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Bishop Barron slams ‘absurd’ Trump-Pope ‘war’ narrative

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:46 -0400

Bishop Robert Barron took to X on Monday to call out the media for exacerbating what he described as an "absurd" narrative of a "war" between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over disagreements related to Iran.

"There is a way past the absurd and deeply divisive ‘war’ between the President and the Pope, which has been enthusiastically ginned up by the press," Barron said in a Monday post on X. "And it is indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2309 to be precise. After laying out the various criteria for determining a just war—proportionality, last resort, declaration by a competent authority, reasonable hope of success, etc.—the Catechism points out that ‘the evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.’"

Barron added, "The assumption is that the just war principles function, to use the technical term, as heuristic devices, designed to guide the practical decision-making of those civil authorities who have to adjudicate matters of war and peace."

VANCE SAYS HE'S 'GRATEFUL' FOR POPE LEO'S STATEMENT ON NOT WANTING PUBLIC DEBATE WITH TRUMP

He then continued, saying that it is not the role of the Church to determine whether a war is just.

"The role of the Church, therefore, is to call for peace and to urge that any conflict be strictly circumscribed by the moral constraints of the just war criteria," Barron said. "But it is not the role of the Church to evaluate whether a particular war is just or unjust. That appraisal belongs to the civil authorities, who, one presumes, have requisite knowledge of conditions on the ground."

He continued by laying out a series of questions to be considered, including, "Is the war in question truly the last resort? Is there really a balance between the good to be attained and the destruction caused by the war? Are combatants and non-combatants being properly distinguished in the waging of the conflict? Do the belligerents have right intention? Is there a reasonable hope of success? The posing of those questions—indeed the insistence upon their moral relevance—belongs rightly to the Church, but the answering of them belongs to the civil authorities."

Last Sunday, Trump accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy after the pope called out the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

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"He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

On Saturday, Pope Leo said remarks he gave stating that the "world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not targeted toward Trump.

POPE LEO SAYS HE'S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY

Speaking on a flight to Angola for his 10-day tour of Africa, Pope Leo XIV said media coverage of remarks "has not been ‌accurate in all its aspects" and that his speech "was ⁠prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting," according to Reuters.

Last week, Barron said that Trump owes Pope Leo an apology after Trump posted his scathing message about Leo in a Truth Social post.

"The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Barron said in an X post. "They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree."

Barron concluded his Monday X post by emphasizing that popes are not politicians.

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"The Pope has said, on numerous occasions, that he is not a politician and that his role is not the determination of any nation's foreign policy," Barron said. "But he has just as clearly said that he will continue to speak for peace and for moral constraint. In making both of these claims, he is operating perfectly within the framework of paragraph 2309 of the Catechism. If we understand that the Pope and the President have qualitatively different roles to play in the determination of moral action in regard to war, we can, I hope, extricate ourselves from the completely unhelpful narrative of ‘Pope vs. President.’"

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment and was referred to Trump's recent comments on the Pope.

Supreme Court to hear Catholic parish's challenge after Colorado barred schools from universal pre-K program

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:57:29 -0400

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Catholic parish's argument after Colorado excluded its schools from the state's program that pays for families to send their children to the preschool of their choice, public or private.

The oral arguments in the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy are expected to take place this fall.

The case could redefine how states balance anti-discrimination laws with religious freedom.

The Archdiocese of Denver, which oversees 34 Catholic preschools, argues that its schools are an extension of the church’s ministry. To maintain the integrity of their religious environment, the Archdiocese says its schools admit only families who support Catholic beliefs, including on sex and gender.

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The schools require staff and families to sign statements to "affirm that they will support the teachings of the Catholic Church" and that "all Catholic school families must understand and display a positive and supportive attitude toward the Catholic Church" prior to enrollment, the Archdiocese says.

Colorado officials, however, maintain that the Universal Preschool Program is designed to be inclusive of all children, regardless of their background or their family’s identity.

The state argues that while faith-based providers are welcome to participate in the program, which offers free preschool to all four-year-olds in the state, they must follow the same rules as secular schools without exception.

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"All participating providers — whether religious or secular — must ensure that children have equal opportunity to enroll in and receive preschool services regardless of those children’s (or their families’) religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, lack of housing, income level, or disability," the state said.

Colorado noted that a lower appeals court previously upheld that the law does not allow for exceptions to its equal-opportunity requirements.

The Archdiocese views the exclusion as a violation of its religious exercise, while the state views the parish's enrollment policies as a barrier to universal civil rights.

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When the Supreme Court hears oral arguments this fall, the justices will look to address whether a state can require a religious institution to set aside its core tenets in order to participate in a state-funded program.

Fox News' Bill Mears contributed to this report.

Vance says he's 'grateful' for Pope Leo's statement on not wanting public debate with Trump

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:59:42 -0400

Vice President JD Vance said Saturday he was "grateful" after Pope Leo XIV sought to ease tensions with President Donald Trump and indicated he had no interest in engaging in a public dispute.

The pontiff said earlier Saturday that coverage of remarks he made during a recent trip to Africa had created "a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects." He added that the speech in question had been prepared weeks before any response from Trump, pushing back on suggestions it was directed at the president.

Vance, who is Catholic and met Pope Leo at the Vatican in 2025, welcomed the pontiff’s latest comments. Earlier in the week, Vance had suggested the pope should "be careful" when weighing in on theological and political matters, underscoring the tensions that had emerged.

"While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict — and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen — the reality is often much more complicated," Vance said.

"Pope Leo preaches the Gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The president — and the entire administration — work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his."

POPE LEO SAYS REMARKS ABOUT WORLD BEING 'RAVAGED BY A HANDFUL OF TYRANTS' WERE NOT AIMED AT TRUMP: REPORT

There appeared to be tension after Pope Leo delivered remarks in Cameroon in which he criticized those who "manipulate religion" for political and military gain.

"Jesus told us, blessed are the peacemakers. But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth," Pope Leo said.

The words were interpreted by some as tied to the Trump administration’s stance on the conflict with Iran, helping to spark a broader dispute between the White House and the Vatican.

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The pope also criticized rhetoric surrounding the conflict, at one point calling comments about potentially targeting Iran’s "whole civilization" "truly unacceptable." Trump responded by calling the pontiff "WEAK on crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

The disagreement unfolded over several days, with senior administration officials defending the president and offering their own criticism of the pope’s remarks, further amplifying the clash.

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Despite the escalating perceived tension, the pope said Saturday that it was "not in my interest at all" to debate the president and emphasized that he would continue preaching a message centered on peace, justice and brotherhood.

"Much of what has been written since then has been commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said," the pope said.

Pope Leo says remarks about world being 'ravaged by a handful of tyrants' were not aimed at Trump: report

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:32:19 -0400

Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that remarks he made this week in which he said the "world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not directed at President Donald Trump, a report said.

The pope, speaking onboard a flight to Angola during his 10-day tour of Africa, said reporting about his comments "has not been ‌accurate in all its aspects" and his speech "was ⁠prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting," according to Reuters.

The news outlet cited the pope as saying his comments were not aimed at Trump.

"As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all," the pope reportedly said.

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Vice President JD Vance later took to X to thank the pope for clearing the record.

"While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict — and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen — the reality is often much more complicated," Vance wrote. "Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day.

"The President — and the entire administration — work to apply those moral principles in a messy world," he continued. "He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his."

The vice president's comments came days after he told Fox News' Bret Baier on "Special Report" that it would be best for the Vatican to "stick to matters of morality."

"Let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy," Vance said Tuesday.

Trump last Sunday accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy after the pontiff criticized the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

POPE LEO SLAMS THOSE WHO 'MANIPULATE RELIGION' FOR MILITARY OR POLITICAL GAIN, TRUMP RESPONDS

During a speech in Cameroon on Thursday, the pope said, "We must make a decisive change of course — a true conversion — that will lead us in the opposite direction, onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity.

"The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.

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"Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Catholic brothers launch faith-based AI as alternative to biased Silicon Valley chatbots

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:24:01 -0400

Two brothers from Texas are bridging the gap between the Bible and artificial intelligence (AI), creating a new platform designed to give families a safe alternative to Silicon Valley’s secular chatbots.

Peter and Thomas Cooney created Acutis AI, a faith-based AI chatbot grounded in 2,000 years of Catholic teaching. The pair said the idea arose when they began questioning the source of modern chatbots’ moral frameworks, turning to their Catholic faith and its centuries of scholarly work on ethics as the answer.

"When we were using a lot of these mainstream platforms, we really realized that you couldn't trace the moral framework back to what it really was," Thomas Cooney said Saturday on "Fox & Friends Weekend."

"Growing up in a Catholic family, we kind of just realized that the best place to get [morals] is not from some tech CEO or even some ethics team," he added.

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Acutis AI is named after the first millennial saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis, who died at age 15. He was nicknamed "God’s Influencer" for his work creating a website to document Eucharistic miracles.

Peter Cooney said the goal is to ensure families have a safe place in the AI sphere to receive moral responses and advice.

"The biggest danger is for kids and teenagers who can become addicted to these big platforms, these AI chatbots. And they’re feeding them incorrect information," Peter said.

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Acutis AI includes several features for parents designed to ensure their children's safety online. The platform offers tools like time limits, parental monitoring and restricted use during user-designated homework hours.

"We put parental controls, so parents can see exactly what their kids are saying. They can get alerted if their kids ask about dangerous topics," Peter said.

"We'll make sure that it's always answering through Catholic perspectives, no matter what the question is about."

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The website also notes that when young people ask difficult questions, the AI is trained to respond with moral grounding rather than trying to keep the user "addicted" to the chat.

The creation of Acutis AI comes as many members of Gen Z find their way back to religion. A Gallup poll released Wednesday found that 42% of men under 30 said religion is "very important" to them, a 14% increase from 2023.

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Miami Catholic Charities loses $11M contract providing care for migrant children under Trump administration

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:30:45 -0400

The Trump administration canceled a longstanding contract with Catholic Charities in Miami, citing a drop in illegal immigration as a factor amid tensions between the president and the Pope.

On Wednesday, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski wrote an op-ed for The Miami Herald lamenting the loss of an $11 million contract to help care for unaccompanied minors and migrant children programs, which has been active for more than 60 years. Without funding, Wenski warned, services would not even last the rest of the year.

"For more than 60 years, the Archdiocese of Miami’s services for unaccompanied minors have been recognized for their excellence and have served as a model for other agencies throughout the country," Wenski wrote.

"Our track record in serving this vulnerable population is unmatched. Yet, the Archdiocese of Miami’s Catholic Charities’ services for unaccompanied minors has been stripped of funding and will be forced to shut down within three months."

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According to The Miami Herald, the administration informed Catholic Charities last month that funding would be canceled, prior to President Donald Trump's comments criticizing Pope Leo XIV for disagreeing with U.S. military action in Iran.

Department of Health and Human Services press secretary Emily G. Hillard informed The Miami Herald that the decision was made because the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border was now "significantly lower" than it was under the Biden administration.

'60 MINUTES' ACCUSED OF USING LEFT-LEANING CARDINALS TO BAIT TRUMP INTO FEUD WITH VATICAN

"[The Office of Refugee Resettlement] is closing and consolidating unused facilities as the Trump Administration continues efforts to stop illegal entry and the smuggling and trafficking of unaccompanied alien children," Hillard said.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai pointed to an X post calling the article "fake news," adding that the administration informed 49 charities, only two of which were Catholic, last year that it would be cutting grants towards care for migrant children.

"Our historically secure border means fewer border crossings. This is good stewardship of taxpayer dollars made possible by common-sense border policies that keep the American people safe and protect our sovereignty," Desai wrote.

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In Wenski's opinion piece, he pushed back against the argument that fewer unaccompanied minors was an acceptable reason to discontinue funding.

"It is true that the number of unaccompanied minors entering the country has decreased. It is also understandable that some programs may be scaled back or even eliminated. But given the history and reputation of Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh Children’s Village, it is baffling that the U.S. government would shut down a program that it would be hard-pressed to replicate at the level of competence and excellence that Catholic Charities has achieved if and when future waves of unaccompanied minors reach our shores," Wenski wrote.

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The Archdiocese of Miami pointed Fox News Digital to Wenski's op-ed when reached for comment.

Report details rising pressure on underground Catholics as China denies crackdown

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:37:54 -0400

The Chinese government is increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled church while tightening surveillance and restrictions on an estimated 12 million Catholics, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

The group said in its report that the increased pressure is part of a decade-old campaign to ensure religious groups align with Communist Party ideology.

The Associated Press reported that the Chinese government has rejected the claim, saying Human Rights Watch is "consistently biased against China."

China’s Catholics have long been split between a state-run church and an underground church loyal to the Vatican. In 2018, Pope Francis reached a deal allowing the Chinese government a role in appointing bishops to ease tensions.

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"A decade into Xi Jinping’s Sinicization campaign and nearly eight years since the 2018 Holy See-China agreement, Catholics in China face escalating repression that violates their religious freedoms," Human Rights Watch researcher Yalkun Uluyol said in the report.

"Pope Leo XIV should urgently review the agreement and press Beijing to end the persecution and intimidation of underground churches, clergy, and worshipers."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office told The Associated Press that Human Rights Watch "fabricates all manner of lies and rumors and lacks any credibility whatsoever."

The office added that the government "oversees religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities."

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Human Rights Watch said its researchers are not allowed into China and that the report is based on interviews with people outside the country who had firsthand knowledge of Catholic life in China, along with experts on Catholicism and religious freedom.

The 2018 agreement stipulates that Beijing proposes candidates for bishop, which the pope can veto, though the full text has never been made public.

In June 2025, Pope Leo XIV, who had just become the pope, appointed a Chinese bishop under the 2018 agreement and said he would continue to honor the deal "in the short term."

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"I’m also in ongoing dialogue with a number of people, Chinese, on both sides of some of the issues that are there," Leo said. "It’s a very difficult situation. In the long term, I don’t pretend to say this is what I will and will not do, but after two months, I’ve already begun having discussions at several levels on that topic."

Since 2018, Human Rights Watch says Chinese authorities have pressured underground Catholics to join the state-run church through detentions, disappearances and house arrests, citing accounts from unnamed individuals who have left China.

The report also said China has tightened ideological control, surveillance and restrictions on religious activity and foreign ties, including requiring state approval for clergy travel, while officially recognizing and closely overseeing five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam.

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Xi Jinping said in 2016 he would "Sinicize" the country’s religions, a policy aimed at aligning religious practices with Communist Party ideology.

Human Rights Watch said authorities have taken sweeping steps to curb religious practice, including tearing down churches and crosses, blocking gatherings at unregistered churches and seizing religious materials not approved by the state.

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The group said the broader "Sinicization" campaign has also led to intensified crackdowns on Tibetan Buddhists and Muslims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pope Leo slams those who 'manipulate religion' for military or political gain, Trump responds

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:44:03 -0400

Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, decried people who twist religion for military, economic or political benefit.

He also called out "The masters of war," during the remarks in Cameroon on Thursday.

"The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often, a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing, on devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education, and restoration are nowhere to be found," the pope said.

POPE LEO SAYS HE'S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Thursday regarding the pontiff's comments in Cameroon.

But the president himself spoke about the pope on Thursday after he was asked about the religious figure's comments.

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President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it is "very important that the Pope understands" that "Iran killed 42,000 people that were totally unarmed, they were protesters."

"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," the president asserted, saying that if the foreign nation were to possess such a weapon, every nation in the world, including Italy, "would be in trouble."

"But the pope has to understand, Iran, very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. The world would be in great danger," he declared.

Asked whether he would meet with the pope to iron out their differences, Trump responded, "I don't think it's necessary."

TRUMP ACCUSES POPE LEO OF BEING 'TERRIBLE' ON FOREIGN POLICY OVER PONTIFF'S ANTI-WAR COMMENTS

Trump blasted the Catholic figure in a Truth Social post on Sunday night, declaring that the man "is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" and that he should "stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country," Trump declared in part of the lengthy post.

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In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, the president wrote, "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable. Thank you for your attention to this matter. AMERICA IS BACK!!!"

'60 Minutes' accused of using left-leaning Cardinals to bait Trump into feud with Vatican

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:58:39 -0400

Some conservative commentators accused CBS’s "60 Minutes" of airing a segment featuring three "left-wing" cardinals who criticized the Trump administration’s immigration and Iran policies.

Father Gerald Murray and author Robert Royal joined Raymond Arroyo on "The Prayerful Posse" to discuss whether the situation was meant to spark a conflict between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

"The three of them are billed as so-called influential, but none of them hold offices in the U.S. Bishops' Conference, and they have never been elected," Royal said.

He compared the group to "The Squad" in U.S. politics, calling them "a very definite and pretty left-wing group of just three."

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The "60 Minutes" episode featured three cardinals described in the segment as representing the church, though Royal argued they do not hold official leadership roles or speak for their peers.

During the episode, the cardinals criticized several Trump administration priorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the conflict in Iran. Cardinal Joseph Tobin said agents act in a way to "terrify people."

Cardinal Robert McElroy also declared that under the Catholic faith, the fighting in Iran is "not a just war."

POPE LEO CALLS OUT TRUMP’S IRAN RHETORIC BEFORE LAST-MINUTE CEASEFIRE EMERGES

Father Murray countered those claims, pointing to reports that Iran was close to having enough enriched material for a nuclear weapon.

"I think it is a just war precisely because the nuclear threat from Iran is a proven danger to us," Murray said. "It’s not an imaginary, ‘Maybe it’ll happen’ thing. If they have a nuclear weapon, they’re [going to] use it."

Arroyo suggested the media framed the conflict to bait the White House into a dispute with the Vatican, which he labeled "pope-a-doping."

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"They were trying to get Trump to overreact, and he did," Arroyo said.

After the "60 Minutes" episode aired, Trump and the pope publicly criticized each other.

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

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Trump doubled down with another social media post about the pope on Tuesday, urging people to "tell Pope Leo" about the Iranian regime's killings of protesters earlier this year.

Speaking with reporters, Pope Leo said he does not fear the Trump administration or view himself as political.

"The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," he added.

Trump rejects American Bishop Robert Barron's call to apologize to Pope for 'disrespectful' comments

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:05:43 -0400

President Donald Trump rejected American Bishop Robert Barron’s call to apologize to the Pope on Monday for comments he made on Truth Social, arguing that it was the Pope who is "wrong."

Trump sparked a row with the Roman Catholic Church when he called Pope Leo out for his stance on the Iran war. Barron, while expressing gratitude for Trump’s defense of religious liberty, responded by politely suggesting that the president should apologize to the Pope for these comments.

Trump was asked by a reporter whether he planned on making such an apology.

"No I don’t, because Pope Leo said things that were wrong. he was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran, and you cannot have a nuclear Iran," Trump replied. "Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. You have hundreds of millions of people dead. And it’s not going to happen. So again, I think he’s very weak on crime and other things."

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Trump went on to recall that he had praised the Pope’s brother, saying he likes him "better than I like the Pope."

"You have to have law and order in our country. And that’s what we have now," Trump said. "We have the lowest crime numbers we’ve had in a long time, despite the fact that many criminals were allowed into our country. But we’ve gotten a lot of them out. We’ve done a great job on crime. So we have the lowest murder rate in 125 years, since 1900, the lowest murder rate."

"So we believe strongly in law and order," Trump concluded. "And he seemed to have a problem with that. So there’s nothing to apologize for. He’s wrong. And the other thing is he didn’t like what we’re doing with respect to Iran. But Iran is a — wants to be a nuclear nation. So they can exterminate the world. Not gonna happen."

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump had written previously on Truth Social. "He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart."

Trump went on to make numerous other controversial statements in the post, such as declaring that he prefers Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's brother, more than the Pope himself, saying ""He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

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"The statements made by President Trump on Truth Social regarding the Pope were entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," Barron responded in an X post. "They don’t contribute at all to a constructive conversation. It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life. In regard to the concrete application of those principles, people of good will can and do disagree."

"I would warmly recommend that serious Catholics within the Trump administration — Secretary Rubio, Vice President Vance, Ambassador Brian Burch, and others — might meet with Vatican officials so that a real dialogue can take place," he continued. "This is far preferable to the statements on social media."

"I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith," Barron added. "It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology."

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Shortly after feuding with the Pope over the weekend, Trump upset many Christians by posting what many have called a "blasphemous" AI art image of what many said appeared to be a portrayal of himself as a Jesus-like figure healing the sick. Some speculated that this was an attempt to troll the Pope, having been posted amid the administration's feud with Roman Catholic leadership.

While Trump has denied he was trying to portray himself as the messiah, arguing of his image where he is in white and red robes with what appears to be holy light emanating from his hands that he was trying to portray "me as a doctor." He has since deleted the post.

Catholic California university to host Nancy Pelosi as commencement speaker despite abortion stance

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:09:56 -0400

A Catholic university in California will be hosting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., despite her outspoken support for abortion, which is against Catholic teaching.

"We are deeply honored to welcome Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to Notre Dame de Namur University," Dr. Beth Martin, president of Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, California, said in a statement announcing Pelosi.

"Her lifelong commitment to public service, leadership, and advocacy for justice reflects the very values that define an NDNU education and the enduring legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur," Martin said. "During this 175th anniversary year of the Sisters in California, her presence powerfully affirms the impact of faith-inspired education on the world."

PRO-ABORTION NOTRE DAME PROFESSOR WITHDRAWS FROM INSTITUTE ROLE AFTER FIERCE CRITICISM FROM BISHOP, CARDINALS

According to its website, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are an international apostolic congregation of Catholic sisters, founded in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart in Amiens, France, serving today in 16 countries on five continents.

Their mission is to "make known God's goodness, especially among the most impoverished and abandoned people in the world," according to the group’s website.

Pelosi, who has called opposing abortion "sinful," will speak at the university’s commencement ceremony on May 2.

In 2023, Pelosi posted on X, then known as Twitter, calling out Republicans for passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires doctors to provide care for infants who survive a failed abortion.

NOTRE DAME STUDENT CALLS PROFESSOR APPOINTMENT A 'BETRAYAL' OVER PRO-ABORTION STANCE AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

"Today, instead of joining Democrats to condemn all political violence, [House Republicans] chose to push their extreme anti-choice agenda," Pelosi said in the post.

"Democrats believe everyone deserves the freedom to access reproductive health services — without fear of violence, intimidation or harassment," she added.

The Catholic Church teaches that, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law."

In 2022, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said that Pelosi would be banned from receiving Holy Communion in her own San Francisco Archdiocese because of her pro-abortion position.

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"A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion, after knowing the teaching of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin which is a cause of most serious scandal to others," Cordileone wrote in a May 2022 letter. "Therefore, universal Church law provides that such persons ‘are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.'"

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Martin and Notre Dame de Namur University did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

DC archbishop hits 'out of control' illegal immigration under Biden, but criticizes 'roundup' under Trump

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:59 -0400

Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy said Sunday that former President Biden's open border policy was "out of control," but he also took issue with President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

"I feel it got to a point where it was getting out of control," he told CBS' "60 Minutes," as host Norah O'Donnell confirmed he meant under Biden's presidency.

O'Donnell asked, "You believe in strong borders?"

"Yes," he said. O'Donnell pressed McElroy on what was wrong with Trump's current policy if he believed in secure borders.

POPE LEO PICKS NEW VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO US AS TRUMP TENSIONS MOUNT OVER POLICIES

"This is a roundup of people throughout the country. People who have been living good, strong lives, been here a long time, raised their children here, many of their children born here and are citizens. That's what our objection is," he said.

Biden's office did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

"President Trump was elected as the President of the United States based on the many promises he made to the American people, including his promise to deport criminal illegal aliens. He is keeping his promise to the American people," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

McElroy served as the bishop of San Diego before becoming the Archbishop of D.C. Pope Francis tapped McElroy to become the archbishop of Washington, D.C., in January 2025.

McElroy previously described Trump's immigration policy as an "assault."

"We are witnessing a comprehensive governmental assault designed to produce fear and terror among millions of men and women," he said in September 2025, according to The Washington Post.

SPEAKER JOHNSON USES BIBLE TO JUSTIFY SECURED BORDERS AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT POPE’S RHETORIC ON MIGRANTS

O'Donnell noted that Trump ran on mass deportations throughout his campaign.

"And yet President Trump won the Catholic vote over Kamala Harris handily, 55 to 43%. He promised to secure the border. He talked about deportation. And a majority of Catholics voted for the policy," O'Donnell told the group of American cardinals she interviewed for the segment.

O'Donnell spoke to McElory, as well as Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, and Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey.

"I would like to know what Catholics feel about this indiscriminate mass deportation. I think that it's very clear the American people are saying, 'We really didn't vote for this,'" Cupich told O'Donnell.

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She also asked the group about what they would say to churchgoers who don't want their priests weighing in on politics.

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"I say fine. I want to preach the gospel. God wants us to promote peace in the world — because his desire is that we be one human family," Cupich responded.

Bishop Barron says Trump ‘owes the pope an apology’

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:16:52 -0400

Bishop Robert Barron said Monday that President Donald Trump owes Pope Leo XIV an apology after Trump posted a scathing message about Leo in a Truth Social post.

VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP

Barron’s response was to a Sunday Truth Social post from Trump where the president called Pope Leo out for his stance on foreign policy and the Iran war.

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart."

Trump went on to say that he likes Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's brother, more than the pope.

"I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," the president wrote. "He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country."

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Trump also defended himself, saying he is doing what he was elected to do.

"And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History," Trump said. "Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump."

The president added, "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested."

"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump wrote.

POPE LEO PICKS NEW VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO US AS TRUMP TENSIONS MOUNT OVER POLICIES

Pope Leo XIV told reporters on Monday that he is unafraid of Trump.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration," Pope Leo told reporters on the papal plane traveling to Algeria.

Pope Leo added, "The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician."

Ashley McGuire, senior fellow at The Catholic Association, said in a statement that the organization, "laments President Trump's disparaging and disrespectful remarks about Pope Leo."

"The Catholic Church does not in any way fit into American political boxes," McGuire said. "It will always prioritize the protection of innocent life in all its stages as well as the cause of the poor and marginalized. Insulting the Pope, and all Catholics by extension, with the hope of making the Church bend to American political agendas, is discouraging and counterproductive. Love and respect for the Pope is part and parcel of being Catholic. And it is the authority of the Pope to expound on Church teaching about fundamental Christian values taught by Jesus Christ himself, like peace."

McGuire added, "The Trump Administration boasts many serious Catholics and has made strong overtures to Catholics over the years, especially on the matter of religious liberty. These remarks greatly detract from that progress. We pray that President Trump apologizes to Pope Leo and we pray for wisdom and healing after these divisive comments."

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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment and was referred back to Trump’s Truth Social post.

Pope Leo says he's unafraid of the Trump admin after president calls him 'terrible' on foreign policy

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:45:26 -0400

Pope Leo XIV fired back after President Donald Trump attacked him on social media, saying his calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and should not be treated as a political argument with the White House.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration," the pope told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday en route to Algeria.

"The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician," he added.

Trump had criticized the pope's positions on Sunday in a scathing rebuke on Truth Social.

POPE LEO URGES WAR LEADERS TO HALT FIGHTING AFTER DEADLY STRIKE ON SCHOOL SPARKS OUTRAGE

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump began in a lengthy post.

The pope responded Monday, taking a shot at Trump's Truth Social – "it’s ironic, the name of the site itself; say no more" – despite claiming "I will not enter into debate."

POPE LEO XIV TO VISIT FASTEST-GROWING CATHOLIC CONTINENT DURING 4-NATION AFRICA TRIP

"The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone," he also said, speaking in English, adding, "I don't think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing. I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems."

"Too many people are suffering in the world today," Leo added. "Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way."

VATICAN DECLINES TO JOIN TRUMP’S GAZA ‘BOARD OF PEACE,’ CALLS FOR UN LEADERSHIP

The pope's stance against Trump's peace efforts in the Middle East came after the president's Sunday night Air Force One tarmac comments.

"We don't like a pope that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters, echoing remarks from the Truth Social post. "We don't want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I don't like it."

"I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime," Trump added. "He's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world."

POPE WARNS ESCALATING IRAN CONFLICT COULD TIP MIDDLE EAST INTO ‘IRREPARABLE ABYSS’

Leo claimed he was speaking for the church and not himself or Iran.

"To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is," Leo said. "And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today."

Trump claimed Leo has him to thank for being elevated to pope, the first American pope.

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"I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. "He gets it, and Leo doesn’t."

"If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican," Trump said.

Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:55:35 -0400

President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy as the pontiff continues to criticize the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and call for peace.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said Leo is "weak on crime" and "terrible" for foreign policy over his anti-war comments in recent weeks following the start of the war in the Middle East.

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," he continued. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History."

POPE LEO CALLS OUT 'DELUSION OF OMNIPOTENCE' FUELING IRAN WAR IN VIGIL FOR PEACE AT ST. PETER'S BASCILICA

The president went on to say that the pope "should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise."

"He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump," he wrote. "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican."

"Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!" he added.

Trump also told reporters on Sunday that he is "not a big fan of Pope Leo."

"He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime," Trump said. "He's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world. I'm not. I'm not a fan of Pope Leo."

"I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess. We don’t like a pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is OK," he added.

Responding to Trump's comments, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement taking issue with the president's criticisms of the pontiff.

"I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father," Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop of Oklahoma City, said in a statement. "Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."

This comes after Leo has repeatedly spoken out against the conflict in the Middle East and government officials who attempt to use the Bible to justify it.

"God does not bless any conflict," Leo wrote in a social media post on Friday. "Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples."

Leo also said last month that God rejects the prayers of world leaders who wage war, saying they have "hands full of blood" and that the conflict is "atrocious."

"This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," Leo said at the time.

"[Jesus] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: 'Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood'," the pope added, citing a Bible passage.

POPE LEO CALLS OUT TRUMP'S IRAN RHETORIC BEFORE LAST-MINUTE CEASEFIRE EMERGES

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Some U.S. officials, including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, have used scripture in an attempt to justify the military attacks against Iran.

"Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy," Hegseth said as he led a prayer at the Pentagon last month.

Referencing a Bible passage in which Jesus was about to be arrested ahead of his crucifixion and rebuked one of his followers for striking the person arresting him with a sword, Leo said Jesus "did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war."

"He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross," Leo said at the time.

Catholic nuns caring for dying patients fight New York trans rule, face jail time

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:00:28 -0400

Catholic nuns who have spent more than a century caring for the dying poor are suing New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying a new state law could force them to choose between their faith and their mission or face fines, loss of licensing and even jail time.

"We are consecrated religious Sisters and have one mission," Mother Marie Edward, O.P., told Fox News Digital in a statement. "It is to provide comfort and skilled care to persons dying of cancer who cannot afford nursing care. We do not take insurance or government funds or money from our patients or families. The care is totally free."

"We are supported by the goodness of our benefactors," she continued. "We do this without discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or sex. We do it because Jesus taught us that, when the least among us are sick, we should care for them, as if they were Christ himself."

Signed into law on Nov. 30, 2023, the "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and people living with HIV long-term care facility residents' bill of rights" bans long-term care facilities and staff "from discriminating against any resident on the basis of a resident’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or HIV status," according to a press release from Hochul's office.

DOJ FIRES WARNING SHOT AT LETITIA JAMES OVER TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS FOR MINORS

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who run Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the law they say would require them to assign rooms by gender identity, not biological sex; allow access to opposite-sex bathrooms; allow expression, relationships and identity practices; use preferred pronouns; require staff training in gender ideology; and post a public notice stating compliance with the law.

Edward told Fox News Digital that "New York’s gender ideology mandates not only violate our Catholic values, they threaten our existence with fines, injunctions, license revocation, and even jail time. This is why we were forced to go to court to seek protection of our religious exercise and freedom of speech so that we can continue our ministry to the poor."

A press release from the Catholic Benefits Association said the New York State Department of Health sent the first in a series of "Dear Administrator" letters to the Hawthorne Dominicans' Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed facility, on March 18, 2024.

NJ SCHOOL DISTRICT’S SECRETIVE TRANSGENDER POLICY FACES LEGAL THREAT FOR BUCKING SUPREME COURT RULING

The letters listed New York’s demands and included a training curriculum "requiring the sisters to align patient care and the training of their sisters and employees with the State’s gender ideology."

If the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne do not comply, they face fines up to $2,000 per violation — rising to $5,000 — court-ordered forced compliance, loss of licensing and up to one year in prison and fines up to $10,000.

In their lawsuit, the sisters highlighted that during the four-year reporting period from Feb. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2026, the New York State Department of Health had received "zero complaints" from Rosary Hill Home residents, compared with "more than 55,000 complaints against other nursing homes," and an average of 23 citations per facility during the same period.

CBS NEWS' MARGARET BRENNAN ACCUSED OF MOCKING PEOPLE OF FAITH AFTER PETE HEGSETH'S PRAYER REMARKS

In the press release, Sister Stella Mary, O.P., administrator of Rosary Hill Home, said, "Our foundress, Mother Alphonsa Hawthorne, charged us to serve those who are ‘to pass from one life to another’ and to ‘make them as comfortable and happy as if their own people had kept them and put them into the very best bedroom.’ We intend to continue honoring this sacred obligation but need relief from the Court to do so."

Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul's office for comment and was referred to a spokesperson at the New York State Department of Health who said, "While the Department does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation, the NYS Department of Health is committed to following state law, which provides nursing home residents certain rights protecting against discrimination including, but not limited to, gender identity or expression."

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Christian media is playing a major role in bringing young people back into the faith, religious experts say

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:00:30 -0400

Young people are using a combination of 21st-century technology and old school storytelling to learn about the Bible and spread the good word.

Young Americans, who often spend up to 10 hours a day behind computer and smartphone screens, are finding solace in Christian prayer apps and comic books, which have garnered millions of views and reads, to help them learn about the Gospel.

Fox News Digital spoke with Hallow CEO and co-founder Alex Jones, Franciscan University of Steubenville president Rev. Dave Pivonka, Pray.com founder and CEO Steve Gatena and Kingstone Comics CEO Art Ayris on why young people are turning to God and how digital media can be used as a tool to help spark interest in faith.

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Gatena said he remembers a time when a "single act of sharing faith through technology" changed the trajectory of his life.

In 2016, he lost his business partner in a plane crash, and in a search for meaning, he was sent a Christian podcast that inspired him to share the Gospel with others. Now, he sees how digital media can be a powerful tool in bringing people to God.

"Younger audiences under 30 are engaging with biblical stories like never before," Gatena said. "When Scripture is presented in formats that meet them where they already are, whether cinematic retellings, short-form video or audio devotionals, curiosity turns into genuine engagement... The Gospel has always traveled through the language of its time, from papyrus to the printing press to podcasts. We’re simply the next chapter."

Pivonka, who ministers to thousands of teenagers and young adults through the university’s Steubenville Conferences, said the search for meaning leads young people to find God.

"They find in the church a relationship with God, and I would say also with the Scriptures, a sense of meaning, purpose, boundaries, something worth it that they can invest themselves in," he said. "The world is so loud, it's so mechanical, it's so digital. When they can go and be quiet, be still, encounter God — that's really satisfying."

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Storytelling plays a major role in reaching young people because the Bible is the "greatest story" ever told, Jones said. Hallow uses social media to invite young people to encounter God by inviting them to stop scrolling to hear a verse of Scripture.

"The only thing that gives you real peace is God, and He does that in Scripture," Jones said. "What we see is just trying to break through that noise of letting God give you that peace and then share with you in that peace, how much He loves you. It’s this pretty transformational thing, especially for young people, both men and women."

Jones told Fox News Digital that storytelling is "incredibly important" and the company tries to bring Scripture to life in a new way for viewers.

Comic books are also proving to be a powerful tool in introducing the Gospel to younger audiences in a way they can understand. Ayris told Fox News Digital that in his work with kids and teenagers, he struggled to find engaging material until finding comics.

"The comic medium is near universal and communication is most effective when delivered in medium familiar to that culture… Over 41% of teens have never read the Bible, so we created a Bible that could be read and understood in a matter of months," he said.

The Kingstone Bible has been a "perennial seller" for the company. Calling to mind a quote from Walt Disney, Ayris explained it best: "Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language."

Pivonka said that while media can be used as a tool to help young people make that "initial connection," ultimately, people are searching for authentic connections in the church.

"The digital world can only satisfy so much," he said. "So, they're starting to pray, they're starting to read the Scriptures, they're starting to go to church. I think the initial connection can be through social media, and, in fact, I think that's a wonderful way to use it."

Gatena said the purpose of Pray.com is not to get people to "scroll more," but instead to encourage them to "pray more."

"Technology isn’t the enemy of faith — distraction is. We’re building tools that bring people back to what matters most: time with God," he said.

Catholic leaders across the United States are reporting an increase in the number of adult converts, according to a previous report. For example, the Archdiocese of Newark in New Jersey reported that 1,701 people were preparing to join the Church, which is up 30% since 2025.

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Pivonka, who served in NET Ministries, explained how encounters with God have the power to touch people in difficult moments.

"Some of the kids that I talked with were just in profoundly difficult family situations and structures that the love of God really — it was their anchor," Pivonka said. "It was their lifesaver that there was some sense of hope, and I think that's really, for a lot of kids, that's what they're really hoping, looking for."

HuffPost panned for report suggesting Pentagon excluded Catholics from attending Good Friday service

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:13:27 -0400

A report from the liberal HuffPost raised eyebrows among critics for suggesting Catholics were being excluded from a Good Friday service at the Pentagon.

HuffPost senior politics reporter Jennifer Bendery wrote that the Pentagon "invited more than 3,500 employees to attend a Good Friday service at its in-house chapel."

"Except it’s only for Protestants, not Catholics," Bendery wrote.

The report cited a memo sent to staff by Air Force leadership that read, "Just a friendly reminder: There will be a Protestant Service (No Catholic Mass) for Good Friday today at the Pentagon Chapel." A spokesperson for the Pentagon confirmed to HuffPost that it was the only service being held on Good Friday at the Pentagon's interfaith chapel.

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"I guess so the Catholics know their kind ain’t welcome," one anonymous Pentagon employee who shared the memo told HuffPost. "It’s so ridiculous."

Bendery continued in the piece, "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a far-right evangelical Christian, has tried to infuse his religious views into Pentagon activities."

However, many on social media pushed back against the framing of HuffPost's report, pointing out how Catholics don't attend mass on Good Friday.

"Catholic here ... we do not celebrate Mass on Good Friday," Washington Examiner reporter Salena Zito told Bendery. "It is the only day of the year without a Mass, as the church commemorates Jesus' death."

"Yes. It says that there is no Catholic Mass on Good Friday because Catholics do not do Catholic Mass on Good Friday. Is there literally nobody you could have asked? Not one person? Not even Google?" National Review senior editor Charles C.W. Cook reacted.

"Catholics [technically] don’t have 'Mass' on Good Friday because there is no consecration of the Eucharist on Good Friday," replied "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. "We have a service where we read the Gospel passion of Christ, venerate the cross (we line up to kiss the feet of Jesus on a large crucifix or the wood of a large cross), and distribute host that was consecrated the day before on Holy Thursday."

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"FYI: Catholics do not have Mass on Good Friday. It's a service, as there is no transubstantiation. Where communion is offered, it's with previously consecrated hosts. This sounds like a misunderstanding of terms by the sources or the reporters," Hot Air managing editor Ed Morrissey wrote.

"This person continues to write about Christianity and keeps proving to be completely ignorant of Christianity. Catholics do not celebrate Mass on Good Friday," conservative radio host Erick Erickson posted.

"Anybody here surprised that Jennifer doesn't have a good working understanding of Catholicism? Me neither. But, It IS extraordinary that not one person in the editorial chain has even the slightest knowledge of Catholics," Townhall editor Larry O'Connor wrote.

CBS NEWS' MARGARET BRENNAN ACCUSED OF MOCKING PEOPLE OF FAITH AFTER PETE HEGSETH'S PRAYER REMARKS

"Catholics do not do Mass on Good Friday. It would be offensive to them to try to hold one. Just incredible how hard the left is trying to cause divisions that don't actually exist," RedState writer Bonchie said.

"What’s wild about the hubris of journalists like this lady at @HuffPost is she has literally THOUSANDS of Catholics correcting her that there is no Catholic mass on Good Friday," Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham wrote. "And yet her arrogance is such that even though she has been exposed as religiously ignorant on a massive scale, she is still refusing to acknowledge these corrections. She also suggests Catholics would be barred from attending the Pentagon’s Good Friday service if they wanted to attend, which I am quite certain is not true."

A Department of War official told Fox News Digital that Catholic Masses are held on a daily basis at the Pentagon and that religious services are open to all Pentagon employees.

HuffPost's parent company BuzzFeed did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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White House marks Holy Week, Easter with days of prayer centered on religious liberty

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:36 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: The White House is marking Holy Week with days of prayer and worship, including President Donald Trump participating in a number of events to honor Easter and celebrate the "right to religious liberty."

"President Trump will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life and protecting faith in our public square," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital of the White House's Holy Week events.

"Millions of Christians across the country will celebrate Jesus Christ conquering death, freeing us from sin, and unlocking the gates of Heaven for all of humanity, and the President is proud to join Americans during this blessed holiday."

A White House official told Fox News Digital that the president on Wednesday will attend the White House Easter Lunch in the East Room.

TRUMP GATHERS CEOS FOR UNPRECEDENTED FAITH, ECONOMY MEETING TO RENEW US 'SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY'

The event will feature worship and prayer, and choral performances from the Free Chapel Choir, led by Pastor Jentezen Franklin on the saxophone.

The event will also include prayers from Reverend Franklin Graham, Bishop Robert Barron, Pastor Paula White and others.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will attend the White House Easter lunch.

Erika Kirk is also expected to attend the White House Easter lunch, a White House official told Fox News Digital.

Next, on Wednesday evening, at 5:00 p.m., White House staff are invited to attend a Catholic Mass in the Indian Treaty Room. The mass will be celebrated by Father Frank Mann.

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On Thursday, Holy Thursday, a White House official told Fox News Digital that all White House staff are invited to attend a worship service in the same room. That service will feature Rev. Franklin Graham, Pastor Jentzen Franklin, Pastor Paula White and White House Faith Office Director Jenny Korn.

A White House official also told Fox News Digital that President Trump is expected to issue a presidential proclamation honoring Holy Week.

"President Trump wishes Christians across America and around the world a very happy Easter. He is risen, indeed!" Rogers added in a comment to Fox News Digital.

The president is also expected to post video messages on his Truth Social account to celebrate Easter and Passover.

A White House official told Fox News Digital that Passover events will take place next week. Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 1 and ends at sundown on Thursday, April 9.

The White House Passover event will take place April 6 in the Indian Treaty Room. Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for more than 500 days following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, and his family will be in attendance. Alexander was the last living American hostage released last year.

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Faith has been a focal point of Trump's second term, including signing an executive order in February 2025 establishing a White House Faith Office.

The office empowers faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship "to better serve families and communities," according to the White House. The office is housed under the Domestic Policy Council and consults with experts in the faith community on policy changes to "better align with American values."

JD Vance releasing book about faith journey, conversion to Catholicism

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:37:09 -0400

Vice President JD Vance, who converted to the Roman Catholic faith as an adult, will be releasing a book about the story of his conversion later this spring.

HarperCollins Publishers imprint Harper told the Associated Press Tuesday that his book, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," will be released June 16. Vance is among many Millennials and members of Gen Z who are rejecting the secularism of recent years and converting specifically to the Catholic Church.

"The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with," Vance, 41, said in a statement to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR). "The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root."

NCR suggested the move to release a book may indicate Vance’s political ambitions. Vance is widely considered a likely 2028 candidate for the Republican nomination.

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"Presidential hopefuls often, though not always, release books before launching a campaign, giving them a moment in the spotlight before new audiences and a chance to crystallize their message embarking on a campaign," the news outlet observed, noting that many potential Democratic contenders either already have published recent books or are in the process of doing so.

HarperCollins previously released Vance’s smash-hit "Hillbilly Elegy," his 2016 memoir about his upbringing in Ohio. The book was later adapted into a movie on Netflix.

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Vance has reportedly worked on the book since 2019, the same year he converted to Catholicism. He has spoken out multiple times about the need for Christian values to restore America.

In 2025, he used Catholic theology to defend the Trump administration’s deportation policies, citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as "ordo amoris," which he has said describes a hierarchy of care: prioritizing the family first, then the neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those from other regions.

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The Associated Press noted Vance would be the first vice president "in recent memory" to release a book while still in office.

Vance was elected to the U.S. Senate in Ohio in 2022 and was tapped as President Donald Trump's running mate on the winning 2024 ticket. He took office at age 40 as one of the youngest vice presidents in American history.

Vance met with Pope Francis last April, one day before the pontiff's death.

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Israel looking for 'solutions' to open Christian sites after barring church leader on Palm Sunday due to war

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:47:58 -0400

Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other major holy sites were closed on Palm Sunday under Israeli wartime restrictions, disrupting one of Christianity’s holiest observances as the Iran war entered its fifth week.

The Catholic Church rebuked the police decision as "a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure."

Israeli police lamented the war restrictions limiting worship and acknowledged the need to "balance freedom" with "public safety."

"Under Home Front Command directives, life-saving restrictions apply to all holy sites in the Old City — for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike," Israeli police posted to X, responding to an outcry on religious freedom in a video statement. "The Old City has been targeted by murderous missiles multiple times this month, alongside constant fire on residential areas."

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"These threats do not discriminate between religions, and neither does our duty to protect you," the statement continued. "We are in active dialogue with religious leaders, including an upcoming meeting with the Patriarch, to examine solutions that balance freedom of worship with public safety."

The Latin Patriarchate said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo were stopped by Israeli police while trying to reach the church privately to celebrate Mass, after the traditional Palm Sunday procession had already been canceled.

Israel President Isaac Herzog called the restricted worshipers to "express my great sorrow over this morning's unfortunate incident."

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"I clarified that the incident stemmed from security concerns due to the continuous threat of missile attacks from the Iranian terror regime against the civilian population in Israel, following previous incidents in which Iranian missiles fell in the area of the Old City of Jerusalem in recent days," he wrote Sunday on X. "I reaffirmed the State of Israel's unwavering commitment to freedom of religion for all faiths and to upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem."

The Italian government rebuked what it called an "offense" on "religious freedom" in the Holy Land.

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"The Italian government expresses closeness to Cardinal Pizzaballa, Father Ielpo and the religious who have been prevented today by the Israeli authorities from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass in the Holy Sepulchre," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote in a statement. "The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a sacred place of Christianity, and as such to be preserved and protected for the celebration of sacred rites. Preventing the entry of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Keeper of the Holy Land, moreover in a central solemnity for the faith such as Palm Sunday, constitutes an offense not only for believers, but for every community that recognizes religious freedom."

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The Latin Patriarchate said the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been hosting Masses that are not open to the public since the Iran war began Feb. 28, and it was unclear why Sunday’s Mass and access by the two priests was any different.

"It’s a very, very sacred day for Christians and in our opinion there was no justification for such a decision or such an action," Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem spokesperson Farid Jubran said.

The church had requested permission from the police, he added, for a few religious leaders to enter the church for a private Mass on Sunday — not one that was open to the public.

SOUTH CAROLINA PASTOR DESCRIBES EVACUATING MEMBERS FROM MIDDLE EAST AFTER WAR BROKE OUT DURING ISRAEL TRIP

Pope Leo XIV, at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prayed for all Christians in the Middle East who he said were living through an "atrocious" conflict. He said, "in many cases, they cannot live fully the rites of these holy days," though he did not elaborate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday evening that there was no "malicious intent" and that the cardinal was prevented from accessing the church because of safety concerns, but that Israel would try to partially open the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

"Given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world’s Christians, Israel’s security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days," Netanyahu wrote on X.

The Western Wall, a holy site for Jews, is also mostly closed because of safety issues, but authorities are letting up to 50 people at a time pray in an enclosed area adjacent to the plaza.

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Smaller churches, synagogues and mosques are open in Jerusalem’s Old City if they are located within a certain distance of a bomb shelter deemed acceptable by Israel’s military and, if gatherings are kept under 50 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Catholic conversions rise as young adults 'hungry for truth' turn to faith and reject secularism, bishop says

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:00:23 -0400

Catholic leaders across the U.S. are reporting sharp increases in the number of adult converts, a trend that they say is driven primarily by young adults.

The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, reported 1,701 individuals were preparing to join the Church, a 30% increase since 2025, according to The Catholic Standard. Other archdioceses reporting similar rises include Cleveland, Ohio, Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Oregon, according to the outlet.

"Last year, we broke the record for the number of adult converts, and then this year — so, we have what's called the rite of election, that's when all the people are entering into the church — we broke that record again. So, it's a trend that's visible all over the church and it's certainly been true in my diocese," Bishop Robert Barron told Fox News Digital.

Catholic ministries on college campuses, including Texas A&M University, University of Notre Dame and Arizona State University, are also reporting increasing converts, The Catholic Standard reported. Notre Dame saw its largest group of new Catholics in at least 25 years, with 125 receiving the sacraments last Easter, according to The Catholic Standard. The outlet noted that, this year, Notre Dame expects there to be 163 candidates and catechumens, which are unbaptized individuals undergoing conversion.

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Barron said that when speaking to new adult converts about their decision, many describe themselves as "hungry for truth." He argued the trend is, in part, a reaction to the rise of atheism in the early 2000s, with younger generations having "inherited this bleakly secularized world" and now "leading the charge" back to religion.

The bishop pointed to St. Augustine, saying the theologian’s words still ring true today.

"St. Augustine said, ‘Lord, you've made us for yourself, and therefore our heart is restless till it rests in you,’ and that remains true," Barron said. "There's a longing in the heart that can't be satisfied by anything in this world, and so religion speaks to that."

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The bishop also explained that many young adults are looking for something steady with strong roots as they navigate the modern world and its online distractions. In his view, Catholicism has been attracting new converts because of its 2,000-year-old traditions.

"Our culture today is very ephemeral, right? It's evanescent... Catholicism speaks to something much deeper, and older, and more permanent," he said. "I also think that people are attracted to the ritual expression of Catholicism. So, the beauty of our liturgy, we're not just gathering in a bland room and singing pop songs, we're entering into this ancient, beautiful ritual involving vestments and incense and candles and ancient prayers and ancient chants. And I do think that appeals to people's souls, especially young people."

Even as he spoke about the beauty of the Church, Barron touched on the scandals of sexual abuse that came to light especially in the early 2000s. He said the scandals were important for the Church to acknowledge and deal with, but that for young adult converts, they were "more of a memory" and "less of a lived, immediate reality."

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In 2025, Pew Research Center issued findings on Catholic converts in the U.S., saying that 1.5% of all adults in the country fit into the category. According to Pew's 2025 report, 92% of U.S. Catholics were raised in the faith, while the remaining 8% had converted. The research center said that when asked why they converted to Catholicism, "the most common response offered by converts is because of a spouse, or to get married in the Church." Meanwhile, others said Catholicism made sense to them or that it aligned with their values.

Now that the Church has attracted these new converts, it is tasked with retaining them. Barron said that first and foremost, the Church must listen to them.

"I think it needs to listen to them. You know, that's something Pope Francis kept emphasizing, correctly, that first you listen and find out what's attracted them, find out maybe what kept them away for a long time, what made a difference," Barron told Fox News Digital.

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Barron emphasized that, ultimately, the Church exists for the purpose of bringing people into the faith.

"The Church is about the business of evangelization. That's what we are. I mean, every Catholic institution exists for the purpose of evangelization, meaning bringing people to Christ. And so, the people who are coming back to the Church, that makes me the happiest. That's why what the Catholic Church exists for, is to invite people back," the bishop said.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: Even Judas? Rethinking sin, despair and divine mercy this Palm Sunday

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:00:54 -0400

Every year on Palm Sunday, we read, in the Catholic liturgy, one of the great Passion narratives from the Synoptic Gospels. This year, it is St. Matthew's. There are a number of distinctive features in Matthew's account, but the most distinctive and interesting, for me, is the evangelist's treatment of Judas.

No other Gospel stresses the repentance and regret of the traitor more effectively. "Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.'" This is not callous indifference or self-justification. This is a clear and honest admission of guilt.

Then we are told that Judas flung the money into the temple and "went off and hanged himself." An awful ending to a sad life, the betrayer of Jesus falling into despair and committing self-slaughter. And this is why most figures in the great theological and spiritual tradition have assumed that Judas is in hell. Augustine thought so; Aquinas thought so; Dante depicted him perpetually chewed in the very mouth of Satan. And if his betrayal of the Lord wasn't enough to earn him a place in hell, then his suicide, most theologians agreed, certainly sealed the deal.

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But I want to draw your attention to a counterview—admittedly in the minority—on display in one of the capitals on a column in the magnificent Vézelay Basilica in France.

On one side is a grossly vivid depiction of the hanging of Judas, eyes popping, tongue lolling out of his mouth. But on the other side is a depiction of the Good Shepherd carrying the body of Judas on his shoulders like the lost sheep. And the dead man appears to be smiling.

Pope Francis was so fond of this image that he had a reproduction of it over his desk in his papal office. It showed, for him, the hope that even Judas might have been saved by the overwhelming mercy of the Lord.

Now I know (please don't send me letters of complaint) that we cannot embrace a simple-minded universalism, which says that we are perfectly confident that all people will be saved. We do indeed have to admit to the very real possibility of an eternal rejection of God. And yet St. Pope John Paul II insisted that the Church has never made a definitive statement regarding whether any particular person is in hell. And Pope Benedict said that we should suspend judgment in regard to Judas, committing him to the mercy and justice of God. But again, wouldn't his suicide guarantee that he has gone to eternal perdition?

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Listen to the Catechism of the Catholic Church on this point: "We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives" (2283).

The point is that God, in Christ, has gone to the very limits of God-forsakenness precisely to communicate the divine mercy even to that darkest place. When Jesus says from the cross, "God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" he signals that he has entered the condition of the most desperate sinner. He has not become a sinner, to be sure, but he has willingly embraced the psychological and spiritual state of the sinner.

I am not recommending that we go easy on sin or that we dismiss its awful seriousness. But I am indeed recommending what Paul said: "Where sin abounds, grace abounds the more."

I am indeed insisting that God's mercy is greater than any sin we could possibly commit, even the betrayal of Christ. So, do we despair of those who have taken their own lives? No. We pray for them and commend them to God's mercy.

There is a story told about a French couple in the 19th century, she deeply religious, he vaguely agnostic. At one point in their marriage, the wife asked her husband if she could hang a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus over their bed. With little enthusiasm, but out of concern for her feelings, he agreed. In time, due to setbacks in his business and frustrations of his ambitions, the husband fell into a profound depression.

Finally, in desperation, he threw himself off a building and plunged to his death. His wife, utterly bereft and convinced of her own guilt in the matter, became disconsolate. At the end of her strength, she decided to speak to John Vianney, the famous priest of Ars, a man reputed to be a spiritual master and reader of souls. When she got to the small town near Lyon, she was shocked to see that the line of those seeking an audience with the great man stretched for a mile.

In anguish, she knelt at the communion rail and wept. To her utter surprise, she then heard a voice calling her name. It was John Vianney. "How did you know my name?" she asked. He answered, "It doesn't matter." He continued, "You are in despair over the death of your husband. I want you to understand that as he was hurtling to his death, God showed him that image of the Sacred Heart that he had hung over your bed." "How could you possibly know such a thing?" she gasped. "It doesn't matter," he replied. "What matters is that upon seeing it, he repented."

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The same Dante who put Judas in the depths of hell also said that all God needs is a single tear of repentance to save a sinner.

What should we take from a prayerful reading of Matthew's Passion narrative? God is mercy within mercy within mercy.

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Archbishop Hicks celebrates 'beautiful' St Patrick's Day Mass in NYC with Mayor Mamdani in attendance

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:24:28 -0400

Archbishop Ronald Hicks celebrated his first St. Patrick’s Day Mass at the saint’s dedicated cathedral in New York City, expressing awe for a celebration that united New Yorkers and drew the attendance of Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

"The cathedral is filled with people of good faith and goodwill and celebrating our patron saint, Saint Patrick, but also the contribution of the Irish people to this country, to this church, people who built our schools and our parishes, our churches and have contributed faith," Hicks told "The Story" on Tuesday. "It was a beautiful celebration and I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, attended the Mass, as it is almost always custom for the mayor to do so, and Hicks expressed he was "very happy" about his attendance. The mayor had not attended Hicks' installation as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York in February.

"Since my installation, I've had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone, be at breakfast with him at an event, and also speak with him personally, just one on one. So, I'm getting to know him, and it's been good so far, and I was just glad that he, and so many people, were here today," the archbishop said.

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"I think St. Patrick's Day, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is a place where we can unite people together into what is the common good, what is the best for our city, how do we act together in a way that brings out the best. It was a great representation today at this Mass," he continued.

Hicks said young people "across the country" are showing enthusiasm for the faith.

"Younger people are being attracted to God, to faith, to something of meaning, something of purpose, and they're finding it in the church," Hicks told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. "We, as a church, have to be a church that not only welcomes and says, ‘Hey, you're the next generation,’ but welcome them now and make sure that they're included in this church to build up this wonderful family of God that we have, as a living church, as a church that celebrates our faith of all ages together."

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Included in the prayer intentions at the St. Patrick's Day Mass was a prayer for those involved in Operation Epic Fury and those who are protecting and fighting for freedom.

"I asked in a special way for all of us to pray for peace, especially in those places that need it most, a true peace that comes from God," Hicks explained. "As we pray for that peace, I also just want to echo what you said, that we as a country continue to pray for all the men and women in our Armed Forces for their protection. Thank God for their service, and as a people, just continue to strive for justice and peace throughout the world, our country, and our city."

Pope Leo picks new Vatican ambassador to US as Trump tensions mount over policies

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:58:40 -0500

People Leo XIV on Saturday announced the appointment of the Vatican’s new ambassador, Apostolic Nuncio, to the U.S. to help manage strained relations with the Trump administration.

Italian Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, a veteran Vatican diplomat who is currently ambassador to the United Nations, previously served as ambassador to the Philippines and Lebanon.

Caccia is replacing 80-year-old Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who is retiring.

"I receive this mission with both joy and a sense of trepidation," Caccia said after the appointment, according to the Vatican News. He added that his mission was "at the service of communion and peace," remembering that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

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The pope and President Donald Trump have been at odds over key issues for the White House, including immigration and the war in Iran.

Pierre's ambassadorship was also at times at odds with the more conservative U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops while representing Pope Francis’ more progressive priorities.

"Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue," the American-born pope said Sunday after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, according to the outlet Chicago Catholic.

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"Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss."

In early January, Leo also delivered a major policy speech, mostly in English, after the U.S. military action in Venezuela.

"War is back in vogue, and a zeal for war is spreading," the pope warned in the speech.

Trump called it a "great honor for our country" when Leo was elected pope last May after Pope Francis’ death. When asked about Leo’s remarks earlier this year seemingly pressing him on policy, Trump told Politico he hadn’t seen the statements from the pontiff, but "I’m sure he’s a lovely man."

He also said he had met with the pope’s brother, who he called "serious MAGA."

Last fall, the pope suggested that supporting the "inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States" is not "pro-life," leaving White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to "reject there was inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration."

Leavitt, who is Catholic, added that the administration always tries to be as humane as possible while enforcing laws.

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Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, current president of the U.S. conference, said after Caccia’s appointment, "On behalf of my brother bishops, I wish to extend our warmest welcome and our prayerful support to him as he carries out his responsibilities across the United States."

Trump won 59% of the Catholic vote in the 2024 election, according to Politico.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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