Catholic News

A Catholic priest raised money and gave gift cards to employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) while a partial government shutdown forced most of the workforce to work without pay.

Father Jim Sichko, a papal missionary of mercy, held a 24-hour fundraiser for the workers that he advertised across social media platforms, raising about $20,000. The act coincided with his effort to perform random acts of kindness for those in need.

Some of TSA's funding is on hold as lawmakers debate broader funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA. Democrats are trying to include reforms to immigration enforcement in the funding package as Republicans are resisting any language that could curtail President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts.

Trump signed an executive order on March 27 to provide some back pay to TSA employees, and future payments remain in limbo amid the congressional deadlock.

Sichko, who travels frequently by air, told EWTN News he delivered gift cards to TSA workers during flights he already scheduled. He gave a bundle of gift cards in denominations of $10 and $20 to workers in Lexington, Kentucky, and Chicago, providing a total of $11,000 worth of gift cards to employees.

The donated gift cards comply with federal regulations that prohibit employees from accepting direct cash gifts but allow them to accept small amounts of money in gift cards for restaurants, grocery stores, and a few other products.

Sichko is holding onto the remaining $9,000 because TSA workers have begun to receive back pay. He plans to resume gifting the rest of the gift cards to TSA workers if their pay is disrupted again. Otherwise, he said he will probably donate them to Catholic Charities.

"It was a justice issue for me," Sichko said when asked why he decided to launch the fundraiser for TSA employees.

"They're working, with families who need to be fed, bills that need to be paid, utilities that [are] … due and, as a priest, as a person of God, I think it's my duty to help them," he said. "... These people were working without pay and they have families and they already are in a stressful job."

Sichko said he relies on TSA for his ministry because he frequently travels by airplane, and these employees are "keeping me safe to be able to do the ministry to which I'm called." He said he considers TSA workers "partners with me in the ministry to which I am called because they keep me and my fellow passengers safe."

He thanked those who contributed to the fundraiser and said the acts of kindness are "a way of evangelizing." He said the fundraising "allows people the opportunity to be co-ministers, to really fulfill their baptismal promise of being ministers."

"To see how people responded, it really shows us that we truly can be kind, we truly can be Christ to one another," Sichko said.

During the previous government shutdown, when TSA employees were working without pay, Sichko provided them with meals.

Sichko often raises money to perform other acts of kindness and to help people in need. This includes help to those affected by hurricanes in southeast Texas, flooding in eastern Kentucky, tornadoes in western Kentucky, and fires in eastern Tennessee.

He has also raised money to support the cost of funerals for people, including the children and workers who died in the July 2025 flooding of Camp Mystic in central Texas.

"This is part of the ministry of being a papal missionary of mercy," Sichko said.

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Pope Leo XIV has renewed his appeal for peace in a world wounded by conflict and violence.

In remarks to journalists on March 31 outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo, the pope reminded that "Easter should be the holiest, most sacred time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time for much reflection, but as we all know, once again in the world, in so many places, we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children."

The pope said he had been told President Donald Trump wants to end the war in the Middle East and expressed hope that Trump is seeking a way to decrease the violence.

Pope Leo asked everyone, "especially Christians," to "live these days recognizing that Christ is still crucified today, that Christ still suffers today in the innocent, especially those who are suffering from violence, hatred, and war."

"Let us pray for them, for the victims of war, let us pray that there may truly be a new, renewed peace, which can give new life to all," Pope Leo urged.

"We make continuous appeals for peace, but unfortunately many people want to promote hatred and violence, war," the pope said.

Hope for a truce

He expressed hope for a truce during Easter, saying: "I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an 'off ramp.' Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created and that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere."

The pope addressed all world leaders, urging them: "Come back to the table, to dialogue. Let's look for solutions to problems, let's look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we're promoting, that peace — especially at Easter — might reign in our hearts."

In response to a question about his plans, announced today, to carry a cross during the Good Friday Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome, the pope said: "I think it will be an important sign because of what the pope represents: a spiritual leader in today's world, a voice to say that Christ still suffers. And I carry all these sufferings in my prayers as well."

He asked "all people of goodwill, to people of faith, to walk together, to walk with Christ who suffered for us, to give us salvation, and to seek to be bearers of peace ourselves."

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The Trump administration, citing legal challenges, said it will continue to give Title X grants to Planned Parenthood for another year — a move pro-life leaders see as a "betrayal."

The administration first restored Biden-era Title X funds to Planned Parenthood in January, to the outcry of pro-lifers. News broke March 31 that the administration would extend the grants for another year, just a day before they were set to lapse.

Thanks to the grants, Planned Parenthood and some other clinics will continue to be able to submit reimbursement receipts to the federal government for low-income patients who received birth control and other non-abortion services.

While grants won't directly cover abortion — the Hyde Amendment prevents the federal government from doing so — grants will subsidize an organization that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions yearly.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the agency will issue Title X grant notices for 2027 "matched with agency priorities."

The Trump administration had initially paused the grants in 2025, but after facing legal challenges from Planned Parenthood, HHS released the grants in January. Most pro-life groups decried the decision, though a few defended it by saying it was the administration's only viable option as 42 U.S. Code Part 300, the rule governing family planning grants, had not been amended.

National pro-life groups have denounced the decision to keep funding Planned Parenthood. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the move "an inexplicable slap in the face to the pro-life GOP base."

"This is a clear abandonment as the first Trump administration enacted the Protect Life Rule to stop Title X funding of Planned Parenthood," Dannenfelser said. "It should have been 'Day 1' policy in the second administration. Instead, we are 14 months in and this hasn't been prevented."

Dannenfelser called the move "political suicide."

"Three out of four GOP base voters support defunding Planned Parenthood," Dannenfelser said. "One-third of those voters say they'd be less enthusiastic about voting this November if the GOP abandons pro-life policies."

"This comes on the heels of the administration undermining GOP states by allowing the shipping of abortion drugs into their borders, violating their laws," Dannenfelser continued. "And it comes after the president suggesting the GOP should be 'flexible' on the Hyde Amendment. This spells disaster for November."

Jennie Bradley Lichter, who heads the March for Life, said that "funding Planned Parenthood is not, by any stretch of the imagination, Making America Healthy Again."

"Absolutely maddening that [the HHS] is continuing to fund an org whose business model is built on ending human lives, misleading pregnant women into thinking abortion is their only option, and delivering substandard health care even in the rare cases when abortion is not involved," Lichter said in statement provided to EWTN News.

Live Action called on the Trump administration to reverse the decision.

"The Trump administration has decided [to] CONTINUE supplying Title X funds to Planned Parenthood," the statement read. "This is the largest abortion corporation in the country. They don't need our tax dollars. They don't deserve our tax dollars. This decision MUST be reversed."

"Over 400,000 unborn children are killed by this corporation every year, making them the largest abortion chain in America," Live Action President Lila Rose said. "The blood of these babies cries out. Taxpayer dollars should never fund the killing of innocent human beings."

"The Trump administration's decision to keep Title X federal funding going to Planned Parenthood is unacceptable," Rose said in a statement shared with EWTN News. "Taxpayer dollars should never be used to prop up America's largest abortion business. Planned Parenthood exists to end the lives of preborn children, and every dollar it receives helps sustain an industry built on violence against the innocent."

"This decision is a betrayal of the pro-life Americans who expected this administration to stand firmly against abortion and against the forced public funding of those who commit it," Rose continued. "The American people should not be made to subsidize abortion businesses under the guise of women's health. Title X funds should go to real health care providers that serve women and families without taking innocent human life. The administration should reverse course immediately and fully defund Planned Parenthood."

Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Vice President JD Vance announced his book, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," will be released June 16.

"I've been writing this book for a long time, and I'm honored to finally be able to share the full story with you all," Vance wrote in a post to X. "'Communion' is about my personal journey and how I found my way back to faith."

The book will be published by HarperCollins Publishers, which also published Vance's 2016 bestselling book "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis." Since its release, "Hillbilly Elegy" has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

"The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with," Vance wrote in a HarperCollins press release. "The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root."

"I'm glad I found my way back to the Church. I learned much along the way. But if you believe as I do, you know I've been fortunate and touched by God's grace," he said.

The book explores Vance's conversion to the Catholic faith and what it means to be a Christian across all of the seasons of his life, including as a child, a young man, a husband, a father, and a leader.

"To summarize this book: I'm a Christian, and I became a Christian because I believe that Jesus Christ's teachings are true," Vance said. "But I didn't always think that, and by sharing my journey I might be helpful to others — Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise — who are seeking reconciliation with God."

Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher of the Harper Group, said the book "will speak to so many searching for faith, connection, and meaning in their lives."

He added: Vance's "deeply heartfelt story of doubt and regained belief resonates far beyond politics, offering a moving reflection on the questions that define this moment in American public life."

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Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu is alarmed about rising hostility toward Christians, both in parts of the Islamic world and in Europe's increasingly post-Christian culture.

Nwachukwu, who serves as secretary of the Section of First Evangelization at the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, told EWTN News that any serious conversation about peace and coexistence must begin with clear condemnation of anti-Christian violence, particularly from Muslim leaders in places where Christians lack full religious freedom.

The Nigerian prelate also warned of a growing cultural aversion to Christianity in the West, where Christian expression is often treated with suspicion even as societies insist on defending the religious symbols of others.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit four countries in Africa, including the Muslim-majority Algeria, on his first apostolic journey to the continent April 13–23.

A diplomat urges Muslims to confront anti-Christian violence

Drawing on decades of diplomatic service in Ghana, Paraguay, Algeria, and Switzerland, Nwachukwu described the anti-Christian discrimination he witnessed firsthand — experiences he believes continue to be overlooked.

"I do not criticize Islam; I criticize the way some people practice their Islam," he said. "People just shout about Islamophobia, but its main cause is not to be sought in the West. It is to be sought in the way some Muslims practice their religion. We are calling our Muslim friends to condemn the wrong use of their religion as a religion of violence."

He recalled that during his service in Algeria, Christians were openly labeled "enemies of Islam." In one incident, a shopkeeper refused to serve him because he was wearing a Roman collar.

"Christians still do not have full liberty to practice their religion," he said.

A West increasingly uncomfortable with its Christian roots

But Nwachukwu also directed sharp criticism toward Europe, where he sees a growing reluctance to defend Christianity even as Western societies emphasize religious tolerance.

"Everybody denounces Islamophobia, but nobody denounces Christianophobia," he said. "We are in a post-Christian Europe and a post-Christian West."

He noted that Christian symbols face discrimination not applied to other religions: "You enter a hall and see a symbol of Buddhism — nobody touches it. You see a Muslim in a hijab — nobody says to remove it. But you see a cross, and they say, 'Remove it.' Why?"

This, he argued, reflects a cultural embarrassment about Europe's Christian heritage:

"It is like feeling guilty for having a mother who is ugly and then forgetting that she also has rights. The Christianity that gave them their education, culture, and society — they now feel uncomfortable with it."

Reverse missionaries and a hopeful response to Europe's secular drift

Nwachukwu said this situation makes the growing presence of African and Asian missionaries in Europe all the more significant, as a hopeful sign that the global Church can help rekindle the continent's Christian identity.

"The West often forgets that we are the result of sacrifices made by their own brothers and sisters who became missionaries," he said. "But the sheaves — the children of those missionaries — are now returning."

Nwachukwu described this movement as a gift that can strengthen Western Christianity in places where secularism has taken deep root.

"We want to see the mother Churches in Europe accept and be proud of their missionary children from the global south."

Encouragement for persecuted Christians

To Christians facing persecution — whether under hostile regimes, extremist movements, or secular cultural pressures — Nwachukwu offered a message of strength: "If you are encountering persecution, it means that the message you have is important. If your message were not important, people wouldn't even think of you. So, the message is: Do not feel you are alone. Know what you are worth."

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Amid growing controversy over the Israeli Knesset's recent approval of a law permitting the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, the Catholic Church in the Holy Land is raising its voice in defense of the sanctity of life and the inherent dignity of every human person.

The measure has stirred not only legal and political debate but also deep ethical and moral questions for believers about the meaning of justice and mercy in times of conflict.

In an exclusive interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Bernard Poggi, rector of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, reflected on the Church's opposition to the death penalty and on how Christian faith can guide society toward alternatives that foster peace and reconciliation rather than deepen cycles of violence.

Poggi said human life is a divine gift that must never be violated and that any effort to impose the death penalty stands in contradiction to the core values of the Gospel and Christian ethics.

He explained that the Church's teaching is rooted in the Book of Genesis, which affirms that the human person is created in the image of God and therefore possesses a dignity and rights that belong to God alone.

"The divine image in each person grants that person sacredness and intrinsic worth," Poggi said. "This is why the commandment 'You shall not kill' remains one of the foundational principles of the Ten Commandments."

He added that the sanctity of life extends to all humanity, pointing to the story of Cain and Abel, in which God punishes Cain for killing his brother, underscoring that human life is not for one person to take from another.

"The Church upholds the sanctity of life as a fundamental value that must be protected, and no authority has the right to impose death as punishment," he said.

Poggi also cited paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which rejects the death penalty as an attack on human dignity and expresses the Church's commitment to working for its abolition worldwide.

"The Catholic Church, in its official teaching, calls for the rejection of the death penalty as a violation of human dignity," he said. "The Church is committed to working for the abolition of this punishment everywhere and to raising awareness of the sanctity of life."

He also referred to the witness of the American religious sister Helen Prejean, whom he met and who became known for accompanying death row inmates in the United States. Prejean is the author of "Dead Man Walking," published in 1993 and later adapted into a major film in 1995.

"Through her work, we see how the death penalty affects inmates and their families and how it raises profound moral questions about justice and mercy," Poggi said. "Even in the harshest conditions, prisoners retain their human dignity, and that dignity belongs to God alone."

Reflecting on the political and ethical consequences of capital punishment, Poggi warned that using the death penalty as a deterrent or political instrument distorts the very meaning of justice."

Today, ideas of justice are often twisted in many countries and shaped by political interests rather than by human and ethical values," he said. "Revenge becomes dominant, and innocent people are often punished as scapegoats."

"Revenge does not achieve justice," he continued, echoing a phrase often attributed to Mother Teresa: "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

He stressed that capital punishment robs a person of the possibility of repentance and reform and closes the door to hope.

"Every person makes mistakes," he said. "Punishment should seek correction, not revenge. An ultimate penalty such as execution blocks the path of change and repentance."

Poggi also warned of the political dangers of applying the death penalty in conflict zones.

"In the Middle East, anyone who politically or ideologically opposes the system can become a target simply because of their beliefs," he said. "This threatens freedom of expression and weakens society's ability to build justice and reconciliation."

Speaking specifically about Palestinians, he said many detainees in Israeli prisons have had only limited opportunities to defend themselves or to receive proper legal representation.

"New laws imposing the death penalty increase the risk of killing innocent people and widen the gap between communities instead of encouraging reconciliation and mercy," he said.

He also reflected on the spiritual meaning of the issue during Holy Week.

"We are living through Holy Week, when we remember the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, who himself was a victim of laws applied unjustly," Poggi said. "Jesus did not defend himself through threats or force but offered an example of forgiveness and life."

He added that the Church's call to defend human life is the foundation for building true peace and a just society.

"Real justice is fulfilled in life, not in death," he said. "Every person must have the door of hope left open to return from his mistakes."

Poggi emphasized that this message is not meant only for Christians but also for the whole world. "The Holy Land needs light, not darkness; life, not blood," he said. "The message is clear: Human life is sacred, and forgiveness is needed at every moment."

The priest concluded with a theological reflection: "The human person is created in the image of God, and Christ offered redemption for all humanity," he said. "Every person is called to a better life. Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and remains the supreme example of mercy and the possibility of change."

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Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for the month of April is for priests in crisis.

In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question for the faithful: "Have you ever been in a crisis?"

"In moments of fragility, it's so important that we are there for one another," he said. "This April, I invite you to join me in prayer for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find accompaniment and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer."

In the full video shared on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month's prayer intention.

Lord Jesus,

Good Shepherd and companion on the journey,

today we place in your hands all priests,

especially those going through moments of crisis,

when loneliness weighs heavily,

when doubt clouds their hearts,

and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope.

You who know their struggles and wounds,

renew in them the certainty of your unconditional love.

Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes,

but beloved sons, humble and cherished disciples,

and pastors sustained by the prayer of their people.

Good Father,

teach us as a community to care for our priests:

to listen without judging,

to give thanks without demanding perfection,

to share with them the baptismal mission

of proclaiming the kingdom in word and deed,

and to accompany them with closeness and sincere prayer.

May we support those who so often support us.

Holy Spirit,

rekindle in our priests the joy of the Gospel.

Grant them healthy friendships, networks of fraternal support,

a sense of humor when things don't go as expected,

and the grace to always rediscover the beauty of their vocation.

May they never lose trust in you,

nor the joy of serving your Church with a humble and generous heart.

Amen.

"Pray with the Pope" is accessible on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

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The Catholic Church, the Spanish government, and the people's ombudsman have agreed upon a protocol for compensating abuse victims following arduous negotiations that began last January.

The agreement does not establish specific parameters for financial compensation — neither minimums nor maximums — because it is not intended to be the sole avenue for reparation. Furthermore, as agreed upon by the signatories, the aim is to address each case on an individualized basis.

The signing of the new protocol, which will enter into force on April 15, took place at the ombudsman's office on March 30. Present at the ceremony were the president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym), Archbishop Luis Argüello; the president of the Spanish Confederation of Religious (CONFER, by its Spanish acronym), Dominican Father Jesús Díaz Sariego; the minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes (legislature), Félix Bolaños; and the people's ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo.

Alluding to the liturgical season, Argüello expressed at the beginning of his remarks the hope that the agreement would serve to "alleviate the passion (suffering) of so many victims of abuse," specifically those whose cases have passed the statute of limitations or whose abusers have died.

The prelate underscored that this new system is an extension of the efforts undertaken for years by ecclesiastical institutions, efforts that more than a year ago took concrete form in the PRIVA plan for the comprehensive reparation of abuse victims. This plan has already resolved over a hundred cases, offering, among other measures, financial compensation to more than 80 individuals, totaling 2.5 million euros ($2.86 million).

Under this new protocol, the system implemented by the Catholic Church "is never replaced; rather, it is complemented by collaboration with the public authorities," an arrangement whose concrete realization has been delayed beyond initial expectations, yet which Argüello views as "an opportunity for collaboration, while naturally respecting the scope and jurisdiction" of each signatory institution.

Sariego remarked that "an agreement — even an imperfect one — is preferable to no agreement at all" and expressed the hope that this day would "serve to alleviate that pain and suffering which we know is immense and runs deep."

Bolaños noted that this constitutes a model "that involves the victims," in which "comprehensive reparation is guaranteed" and which is structured as "a collaborative effort"; however, he underscored that "the final say will rest with the state" in the event of a disagreement between the experts from the Catholic Church's PRIVA Plan and the team appointed by the people's ombudsman.

Bolaños also commended and acknowledged the work of the experts appointed by the Catholic Church, "even though the PRIVA Plan contained an 'original sin,'" namely, that it was the Church itself that determined what compensation victims of abuse within its own ranks would receive, a factor that led "many victims to lack confidence" in the system.

During his remarks, Gabilondo stated that the signatories had debated "every comma" of the 14-page protocol. "I cannot recall anything that was not complicated, nor anything that proved insurmountable," he stated when asked about the difficulties encountered during this process.

End of a phase

The signing of the protocol marks the conclusion of a phase that began in March 2022, when the legislature tasked the ombudsman with investigating abuses within the Catholic Church. In October 2023, the ombudsman presented his report, which included a recommendation to establish a state-run reparations system.

In April 2024, the executive branch approved an implementation plan for measures proposed by the ombudsman, a plan that the CEE rejected on the grounds that it was based on "a condemnatory judgment of the entire Church, rendered without any form of legal safeguards," and amounted to "the state publicly targeting the Church in a discriminatory manner."

Despite this rejection, a preliminary agreement was reached in January 2026, an agreement in which the Vatican secretariat of state was reportedly involved, as acknowledged by both Argüello and Bolaños. The minister confirmed on March 30 that on March 20 he held a further meeting at the Vatican Secretariat of State while in Rome accompanying the king and queen of Spain, who were received by Pope Leo XIV.

How the system will work

Effective April 15, any victim of abuse within the Church may contact an office established for this purpose within the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes, which will forward the information to the ombudsman.

The Ombudsman's Victims Unit will review the case within a maximum period of three months — extendable by one additional month if necessary. If the case is accepted, the Ombudsman's Victims Unit will submit a proposal for redress to the PRIVA Plan Advisory Commission, which will have a maximum of two months to evaluate and respond to it.

The ombudsman will then have 15 days to convey these assessments to the victim.

If all parties are in agreement, the decision shall be deemed final. Otherwise, the dispute is referred to a joint body comprising representatives from the ombudsman, the CEE, and CONFER as well as associations of abuse victims, which will have an additional 15 days to reach a resolution.

If an agreement is still not reached, "the ombudsman and the representatives of the ecclesiastical institutions will make a final attempt to reach a consensus within a maximum period of one month."

Ultimately, it would be the Ombudsman's Victims Unit that makes the decision, which the Catholic Church must abide by.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) have reaffirmed their prophetic mission, pledging not to remain silent in the face of the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement issued following their March 23–25 extraordinary Plenary Assembly in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa, CENCO members emphasized their unwavering commitment to speaking out against injustice.

"Our goal is to contribute, among other things, to the promotion of the inalienable dignity of the human person and to the well-being of the Congolese people. Therefore, in the face of the degrading security and humanitarian situation of our country, we will not be silent," the Catholic leaders said in their message issued March 26.

Referencing the message of the late Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to the DRC, the bishops recalled the moral obligation of the Church to speak out.

"As Pope Francis said during his apostolic journey in our country, the Church cannot remain indifferent or silent in the face of the injustices and the pain that strike the populations," CENCO members said.

They reaffirmed the autonomy of both the Church and the political community while highlighting their shared responsibility in serving society.

"Certainly, the political community and the Church are independent from each other and autonomous in the domain that is theirs, but they are called to collaborate, because both are at the service of the personal and social vocation of the same men," the bishops said.

They insisted on the Church's right to address moral issues, including those related to politics, when human dignity is at stake.

"The Church therefore has the right to preach faith in all freedom, to teach social doctrine without any hindrance, to make a moral judgment, even on matters that concern political order, when the fundamental rights of the human person and the salvation of souls require it," they said.

Amid ongoing instability in the country, the bishops called for peaceful solutions grounded in dialogue.

"Concerned with peace and the sacredness of human life, we are convinced that dialogue is superior to war," they said.

Quoting Pope Francis, they added: "War is always a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful capitulation."

The bishops also underscored the importance of initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence.

"Thus, let us remember the relevance of the Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in DRC and in the Great Lakes region, not to be confused with a dialogue aimed at sharing power," they said.

They cautioned against efforts to undermine the Church's unity and mission, saying: "We are well aware that some people turn to discrediting our mission, to sow discord between us, or to engage us in some kind of religious war."

They urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to remain vigilant and guided by virtue.

"We exhort our faithful Catholics, women and men of goodwill, to discernment, to prudence, and to benevolence," they said.

As Christians prepare for Easter, the bishops extended a message of hope and prayer, saying: "As Easter approaches, may the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, bless the DRC and its people."

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has canceled the second World Children's Day, which had been scheduled to take place in Rome Sept. 25–27, about six weeks after Pope Leo XIV dissolved the commission responsible for its organization.

The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life announced the decision March 27, saying it had "considered it appropriate to cancel the celebration of the Second World Children's Day, initially scheduled to take place in Rome from Sept. 25 to 27, 2026."

According to the official statement, the dicastery opted not to hold the international gathering in Rome and instead pointed to a more decentralized approach rooted in local communities.

"All initiatives aimed at the pastoral care of children may be celebrated, at the discretion of the ordinaries, at a diocesan or parish level and with the involvement of families, the proper place for the human and spiritual growth of every child," the statement said, adding that the decision was made "after careful consideration and in agreement with the Holy Father."

The text underscores the role of the family as central to the human and spiritual development of children, in keeping with the pastoral emphasis of the current pontificate.

The Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life also reaffirmed that it continues "its commitment to promoting the pastoral care of the family in all its components."

The cancellation of the second World Children's Day follows another decision made in February that brought a structural change by placing the initiative under the integrated management of the Roman Curia. Leo XIV dissolved the Pontifical Commission for World Children's Day, a body created in 2024 by his predecessor, Pope Francis, for organizational matters.

As a result, the president, vice president, and all members of the body — including Father Enzo Fortunato, who had served as president of the committee — automatically ceased their functions.

Full responsibility then passed to the dicastery led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, whom the pope entrusted with general coordination, resolving pending matters, and presenting the final liquidation balance to the Secretariat for the Economy.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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