null / Credit: Take Photo/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 18:01 pm (CNA).

The Catholic Conference of Ohio has issued a statement expressing confidence that the state’s voucher program allowing parents to send their children to private schools would ultimately prevail after a judge ruled the program unconstitutional.

Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page on June 24 declared the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, which provides funding for public school students to attend private schools in the state, unconstitutional, claiming it harms public education by channeling funds toward private schools, including Catholic institutions.

Page said in her ruling that the plaintiffs had proved “beyond a reasonable doubt that the EdChoice voucher program violates Article VI Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution,” which bans religious schools from having “any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of [the] state.”

Page also wrote that “the state may not fund private schools at the expense of public schools or in a manner that undermines its obligation to public education.”

The ruling is expected to be appealed. The 10th District Court of Appeals will hear the case next, after which it could go to the Ohio Supreme Court.

“We remain confident the EdChoice program will prevail in the appeals process,” Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio, said in a June 24 statement. Hickey called support for the program “a matter of social justice.”

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is the official representative of the Catholic Church in public policy matters.

“The Catholic Church will continue to advocate for and defend programs that support parents as the primary educators of their children and enable them to select a school that best suits their child’s needs,” Hickey said. 

“We are proud that Catholic schools in Ohio continue to flourish with ethnic and racial diversity while providing a rich spiritual and intellectual environment,” he continued. “Catholic schools, like other chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio, work closely with the Department of Education and Workforce to adhere to state chartering requirements, including operating standards, teacher licensing, state audits, and approved testing.”

A coalition of public school districts, Vouchers Hurt Ohio, filed a lawsuit in 2022 to end the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, which provides funding for public school students to attend private schools in the state of Ohio. 

The anti-vouchers group argued that the program unconstitutionally created a second system of schools to be funded by the state, causing harm to its public school system.

null / Credit: Take Photo/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 18:01 pm (CNA).

The Catholic Conference of Ohio has issued a statement expressing confidence that the state’s voucher program allowing parents to send their children to private schools would ultimately prevail after a judge ruled the program unconstitutional.

Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page on June 24 declared the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, which provides funding for public school students to attend private schools in the state, unconstitutional, claiming it harms public education by channeling funds toward private schools, including Catholic institutions.

Page said in her ruling that the plaintiffs had proved “beyond a reasonable doubt that the EdChoice voucher program violates Article VI Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution,” which bans religious schools from having “any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of [the] state.”

Page also wrote that “the state may not fund private schools at the expense of public schools or in a manner that undermines its obligation to public education.”

The ruling is expected to be appealed. The 10th District Court of Appeals will hear the case next, after which it could go to the Ohio Supreme Court.

“We remain confident the EdChoice program will prevail in the appeals process,” Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio, said in a June 24 statement. Hickey called support for the program “a matter of social justice.”

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is the official representative of the Catholic Church in public policy matters.

“The Catholic Church will continue to advocate for and defend programs that support parents as the primary educators of their children and enable them to select a school that best suits their child’s needs,” Hickey said. 

“We are proud that Catholic schools in Ohio continue to flourish with ethnic and racial diversity while providing a rich spiritual and intellectual environment,” he continued. “Catholic schools, like other chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio, work closely with the Department of Education and Workforce to adhere to state chartering requirements, including operating standards, teacher licensing, state audits, and approved testing.”

A coalition of public school districts, Vouchers Hurt Ohio, filed a lawsuit in 2022 to end the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, which provides funding for public school students to attend private schools in the state of Ohio. 

The anti-vouchers group argued that the program unconstitutionally created a second system of schools to be funded by the state, causing harm to its public school system.

About 300 sisters and supporters gathered on June 24, 2025, for “Sisters Speak Out” in the nation’s capital in anticipation of the Senate voting on the budget bill this week. / Credit: Julia Morris

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 16:07 pm (CNA).

Sisters from 60 congregations gathered in Washington, D.C., on June 24 to urge lawmakers not to cut government programs that support immigrants and people with low incomes.

The event, called “Sisters Speak Out,” was held in the nation’s capital while approximately 40 “echo events” took place across the country. Around 300 sisters and supporters attended the D.C. gathering for “immigrants and a just economy” in anticipation of the Senate voting on the reconciliation bill this week.

According to a press release from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the sisters were gathered to speak out against budget cuts they believe will “gut health care and food assistance, inflicting serious harm on families, children, the elderly, and disabled.”

Sister Eilis McCulloh, a Humility of Mary sister and grassroots education and organizing coordinator for the justice organization Network, told CNA the idea for the demonstration came from “a desire for some action.”

“In March, there was a conference of a bunch of justice promoters for women’s religious communities … we began meeting every single week … to plan something that we could do together and that could take place across the country as well,” she said.

From these meetings the group decided to plan the Sisters Speak Out event because they believe the reconciliation bill affects the communities that they are “intertwined” with in their ministries.

McCulloh told CNA that “one of the really cool things” about the day was how much participation there was across the nation.

“So many people are saying, ‘Physically, I can no longer participate in events’ … And so we collected rosaries for it, one of the co-planners helped collect them and we received over 300 rosaries for people to use.” 

The event “had five different speakers” and the group gathered to pray a decade of the rosary together. 

“We used the sorrowful mysteries,” McCulloh said. “And each of the mysteries was connected to one of the issues that we were talking about.” The five speakers specifically discussed Medicaid, immigration, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Sister Mary Haddad of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas spoke about how health care is a “human right” and said passing the budget bill “would harm critical health and social safety-net programs that millions of Americans rely on to live with health, dignity, and security.”

“Medicaid is not just a health program — it is a lifeline,” she said.

Sister Patty Chappell, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, explained at the event that 13% of the population relies on $230 a month to feed their families. “That covers only a subsistence diet,” she said, and then asked: “How would you be able to feed your family on a SNAP budget of just $6.20 per day, per person?”

Sister Terry Saetta, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas who works with immigrants, discussed border issues. “No child should leave the house traumatized, fearing they may never see their mother or father again,” she said.

The budget, she said, “is a moral document. It shows what we value.”

After the sisters had gathered, some met with senators including Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland; Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina; Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia; Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois; Dick Durbin, D-Illinois; and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to discuss the bill and how they believe it will affect vulnerable groups. 

The group also sent a letter to senators that was signed by approximately 2,500 sisters that said the bill “would be the most harmful legislation for American families in our lifetimes, and it goes against the principles and teaching of our Catholic faith.”

“I think we’re still just beginning to see this ripple effect of what this event meant, not just for the world but for everyone who took part in it and how we’re going to take the energy that we had yesterday and bring it back to our own congregations, our own communities where we live,” McCulloh said Wednesday. 

The reconciliation bill was passed by House Republicans in May, and Trump has called for the Senate to also pass it as soon as July 4.

Many Catholic and pro-life agencies have supported the bill from the start as it would defund Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions, but many Catholic organizations are also wary of how other government cuts will affect U.S. families and programs that assist the poor.

The United States Conference of Bishops recently released its stance on the bill, stating that it “supports certain provisions” but similarly to the sisters is “concerned with other inclusions that will negatively impact millions of people,” such as Medicaid and SNAP.

About 300 sisters and supporters gathered on June 24, 2025, for “Sisters Speak Out” in the nation’s capital in anticipation of the Senate voting on the budget bill this week. / Credit: Julia Morris

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 16:07 pm (CNA).

Sisters from 60 congregations gathered in Washington, D.C., on June 24 to urge lawmakers not to cut government programs that support immigrants and people with low incomes.

The event, called “Sisters Speak Out,” was held in the nation’s capital while approximately 40 “echo events” took place across the country. Around 300 sisters and supporters attended the D.C. gathering for “immigrants and a just economy” in anticipation of the Senate voting on the reconciliation bill this week.

According to a press release from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the sisters were gathered to speak out against budget cuts they believe will “gut health care and food assistance, inflicting serious harm on families, children, the elderly, and disabled.”

Sister Eilis McCulloh, a Humility of Mary sister and grassroots education and organizing coordinator for the justice organization Network, told CNA the idea for the demonstration came from “a desire for some action.”

“In March, there was a conference of a bunch of justice promoters for women’s religious communities … we began meeting every single week … to plan something that we could do together and that could take place across the country as well,” she said.

From these meetings the group decided to plan the Sisters Speak Out event because they believe the reconciliation bill affects the communities that they are “intertwined” with in their ministries.

McCulloh told CNA that “one of the really cool things” about the day was how much participation there was across the nation.

“So many people are saying, ‘Physically, I can no longer participate in events’ … And so we collected rosaries for it, one of the co-planners helped collect them and we received over 300 rosaries for people to use.” 

The event “had five different speakers” and the group gathered to pray a decade of the rosary together. 

“We used the sorrowful mysteries,” McCulloh said. “And each of the mysteries was connected to one of the issues that we were talking about.” The five speakers specifically discussed Medicaid, immigration, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Sister Mary Haddad of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas spoke about how health care is a “human right” and said passing the budget bill “would harm critical health and social safety-net programs that millions of Americans rely on to live with health, dignity, and security.”

“Medicaid is not just a health program — it is a lifeline,” she said.

Sister Patty Chappell, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, explained at the event that 13% of the population relies on $230 a month to feed their families. “That covers only a subsistence diet,” she said, and then asked: “How would you be able to feed your family on a SNAP budget of just $6.20 per day, per person?”

Sister Terry Saetta, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas who works with immigrants, discussed border issues. “No child should leave the house traumatized, fearing they may never see their mother or father again,” she said.

The budget, she said, “is a moral document. It shows what we value.”

After the sisters had gathered, some met with senators including Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland; Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina; Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia; Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois; Dick Durbin, D-Illinois; and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to discuss the bill and how they believe it will affect vulnerable groups. 

The group also sent a letter to senators that was signed by approximately 2,500 sisters that said the bill “would be the most harmful legislation for American families in our lifetimes, and it goes against the principles and teaching of our Catholic faith.”

“I think we’re still just beginning to see this ripple effect of what this event meant, not just for the world but for everyone who took part in it and how we’re going to take the energy that we had yesterday and bring it back to our own congregations, our own communities where we live,” McCulloh said Wednesday. 

The reconciliation bill was passed by House Republicans in May, and Trump has called for the Senate to also pass it as soon as July 4.

Many Catholic and pro-life agencies have supported the bill from the start as it would defund Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions, but many Catholic organizations are also wary of how other government cuts will affect U.S. families and programs that assist the poor.

The United States Conference of Bishops recently released its stance on the bill, stating that it “supports certain provisions” but similarly to the sisters is “concerned with other inclusions that will negatively impact millions of people,” such as Medicaid and SNAP.

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series “The Chosen,” greets Pope Leo XIV at the end of Wednesday’s general audience on June 25, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 25, 2025 / 15:32 pm (CNA).

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series “The Chosen,” greeted Pope Leo XIV at the end of Wednesday’s general audience on June 25 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Also present were other actors and actresses from the hit series based on the life of Jesus Christ and the apostles, including Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene in the series; George Xanthis, who plays the apostle St. John; and Vanessa Benavente, who plays the Virgin Mary. Some members of the series’ crew also participated in the meeting.

In the photographs released by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV and Roumie can be seen smiling and shaking hands. The actor also gave the pontiff a gift on behalf of the entire crew.

Speaking to Vatican News before Wednesday’s general audience, Roumie stated that “playing a charismatic figure like Christ has helped strengthen my faith.”

“I have lived this experience as a true act of divine grace toward me,” the 50-year-old actor added.

Furthermore, the star of the series, watched by more than 200 million people worldwide, explained that his father, who emigrated to the United States, is Egyptian, and his mother is Irish, so “since I was a child, I have breathed in the Catholic faith” in his family.

“I have tried to convey what I learned from my parents in an acting role without forcing it. I have always seen Jesus as a simple man, whose simplicity contains countless teachings and values ​​that I hope to apply every day of my life,” he stated.

He also said that “the weight of responsibility I felt while filming certain scenes was enormous, but the strength of my faith drove me to great concentration. And today’s meeting with the pope has been an immeasurable honor.”

This meeting was part of the of “The Chosen” cast’s visit to the Vatican for the exclusive premiere of the series’ fifth season, which will be available for streaming in Italy in July.

Their arrival in Rome took place after three weeks of filming in southern Italy, where they filmed the crucifixion scenes for the sixth season, which will premiere next year.

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

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series “The Chosen,” greets Pope Leo XIV at the end of Wednesday’s general audience on June 25, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 25, 2025 / 15:32 pm (CNA).

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series “The Chosen,” greeted Pope Leo XIV at the end of Wednesday’s general audience on June 25 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Also present were other actors and actresses from the hit series based on the life of Jesus Christ and the apostles, including Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene in the series; George Xanthis, who plays the apostle St. John; and Vanessa Benavente, who plays the Virgin Mary. Some members of the series’ crew also participated in the meeting.

In the photographs released by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV and Roumie can be seen smiling and shaking hands. The actor also gave the pontiff a gift on behalf of the entire crew.

Speaking to Vatican News before Wednesday’s general audience, Roumie stated that “playing a charismatic figure like Christ has helped strengthen my faith.”

“I have lived this experience as a true act of divine grace toward me,” the 50-year-old actor added.

Furthermore, the star of the series, watched by more than 200 million people worldwide, explained that his father, who emigrated to the United States, is Egyptian, and his mother is Irish, so “since I was a child, I have breathed in the Catholic faith” in his family.

“I have tried to convey what I learned from my parents in an acting role without forcing it. I have always seen Jesus as a simple man, whose simplicity contains countless teachings and values ​​that I hope to apply every day of my life,” he stated.

He also said that “the weight of responsibility I felt while filming certain scenes was enormous, but the strength of my faith drove me to great concentration. And today’s meeting with the pope has been an immeasurable honor.”

This meeting was part of the of “The Chosen” cast’s visit to the Vatican for the exclusive premiere of the series’ fifth season, which will be available for streaming in Italy in July.

Their arrival in Rome took place after three weeks of filming in southern Italy, where they filmed the crucifixion scenes for the sixth season, which will premiere next year.

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

A Colorado department will allow a Christian summer camp to separate boys and girls on the basis of biology after the camp sued the state in May. The agreement was reached June 24, 2025, and the camp has dropped the lawsuit. / Credit: anatoliy_gleb/shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood will allow a Christian summer camp to separate showers, bathrooms, and sleeping areas on the basis of biological sex after both sides reached a legal settlement on Tuesday, June 24.

Per the settlement, Camp IdRaHaJe is exempt from a state rule that requires camps to separate facilities on the basis of self-asserted “gender identity” rather than biological sex. If the rule had been enforced, the camp would have been required to let biological males who identify as transgender girls access all private facilities reserved for biological girls.

In the settlement, the department recognizes that the camp is a nonprofit organized exclusively for religious purposes. For this reason, the settlement states that the camp is not subject to the rule.

“Government officials should never put a dangerous ideology ahead of kids,” Andrea Dill, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom — the organization representing Camp IdRaHaJe in the lawsuit — said in a statement.

“State officials must respect religious ministries and their beliefs about human sexuality; they can’t force a Christian summer camp to violate its convictions,” she said. “We’re pleased that Camp IdRaHaJe is again free to operate as it has for more than 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs.”

The Christian camp, which derives its name from the 1922 Christian hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” sued the department in mid-May based on concerns that it could face fines or have its license suspended or revoked. The camp opened on June 8 and did not comply with the rule. The department did not take any enforcement action against the camp.

Per the agreement, the state agreed that it will not impose any fines or take any action against Camp IdRaHaJe’s license.

The Department of Early Childhood also agreed to add language to its administrative guide and update a memorandum on its website to clarify that a location “principally used for religious purposes” is not subject to the “gender identity” rule.

CNA reached out to the department for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Lisa Roy, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, said in a statement to CBS News that the department is “glad to support Camp IdRaHaJe’s understanding of their ability to provide a Christian camp experience to kids” after the settlement was reached.

“The [department] did not take any enforcement action against Camp IdRaHaJe related to any of the licensing regulations raised in the lawsuit and the camp was never under a threat of closure,” she said in the statement.

Although no direct enforcement action was taken against Camp IdRaHaJe, the camp expressed concern in its initial lawsuit that it could be subject to enforcement action because its request for an exemption from the rule had previously been denied.

That lawsuit notes that the camp believes and teaches that God “has immutably created each person as either male or female in his image” and that “the differentiation of the sexes, male and female, is part of the divine image in the human race.” It adds that this belief is integrated into all of the camp’s programs and operations.

Camp IdRaHaJe hosts about 2,500 to 3,000 students between the ages of 6 and 17 every year. It was established in 1948 for “the purpose of winning souls to Jesus Christ through the spreading of the Gospel,” the “edifying … of the believers through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God,” and “evangelizing of campers through witnessing and missions,” its website states.

Following the settlement agreement, Alliance Defending Freedom filed for a dismissal of the initial lawsuit.

A Colorado department will allow a Christian summer camp to separate boys and girls on the basis of biology after the camp sued the state in May. The agreement was reached June 24, 2025, and the camp has dropped the lawsuit. / Credit: anatoliy_gleb/shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 25, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood will allow a Christian summer camp to separate showers, bathrooms, and sleeping areas on the basis of biological sex after both sides reached a legal settlement on Tuesday, June 24.

Per the settlement, Camp IdRaHaJe is exempt from a state rule that requires camps to separate facilities on the basis of self-asserted “gender identity” rather than biological sex. If the rule had been enforced, the camp would have been required to let biological males who identify as transgender girls access all private facilities reserved for biological girls.

In the settlement, the department recognizes that the camp is a nonprofit organized exclusively for religious purposes. For this reason, the settlement states that the camp is not subject to the rule.

“Government officials should never put a dangerous ideology ahead of kids,” Andrea Dill, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom — the organization representing Camp IdRaHaJe in the lawsuit — said in a statement.

“State officials must respect religious ministries and their beliefs about human sexuality; they can’t force a Christian summer camp to violate its convictions,” she said. “We’re pleased that Camp IdRaHaJe is again free to operate as it has for more than 75 years: as a Christian summer camp that accepts all campers without fear of being punished for its beliefs.”

The Christian camp, which derives its name from the 1922 Christian hymn “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” sued the department in mid-May based on concerns that it could face fines or have its license suspended or revoked. The camp opened on June 8 and did not comply with the rule. The department did not take any enforcement action against the camp.

Per the agreement, the state agreed that it will not impose any fines or take any action against Camp IdRaHaJe’s license.

The Department of Early Childhood also agreed to add language to its administrative guide and update a memorandum on its website to clarify that a location “principally used for religious purposes” is not subject to the “gender identity” rule.

CNA reached out to the department for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Lisa Roy, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, said in a statement to CBS News that the department is “glad to support Camp IdRaHaJe’s understanding of their ability to provide a Christian camp experience to kids” after the settlement was reached.

“The [department] did not take any enforcement action against Camp IdRaHaJe related to any of the licensing regulations raised in the lawsuit and the camp was never under a threat of closure,” she said in the statement.

Although no direct enforcement action was taken against Camp IdRaHaJe, the camp expressed concern in its initial lawsuit that it could be subject to enforcement action because its request for an exemption from the rule had previously been denied.

That lawsuit notes that the camp believes and teaches that God “has immutably created each person as either male or female in his image” and that “the differentiation of the sexes, male and female, is part of the divine image in the human race.” It adds that this belief is integrated into all of the camp’s programs and operations.

Camp IdRaHaJe hosts about 2,500 to 3,000 students between the ages of 6 and 17 every year. It was established in 1948 for “the purpose of winning souls to Jesus Christ through the spreading of the Gospel,” the “edifying … of the believers through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God,” and “evangelizing of campers through witnessing and missions,” its website states.

Following the settlement agreement, Alliance Defending Freedom filed for a dismissal of the initial lawsuit.

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, Wednesday, June 25, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 25, 2025 / 13:54 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to persecuted Christians during the Wednesday general audience on June 25, referring to the “heinous terrorist attack” on Sunday by the Islamic State against the Greek Orthodox community in Damascus, in which 25 faithful lost their lives while attending the Divine Liturgy.

On Sunday, June 22, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, eyewitnesses reported that two armed men stormed the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Douailah on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. The brutal attack, the first since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, also left 63 injured.

During his greetings to the Italian-speaking faithful, the pontiff entrusted the deceased “to the mercy of God” while offering prayers for the wounded and their families.

“To the Christians of the Middle East, I say: I am close to you! The whole Church is close to you!” Pope Leo exclaimed.

This tragic event, according to the pontiff, “recalls the profound fragility that Syria still faces after years of conflict and instability.”

Leo XIV emphasized that it is essential that the international community “not ignore this country but continue to offer support through gestures of solidarity and a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation.”

The Holy Father said he continues “to follow carefully and with hope the developments in Iran, Israel, and Palestine” while recalling that the words of the prophet Isaiah resonate today with more urgency than ever: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Is 2:4).

“May this voice, which comes from the Most High, be heard! May the wounds caused by the bloody actions of recent days be healed,” he urged.

Finally, before the thousands of faithful listening to him in St. Peter’s Square, he called for the rejection of “arrogance and revenge, and instead resolutely choose the path of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace.”

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

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, Wednesday, June 25, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

ACI Prensa Staff, Jun 25, 2025 / 13:54 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV expressed his closeness to persecuted Christians during the Wednesday general audience on June 25, referring to the “heinous terrorist attack” on Sunday by the Islamic State against the Greek Orthodox community in Damascus, in which 25 faithful lost their lives while attending the Divine Liturgy.

On Sunday, June 22, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, eyewitnesses reported that two armed men stormed the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Douailah on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. The brutal attack, the first since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, also left 63 injured.

During his greetings to the Italian-speaking faithful, the pontiff entrusted the deceased “to the mercy of God” while offering prayers for the wounded and their families.

“To the Christians of the Middle East, I say: I am close to you! The whole Church is close to you!” Pope Leo exclaimed.

This tragic event, according to the pontiff, “recalls the profound fragility that Syria still faces after years of conflict and instability.”

Leo XIV emphasized that it is essential that the international community “not ignore this country but continue to offer support through gestures of solidarity and a renewed commitment to peace and reconciliation.”

The Holy Father said he continues “to follow carefully and with hope the developments in Iran, Israel, and Palestine” while recalling that the words of the prophet Isaiah resonate today with more urgency than ever: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Is 2:4).

“May this voice, which comes from the Most High, be heard! May the wounds caused by the bloody actions of recent days be healed,” he urged.

Finally, before the thousands of faithful listening to him in St. Peter’s Square, he called for the rejection of “arrogance and revenge, and instead resolutely choose the path of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace.”

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