catholic-inspired Dolce & Gabbana show.

He said the vast majority of those who responded were against it. Some considered it an outrage to tradition or even blasphemous, while others associated it “with ostentation and wealth” rather than an image of the Church as poor, humble, and simple — but he disagreed.

“Indeed, when it is said that the Church today should be simple and humble, this is true, but it doesn’t mean it should be sloppy or ugly,” he said. “God gave us art, God gave us hands, God gave us intelligence and the ability to create things. And so this ability of men to create beautiful things is a way to collaborate in God’s work.”

Father Alberto Rocca, a priest of Milan who has collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana and was in attendance at the July 15 show in Rome, told CNA the designers’ use of Catholic symbols “pays homage to [the Catholic] tradition.”

“It would be very reductive to see it only as fashion and not as art,” he added, highlighting the craftsmanship of the brand’s clothing as a skill that has otherwise been all but lost from Italian culture.

As director of the Ambrosian Pinacoteca, a Milan art gallery, Rocca was an adviser for a Dolce & Gabbana exhibit with clothing pieces inspired by some of the museum’s paintings. He is also a member of an expert committee for the Venerable Ambrosian Library, which preserves cultural and religious patrimony.

The priest said designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana “have always used certain [religious symbols] because they are part of the Italian context and they are Catholics.”

Dolce & Gabbana declined a request from CNA to comment.

In addition to the show on Sant’Angelo Bridge, the three-day Roma 2025 haute couture event also planned to debut a Dolce & Gabbana jewelry collection in a July 13 show at Villa Adriana, a park at the site of a classical building complex in Tivoli, 18 miles east of downtown Rome, before being rained out.

On July 14, the Roman Forum, with extras dressed as Roman soldiers, was the venue for the unveiling of styles inspired by mythology, Ancient Rome, and Italian 1950s cinema.

The fashion event took place during the run of a Dolce & Gabbana art exhibition, “From the Heart to the Hands,” at the Palazzo Esposizioni in Rome, May 14 to Aug. 13.

The exhibit of one-of-a-kind creations, first mounted in Milan and Paris, features some of the brand’s most admired pieces from designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who founded the fashion house in 1985.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states within the Holy See’s Secretariat of State, at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2017. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Bangalore, India, Jul 24, 2025 / 11:35 am (CNA).

Christians in India recently urged the Vatican to respond forcefully to rising violence in the country amid a state visit by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states.

The Vatican said the prelate was visiting the country from July 13–19 to “strengthen bonds of friendship and collaboration.” Besides meeting church officials, Gallagher had an official meeting with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, on July 17 in New Delhi.

Describing the meeting as a “good conversation,” Jaishankar said in a post on X that the leaders discussed “the importance of faith and the need for dialogue and diplomacy to address conflicts.”

On the same day, a memorandum drafted by the United Christian Forum was presented to Gallagher, one that documented a steady rise in anti-Christian violence under the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has headed the pro-Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for 11 years.

The Christian group appealed for “urgent intervention” by the Vatican to the rising incidents of violence and harassment targeting Christians across the country. 

The appeal said that 834 cases of violence and hostility against Christians were reported in India in 2024, up from 734 in 2023 and from 127 in 2014, when Modi took office. 

Though the Vatican envoy visited the Jesuit Vidyajyoti seminary in New Delhi, saying Mass and interacting with the theology students on matters of formation, dialogue, and other concerns, principal Father Rajkumar Joseph declined to provide details of the meetings, telling CNA that it was a “private visit.”

“Perhaps the all-round silence suits the government,” vocal lay Catholic leader John Dayal, based in New Delhi, told CNA on July 22.

Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash expressed disappointment over what he called the “Vatican tokenism,” arguing that atrocities against Christians should have been brought up in the discussion with the government.

The United Christian Forum memorandum cites allegations of “fraudulent conversion” as a primary reason for the rising violence against Christians, including the detention of hundreds.

The highest number of incidents in 2024, the group said, was reported from northern Uttar Pradesh (209), followed by Chhattisgarh (165) — both states ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP. 

Odisha state, which has been under BJP rule for a year, has also recently seen violence against Christians.

Dead bodies of Christians have been dug up for “reconversion ceremonies” and Christians have been prevented from burying their dead in tribal areas of Odisha. Meanwhile, two senior priests in the Sambalpur Diocese — including one in his 90s — were recently brutally attacked, tied up, and threatened with death if they returned for missionary work there.

Following a June 21 attack that injured 31 Christians of Kotamateru village in the Malkangiri district, with dozens of Christians also expelled from the village, the state witnessed a series of protests by Christians urging the government to act against the Hindu fundamentalists.

Blessed Carlo Acutis (left) and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. / Credit: Diocese of Assisi/Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Vatican City, Jul 24, 2025 / 11:05 am (CNA).

Thousands of young people are heading to the Eternal City next week for the Jubilee of Youth, where they will have the opportunity to pray with the incorrupt body of Pier Giorgio Frassati and a first-class relic of Carlo Acutis’ heart.  

From July 28 to Aug. 3, Rome will be buzzing with musical performances, prayer vigils, and special events for young pilgrims from across the globe. One of the highlights will be the opportunity to venerate the relics of these two holy young men who are set to be canonized together by Pope Leo XIV in September.

The veneration of relics — physical objects associated with saints or Christ himself — has been part of Christian practice since the earliest days of Christianity, during the Apostolic age. First-class relics, such as bones or pieces of a saint’s body, are venerated as a tangible link to the saints who intercede from heaven.

Frassati festivities 

Frassati’s incorrupt body will be available for public veneration beginning July 26 at the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, located near the Pantheon, starting on July 26. His tomb will be open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through the morning of Aug. 4.

Youth volunteers from the JP2 Project, a U.S.-based Catholic nonprofit, will be on hand to accompany pilgrims in prayer at the basilica, where several Masses are scheduled. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney will celebrate Mass there at 11 a.m. on Aug. 4.

A separate event, “Night of Adoration with Pier Giorgio Frassati,” will take place from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on July 31 and Aug. 1 at the Church of Piazza Farnese.

Organized by the JP2 Project, the evening adoration aims to foster reflection on Frassati’s spiritual legacy. His remains will be returned to his hometown of Turin, Italy, on Aug. 5.

The Carlo Acutis Center 

A few blocks away, the Church of San Marcello al Corso will host the “Blessed Carlo Acutis Center.” Acutis, a 15-year-old computer coder who died of cancer in 2006, is known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his efforts to catalog Eucharistic miracles. 

A first-class relic of Acutis’ heart will be available for veneration at the church, where visitors may also submit prayer intentions to be brought to his tomb in Assisi. The center opens at 10 a.m. on July 29 and closes at 9:30 p.m. on July 31. Daily Eucharistic adoration with the relic is scheduled from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Evening events at the church on July 30 and 31 will include music, testimonies, and prayer. On July 29 at 11 a.m., young artist Johnny Vrba will present his 1,000-piece mosaic portrait of Acutis. An exhibit on Eucharistic miracles created by Acutis before his death will also be on display.

In addition to Acutis and Frassati, the jubilee will highlight other young people recognized for their sanctity.

On July 30, Jesus Youth International will host the Blessed Ivan Merz Center at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle, featuring relic veneration, confession, youth talks, and an evening of Eucharistic adoration.

Merz, a Croatian intellectual and former soldier who promoted Catholic youth movements, died in 1928 at the age of 31. Also on July 30, the Basilica di San Crisogono in Trastevere will host a talk at 11:20 a.m. on Merz’s life.

At the Centro San Lorenzo, a youth center near St. Peter’s Basilica, pilgrims can learn about the Pier Giorgio Homeless Ministry and attend a gathering with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, the religious community of Sister Clare Crockett — a young Irish nun whose cause for canonization is underway.

That event, featuring prayer, adoration, and fellowship, will take place Wednesday afternoon, July 30.

The jubilee will also feature a self-guided “Young Saints Walk,” encouraging pilgrims to visit churches throughout Rome that house the relics of young saints.

Stops include St. Agnes, martyred at age 12; St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who died while caring for plague victims at 23; as well as St. Philip Neri and St. John Paul II, both remembered for their commitment to youth. The full walking route is available through the EWTN Travel app.