A ceasefire in Gaza is “the necessary turning point,” but lasting peace remains a distant goal, says the Latin Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem.

”This is only the first step,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. “Peace will take much longer to achieve because the end of the war is not the end of the conflict.”

Nevertheless the cardinal welcomed the ceasefire, noting that it provides an opportunity for delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the residents are now completely without resources and rely entirely on relief efforts.

Cardinal Pizzaballa also questioned why leaders of the opposing forces had taken so long to agree to a ceasefire, prolonging the fighting with its toll of death and destruction. He observed that “the agreement was more or less the same discussion that was had months ago.”

Speaking at a conference of financiers in Hong Kong on January 16, former Vice President Mike Pence issued a strong call for the release of Jimmy Lai, the jailed Catholic human-rights activist.

“There is probably no more compelling gesture in the short term to send a message of good will to the people of the United States, or the free world, than if China were to take steps to free Jimmy Lai,” Pence said. He made the remark in the same city where Lai is now facing trial on the latest of several questionable criminal charges.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has cautioned against what he calls a “vigilante approach” to illegal immigration, denouncing the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations.

The retired Bishop of Brooklyn also criticized the Laken Riley Act, which calls for the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants charged with crimes He said the overall Trump plan is “a vigilante approach to a mythical problem that these people are hurting us.”

Bishop DiMarzio recalled the crackdown on illegal immigration in the 1970s, saying that it caused massive disruption of the community and unnecessary dangers. The bishop was once the executive director of the US bishops’ office for migration, later chaired the USCCB committee ono migration, and in 2000 was named to the Pontifical Council for Migrants.

Pope Francis met on January 17 with seminarians from Cordoba, Spain, and told them: “In the journey of life, we can identify hope as the signs that indicate the way to us.”

During the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Pope suggested three such signs: “the direction: toward heaven;” the “dangers on the way;” and “the areas of refreshment”

WASHINGTON - As the United States commemorates Religious Freedom Day on January 16, the Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its annual report on the state of religious freedom in the United States. The report identifies and offers ways that Catholics can respond to five areas of critical concern—both threats and opportunities: the targeting of faith-based immigration services, antisemitism, IVF mandates, the scaling back of gender ideology in law, and parental choice in education. 

“This Jubilee Year offers us a chance to reflect on the necessity of patience and long-suffering in our work to bear witness to the truth,” said Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty. 

“Pope Francis refers to the biblical image of the anchor as a symbol of hope: ‘The image of the anchor is eloquent; it helps us to recognize the stability and security that is ours amid the troubled waters of this life, provided we entrust ourselves to the Lord Jesus.’ . . . In the years since the U.S. bishops established a committee to promote religious liberty, we have indeed seen troubled waters. Trends have come and gone, and political winds have shifted back and forth. The ministry of the bishops to promote our first, most precious liberty has sought to remain anchored to the truth of the gospel, and we ask for the grace of this Jubilee to continue to remain steadfast in our principles.

“As we look to 2025, we anticipate that long-standing concerns will continue to require our vigilance, while new concerns, and perhaps opportunities, will also present themselves. Political leaders of countries may change, and public policy priorities may shift amidst various contemporary circumstances, but our patient and steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and the gospel must not change. I pray that this report will serve as a resource to Christians, and all people of goodwill, who seek to promote and defend religious freedom.”

Read the full report: https://www.usccb.org/religious-liberty/2025-annual-report.

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WASHINGTON - “It is precisely through a greater commitment to bilateral collaboration and cooperation that positive change will come for the Cuban people,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace. In response to the announcement that President Biden was removing Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list, Bishop Zaidan stated:

“I commend the Administration for its decision to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list. For decades, in conjunction with the Holy See, the Cuban bishops, and the majority of the international community, the USCCB has urged collaboration and mutually beneficial relations between the United States and Cuba, as well as the full lifting of the economic embargo against the island nation. It is my hope that this policy shift renews our country’s bilateral engagement on Cuba, and that it prompts both the United States and Cuba to explore a greater degree of collaboration, including bilateral trade and greater access to travel between our nations. Cuba needs more engagement from the United States, not less, and it is precisely through a greater commitment to bilateral collaboration and cooperation that positive change will come for the Cuban people, including cultural exchange and a stronger economy.”

Bishop Zaidan’s letter from July 2024 to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in support of such an action is available here.

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WASHINGTON – Catholics across the country are invited to observe a nationwide prayer vigil from Thursday, January 23 to Friday, January 24, 2025, to pray for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life.

The National Prayer Vigil for Life is hosted each January by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Secretariat, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and The Catholic University of America’s Office of Campus Ministry. The vigil has always taken place on the eve of the March for Life, which marks the date of the historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Opening Mass will take place in the Great Upper Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday, January 23. The principal celebrant and homilist for the Opening Mass will be Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities. 

Immediately following the Opening Mass, a National Holy Hour for Life will take place with a Eucharistic Procession, Eucharistic Adoration, Recitation of the Rosary, and Benediction. The Opening Mass and Holy Hour of the National Prayer Vigil for Life will be broadcast on various Catholic networks and will be livestreamed on the Basilica’s website at www.nationalshrine.org/mass.

The vigil concludes at 8:00 AM on Friday, January 24 with the Closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn.

The full schedule of the 2025 National Prayer Vigil for Life is listed below. (All times are in Eastern Time.)

Thursday, January 23:
4:45 PM          Chaplet of Divine Mercy
5:00 PM          Opening Mass with Bishop Thomas
7:00 PM          Holy Hour for Life

Friday, January 24:
8:00 AM          Closing Mass with Bishop Brennan

The live television broadcasts on January 23 from 5:00-8:00 PM and on January 24 from 8:00-9:00 AM will be provided by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and will be available via live-stream on the Basilica’s website. For more information about on-site attendance at the Basilica for the National Prayer Vigil for Life, please visit the information page on the Basilica’s website.

A plenary indulgence is available this year for those participating in the Opening or Closing Mass and/or the Prayer Vigil (the other usual conditions for a plenary indulgence apply).

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WASHINGTON – The negotiations of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and the ongoing release of hostages were commended as an “encouraging sign of peace” by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.

“At the beginning of this Jubilee Year, it is with great hope that I receive the news of a negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the ongoing release of hostages and prisoners. This is an encouraging sign of peace for a region that has seen far too much bloodshed and destruction. I pray that this peace can take firm and lasting root in the Middle East, and I renew my gratitude for the crucial, peacebuilding role that the United States has played in this ceasefire and hostage release.”

“May we continue forward with what Pope Francis calls a ‘diplomacy of hope’ based on truth, forgiveness, freedom, and justice, ‘so that the dense clouds of war may be swept away by renewed winds of peace.’ This signal of peace can be a beacon of real hope for the Middle East and all regions of the world suffering from war.”

“Since the start of the crisis, the Church, through Catholic Relief Services and its local partners, has played a key role in providing food, cash assistance, shelter, sanitation, and emotional and social support to displaced communities. We pray that the ceasefire will allow the Church to reach even more vulnerable people. Let us continue to pray for a sustainable and lasting peace in the region and the world.”

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To ensure artificial intelligence is developed and used in an ethical, transparent and responsible manner in Vatican City State, the city-state governor's office has released a set of guidelines on AI, which will be followed by new laws and regulations.

"The guidelines highlight the importance of a balanced and mindful approach in regulating artificial intelligence and will act as a 'compass'" and a framework for "future regulatory actions" regarding AI technology, the city-state said in a Dec. 23 press release on vaticanstate.va. The guidelines went into effect Jan. 1.

The president of the governor's office will also set up a five-person AI commission, presided over by the secretary-general of the governing office, to oversee the implementation and regulation of AI within Vatican City State.

Specifically, the commission will: prepare the proposed laws and regulations; provide input and opinions about the use of AI systems and models; and monitor the activities of AI systems and models and their impact on individuals, employment and the environment. 

"The key principle is that technological innovation cannot and should never overtake or replace human beings," the press release said. "On the contrary, it should serve humanity, and support and respect human dignity," individual rights and freedom.

"The aim is to make artificial intelligence a resource that, if properly regulated, will be able to foster well-being and progress, without compromising ethical and social principles," it added.

The 13-page policy, released as a decree by the pontifical commission governing Vatican City State, covers a series of general ethical principles, specific guidelines for certain offices and prohibitions.

The bans include prohibitions against AI technology and practices that: cause discrimination; harm individuals physically or psychologically through subliminal manipulation; exclude people with disabilities; create social inequalities; demean human dignity; violate fundamental human rights; compromise Vatican City State security and public order; encourage criminal conduct; and conflict with "the mission of the pope, the integrity of the Catholic Church and the proper operation" of the Vatican entities overseen by the governor's office.

The office oversees those who work in administration and human resources, the Vatican Museums, the gardeners, trash collectors, firefighters, police, post office employees as well as those who work for the Vatican health service, pharmacy and Vatican court system. The guidelines and future regulations also cover third-party suppliers, operators and professionals who are hired temporarily.

Some offices were given specific guidelines pertaining to their field, such as offices dealing with: personal data and data processing; scientific research and healthcare; copyright protection; cultural heritage; maintenance and services; administrative procedures; human resources and labor practices; judicial activities; and security. 

Some examples included: mandating that all texts, music, photos, audiovisual and radio content that have used AI systems and models in their creation or reproduction be labeled with the acronym AI; and insisting that patients being treated by the Vatican's health care service must be informed about the use and application of AI in their care.

While most offices have been given the green light to adopt AI in ways that streamline and facilitate human labor, the guidelines specified that the Vatican's judicial offices may only use AI "for the organization and simplification" of its research and work. Interpretation of the law, analysis of the facts and evidence of a case, and deciding on sentencing or other measures must never be handled by AI as these tasks are "reserved exclusively for the magistrate."

Laws and regulations applying the guideline's principles were to be adopted within the current calendar year, the press release said.
 

ATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis was wearing his arm in a sling during his meetings and audiences Jan. 16 after hurting his right arm in a fall.

"This morning, due to a fall at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis suffered a contusion to his right forearm, without a fracture. The arm was immobilized as a precautionary measure," the Vatican press office said. 

The note was published after Vatican Media had distributed photographs of the 88-year-old pontiff's morning meetings in which he was wearing a sling that appeared to be made from an elastic bandage tied at his neck. While the photos showed shaking hands with his left hand, other photos showed him using his right hand to sign a document. 

He also had fallen in early December, hitting his chin on his bedside table and sporting a significant bruise on the right side of his face when he created 21 new cardinals Dec. 7.

Pope Francis' voice also has sounded hoarse for weeks. When he met Jan. 9 with ambassadors serving at the Vatican, Pope Francis read only the first paragraph of his prepared text. Explaining that he was "still suffering from a bit of a cold," he asked an aide, Msgr. Filippo Ciampanelli, to read the rest of his text.

While his voice continued to sound rough, he had read his prepared texts himself since that audience.