Cardinal Konrad Krajewski visited Ukraine for the tenth time to distribute humanitarian assistance. In Zaporizhzhia, thousands waited since dawn for food provided by the Apostolic Almoner’s foundation. The Cardinal also oversaw the delivery of ambulances donated by Pope Francis. He promised the Pope would fund a new oven for a local bakery, as the existing equipment was aging. Volunteers and Franciscan friars helped distribute supplies to civilians exhausted by three years of conflict. The Cardinal noted that frequent food distributions indicate widespread hunger and poverty in the region.
Estonia's president met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher in Vatican City. The leaders discussed strong bilateral relations and the upcoming beatification of Edward Profich, Estonia's first Jesuit martyr. Profich, a German-born Catholic archbishop who became an Estonian citizen, died in a Soviet labor camp in 1942. The ceremony is scheduled for May 17. The Vatican press office stated that the meeting also highlighted the positive role of the local Catholic community in Estonian society. Additionally, the officials discussed regional and international issues, specifically mentioning prospects for ending the war in Ukraine. This follows Pope Francis's 2018 visit to the Baltic nation.
Hundreds of children gathered outside Gemelli Hospital in Italy on Sunday, March 16, to show support for the Pope. Accompanied by family members, the children held flowers, balloons, and handwritten messages expressing hope for his recovery. The event was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, led by Father Enzo Fortunato, with assistance from Sant'Egidio Community schools, scouts, and UNICEF missions. Participants stood near a statue of John Paul II before the Angelus prayer. One child placed a card with flowers inside the hospital chapel, asking the Virgin Mary to intercede for the Pope's health. Vatican News reported on the gathering.
On March 5, Ukrainian nun Giustina Holha Holubets received the 'Guardian of Life' award from Archbishop Vincenzo Balia of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The honor recognizes her work at the 'Life Trace' center in Lviv, which she founded in 2017. The center provides palliative care and emotional support to parents facing fatal fetal diagnoses, aiming to help them cherish their time with their child. Holubets, a clinical psychologist, emphasized the need for social awareness regarding prenatal grief and the value of life, even when it is short. She advocates for October 15 as a day to honor parents and raise awareness about abortion and child loss.
Maria Garcia, head of Spain's Observatory for Religious Freedom, warns that worshippers are at risk due to ISIS threats against cathedrals. The group recently launched a campaign to destroy crosses, prompting calls for increased security. Garcia cites recent incidents, including a failed attack on the Elche cathedral and false bomb alerts in Valencia. She urges Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to strengthen protection for Catholic churches and classify recent attacks as hate crimes, criticizing the local Socialist Party for refusing to condemn jihadist terrorism or enhance safety measures.
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, approximately 200,000 people participated in the eighteenth Life and Family march in Peru. The event took place in the cities of Arequipa and Lima to support family values and human life from conception. Organized by the Regional Coordination for Life, the gathering included Catholic believers, public figures, and educational institutions. Archbishop of Arequipa expressed joy at the large crowd, noting the event's growing attendance. Monsignor Javier del Rio described the march as a public witness defending human dignity. Guadalupe Valdez, president of Corvida, stated that the historic participation exceeded expectations, highlighting the presence of families across generations.
The village of San Sebastian de Garabandal in Cantabria, Spain, is experiencing a significant increase in visitors. Local tourism offices received over 9,000 inquiries recently. The site is known for alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary between 1961 and 1965. Church and local authorities estimate tens of thousands of pilgrims visit annually, including many from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. Although the Vatican has not officially approved the events, it found no doctrinal errors. The surge in tourism has caused traffic congestion and increased demand for housing in the Reocin municipality, according to reports.
Pope Francis, writing from a hospital, expressed solidarity with victims of severe flooding in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. The storm, which hit on March 7, caused catastrophic damage, killing at least 16 people and leaving nearly 100 missing. Authorities evacuated over 1,000 residents as rescue operations continued. President Javier Milei declared three days of national mourning on March 9. The city received a year's worth of rain in just hours, resulting in estimated damages of 370 million euros. The Vatican press office confirmed the Pope's message of closeness to those affected by the disaster.
A new documentary titled Via Dolorosa was screened at the United Nations in Geneva on February 18 to document two thousand years of Christian presence in Palestine. Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos praised the film and highlighted the shrinking Christian community in Gaza, which now numbers fewer than 600 people. Palestinian Ambassador Hanania described the project as a rare opportunity to record Palestinian history. Theologian Metri Al-Rahib emphasized that Christianity originated in Palestine and called for peace in the region. The film aims to tell the story of Palestinian Christians through their own eyes.
The Vatican announced on March 3 that Pope Francis has selected 'Migrants, Messengers of Hope' as the theme for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development stated the event will take place on October 4 and 5 during the Jubilee of Migrants and the World Missionary Day. According to the Vatican News English section, the occasion aims to reflect on the courage and steadfastness of displaced persons. The statement adds that refugees and migrants serve as messengers of hope in host communities, contributing to interreligious dialogue and reminding the Church of its spiritual journey toward a heavenly homeland.
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The Holy See emphasized the need for moral, social, and spiritual education to combat modern slavery. This message was delivered by Bishop Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano and Monsignor Thomas Reynolds during the UN Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery. They stated that slavery remains a current global issue, not just a historical one. Pope Francis has previously condemned the practice for reducing humans to objects. The officials called for better coordination among governments, judicial authorities, and social workers. They highlighted the importance of recognizing human dignity and raising awareness to eradicate trafficking and exploitation worldwide.
Father Gilson da Silva Bobo Azevedo broadcasts a four-hour live prayer session from a church in Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The daily stream, which began on Ash Wednesday, includes the Rosary, hymns, and Mass. On March 5, over four million people watched the program. Subsequent days saw between two and three million viewers joining online. The initiative has gained significant attention, with the priest having millions of followers on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. This spiritual effort mirrors similar online ministries launched by other Brazilian clergy over the past two decades.
According to ZENIT Arabic, a secular photographer has been canonized, marking a historic milestone as the first saint in Venezuela. The outlet reports this event as long-awaited news for the country. The article also mentions other headlines, including updates on the Pope's health, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and the creation of a fundraising committee for the Holy See. The canonization highlights a significant religious development within the Venezuelan Catholic community.
Pope Francis signed a decree on February 25, 2025, canonizing Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros, making him the first saint in Venezuelan history. Known as the 'Doctor of the Poor,' the layman died in Caracas in 1919 after being hit by a car. Archbishop Raul Biord Castillo expressed joy, calling it a historic recognition of Hernandez's heroic virtues. A renowned bacteriologist who introduced microscopy to Venezuela, Hernandez is celebrated across religious and secular lines for his service to the marginalized. The Vatican highlighted his dedication to the poor, inspiring national reconciliation and continuing his legacy of charity.
The fifth season of the television series The Chosen will premiere in cinemas across North America in late March 2025, according to ZENIT Arabic. The episode titled The Last Supper focuses on Jesus Christ's final days. Following this initial release, the show will expand to forty other countries, including Brazil, Mexico, the UK, Italy, Germany, Poland, the Philippines, and India, starting in February. In France, screenings begin in April through major chains. The series, which has been viewed over 600 million times in fifty languages, remains a top-rated program on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime and Netflix.
The King and Queen of the United Kingdom are scheduled to visit the Pope in Rome to mark the Jubilee year. This visit highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen Catholic-Anglican relations. The Vatican has also officially approved new laws regarding the Kingdom of God, focusing on reform and formal recognition. Additionally, Pope Francis condemned human trafficking as a disgrace of our time, coinciding with the 11th World Day of Prayer and Reflection against this crime. The Jubilee in Rome features the Pilgrim's Cross of Hope as a central symbol for the celebrations.
On February 8, 2025, in Vatican City, Pope Francis addressed a gathering of approximately one hundred representatives from anti-slavery organizations in Rome. The event marked the eleventh annual World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking. The Pope described human trafficking as a scandal and a serious violation of fundamental human rights. He urged attendees to remain courageous and united in their efforts to support victims. According to a UN report, modern slavery affects an estimated 50 million people globally, with women and children bearing the brunt of this crisis. The day honors Saint Josephine Bakhita, a former slave who became a nun and is now the patron saint of trafficking victims.
On February 4, 2025, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle represented the Holy See at the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony in the United Arab Emirates. The event marks the sixth anniversary of the 2019 document signed in Abu Dhabi. Tagle emphasized that dialogue among people of different faiths is essential to combat skepticism and hostility toward religion. He stated that following the document's path helps humanity become more humane. The ceremony honored three winners addressing climate change, humanitarian aid, and youth innovation, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and World Central Kitchen.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo celebrated the tenth anniversary of Verbum TV, a Catholic television channel in Sri Lanka. Founded in 2015 by Milan and Malika de Silva, the station broadcasts from Thewatta in the Western Province. The Cardinal highlighted the channel's significant role during the pandemic and its service to the local Catholic community. Approximately 200,000 viewers tune in regularly out of a total Catholic population of 1.3 million. The founders expressed gratitude for the support received over the decade, noting that the channel has helped expand Catholic media presence in the country since 2015.
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