Father Bashar Fawadleh, Latin rite pastor of Taybeh, with children from his community. / Credit: Courtesy of Father Bashar Fawadleh.

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 11, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

After raising Lazarus from the dead, the Lord Jesus “no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim,” (Jn. 11:54). 

Ephraim is today known as Taybeh. In addition to being the only entirely Christian village in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, it is also known for its beer.

This small village has been under recent attack by Israeli settlers, with the aim of “undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land,” according to a statement from the pastors of the three local Christian churches.

Priests from the Latin, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic churches reported July 8 that Israeli settlers have set fires in Taybeh, damaging historic buildings and essential crops and instilling fear among residents.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, the Latin Rite pastor in Taybeh since 2021, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, about the current situation. Although he does not speak Spanish, he has a special connection to Latin America: his mother was born in Valencia, Venezuela, but at age 16 returned to her family’s homeland.

Between 250 and 300 people remain in Taybeh, while many of the town’s previous inhabitants have emigrated. Those who have decided to stay depend primarily on harvesting olives from which they produce extra virgin olive oil for export.

Since the attacks began, the workers have been terrified of going to work the land because they have been attacked so many times. 

Fawadleh knows the situation very well because he was born in the small village of Aboud, near Ramallah. He says that, even before his appointment as pastor in 2021, he had never seen attacks of this magnitude.

“Their main goal is to occupy more land. To tell us: this land is for us, not for you. They do this to steal everything from the land. They also want to encourage us to leave this country, to leave the land of Taybeh. They do this to instill fear in the people,” he said.

“We are a peaceful people; we don't cause trouble, we don't have weapons, we don't have anyone to cause problems, difficulties, or restrictions,” the parish priest added.

Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in Taybeh has worsened dramatically. Unemployment affects a large portion of its residents, who, being Palestinians, are prohibited from entering Jerusalem, about an hour’s drive south, where many worked.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is trying to alleviate the suffering by providing basic necessities and cash assistance so the people of Taybeh can pay for basic services and their school and university tuition. However, Fawadleh said, that's not enough.

“What we need now is to end this war, this conflict, to pray for peace, to seek peace, and to pray for justice, so that the fruit of justice may be peace,” he said.

Despite the attacks and suffering in Taybeh, the community still maintains its hope, joy, and happiness, “because we are Christians, and our hope and faith are in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in the empty tomb,”  Fawadleh said.

The priest asks all people, regardless of their religion, to join in prayer to save the town.

He also called for pressure on the governments involved in the conflicts in the Holy Land "to stop these attacks and open all checkpoints and military barriers in the West Bank."

‘Come and see’

He also asked all people of good will to "come and see" the reality of Taybeh, echoing Jesus' first words to the apostles Andrew and John. "You can come and see it and stay in our homes," said  Fawadleh, also emphasizing the importance of tourism for the people.

“We are living stones. You must visit us to encourage us to stay, to encourage us to be present in our land, because this is the land of Jesus' homeland,” the priest said.

This is the uniqueness of Taybeh, which formed its identity after Jesus' visit 2,000 years ago. “When he visited us, he instilled in our hearts that we are his disciples, that is, we are Christians. So we must preserve our culture, our traditions, our church, and the first flame of Christianity that rose up in Jerusalem,” he said.

Then, all the pilgrims who go to see what is happening in Taybeh,  Fawadleh continued, "will be able to return and tell the truth" about what the people need.

The heads of the Christian Churches of the Holy Land are scheduled to visit Taybeh on Monday, July 14, as an expression of  their solidarity and closeness.

According to the local parish priest, this is a great joy and a clear sign that the Lord has not abandoned the small village. “Jesus would ask us to stay and be present in our land,” he said. Upon their arrival, the leaders will pray together for peace in the ancient Church of St. George.

“Here in Taybeh, we seek peace and pray for peace for everyone, not only for Palestine, but for all the nations and countries of the world. When we have unity and love one another, we can hear the voice of God,” he concluded.

You can read the full letter from the Taybeh parish priests here.

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

Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei, who has been serving as an uuxiliary bishop of the Eldoret diocese in Kenya, has been appointed the first bishop of the new Kapsabet Diocese. / Courtesy of KCCB

ACI Africa, Jul 11, 2025 / 15:06 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has erected a new Catholic diocese in Kenya and appointed its first bishop. 

The Holy See Press Office announced July 10 that the Diocese of Kapsabet will be the 28th Episcopal See in Kenya, carved out from the country’s Eldoret diocese, and Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei will be its first bishop. 

Lelei has been serving as an auxiliary bishop of Eldoret, the diocese in which he was born.

The newly established diocese becomes the eighth suffragan diocese of the Kisumu archdiocese, alongside Bungoma, Eldoret, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kitale, and Lodwar. 

According to July 2025 statistics from the Vatican, the Kapsabet diocese measures approximately 1,115 miles, with 313,655 Catholics representing 35.4 percent of the total population of the diocese.

The Diocese of Kapsabet, which covers Kenya’s Nandi County, will have 36 parishes and 52 priests — 44 of them diocesan and eight members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL). St. Peter’s Catholic parish in the township of Kapsabet will be the diocese’s cathedral.

The new bishop of Kapsabet

Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei, born in August 1958, was ordained a priest for the Eldoret diocese in October 1985 after completing his philosophical and theological studies at St. Augustine's Mabanga Senior Seminary in Kenya’s Bungoma diocese, and St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.

As a priest, Lelei served in various capacities, including as a parish priest and a college dean. He holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Vienna in Austria and has served as rector at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, and lecturer at the Pastoral Institute of Gaba in Eldoret under the auspices of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and at St. Matthias Mulumba Tindinyo Senior Seminary, among other priestly duties.

Lelei, who has been serving as vicar general in the Eldoret diocese, was consecrated a bishop in May 2024 and assigned the Titular See of Mons in Numidia, from which he has been freed since being appointed bishop of Kapsabet. 

Speaking to journalists on July 10 shortly after his appointment, Lelei said he felt both joy and apprehension because of what’s involved in taking on the responsibilities of a diocese.

“This is not my work alone; it is the work of the people, and I will serve alongside the priests and the faithful,” he said.

The new bishop lauded the people of God in the Kenyan region for their faith, which he said is manifested in the increasing number of Christians. 

“Faith is deepening, and we can see the fruits in the many priests, women and men religious, and baptized believers,” he said.

As he prepares to lead the new diocese, Lelei urged unity and collaboration. 

“The new Diocese of Kapsabet is a gift born from the prayers, perseverance, and faith of the Christians of Kapsabet; a faith that has been evident for years,” he said.

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA. 

Malawi is preparing for its first Eucharistic Congress. Other countries in Africa have hosted such congresses —Madagascar held its third National Eucharistic Congress Aug. 23-26, 2024, / Credit: EWTN

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 14:23 pm (CNA).

Here’s a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed.

Malawi getting ready for first-ever Eucharistic Congress 

Plans are underway for the first ever Eucharistic Congress to take place in Malawi, a country in southeast Africa, according to ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner.

The Congress, called “Eucharist: Source and Summit of Pilgrims of Hope,” will take place Aug. 5-9 as a part of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB)’s efforts to “renew faith” and foster “ecclesial communion” as Catholics there celebrate the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope. 

MCCB National Pastoral Coordinator ​​Father Joseph Sikwese said the event, held in the country’s Lilongwe archdiocese, will “be a profound moment of spiritual renewal for the Church in Malawi.”

Angola bishops denounce persecution of catechists

Catholic bishops in Angola are fighting back against the persecution of catechists accused of witchcraft, urging the government to address failing social infrastructure in remote parts of the country according to ACI Africa. 

Catechists in the Diocese of Benguela have been the subject of “alarming acts of persecution…particularly in areas where belief in witchcraft remains widespread,” Bishop António Francisco Jaca said, adding: “They are accused by their own communities of being sorcerers and subjected to trials with no legal basis. No one has the right to take justice into their own hands.” 

Youth meeting in Ankawa, Iraq launches with focus on vocations

The Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil launched the eighth edition of the “Ankawa Youth Meeting 2025” this week, bringing together more than 600 young Christians from across Iraq, CNA’s Arabic language news partner, ACI Mena, reports.

The event called “I Will Give You Shepherds” opened at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul where Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda welcomed participants. 

Over three days, attendees will take part in a program designed to help them discern their personal call, whether to priesthood, religious life, or lay ministry. Since its inception in 2018, the Ankawa Youth Meeting has become Iraq’s largest Christian youth gathering, fostering solidarity and faith at a time of ongoing challenges.

Syria’s Catholic schools seek united voice amid crisis

Catholic school leaders from across Syria gathered for the first time this week at the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus, in a meeting convened by Patriarch Youssef Absi and supported by French officials, according to an ACI Mena report. 

The gathering addressed pressing challenges facing Catholic education in the country — from security concerns and economic hardship to preserving curricula and values. Participants voiced the need to form a national association of Catholic schools to strengthen advocacy and cooperation with the state.

Father Fadi Najjar of Aleppo highlighted in the report the pioneering work already underway in his city, where nine Catholic schools operate under a newly formed local association. Discussions also focused on improving infrastructure, providing teacher training, and reclaiming schools confiscated decades ago, while reinforcing Syria’s francophone heritage. 

Restored Dominican monastery reawakens in Mosul

The iconic Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul has officially reopened after extensive restoration led by UNESCO, symbolizing resilience and spiritual revival for Iraq’s Christians, ACI Mena reported. 

The monastery, famous for its clock tower and historic church dating back to the 19th century, was left severely damaged by ISIS during its brutal occupation of the city. A special ceremony earlier this year handed the restored site back to the Dominican friars, with local faithful already resuming prayers and liturgies.

Bavarian judge orders the removal of a crucifix from high school gym 

The Bavarian Administrative Court has ordered the removal of a crucifix from the main entrance of the Hallertau Gymnasium in Wolnzach, Upper Bavaria. Two students requested its removal, citing the legal right to not belong to any religion, CNA Deutsche reported on Thursday. 

“The plaintiffs were forcibly and repeatedly confronted with the crucifix because of compulsory schooling and with regard to its positioning without (reasonable) alternative possibility,” the court said in a press release following the decision, adding that “The large crucifix was placed in a very exposed place and was characterized by a figurative representation of the corpse of Jesus.”

Camillian order launches rehab center in Georgia 

The Camillians, or the Order of St. Camillus, in Georgia — a country in the Caucasus region on the coast of the Black Sea — has launched the St. Camilus Rehabilitation Center in Kutaisi, the second-largest populated city in the country, dedicated to serving those in need, including children with special needs and their families, according to a report from Agenzia Fidez. 

The center will provide a broad range of services, including therapy, psychological support, and educational activities to the community, according to Fidez, “where resources are scarce and poverty is widespread.” 

The Camillians, also known as “Ministers of the Sick,” are a religious order founded in 1586 by Italian priest St. Camillus de Lellis.

Farm workers. / mikeledray/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 13:15 pm (CNA).

As the Trump administration grapples with potentially conflicting immigration enforcement and economic policy goals affecting the agricultural sector, Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas is raising his voice on behalf of the country’s migrant farm workers.

The plight of migrant workers “should be one of great concern to all Catholics, and we should be committed to recognizing the importance of their work and to upholding their God-given dignity,” Cahill, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, and Travelers, told CNA. 

Cahill is set to become chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration at the end of this November’s plenary session. 

“Undocumented farmworkers labor tirelessly in American fields, orchards, and other settings, playing a key role in our food supply chain,” he continued, emphasizing that Catholics “are called to accompany [migrant workers] as we simultaneously advocate for reforms to our immigration system that benefit both our economy and all those who labor within it.”

Both President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week that the administration would not be granting “amnesty” to migrant farm workers, but the president has also indicated several times that his administration plans to grant a “temporary pass” for certain laborers in the country illegally. 

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 47% of U.S. agricultural workers are unauthorized immigrants.

The bishop’s comments come after Rollins specifically stated on July 8 that “there will be no amnesty” for migrant farm workers in the U.S. illegally. 

“Mass deportations will continue, but in a strategic way,” Rollins said. "Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure,” she said, referring to current visa programs for farm workers.

At a July 3 rally in Iowa, Trump said that he and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem planned to “sort of put the farmers in charge” of migrant labor in the agricultural sector. 

“Now, serious radical right people, who I also happen to like a lot, they may not be quite as happy but they’ll understand,” Trump said. 

"If a farmer’s willing to vouch for these people,” the president said of migrant workers in the country without legal status, “Kristi, I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good, right?" he continued, “because we don’t want to do it where we take all of the workers off the farms."

At a cabinet meeting this week, Trump also echoed Rollins, saying: “We’ve got to give the farmers the people they need, but we’re not talking amnesty.” 

Trump insisted that “what we’re doing is getting rid of criminals” and hinted at the administration’s plans to overhaul existing H2 visa programs, which allow employers to bring foreign nationals to the U.S to fill certain jobs in agriculture and hospitality, among other sectors.

At the same meeting, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said her department is spearheading those efforts.

In an interview earlier this year, Rollins had indicated that once the border has been “locked down” and the country has “real border security” then “I think we can begin to pivot into ‘How do we fix this for the long term?, what does the labor look like and how do we ensure our farmers have what they need to do what they need to do?’”

“You can’t even begin to talk about real reform in your immigration system until you have locked the border down and you have real border security,” Rollins said.

Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida is also among those speaking out against mass, indiscriminate deportations. 

Dewane said President Trump’s recent remarks on farmworkers reflect what he called “a growing recognition that many, indeed most immigrants, even those who are not lawfully present, are not dangerous but peaceful, law-abiding, and hardworking contributors to our communities and to our economy.” 

The Florida bishop called for “serious reforms” of the country’s immigration system that “preserve safety and the integrity of our borders, as well as to accommodate needs for labor” and family stability.

Dewane’s statement included a link to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ statement earlier this year that calls for enforcement measures to “focus on those who present genuine risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking” while calling for the provision of “legal processes for longtime residents and other undocumented immigrants to regularize their status.”

Farm workers. / mikeledray/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 13:15 pm (CNA).

As the Trump administration grapples with potentially conflicting immigration enforcement and economic policy goals affecting the agricultural sector, Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas is raising his voice on behalf of the country’s migrant farm workers.

The plight of migrant workers “should be one of great concern to all Catholics, and we should be committed to recognizing the importance of their work and to upholding their God-given dignity,” Cahill, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, and Travelers, told CNA. 

Cahill is set to become chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration at the end of this November’s plenary session. 

“Undocumented farmworkers labor tirelessly in American fields, orchards, and other settings, playing a key role in our food supply chain,” he continued, emphasizing that Catholics “are called to accompany [migrant workers] as we simultaneously advocate for reforms to our immigration system that benefit both our economy and all those who labor within it.”

Both President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week that the administration would not be granting “amnesty” to migrant farm workers, but the president has also indicated several times that his administration plans to grant a “temporary pass” for certain laborers in the country illegally. 

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 47% of U.S. agricultural workers are unauthorized immigrants.

The bishop’s comments come after Rollins specifically stated on July 8 that “there will be no amnesty” for migrant farm workers in the U.S. illegally. 

“Mass deportations will continue, but in a strategic way,” Rollins said. "Ultimately, the answer on this is automation, also some reform within the current governing structure,” she said, referring to current visa programs for farm workers.

At a July 3 rally in Iowa, Trump said that he and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem planned to “sort of put the farmers in charge” of migrant labor in the agricultural sector. 

“Now, serious radical right people, who I also happen to like a lot, they may not be quite as happy but they’ll understand,” Trump said. 

"If a farmer’s willing to vouch for these people,” the president said of migrant workers in the country without legal status, “Kristi, I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good, right?" he continued, “because we don’t want to do it where we take all of the workers off the farms."

At a cabinet meeting this week, Trump also echoed Rollins, saying: “We’ve got to give the farmers the people they need, but we’re not talking amnesty.” 

Trump insisted that “what we’re doing is getting rid of criminals” and hinted at the administration’s plans to overhaul existing H2 visa programs, which allow employers to bring foreign nationals to the U.S to fill certain jobs in agriculture and hospitality, among other sectors.

At the same meeting, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said her department is spearheading those efforts.

In an interview earlier this year, Rollins had indicated that once the border has been “locked down” and the country has “real border security” then “I think we can begin to pivot into ‘How do we fix this for the long term?, what does the labor look like and how do we ensure our farmers have what they need to do what they need to do?’”

“You can’t even begin to talk about real reform in your immigration system until you have locked the border down and you have real border security,” Rollins said.

Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida is also among those speaking out against mass, indiscriminate deportations. 

Dewane said President Trump’s recent remarks on farmworkers reflect what he called “a growing recognition that many, indeed most immigrants, even those who are not lawfully present, are not dangerous but peaceful, law-abiding, and hardworking contributors to our communities and to our economy.” 

The Florida bishop called for “serious reforms” of the country’s immigration system that “preserve safety and the integrity of our borders, as well as to accommodate needs for labor” and family stability.

Dewane’s statement included a link to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ statement earlier this year that calls for enforcement measures to “focus on those who present genuine risks and dangers to society, particularly efforts to reduce gang activity, stem the flow of drugs, and end human trafficking” while calling for the provision of “legal processes for longtime residents and other undocumented immigrants to regularize their status.”

Sinners Directed by Ryan Coogler (Warner Bros., 2025) The great theologian James Cone observed that “blues singers lifted African Americans above their troubles by offering them an opportunity to experience ‘love and loss’ as a liberating catharsis.” I don’t know if Sinners director Ryan Coogler has ever read Cone’s work, but I think that their […]

The post In ‘Sinners,’ a gospel of Black liberation appeared first on U.S. Catholic.

null / Credit: Wolfgang Schaller|Shutterstock.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).

A recent poll has revealed that the majority of American adults’ beliefs align with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings supporting parental authority, allowing states to ban transgender treatment for minors, and permitting authorities to require age verification on websites with sexually explicit content.

On June 18, the Supreme Court ruled that Tennessee was permitted to ban medical treatments for minors including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries. 

On June 27, meanwhile, the high court ruled that public schools in Maryland must allow parents the option to withdraw their children from discussions of LGBT topics if they have religious objections. It also ruled that a Texas law that requires pornography websites to verify that users are at least 18 years old does not violate the Constitution and can remain in effect.

The poll, which was conducted before the rulings were issued, revealed that the American public was mostly in alignment with the final decisions of the Supreme Court.

The survey was completed online April 10-16 among 2,201 U.S. adults by YouGov for its SCOTUSpoll project. The poll was conducted by researchers at the University of Texas, Harvard University, and Stanford University. 

It found that the majority of all respondents (64%) said states “should be able to ban” minors from being subject to certain transgender medical treatments.

The numbers were lopsided according to political alignment: While 90% of Republicans and 63% of Independents surveyed said states should be able to carry out bans, only 38% of Democrats did.

The poll also found that 77% of Americans believe schools “must give the ability” for parents to remove their children from conversations on gender and sexuality. The majority of respondents across all political parties agreed, including 89% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 72% of Independents. 

Texas is one of 24 states that has enacted a law requiring age verification for porn websites similar to the one voted on by the Supreme Court. The survey found that a high majority (80%) of Americans reported that states should be able to permit verification. This included 88% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 77% of Independents. 

Since the Supreme Court ruled on the case involving transgender medical intervention, meanwhile, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced it has sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in child transgender medical procedures.

In a July 9 announcement, the DOJ stated the investigations “include healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.”

In the statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice.”

null / Credit: Wolfgang Schaller|Shutterstock.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).

A recent poll has revealed that the majority of American adults’ beliefs align with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings supporting parental authority, allowing states to ban transgender treatment for minors, and permitting authorities to require age verification on websites with sexually explicit content.

On June 18, the Supreme Court ruled that Tennessee was permitted to ban medical treatments for minors including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries. 

On June 27, meanwhile, the high court ruled that public schools in Maryland must allow parents the option to withdraw their children from discussions of LGBT topics if they have religious objections. It also ruled that a Texas law that requires pornography websites to verify that users are at least 18 years old does not violate the Constitution and can remain in effect.

The poll, which was conducted before the rulings were issued, revealed that the American public was mostly in alignment with the final decisions of the Supreme Court.

The survey was completed online April 10-16 among 2,201 U.S. adults by YouGov for its SCOTUSpoll project. The poll was conducted by researchers at the University of Texas, Harvard University, and Stanford University. 

It found that the majority of all respondents (64%) said states “should be able to ban” minors from being subject to certain transgender medical treatments.

The numbers were lopsided according to political alignment: While 90% of Republicans and 63% of Independents surveyed said states should be able to carry out bans, only 38% of Democrats did.

The poll also found that 77% of Americans believe schools “must give the ability” for parents to remove their children from conversations on gender and sexuality. The majority of respondents across all political parties agreed, including 89% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 72% of Independents. 

Texas is one of 24 states that has enacted a law requiring age verification for porn websites similar to the one voted on by the Supreme Court. The survey found that a high majority (80%) of Americans reported that states should be able to permit verification. This included 88% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 77% of Independents. 

Since the Supreme Court ruled on the case involving transgender medical intervention, meanwhile, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced it has sent more than 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in child transgender medical procedures.

In a July 9 announcement, the DOJ stated the investigations “include healthcare fraud, false statements, and more.”

In the statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “Medical professionals and organizations that mutilated children in the service of a warped ideology will be held accountable by this Department of Justice.”

“If we go in search of other people, other cultures, other ways of thinking, other religions, we come out of ourselves and begin that beautiful adventure that is called ‘dialogue’. Dialogue is very important for one’s maturity, because in relation with other people, relations with other culture, also in healthy relations with other religions, one […]

The post Why Francis opened doors between religions appeared first on U.S. Catholic.

“When you love the people with whom you disagree, and then you talk about the disagreements, then you’re able to persuade people, potentially,” Brooks points out. “Its your only shot at persuading people, is with love.” / Credit: EWTN News

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 11, 2025 / 09:40 am (CNA).

Best-selling author, Harvard professor and renowned social scientist Arthur Brooks says the missionary character and approach of Pope Leo XIV is one which all Catholics should emulate.

In an interview with "EWTN News in Depth," Brooks called attention to the new pope’s track record of threading the needle of “speaking the truth in a spirit of love, and that’s a lot more of what we all need to emulate as Catholic people.”

This approach, Brooks said, is a winning one that gives him a lot of hope and optimism for Leo’s pontificate and the future of the Church, which he says is on the cusp of a revival.

Speaking with anchor Catherine Hadro, Brooks said all Catholics are called to missionary work grounded in joy, excellence, and clarity of purpose. 

“We need to ask ourselves tomorrow as we go out: Am I being a good missionary or am I not? Is somebody going to say, I like the way that that person lives their Catholic faith or not? Is that attractive or is that unattractive? Those are the choices."

A convert to Catholicism at age 16, Brooks says he considers himself a “secular missionary.” In a recent article in The Atlantic, he wrote that his secular writing, speaking and teaching is the principal way that he shares his faith publicly.

“My approach is basically to be open and easy and natural about my Catholic faith,” said Brooks, who is also the former president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute think tank.

The two best tools in secular evangelization, Brooks said, are friendship and excellence. 

“Be a good friend, be a good person, all the time, impeccable in the way you treat other people and somebody people can rely on and actually love,” Brooks told Hadro. 

“And two, be excellent in everything you do. Be the best at what you do…because people want to be around excellence and people want to have good friends,” he added.

Catholics, Brooks said, are called to “magnetize” their faith by “making it natural and normal and excellent” such that it draws people to the faith.

When it comes to speaking truth in a spirit of love, Brooks said we "have a moral obligation to call out things that are wrong when they’re wrong for the good of the person,” noting that when there’s grave sin “we have to call it out.”

“But we will be ineffective in doing so if we don’t do that with love," he emphasized. 

“When you love the people with whom you disagree, and then you talk about the disagreements, then you’re able to persuade people, potentially,” Brooks pointed out. “[Y]our only shot at persuading people is with love.”

In his 2023 book Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, Brooks offers practical strategies for both emotional and spiritual growth. The book debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

He continues exploring these themes in his forthcoming book, The Happiness Files, in which he likens the pursuit of happiness to launching a start-up: deliberate, experimental, and mission-driven.

Watch the full “EWTN News in Depth” interview with Arthur Brooks below: