Authorities in Italy have decided to reinforce territorial surveillance and personal protection for Don Maurizio Patriciello, the parish priest of Parco Verde in Caivano. This decision followed a meeting of police forces coordinated by Naples Prefect Michele di Bari, who visited the priest to express solidarity. The move comes after Patriciello, who has lived under escort for years, received new threats. Domenico Airoma, head of the Naples Nord Prosecutor's Office, also attended the discussion. Officials stated that technical indicators support the need for increased control measures to ensure the priest's safety.
On February 25, the European Commission must respond to the 'My Voice, My Choice' citizen initiative, which gathered over one million signatures. The proposal seeks EU funding for cross-border abortion travel. The European Parliament previously approved a resolution supporting this measure. In response, the One of Us federation, including Italy's Movement for Life, launched the NoAbortionTourism.eu campaign. They argue that abortion remains a national competence and that EU funds should not bypass national laws. Italian president Marina Casini emphasized the need to resist what she described as an unacceptable request, citing concerns about human dignity and subsidiarity.
In the West Bank village of Khan al-Ahmar, located in Area C, Comboni missionary Sister Lourdes Garcia organized a desert excursion for children from a local kindergarten and their mothers. The outing, held in February, provided a rare day of rest and relaxation for the families. During the walk, participants engaged in interfaith dialogue, comparing Christian Lent with the Islamic Ramadan. Sister Garcia notes that the mission is built through daily encounters, listening, and sharing life with respect, fostering mutual understanding among the Muslim families and the Christian missionaries who support their educational and health needs.
The French Episcopal Conference has invited Catholics to a day of prayer and fasting on February 20 to oppose the proposed euthanasia legislation. The bill, which would legalize assisted suicide, was previously rejected by the Senate but is now being reconsidered by the National Assembly. Bishops argue the law undermines palliative care and violates human dignity. They urge the faithful to ask for guidance as parliamentary debates resume. Additionally, the lay group Alliance Vita plans a demonstration in Paris on February 16. The Church emphasizes the need to support life through proper medical care rather than ending it.
An Israeli judge rejected a request to allow Ahmed, a five-year-old boy from Gaza, to receive life-saving cancer treatment at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv. Although the child has lived in Ramallah since 2022, the court cited security reasons for the denial, arguing that granting one exception would create inequity among thousands of other patients. The boy’s mother and the human rights group Gisha criticized the decision as a violation of international law. This case highlights the broader struggle of thousands of minors trapped in Gaza who urgently need medical evacuation for oncological care.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Massimo Virgilio on UnsplashPersecuted church
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa spoke in Arezzo, Italy, during an event on justice and peace in the Holy Land. He stated that the current ceasefire in Gaza does not constitute peace, as daily deaths and targeted executions continue. The cardinal highlighted that 90% of the Gaza Strip is destroyed, with critical shortages of water, electricity, and medicine. He noted that 46 Christians have died due to direct fire or lack of care. Pizzaballa also expressed concern over violence in the West Bank and emphasized the need for dignified language to foster trust. The event included a renewed fraternal bond between the Diocese of Arezzo and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In Jordan, Christians, comprising two percent of the population, maintain positive coexistence with Muslims through social engagement and religious respect. Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso highlights the community's influence via schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Initiatives like a social center in a northern city and a baptism site demonstrate interfaith cooperation. Although regional conflict has reduced pilgrimage numbers, local religious leaders continue to pray for peace and maintain ecumenical dialogue, viewing their presence as a stabilizing force in the region.
Caritas Italia presented a national report in Rome on February 11, 2026, highlighting a vicious cycle between poverty and mental distress. The study notes a 154% rise in depressive disorders among those assisted by the network over the last decade. Vulnerable groups include young people, women, migrants, and the homeless. According to the outlet, 80% of mental health cases intersect with material deprivation. Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi and director Marco Pagniello emphasized that mental health must be treated as a common right, not a privilege, urging stronger public investment to address systemic inequalities.
The Stremao Onlus association, in collaboration with the local health authority, has launched the 'Armadio della Gentilezza' at Santo Stefano Hospital in Prato, Italy. This initiative provides essential items such as pajamas, slippers, and toothbrushes to patients who lack basic necessities. President Francesca Squilloni explains that medical staff identify those in need, aiming to restore dignity during hospital stays. The project addresses issues like elderly patients wearing only paper gowns. Stremao, funded by donations and self-generated income, also offers blankets and communication support for isolated seniors, reflecting its mission to alleviate human suffering through concrete acts of kindness.
On the World Day of the Sick, Pope Leo XIV urged the Church to translate compassion into concrete actions, citing the Good Samaritan parable. In Italy, the Piccola Casa della Divina Provvidenza in Chieri demonstrates this through its hospice, opened in 2022 at the site where founder Giuseppe Cottolengo died. The facility provides palliative care to over 700 patients, aiming to support them with dignity during their final days. This initiative responds to debates on end-of-life care by offering a non-theoretical, practical approach to suffering, emphasizing that every life remains precious until the last breath.
In the Brazilian Amazon, life along the winding Purus River is a constant struggle for indigenous groups, rubber tappers, and gold miners. Dr. Gabriele Lonardi, a physician serving in the diocese of Làbrea, reports that isolated communities face deadly tropical diseases like malaria and leprosy. The region, vast and difficult to navigate, sees gold miners, known as garimperos, exploiting indigenous labor for extraction. According to Lonardi, little has been done by successive governments to stop environmental pollution and the health risks posed by this activity, forcing locals into dangerous work to survive.
On February 12, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk met with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. During the audience, Shevchuk presented a list containing nearly 400 names of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Archbishop explained that mothers from affected communities provided these names, seeking assurance that their loved ones are remembered. According to Shevchuk, the Pope reviewed the document carefully and asked about prisoner exchange progress. The meeting also covered the war's impact on Ukrainian morale and the necessity of security guarantees for any future peace agreements. Shevchuk emphasized that peace requires active effort and respect for human rights in occupied territories.
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Twenty-six Gazans requiring urgent medical care arrived in Italy on Monday evening, escorted by their families. The group of 117 people was transported from the Israeli airport of Eilat to Ciampino on three Italian Air Force aircraft. This humanitarian mission was a joint effort involving the Italian presidency, various ministries, civil protection, and the Red Cross. Archbishop Gian Franco Saba, Italy’s military ordinary, accompanied the patients and recently visited the region, including Kfar Aza. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto praised the operation as a concrete demonstration of Italian solidarity and state collaboration in supporting civilians affected by the conflict.
Italy has evacuated 117 Palestinians from Gaza, including 26 patients requiring urgent medical care, according to Agenzia SIR. The group arrived at Ciampino, Pisa, and Milan airports via Italian Air Force planes from Eilat. Archbishop Gianfranco Saba, who accompanied the mission, emphasized solidarity and peace. The operation was coordinated by multiple Italian ministries and the Red Cross. This brings the total number of Palestinian civilians assisted in Italy to over 900. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto highlighted the collaborative effort of the state to provide concrete humanitarian aid to those suffering in the region.
Abbot Hugh Allan, spokesperson for English bishops on evangelization, reports a rise in adult baptisms among young people in the UK. According to the Agenzia SIR outlet, this trend contrasts with declining marriage and baptism rates. Allan notes that many converts are in their twenties or thirties, often migrants from Africa, Asia, or South America. He attributes their interest to online content by figures like Mike Schmitz and Robert Barron. The abbot emphasizes the need for new language to explain Christian concepts to those unfamiliar with the faith, highlighting both the joy and challenges of accompanying these new believers in their spiritual journey.
Recent statistics from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the Church of England show a significant increase in adult baptisms across the UK between 2023 and 2024. The number of baptisms for those over seven years old reached a thirteen-year high, with Catholic conversions also rising by 30%. A YouGov survey commissioned by the Bible Society indicates that monthly church attendance among young adults has doubled since 2018. However, Professor Bobby Duffy of King's College London urges caution, noting that many religious respondents in related studies were Muslim, complicating claims of a Christian revival.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation legalizing assisted suicide for terminally ill patients with less than six months to live. The law takes effect in July. Although the original bill included protections against religious coercion, Hochul added further safeguards. The Catholic Church in New York strongly opposed the measure, with Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Ronald Hicks warning it undermines mental health commitments and contradicts the message that suicide is never a solution. The law mirrors similar legislation in Illinois, which also faced criticism from Pope Leo, a native of Chicago.
A conference in Rome highlighted that 300,000 to 500,000 first-generation immigrants in Italy are now over 64 years old. Experts note these individuals suffer from double fragility due to aging and difficult socioeconomic conditions, including poor access to healthcare and social isolation. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia and university researchers urged society to address these disparities, particularly for elderly female caregivers who often work in precarious conditions. The event, organized by the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and other groups, called for preventive health strategies and inclusive policies to ensure adequate pensions and long-term care for this growing demographic.
A survivor of sexual exploitation trafficking founded the association Weavers of Hope to support victims in Nigeria and Italy. She shared her testimony at a conference in a city in northern Italy organized by local aid groups. The activist highlighted how the pandemic worsened trafficking by pushing victims into invisibility and increasing vulnerability due to poverty and conflict. She emphasized that dignity must precede profit to combat this crime. Her work, recognized by Pope Francis, focuses on prevention and helping women regain autonomy. The initiative aligns with the global day against trafficking.
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