By choosing the name Leo, our new pope has placed himself in line with one of the most brilliant theologians of the Ascension, Leo the Great (391–461). The first Pope Leo preached ardently on the centrality of this mystery, emphasizing that it was precisely during the forty days after Jesus’s Resurrection that the Lord designated […]

The Church is suffering from a commitment problem. Vocations to the priesthood, marriage, and religious life are all on a downward slide—like that of an avalanche—at this point. Young people are not interested in committing to a state in life; in fact, most do not know they have a vocation from God. Two generations of […]

“I don’t understand. Why I am I the only one who can see her?” asked Adele Brise. Adele’s parish priest rubbed his chin, trying to read her face. The young woman from Belgium looked genuinely puzzled. She truly believed she had twice spotted a stranger—a lady dressed in white—in the Champion, Wisconsin, woods, even though […]

St. Maximinus of Trier was born in the late 3rd century and became Bishop of Trier around 332 AD. During a time of political instability and religious controversy, he emerged as a staunch defender of the faith, especially against the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Maximinus offered strong support to exiled orthodox […]

Madrid, Spain, May 28, 2025 / 18:11 pm (CNA).

Approximately 93,000 faithful venerated the body of St. Teresa of Jesus (Ávila), which was publicly exhibited May 11–25 for the third time in four centuries in the small town of Alba de Tormes, Spain.

The saint’s remains were returned to the silver case placed at the center of the altarpiece of the Basilica of the Annunciation in the Castilian city where the Carmelite reformer died.

Eight Discalced Carmelite friars from different convents carried the case, preceded by others holding the 10 keys required to open it, to the accompaniment of the municipal band.

Pilgrims of different nationalities streamed in for this rare occasion to venerate the saint following Pope Francis’ canonical recognition of the body, which took place in its first phase in August 2024.

In February, the body was transferred to a temporary case until it was transferred to the one that contained the saint’s body during the public exposition, which had only previously taken place in 1760, for seven hours, and in 1914, for one day.

The Discalced Carmelites order explained from the outset that the intention behind this extraordinary occasion was “to bring pilgrims closer to Jesus Christ and the Church, to evangelize all visitors, and [to foster] greater knowledge of St. Teresa of Jesus.”

The canonical recognition of the saint’s remains made possible a reconstruction of her face based on anthropomorphic and forensic study, historical testimonies, and descriptions of her from the time in which she lived.

The scientific team that studied the body of St. Teresa of Jesus noted in a report that it is in an “extraordinary state of preservation” despite the passage of time. They also observed that the nun may have suffered from osteoporosis, bilateral osteoarthritis of the knee, and a bone condition below both heels associated with pain.

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

Madrid, Spain, May 28, 2025 / 18:11 pm (CNA).

Approximately 93,000 faithful venerated the body of St. Teresa of Jesus (Ávila), which was publicly exhibited May 11–25 for the third time in four centuries.

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 17:41 pm (CNA).

A Native American group whose attempt to halt the transfer of a sacred land site received backing from the U.S. bishops was dealt a blow to that effort when the U.S. Supreme Court this week refused to stop the sale from taking place. 

The high court denied the request from the coalition group Apache Stronghold to consider halting the sale of the Oak Flat site to a copper mining corporation. The religious liberty law group Becket represented the group in the case.

The federal government several years ago moved to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper — a British-Australian multinational company — after having protected the site for decades for the use of the Apaches. 

The proposed mining operations would largely obliterate the site, which has been viewed as a sacred site by Apaches and other Native American groups for hundreds of years and has been used extensively for religious rituals.

Apache Stronghold argued that the transfer would violate both the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and an 1852 treaty protecting Apache territory. A U.S. district court ruled earlier this month to halt the sale of the site while the Supreme Court considered the question. 

On Tuesday the court declined to take up the case. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented from the decision, with Gorsuch arguing that the Supreme Court “should at least have troubled itself to hear [the] case” before “allowing the government to destroy the Apaches’ sacred site.”

A lower court had decided that though RFRA generally prohibits the government’s “substantial burdening” of religion, that guidance does not apply in cases of “disposition of government real property.” That decision, Gorsuch said, was “far from obviously correct.” 

He noted that the novel interpretation of RFRA law could have much wider implications than the Apache case. The justice pointed to a legal dispute involving the Knights of Columbus, who in 2023 were denied permission to celebrate a long-held Mass in a Virginia federal cemetery, with the government citing the new RFRA standard. 

The government eventually relented and allowed the Knights to hold the Mass, but, Gorsuch argued, “seemingly nothing would prevent it from trying its hand again” so long as the newly revised law is allowed to stand. 

After the court’s decision on Tuesday, Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said it was “hard to imagine a more brazen attack on faith than blasting the birthplace of Apache religion into a gaping crater.” 

“The court’s refusal to halt the destruction is a tragic departure from its strong record of defending religious freedom,” he said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that the Apaches can continue worshipping at Oak Flat as they have for generations.”

Last year the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined an amicus brief with the Christian Legal Society and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, arguing that the lower court decisions allowing the sale represent “a grave misunderstanding of RFRA that fails to apply its protections in evaluating that destruction.”

The transfer of the land “jeopardizes Native American religious practice and religious liberty more broadly,” the groups argued.

The Knights of Columbus similarly filed a brief in support of the Apaches, arguing that the decision to allow the property to be mined “reads into RFRA an atextual constraint with no grounding in the statute itself.”

The decision is devastating not just to the Apaches but to “the myriad religious adherents of all faiths and backgrounds who use federal lands every day for their religious exercise,” they said.

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 17:41 pm (CNA).

A Native American group whose attempt to halt the transfer of a sacred land site received backing from the U.S. bishops was dealt a blow to that effort when the U.S. Supreme Court this week refused to stop the sale from taking place. 

The high court denied the request from the coalition group Apache Stronghold to consider halting the sale of the Oak Flat site to a copper mining corporation. The religious liberty law group Becket represented the group in the case.

The federal government several years ago moved to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper — a British-Australian multinational company — after having protected the site for decades for the use of the Apaches. 

The proposed mining operations would largely obliterate the site, which has been viewed as a sacred site by Apaches and other Native American groups for hundreds of years and has been used extensively for religious rituals.

Apache Stronghold argued that the transfer would violate both the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and an 1852 treaty protecting Apache territory. A U.S. district court ruled earlier this month to halt the sale of the site while the Supreme Court considered the question. 

On Tuesday the court declined to take up the case. Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented from the decision, with Gorsuch arguing that the Supreme Court “should at least have troubled itself to hear [the] case” before “allowing the government to destroy the Apaches’ sacred site.”

A lower court had decided that though RFRA generally prohibits the government’s “substantial burdening” of religion, that guidance does not apply in cases of “disposition of government real property.” That decision, Gorsuch said, was “far from obviously correct.” 

He noted that the novel interpretation of RFRA law could have much wider implications than the Apache case. The justice pointed to a legal dispute involving the Knights of Columbus, who in 2023 were denied permission to celebrate a long-held Mass in a Virginia federal cemetery, with the government citing the new RFRA standard. 

The government eventually relented and allowed the Knights to hold the Mass, but, Gorsuch argued, “seemingly nothing would prevent it from trying its hand again” so long as the newly revised law is allowed to stand. 

After the court’s decision on Tuesday, Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said it was “hard to imagine a more brazen attack on faith than blasting the birthplace of Apache religion into a gaping crater.” 

“The court’s refusal to halt the destruction is a tragic departure from its strong record of defending religious freedom,” he said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that the Apaches can continue worshipping at Oak Flat as they have for generations.”

Last year the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined an amicus brief with the Christian Legal Society and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, arguing that the lower court decisions allowing the sale represent “a grave misunderstanding of RFRA that fails to apply its protections in evaluating that destruction.”

The transfer of the land “jeopardizes Native American religious practice and religious liberty more broadly,” the groups argued.

The Knights of Columbus similarly filed a brief in support of the Apaches, arguing that the decision to allow the property to be mined “reads into RFRA an atextual constraint with no grounding in the statute itself.”

The decision is devastating not just to the Apaches but to “the myriad religious adherents of all faiths and backgrounds who use federal lands every day for their religious exercise,” they said.

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 17:11 pm (CNA).

Those attending the June 14 celebration honoring Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field in Chicago will hear directly from the new pontiff.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced that recently installed Pope Leo will deliver a “special video message” to the world’s youth at the event at the Chicago White Sox’s home stadium.

The celebration will also include a Mass, music, a film, and in-person testimonials about Pope Leo XIV, a South Side native and lifelong White Sox fan. 

The public is invited to attend the upcoming “celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born and raised in the Chicago area.”

The event is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on June 14 with Mass at 4 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m., according to the archdiocese. Ticket details are forthcoming. 

Last week, the White Sox unveiled a graphic installation honoring Pope Leo on the lower-level concourse near the seat from which he watched Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. The White Sox internal design services team designed the mural, which is not a painting. 

Brooks Boyer, the White Sox executive vice president and chief revenue and marketing officer, told MLB.com last week that the pope “has an open invite to throw out a first pitch” at any White Sox game.

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 17:11 pm (CNA).

Those attending the June 14 celebration honoring Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field in Chicago will hear directly from the new pontiff.

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced that recently installed Pope Leo will deliver a “special video message” to the world’s youth at the event at the Chicago White Sox’s home stadium.

The celebration will also include a Mass, music, a film, and in-person testimonials about Pope Leo XIV, a South Side native and lifelong White Sox fan. 

The public is invited to attend the upcoming “celebration of the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born and raised in the Chicago area.”

The event is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on June 14 with Mass at 4 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m., according to the archdiocese. Ticket details are forthcoming. 

Last week, the White Sox unveiled a graphic installation honoring Pope Leo on the lower-level concourse near the seat from which he watched Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. The White Sox internal design services team designed the mural, which is not a painting. 

Brooks Boyer, the White Sox executive vice president and chief revenue and marketing officer, told MLB.com last week that the pope “has an open invite to throw out a first pitch” at any White Sox game.