María José Terré, CEO of the US-based NGO Water is Life, explains how a temporary trip to Kenya became a five-year commitment to leading the organization. Founded by Kent Surritte in 2007, the group provides clean water solutions in Kenya, Chile, Mexico, and the US. Terré recently oversaw a project in Peñaflor, Chile, where the NGO distributed water filters to families in the Cerro La Virgen camp. The initiative, supported by Blessd and Igor Lichnovsky, addresses the lack of formal water connections in informal settlements. Terré emphasizes that effective aid requires long-term community involvement rather than short-term visits.
The term Cottolengo refers to religious and civil institutions providing care for people with disabilities, originating from the work of Italian priest Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo. In 1828, he founded the Ospedaletto della Volta Rossa in Turin to help vulnerable individuals rejected by traditional medical centers. After a cholera epidemic forced its closure, he established the Piccola Casa della Divina Provvidenza in 1832. This model expanded globally, including a notable site in Barcelona. The name is now commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to describe similar support networks, reflecting a legacy of solidarity and humanitarian aid that continues to influence care organizations today.
Protestante Digital recounts historical and recent cases of Christians facing imprisonment and kidnapping. In 1982, a missionary was jailed in Morocco for distributing Bibles. In 1998, two missionaries were held hostage in a region of Russia. More recently, a humanitarian worker endured years of captivity in Niger. The article notes that Open Doors reports 388 million Christians face persecution globally, with Nigeria and India seeing high rates of violence and arrests. These stories highlight that suffering is common for believers outside the West.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, has arrived in Argentina, marking the first papal visit to the country since John Paul II in 1987. The trip aims to renew faith and offer hope to youth amid social disillusionment. Writer Cintia Juárez notes the visit may increase sacramental participation. In Rosario, shop owner Andrea reports a surge in religious item sales and inquiries from young women seeking baptism. The Pope also received gifts related to Argentina’s first saint, Mother Antula. This historic event seeks to reconnect the Church with those who have drifted away, leveraging the emotional connection many Argentines still hold for former Pope Francis.
Carlota Valenzuela, a Spanish digital missionary living in Argentina, describes the intense excitement in Buenos Aires during Pope Leo XIV's visit. The country has not hosted a pontiff in forty years, despite having a former Argentine pope. Valenzuela notes that people are dancing and singing in the streets, creating a healing atmosphere for a population that felt wounded by Pope Francis's absence. The upcoming Mass at the Monument to the Spanish is expected to draw millions, potentially surpassing the attendance of Pope John Paul II's last visit. Thousands have traveled long distances to attend, surprising local merchants with the peaceful and massive turnout.
Hundreds of residents in Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina, gathered at the Virgen precinct to watch Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina on a large screen. The event, organized by provincial and municipal authorities, broadcasts three key moments: the Mass in Buenos Aires, the youth vigil, and the farewell Mass in Luján. Traffic on the Northern Collector Road is restricted, prompting drivers to seek alternatives. The site also offers free veterinary services for pets. The location holds historical significance, as Pope John Paul II met with faithful there in 1987. Authorities advise caution due to heavy vehicle circulation in the area.
Hundreds of faithful gathered overnight in Palermo and Claypole, Argentina, to await Pope Leo XIV on his second day in the country. The pontiff is scheduled to visit the Cottolengo Don Orione facility in Claypole before celebrating a mass in Palermo. According to Infobae, the government recently settled an 828 million peso debt with the institution. Earlier, the Pope addressed President Javier Milei, urging an economy that serves people and warning against corruption. The faithful braved cold weather to secure a place near the religious leader during these significant events.
Mexican authorities attribute the double homicide of a Christian leader and his father to the Sinaloa Cartel. The bodies were found in a town in Chihuahua. Although initially described as pastors, the prosecutor clarified that the victim was an itinerant preacher and musical leader. This incident follows a spike in local violence, with at least ten executions reported in the region recently. Community members fear further attacks and have requested increased police presence. Organizations note that Christian leaders in Mexico face heightened risks due to their influence in combating drug-related activities.
The Peru Bible Society has made 66 biblical stories available in Peruvian Sign Language. Norma Sandoval, the director of Translations and Holistic Projects, stated that the initiative began in 2018 to reach all Peruvians with the biblical message. The project involves deaf translators and specialists in biblical studies who work with Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Héctor Aranda, a sign language interpreter, emphasized the specialized nature of the work. The videos are free on the society's YouTube channel. The group aims to remove communication barriers and promote inclusion for the deaf community in Peru.
The Diocese of Urgel in Spain launched a canonical investigation on October 17 after receiving a formal complaint alleging sexual abuse by a 54-year-old priest. The complainant, a 26-year-old seminarian, accused the cleric of repeated assaults using his authority over studies. The newspaper ARA reported that the victim fled the seminary due to fear of retaliation and alleged inaction by Bishop Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat. The diocese stated it contacted the accuser immediately and encouraged them to report the case to civil authorities. The accused priest remains active in his parish role while the internal inquiry proceeds.
Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo told radio Monte Carlo that Pope Francis's recent pastoral visit left a deep spiritual mark on Uruguay. Speaking after the pontiff's departure, Sturla highlighted the positive impact on both the Catholic community and civil society. He noted the Pope's tenderness toward children and the sick, and emphasized his call for families to renew faith transmission. The cardinal praised the emotional response in areas like Casavalle and the large youth gathering at Estadio Centenario. He attributed the peaceful atmosphere to the warmth of the Uruguayan people and expressed hope that the event would strengthen social ties and revitalize Christian faith in the country.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Three Swiss evangelical leaders have filed a legal appeal against a new constitutional provision in Geneva that prohibits elected officials from wearing religious symbols during public sessions. Approved by a narrow majority in June 2026, the measure specifically targets members of the Grand Council and local city councils. The appellants, including Michael Mutzner, Joseph Kabongo, and Markus Hofer, argue that the ban violates religious freedom and undermines democratic representation. The Swiss Evangelical Alliance also condemned the rule, stating it suppresses the convictions of representatives who reflect societal diversity. The case is currently being reviewed by the Constitutional Chamber of the Geneva Tribunal.
Translated from EspañolAlso reported by 1 other outlet
Marta Griselda Torres, a resident of the Cottolengo Don Orione in Argentina, shared her life story with Pope Leo XIV, moving the Pontiff to tears. Born with cerebral palsy, Torres described years of abandonment and health struggles before finding a permanent home at the institution. She presented the Pope with a book detailing her journey, hoping to inspire others facing similar challenges. According to the outlet, Torres expressed gratitude for the love and support she received, emphasizing that individuals with disabilities deserve respect and belonging. The emotional encounter highlighted the transformative impact of the Cottolengo's care.
Francisca Jiménez Cortés, a 52-year-old woman, has died seven months after being attacked with an axe in Montefrío, Granada, Spain. The assault occurred on April 6 by a 45-year-old man of Maghrebi origin. According to the local municipality, she suffered severe head trauma and other injuries during the incident. The attacker, who reportedly stated that all Christians should be dead, injured two other residents initially. The case is currently under investigation by the National Audiencia court as potential terrorism. The victim's death upgrades the charges to completed homicide, and the suspect remains in pretrial detention without bail.
During his recent trip to Uruguay, Pope Leon visited Casavalle, a Montevideo neighborhood often stigmatized by media as a zone of crime and poverty. Resident Alan told Cadena 3 that the visit validated the community's daily efforts to overcome violence and pursue education. Despite the Pope's recent lung cancer surgery, his physical presence served as a moral inspiration for locals. Alan emphasized that residents are more than their negative labels, highlighting youth who study and work hard. The visit brought visibility to social projects and challenged the simplistic narratives that ignore the area's resilience and structural challenges.
Fifteen young Catholics aged 20 to 27 were assaulted in Rouen, France, on the night of October 31. The group was walking to the Saint Romain fair while singing the hymn 'Resucitó' when a group of attackers, some wearing hoods, began hurling religious and racial insults. According to Le Monde, one aggressor shouted discriminatory phrases. The victims reported being called fascists and receiving physical blows, including a fractured eye socket. Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol condemned the violence, and the local archdiocese expressed strong reprobation. The public prosecutor has opened an investigation to identify the perpetrators.
On November 28, eleven Catholic martyrs will be beatified at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, Spain. The group includes ten seminarians, one priest, and one layman who were killed in 1936 during anti-clerical violence. Cardinal José Cobo Cano and other bishops issued a pastoral letter highlighting their witness. The ceremony honors those murdered in hatred of the faith, noting that 34 seminarians have now been recognized as martyrs from that era. The Church states this event serves as a call for peace and a vocation for young people today.
A pastoral group in a Mexican state is preparing to assist hundreds of Honduran migrants expected to pass through the region. A pastor estimates that 400 to 500 people may transit the area starting in late November. The group says migrants are traveling faster via trucks and trains rather than on foot. A major city serves as a key dispersal point for routes toward other locations. The church is collecting supplies like mattresses and food. They are urging local residents in a specific vicariate to donate items and offer medical support for vulnerable travelers. This preparation aims to address potential shortages as numbers may exceed initial forecasts.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his historic visit to Uruguay on November 8, having traveled through Paysandú, Casavalle, and Florida. President Yamandú Orsi described the event as a transformative moment for the nation, while Cardinal Daniel Sturla noted the absence of hostility and the enthusiastic public response. The Pontiff expressed gratitude to Uruguayan authorities and citizens for their warm hospitality during his stay from November 6 to 8. Orsi thanked the Pope for selecting Uruguay as the first stop in his South American tour. Media outlets highlighted the large crowds at the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the 33 and contrasted the unity in Uruguay with political disputes surrounding the Pope's subsequent arrival in Argentina.
Translated from Español
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
