Man who sprayed graffiti on Louth parochial house previously convicted of arson in Australia

A 32-year-old man who sprayed graffiti on a parochial house in north Louth has been sentenced to four months imprisonment.

James McArdle, Villa Isis, Dulargy, Ravensdale, Dundalk, appeared at the district court via video link.

He pleaded guilty to entering the curtilage of the parochial house in Ravensdale on January 14 last and damaging the exterior wall of the parochial house with paint.

Court presenter Sgt Richie Browne said gardaí had received a report of Mr McArdle entering the grounds of the property. 

He was caught on CCTV footage walking up the laneway and spraying graffiti on the wall.

The defendant was known to the injured party. He was wearing the same clothing as in the footage when gardaí searched his home.

There was no Victim Impact Statement.

Sgt Browne said that Mr McArdle has a number of previous convictions, including two in this jurisdiction from 2016 for failing to produce insurance and driving without a driving licence, while he described previous convictions in Australia as quite significant.

Judge Nicola Andrews remarked, “They are arson”, as she recalled hearing evidence in relation to those in a bail application for a separate previous matter, which Sgt Browne said was withdrawn by the State.

The court heard that he had been convicted in Melbourne Magistrates Court in August 2023 of burglary, criminal damage by fire, theft of two motor vehicles and two counts of unlawful assault for which he was sentenced to a total of 7 months and 28 days, with 228 days spent in custody taken into consideration.

Barrister Niall Mackin submitted his client had alcohol in his system on the night in question.

He had been feeling stressed and anxious over Christmas, and has been in custody since January 16.

The defendant got a job bricklaying before he went into custody and hoped to take it up when released from jail.

He has an eight-week-old child and wants to be a substantial father figure. Becoming a father had “changed his perspective”.

Judge Andrews imposed a six-month sentence, the final two months suspended for 24 months, and remanded him in custody until February 11 to appear in person to sign a bond to be of good behaviour during that period.

Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham reacts to SSPX planned consecrations

Bishop David Waller of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham has cautioned against the FSSPX consecrating bishops without papal mandate.

Earlier this week, the Priestly Society of St Pius X announced plans to consecrate new bishops without papal approval, a move that risks deepening its rift with the Holy See and could lead to the automatic excommunication of those involved.

The decision was made public by Fr Davide Pagliarani, the society’s superior general, during a ceremony for the taking of the cassock at the International Seminary of St Curé of Ars in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France, on February 2. 

In a statement issued by the society’s general house in Menzingen, Switzerland, 

Fr Pagliarani explained that the consecrations would take place on July 1, with the society’s existing bishops entrusted with the task. 

He said the step followed months of fruitless attempts to engage with the Vatican, including a request last August for an audience with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the society’s situation and the need to ensure the continuation of its episcopal ministry.

In response, the Vatican has emphasised that contacts with the society remain ongoing, with the aim of avoiding rifts or unilateral solutions. 

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told the Catholic Herald on February 3: “Contacts between the Society of Saint Pius X and the Holy See continue, with the aim of avoiding disagreements or unilateral solutions to the issues that have emerged.”

Bishop David Waller, who leads the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham for former Anglicans in Great Britain, spoke exclusively to the Catholic Herald about the announcement. 

“The announcement is a very serious matter and the best response is prayer for the Holy Father and for the SSPX,” he said. “The Holy Father is the focus of unity and we can be confident that he will be anxious to avoid further disunity or schism. That being said, it is difficult to see how he can provide for bishops to be in an irregular relationship with the See of Peter. 

The fact that the Society believes it has the authority to consecrate bishops without a papal mandate is indicative of a serious ecclesiological problem in itself, regardless of whether such consecrations go ahead. One can only pray that discussions continue and that a solution is found.”

This key point of ecclesiological disagreement, as Bishop Waller points out, is central to the current deadlock. 

The SSPX’s determination to consecrate bishops on its own, without papal permission, on the basis of a perceived state of necessity, directly questions the Pope’s essential role as the guardian of Church unity. 

This makes it very hard for the Holy Father to find a way to accept or accommodate such bishops while keeping everything in proper communion with Rome.

At the same time, Bishop Waller expresses real hope. He is confident that Pope Leo XIV is deeply committed to preventing any new schism or further division. 

This confidence suggests there is still a chance for progress through the ongoing talks between the Vatican and the SSPX, as long as both sides approach them with genuine openness to conversation and prayer, just as he recommends.

This perspective aligns with broader calls within the Church for structural solutions to safeguard the Traditional Latin Mass while preserving unity under the See of Peter. 

Some traditionalists have proposed the creation of a dedicated ordinariate for communities devoted to the older liturgical forms, a framework that could address the irregularities Bishop Waller identifies. 

Such an ordinariate, modelled on existing ones like Bishop Waller’s own for former Anglicans or those for military personnel, would provide canonical stability under a bishop directly accountable to the Pope. 

French Dominican Fr Louis-Marie de Blignières first advanced the idea of a “traditional ordinariate” in September 2023, suggesting it as a way to integrate traditionalist groups amid the restrictions of Pope Francis’s 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which limited the 1962 Missal in an effort to foster liturgical unity.

Fr de Blignières’s proposal, sent in a letter to cardinals ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s first consistory in January, envisioned an ecclesiastical jurisdiction akin to a personal apostolic administration, focused on the ancient Latin rite. 

He argued it would honour both tradition and papal authority, offering pastoral care for priests and faithful loyal to Rome but attached to pre-Vatican II practices.

Historically, the question of structure has always been a matter of debate. In the early 2000s, following the society’s pilgrimage to Rome during the Great Jubilee, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, presented proposals from Pope John Paul II. 

Bishop Bernard Fellay, then SSPX superior general, later recalled in a 2002 talk that the Vatican suggested a personal prelature, similar to Opus Dei’s, or an apostolic administration, like that in Campos, Brazil, for traditionalists. 

These would grant the SSPX global autonomy in liturgy and governance while ensuring submission to papal authority.

Under Pope Benedict XVI, efforts intensified with doctrinal talks from 2009 to 2012, exploring SSPX acceptance of Vatican II. 

In June 2012, Cardinal William Levada offered a draft protocol and reiterated the personal prelature as a canonical vehicle, allowing an SSPX bishop exempt from local oversight but under the Pope. 

Disagreements over the Council stalled progress, despite Benedict’s 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum liberalising the Traditional Latin Mass.

Pope’s February prayer intention: ‘For children with incurable diseases’

Pope Leo XIV releases his prayer intention for the month of Feburary, and invites Catholics to pray with him to recognize the face of God in every suffering child.

“Lord Jesus, who welcomed the little ones in your arms and blessed them tenderly, today we bring before you the children living with incurable illnesses.”

Pope Leo XIV opened his monthly Pray with the Pope video with that prayer for suffering children.

He recalled that their “fragile bodies” are a sign of Jesus’ presence and that their smiles in the midst of pain bear witness to God’s Kingdom.

“We ask you, Lord, that they may never lack proper medical care, human and compassionate attention, and the support of a community that accompanies them with love.”

Pope Leo prayed for the families of children who are ill and for their caregivers and doctors, expressing his hope that the Holy Spirit may enlighten their decisions and grant them patience and tenderness.

“Lord, teach us to recognize your face in every suffering child,” he said. “May their vulnerability awaken our compassion, and move us to care, accompany, and love with concrete gestures of solidarity.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo invited Catholics to pray that the Church may know how to uphold fragility and become a source of comfort in the midst of suffering.

Millions praying for suffering children

A press release by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which organizes the Pray with the Pope initiative, said Pope Leo is carrying suffering children in his heart this month.

The video accompanying his prayer intention was recorded in the Church of St. Pellegrino in the Vatican. As he speaks, the Pope can be seen holding drawings from children suffering from different illnesses who are being cared for at the Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital in Rome.

According to the World Health Organization, around 400,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each year, making it one of the leading causes of infant and adolescent death.

UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, says over 2.1 billion children and teenagers under 20 are affected by chronic illnesses or long-term health conditions. Around 1 million children under 20 die each year due to these illnesses.

As Fr. Cristóbal Fones, Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, said, “It fills us with hope knowing that more than 20 million people in more than 90 countries are joining in prayer for this intention. It means that this challenging and difficult reality touches their hearts and deepens their commitment.”

Pope Leo’s prayer for children with incurable diseases

Lord Jesus,
who welcomed the little ones in your arms and blessed them tenderly,
today we bring before you the children living with incurable illnesses.

Their fragile bodies are a sign of your presence,
and their smiles, even in the midst of pain, are a testimony of your Kingdom.
We ask you, Lord, that they may never lack proper medical care,
human and compassionate attention,
and the support of a community that accompanies them with love.

Sustain their families in hope,
in the midst of weariness and uncertainty,
and make of them witnesses of a faith that grows stronger through trial.

Bless the hands of doctors, nurses, and caregivers,
so that their work may always be an expression of active compassion.
May your Spirit enlighten them in every difficult decision,
and grant them patience and tenderness to serve with dignity.

Lord, teach us to recognize your face in every suffering child.
May their vulnerability awaken our compassion,
and move us to care, accompany, and love
with concrete gestures of solidarity.

Make of us a Church that,
animated by the feelings of your Heart
and moved by prayer and service,
knows how to uphold fragility,
and in the midst of suffering, becomes a source of comfort,
a seed of hope, and a proclamation of new life.

Amen.

“Millions of Nigerians are going to bed hungry”, Catholic Priest Decries Country’s Growing Poverty Crisis

A Catholic Priest in Nigeria has blamed worsening poverty in the West African country on poor governance and inequality, noting that a huge chunk of the country’s population is “going to bed hungry.”

In an interview with ACI Africa on Wednesday, February 4, Fr. Hyacinth Ichoku, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University Abuja warned that unless Nigeria’s leadership gaps are addressed, insecurity and underdevelopment will continue to plague Africa’s most populous nation.

Fr. Ichoku spoke to ACI Africa on the sidelines of a three-day international conference on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that Veritas University organized.

“Poverty in Nigeria has become a daily, visible reality, walking the streets and invading homes in ways that shame a nation endowed with abundant human and natural resources,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.

He added, “Across cities and rural communities, millions of Nigerians go to bed hungry, unable to afford food, clean water, healthcare, or education, despite the country’s vast wealth. Everywhere you look is poverty.”

Focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty), the Catholic Priest noted that hunger remains a global scandal, citing estimates that more than 318 million people worldwide go to bed hungry each night. 

He described the hunger reality as “not a good story to tell in a world that has experienced tremendous economic and social growth.”

Fr. Ichoku illustrated the human cost of poverty through personal experiences from his pastoral and professional life. 

He recounted meeting a woman with six children who approached him after morning Mass, unable to speak but gesturing toward her mouth to signal hunger. 

“She had gone to bed with her children without food,” he said, adding, “At midnight, one of the children started crying because there was no food in the house. The woman herself was crying.”

In another case, he spoke of a severely malnourished six-month-old child who died overnight, linking the tragedy to a lack of food and basic care. 

Drawing on his experience as a nutrition consultant in several Nigerian states, Fr. Ichoku said he has encountered widespread cases of kwashiorkor and hospitals filled with malnourished children. 

“And still, this is a country where so many people are so rich,” he lamented.

The Vice Chancellor linked Nigeria’s mass poverty to governance failures, particularly poor policy formulation and weak implementation. 

He emphasized that national budgets should be effective tools for redistributing wealth, but said successive governments have failed to use them for that purpose.

 “It’s all about policies and how they are implemented; we have not been having redistribution of the wealth of our country over time,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.

According to Fr. Ichoku, political power in Nigeria often serves narrow interests rather than the common good. 

“When they get power, they promote their own interests, not the access of the people to resources,” he said.

On the issue of insecurity, Fr. Ichoku noted that violence is both a symptom and a consequence of poverty and inequality.

While insecurity worsens economic hardship, he said its roots lie in denied access to basic needs. 

“When people don’t have access to education, health, food, and facilities, they are handicapped,” he explained. “Some of them become recruitment grounds for terrorism,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.

He added, “Boko Haram begins when you deny people access to basic needs. When people are deprived, rebellion is inevitable.”

Beyond poverty, Fr. Ichoku pointed to inequality, captured in SDG 10, as a challenge undermining Nigeria’s development. 

He emphasized that the issue is not the absence of resources but their uneven distribution, both globally and nationally. 

“About the 10 richest individuals in the world own more wealth than 50 percent of the world's population. Can you imagine what that means?” Fr. Ichoku said.

He noted that similar patterns exist in Nigeria, where a small elite controls enormous wealth while the majority struggle to survive. 

According to him, this inequality is sustained by “prebendalism,” the intense competition for political power as the easiest route to accessing and controlling national resources. 

“People believe access to power is the easiest way to get access to national resources, and once they have power, they decide who gets what,” he said.

Fr. Ichoku warned that the consequences of inaction are severe. 

“It’s not about speaking big grammar; it’s about addressing the clear issues of our day,” he said, urging leaders to move beyond rhetoric and confront realities that are “embarrassing us” as societies.

New Archbishop of Prague pledges to promote peace in Church and society

Pope Leo appointed Bishop Stanislav Pribyl of Litomerice as the next Archbishop of Prague, who traditionally ranks first among Czech bishops.

The appointment announced on Monday followed months of deliberation. Archbishop-elect Pribyl will succeed Archbishop Jan Graubner, who was appointed to lead the Archdiocese of Prague in 2022 as a temporary measure replacing Cardinal Dominik Duka.

In line with Church regulations, Graubner submitted his resignation upon reaching the age of 75 in August 2023. Pribyl will take up the post on 25 April.

The 55-year-old is one of the youngest archbishops in Prague’s history. His episcopal motto is Pax vobis – peace be with you – and he said he would aim to bring understanding, peace and hope to the Church and Czech society. 

“I am particularly concerned about peace within the Church. In my opinion, striving for it must be the first step,” Pribyl told the Czech section of Radio Vaticana.

“It is not just a matter for the church and the Prague archdiocese. It often seems that when we come to an idea, we first examine who said or wrote it and then evaluate the content accordingly. Everything is too ad hominem.”

He was born on 16 November 1971 in the Strasnice district of Prague, graduated from the Secondary School of Geodesy and later entered the novitiate of Lubaszowa in Poland (1990-1991) where he subsequently took religious vows in the Redemptorist Congregation. 

From 1991 to 1996 he studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University and simultaneously completed his education at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Prague. After his priestly ordination in 1996, he was parish vicar in Svatá Hora (1996-99) and parish priest (1999-2008). From 2002 to 2011, he was provincial of the Redemptorist Province in the Czech Republic.

In 2004-8, Pribyl served as the president of the Archdiocesan Charity of Prague. He also continued his studies of theology, finance and management as well as of art history.

He served as secretary general of the Czech bishops’ conference from October 2016, speaking publicly on behalf of the Church in the Czech Republic, until his appointment as Bishop of Litomerice in November 2023.

Norbertine brother charged with stealing $2 million from abbey

A former Norbertine brother in New Mexico has been indicted for allegedly stealing $2 million of abbey money while serving as the community’s treasurer and overseeing a construction project.

James Joseph Owens, 68, was arrested Jan. 23. He has been charged with eight counts of wire fraud, 23 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, and one count of tax evasion.

Prosecutors say Owens stole more than $2 million of abbey money, which he used to fund personal investments and the purchase of a house outside of Albuquerque, among other things.

He has entered a plea of not guilty.

Owens joined the Norbertine Community of Santa María de la Vid Abbey in 2009. As a brother, he made a vow of poverty and agreed to give his personal assets, as well as any future income, to the community.

Owens, who had spent nearly a decade working as a certified public accountant before joining the Norbertines, was named treasurer of the community in 2016. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the community’s investments and budget.

When the Norbertine community launched an effort to expand its retreat center in 2020, Owens was tasked with overseeing the liquidation of investment funds.

But according to prosecutors, he stole more than $2 million of abbey money from 2022 to early 2023, through domestic and international wire transfers, brokerage transactions, and cryptocurrency purchases.

Owens “used these funds for his own personal benefit, including through further transactions involving accounts he controlled at Charles Schwab Corporation, Coinbase Global, Inc., E*Trade Financial Center, Fidelity Investments, New Mexico Bank and Trust, and U.S. Bancorp,” court documents allege.

They also say Owens “used some of the stolen funds to purchase a home in Placitas. New Mexico.”

The IRS investigated Owens, who is also charged with filing a fraudulent 2022 tax return by knowingly failing to report the income from these misappropriated funds.

Owens could face up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.

Robert Warren is an assistant professor of accounting at Radford University, a retired IRS investigator, and an expert in theft and fraud in ecclesiastical contexts.

Warren told The Pillar that while there are a number of details about the case that are still unknown, “[t]his is not the typical case of a priest alone in a parish who starts stealing money [to] gamble it away or carry on an illicit affair.”

“Brother JJ orchestrated a somewhat sophisticated money laundering scheme that was international in scope,” he noted.

Warren has advocated for the implementation of internal controls to prevent financial fraud in parishes and other Catholic institutions.

Among the measures he encourages is having several people involved in financial transactions and record-keeping, in order to make it more difficult for fraud to take place.

In the case of the New Mexico Norbertines, Owens’ role as treasure placed him in charge of handling payment of the community’s expenses.

“He appears to have had total access and authority over the funds with no enforceable internal controls,” Warren said.

He added that “construction projects are a great way to hide the theft of money.”

The Norbertines are not alone in allegedly falling victim to financial fraud by a member or employee.

Parishes in Florida, Missouri, New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts and Iowa are among those which have been victims of financial crimes in recent years.

Zollner: Abuse of religious women remains pressing problem

The Jesuit and abuse expert Hans Zollner sees in the sexual abuse of religious women "a topic that burns on the nails." 

At a press conference of the Catholic relief agency missio Aachen on Friday, Zollner said that in many countries today – unlike ten years ago – the topic can be talked openly. Missio has now contributed to the fact that today not only about child protection, but also about the protection of women in spiritual communities.

Over the past five years (2020 to 2025), the charity has supported training, empowering and safeguarding of religious women. 

After intensive project work, missio is now seeing an increased awareness of the topic of sexual abuse of religious women, better language skills about this topic, help for those affected and measures for prevention. 

Together with partner organisations, numerous projects were carried out in Africa, Asia and Oceania. missio funded them with around 17.5 million euros.

Specifically, missio President Dirk Bingener stated that the relief agency had funded 534 training projects in the past five years, 107 of which were specifically for religious women. This resulted in around 80,000 religious women and novices who were supported in living independently, self-determined and strong. 

This indirectly reduces the risk of violence. 35 projects in the narrower area of safeguarding would have the goal of building an infrastructure with which to support women in violence. It is also about building prevention and networking. 

This would include international network meetings and the financial support of eight doctoral students from Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Zollner reported that a religious woman had already raised the issue of sexual abuse of religious women in 2000 – at that time without consequences. Fortunately, this is different today. Even Pope Francis publicly addressed it in 2018.

Sister Mary Lembo reports from Africa that ten years ago it was not yet possible to talk about sexual abuse of religious women. “People have assumed that abuse did not exist in Africa, but only in Europe and other places.” 

That has changed. 

"People today can talk openly about abuse suffered. They are aware that safeguarding training is needed.” 

Training and networking meetings with participants from all continents would have helped very much in understanding abuse as a global problem. Now uniform procedures and codes of conduct for dealing with this violence would have to be made binding.

Sustainable mentality change needed

There are still orders today that maintain a subservient religious ideal, and conceal abuse. In such communities, sisters who talk about their abuse would have great difficulties. In many cultures, sexual violence against women is also more or less accepted. 

As the Indian sister Rushila Rebello said, Christian religious women in Muslim countries in the social hierarchy were so far below that abuse of religious women there would not be regarded as a problem.

Zollner said it needed a shift in mentality and culture that would not happen "from one day to the next." So missio will continue to invest in awareness-creating measures, explained the Safeguarding commissioner Johanna Streit. 

There is a need for more contact points for those affected and training institutions on site. 

Missio wants to contribute to establishing culturally sensitive and favorable training opportunities in the various language groups and to building and expanding networks.

Bingener emphasized: "The topic needs consistency and time". This mixture seems unusual. 

But it is necessary to initiate processes and take people with them. He stressed the danger of shipping remains: "There are always new generations of religious women. The door has opened, but there are also doors shut again." 

So it will continue to be important to pursue the projects with consistency and time. Missio must continue to promote them until they can stand on their own feet.

Abuse study for the Archdiocese of Paderborn to be released

A study on sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Paderborn will take place on 12th. March presented. 

This was announced by the University of Paderborn and the Archdiocese. 

The church-historical evaluation had been delayed because of the large amount of material and because of legal checks. 

The terms of office of the former archbishops and cardinals Lorenz Jaeger and Johannes Joachim Degenhardt (1941–2002) are scrutinised. 

According to the archdiocese, much of the known abuse cases fall within that period.

The interim report on the study had already caused a stir and outrage in December 2021. 

Because in it, Jaeger and Degenhardt were attested to serious misconduct in dealing with abusers among the clergy. 

They would have protected accused persons and sometimes expressed their sympathy in writing. 

They would not have shown care to those affected.

The suspicion that Jaeger and Degenhardt themselves were perpetrators, the archdiocese rejected in October. 

None of the previously known accusations are plausibly set out. 

The archdiocese had learned of a third accusation at that time – in addition to the allegations of two already known alleged victims. 

Researchers from the University of Paderborn have been working on the study since 2020. 

New Abbot of Maria Laach: Bring momentum for the future in tradition

The new abbot of the Benedictine abbey Maria Laach, Mauritius Wilde,has no qualms about more traditional forms of the Catholic faith in the face of a rising interest of young people. 

"I think we are just getting momentum for the future again, but we are turning back a bit, so to speak, into the tradition, so that we can give the full power of tradition into the future," Wilde said on Thursday in an interview with the Cologne portal "domradio.de".

When looking at the increasing number of adult baptisms in France in recent years, for example, "you can see that something is coming, and I am very happy about that. But I also experience this in Germany," Wilde stressed. 

Often these people are not religiously socialized. "I feel with the younger ones that they feel that certain things have been withheld from them from tradition. They'd like to revive them, or at least know what was there."

Do not isolate each other

This development does not scare him, Wilde continued. "You just have to stay together. With the different orientations within the church, we must not isolate each other." Especially in the monastery, there is a good chance to solve conflicts together.

The monastic life is still promising, the abbot explained. Monasteries and spiritual centers gain in importance because the dioceses were in a great upheaval. Many people therefore do well to come to the monastery from time to time. "It is important that there are retreats where you can remember the essentials. I see a great opportunity for the monasteries these days.”

Wilde (60) had been appointed abbot of Maria Laach by the Vatican Dicastery of the Order at the beginning of October; on 15th. October. November he received the Abbot's Dediction through the Bishop of Trier, Stephan Ackermann. 

There had been years of leadership queues in the abbey. After a few months in office, Wilde draws a positive interim balance. 

"From the beginning there was a great openness. There was also relief that a fresh start is now possible, and at the same time it was clear that we still have to sniff each other out."

House of Representatives spokesman argues with Bible against Pope Leo

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has defended the Trump administration's migration policy with a personal Bible interpretation, in part rejecting Pope Leo XIV's criticism of mass deportations. 

"Boundaries and walls are biblical, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, God has allowed us to build our civil societies and have separate nations," the Republican Party politician told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. 

Previously, he had been asked by a reporter for a biblical-theological response to certain statements of the head of the church.

Leo, who is from the US, had called for a "profound reflection" on the treatment of migrants in the United States in November before reporters in Castel Gandolfo. 

In the process, he recurred to the 25th Chapter in the Gospel of Matthew: "Jesus says very clearly that at the end of the world we are asked: How did you receive the stranger? Did you welcome him and welcome him or not?" the pope said at the time. "A lot of people who have lived there for years and have never caused problems are deeply affected by the current events," he added.

'This is biblical'

Johnson, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention, acknowledged that immigration in Scripture would not be disapproved of, but welcomed. 

“If someone comes to your country, comes to your nation, he does not have the right to change their laws or society. He is expected to assimilate.” This has not happened often in the United States recently. “We should love our neighbor as ourselves – as individuals. But the state authority, the government must uphold the law, and that is biblical.

Later, Johnson clarified his statements on the platform "X." Therefore, people should support every faith and especially Christians strong national borders. 

Critics of U.S. migration policy would take Bible passages out of context to portray Christians and Jews as in disbelief "if we oppose their radical open border agenda."

Especially from the Catholic Church in the USA, there is sharp criticism of the current US immigration policy. 

The Episcopal Conference had on 13. November, in a declaration almost unanimously adopted, condemns the ordered mass expulsions of illegally immigrant people. 

Pope Leo, who himself spoke out against some of the U.S. government's actions in several places, specifically welcomed this statement.

Signs against Rupnik? Pope Leo moves site of fasting retreats

Will the head of the church send a signal against the Slovenian artist, ex-Jesuits and priest Marko Rupnik? 

This year's fasting retreats of the Pope with the Roman Curia should not take place in the Redemptoris-Mater-Kapelle designed by Rupnik, reports the Italian newspaper "Il Messaggero" on Wednesday. 

Instead, the retreats are to be moved to the Cappella Paolina in the Apostolic Palace.

Several women had accused Rupnik of making them sexually docile, taking advantage of his authority as a clergyman. After the Jesuit order had excluded him, the Slovenian diocese of Koper took him in. 

The Pope, who died on Easter Monday, had finally ordered another investigation in October 2023 after the admission of Rupnik to the diocese of Koper – despite the statute of limitations of the acts under church law. In the meantime, a lot had happened in the Rupnik case. 

In mid-October last year, the Vatican Dicastery of Faith had appointed a special court of five. The women and men, who according to the Vatican have no offices in the Curia, are to decide in the process.

Dealing with Artworks

The Slovenian has designed numerous churches and chapels all over the world as a mosaic artist, including the Redemptoris-Mater Chapel, where the fasting retreats usually take place. 

But dealing with his artworks has been controversial since the allegations became known. In some churches, such as the Basilica in the Marian pilgrimage site of Lourdes, the works have been imposed, in others they can still be seen. 

The Vatican media has also been criticized for a long time, as his works were used for illustration. 

About a month after Leo XIV took office, they disappeared from the websites.

As for this year's fasting retreats, the Bishop of Trondheim, Erik Varden, will lead them. Varden has been chairman of the Nordic Bishops’ Conference since 2024. Since 2019 he has been appointed Prelate of Trondheim, in 2020 he was ordained a bishop. He was the first Norwegian-born chief shepherd of the diocese of Trondheim since the Reformation. 

In addition, Varden has been the Apostolic Administrator of the second Norwegian Territorial Prelature of Tromso since 2023. Before his time as a prelate, the Trappist Abbot was Mount St Abbey. Bernard in Leicestershire (United Kingdom).

Leo XIV entrusts "Tucho" with direct dialogue with the FSSPX

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will be in charge of holding a direct meeting with the superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), Fr. Davide Pagliarani, at a particularly delicate moment in relations between Rome and the Fraternity, marked by the announcement of new episcopal consecrations without pontifical mandate.

According to The Pillar, Cardinal Fernández himself confirmed that the meeting will take place next week at the dicastery’s headquarters and that its objective is “to find a fruitful path of dialogue”.

Tucho, the only interlocutor designated by Rome

One of the most significant elements of this new step is that the dialogue will be limited exclusively to the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the superior of the FSSPX, without the participation of other bishops from the Fraternity or other Vatican officials. 

Fernández himself specified that, unlike previous meetings, on this occasion neither other prelates from the FSSPX nor figures from the Curia who were part of the conversations in the past will intervene.

This detail marks a relevant change compared to previous stages, in which the dialogue included officials such as Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, or Msgr. Guido Pozzo, former secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. 

The designation of Fernández as the sole interlocutor places the process under the direct competence of the Holy See’s doctrinal body.

A letter from the Dicastery and an explicit refusal

Tucho also explained that the letter mentioned by Fr. Pagliarani—which he referred to as insufficient—was sent by his dicastery and that it expressly rejected the possibility of proceeding at this time with new episcopal consecrations. 

Nevertheless, he emphasized that there has been an exchange of correspondence in recent times and that the meeting seeks to keep a channel of communication open, “without haste”.

A dialogue with complex antecedents

The dialogue between Rome and the FSSPX has been dragging on for decades and has known phases of greater rapprochement, especially during the pontificates of Benedict XVI and Francis. 

In 2017, Vatican officials even proposed the possibility of a stable canonical structure, such as a personal prelature, while Pope Francis granted limited faculties in sacramental matters to attend to the spiritual good of the faithful linked to the Fraternity.

However, the canonical situation of the FSSPX remains irregular. 

The announcement of new consecrations without pontifical mandate has returned the conflict to its ecclesiological core, now under the direct responsibility of the doctrinal prefect.

A decisive moment

The decision to entrust the dialogue to Cardinal Fernández, in this specific context, turns the upcoming meeting into a point of special relevance for the future of relations between the Holy See and the FSSPX.

Becciu case is left in suspense following an unexpected decision by the appeals court

Just two days after the resumption of the trial on the management of reserved funds of the Vatican Secretariat of State - with Cardinal Angelo Becciu as the main accused - the court decided to cancel the scheduled hearing and reserve any pronouncement, leaving the process in suspense, according to the Ansa agency.

The determination was communicated by the president of the Vatican Court of Appeal, Monsignor Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, who unexpectedly closed the oral debate after the counter-rebuttals of the defenses and the civil parties, including the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), the Secretariat of State, and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA).

Procedural issues still unresolved

The Court will now rule through an ordinance on a series of procedural issues that could affect the development of the trial. Among them are the request for nullity of the first-instance process, the petition to incorporate documentation linked to the so-called Striano case, and controversies related to communications, documentary omissions, and actions of various witnesses and officials.

These issues have occupied much of the recent hearings and have been presented by the defenses as central elements for assessing the validity of the judicial procedure followed so far.

Opposing positions between defenses and prosecution

During the final interventions, several defense lawyers questioned the fairness of the process and denounced alleged violations of the right to defense. These objections were shared by legal representatives of various defendants, who insisted on the need for the court to rule before entering into the merits of the accusations.

For their part, the representatives of the civil parties defended the legality of the acts adopted during the investigation and maintained that certain decisions, including those adopted through pontifical rescripts, have normative value within the Vatican legal system.

The debate on the role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office

From the Vatican prosecutor’s office, the requests to incorporate judicial actions from Italian courts were rejected, considering them extraneous to the object of the ongoing process. 

The promoter of justice emphasized the independence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and defended the fact that there is no legal connection between proceedings opened outside the Vatican and the trial being conducted before the Vatican jurisdiction.

This point has been one of the most controversial in the debate, as it raises the relationship between parallel investigations and the autonomy of the judicial system of Vatican City State.

Awaiting a key decision

The lawyers for Cardinal Becciu reiterated publicly the innocence of their client and pointed out that, despite not yet having entered into the analysis of the specific accusations, they consider it essential for the Court to rule first on the alleged procedural irregularities raised from the beginning of the case.

The decision that the appeal court now adopts will be decisive for the future of the process and could mark a turning point in one of the most relevant trials of recent years in the Vatican.

Context note:

The Becciu case originates from a criminal trial initiated in 2021 against Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu and other defendants for alleged financial crimes linked to an investment by the Secretariat of State in a real estate property in London, which resulted in million-dollar losses for the Holy See. 

In December 2023, the first-instance court convicted Becciu, imposing a prison sentence, economic sanctions, and disqualification from public office, after considering him responsible for embezzlement and abuse of power.

Becciu has maintained his innocence and appealed the sentence to the appeal court, where both factual and procedural issues of the case are being reviewed. 

The appeal has been marked by objections regarding the conduct of the investigation and the admissibility of certain evidence, including internal communications and documentary omissions whose assessment could influence the validity of the original verdict.

Mar Sánchez Sierra, the Opus Dei woman who runs the PP from the shadows

For years, María del Mar Sánchez Sierra has been one of the most influential—and least visible—figures in the Partido Popular. 

Member of Opus Dei with a commitment to celibacy, her power does not come from the media spotlight or parliamentary prominence, but from something much more effective: continuity, personal trust, and internal control. 

Sánchez Sierra has accompanied Alberto Núñez Feijóo for decades, first in Galicia and then in his landing in national politics. Today, she is one of the key people in the party’s real structure.

That power is not abstract. Sánchez Sierra is in charge of relations with the media, a decisive area for any contemporary political leadership. From that position, she manages access, sets limits, and decides who speaks and when. 

In the PP, she is known—and greatly feared—precisely for that: for her ability to close ranks around Feijóo and for the toughness with which she neutralizes anyone who tries to overshadow him. She is not a visible spokesperson; she is the one who controls the circuit. 

And in politics, whoever controls the circuit calls the shots.

Various sources agree in pointing out that Mar Sánchez Sierra is a celibate member of Opus Dei, a membership that, without being public or institutional, is relevant to understanding certain power dynamics. 

Opus Dei does not act as a political party, and its members enjoy freedom, which makes it possible for them to be present in various decision-making centers, both in administration and in large organizations. Not through directives, but through reliable, disciplined people trained for the long term.

In this context, the figure of Sánchez Sierra takes on a dimension that goes beyond the organic. It is not just about a veteran leader, but about a woman with enormous influence over the PP’s leadership, precisely because of her prolonged and stable relationship with Feijóo. 

Experience shows that, in politics, whoever remains when others pass calls the shots. And whoever remains, moreover, controlling communication and internal balances, calls the shots doubly.

The presence of Opus Dei members in very diverse ideological spaces is not new. 

Just remember the case of Rafa Larreina, a numerary of Opus Dei who went on to play a relevant role in Sortu, a formation located at the ideological antipodes of the Partido Popular. 

The common denominator is not the political program, but internal discipline, intellectual formation, and management capacity that the Work has known how to cultivate.

This fact is especially striking if one observes Feijóo’s political trajectory in Galicia. Under his presidency, the region was a pioneer in the approval of LGTB legislation, ahead of other autonomies and consolidating a normative framework widely celebrated by progressivism. 

This fact dismantles simplistic readings that automatically associate Opus Dei with a confessional or reactionary political agenda. 

Reality is more complex: personal freedom in politics, internal coherence in organization, and effectiveness in management. Opus Dei members habitually work in environments hostile to Christian identity, as professional freedom is a hallmark of the still prelature.

The asset declaration submitted by Sánchez Sierra upon taking office as a deputy reinforces that image of a consolidated and structural profile. 

The document reflects a very extensive real estate patrimony, with apartments, commercial premises, offices, industrial warehouses, urban and rustic estates distributed between Galicia, Madrid, and Castilla y León, as well as corporate participations and high-value financial assets. 

No debts or encumbrances are recorded, which points to a solidly established economic position for years.

There is nothing illegal about it. 

But there is a relevant fact: Mar Sánchez Sierra is not an emerging or circumstantial figure, but someone who has long belonged to the country’s administrative, economic, and political elites. 

And from that position, she exerts a discreet but decisive influence, reinforced by the internal fear awakened by her ability to protect the leader and settle political scores without exposing herself.

In a Partido Popular in the process of ideological redefinition, and with questioned leadership, the consolidation of profiles like that of Mar Sánchez feeds those who attribute to Opus Dei the search for an effective presence in decision-making centers, not through acronyms or declarations, but through specific people, loyal, trained, and with real power.

And there are people in Génova who are not happy about it.

Direct pressure on priests who do not sign up for the Convivium de Cobo

Messages have reached the Infovaticana newsroom that were sent to priests in the Diocese of Madrid who have not registered for the Convivium. 

These are not general calls or impersonal reminders, but individualized communications that demonstrate specific tracking of who is and who is not participating. 

Under an amiable and apparently pastoral language, these messages introduce an element of pressure that is hardly compatible with the freedom officially proclaimed around this event.

Several priests report having received WhatsApps in recent days signed by Juan Carlos Merino, in which they are addressed by name for not appearing registered for the Convivium priestly assembly, despite having attended the pre-assembly. 

The message, presented as a simple administrative check, is perceived by recipients as a personal and direct nudge inviting them to “correct” the absence and complete the registration.

Yes, there is pressure. Gentle, but pressure nonetheless.

It is not an explicit order, nor a threat, nor formal coercion. Precisely for that reason, it is more effective. It presents itself as personal concern, as pastoral care, as a simple administrative clarification. 

But the subtext is clear: we have seen that you have not registered, we know where you have been, we expect you to be here too. In a hierarchical context, that is not neutral.

The key lies in the asymmetry. It is not written by an equal: it is written by Juan Carlos Merino, from a position that represents structure and authority. 

In diocesan life, that type of message does not circulate in a vacuum: it arrives backed by a system that influences assignments, tasks, informal evaluations, and internal climate. 

When someone like that points out a specific absence and links it to an event promoted from above, the implicit message is that not going is an anomaly that must be justified.

Moreover, the rhetorical device is classic: it offers an “innocent” way out—confusion, technical problem—to prevent the recipient from being able to say openly “I don’t want to go.” It presupposes that non-registration cannot be a free and reasoned decision. That already says a lot about the concept of freedom being handled.

Is this “great freedom”? 

No. It is soft control, pastoralized, wrapped in fraternal language. It does not compel, but it points out. It does not command, but it monitors. And in clerical organizations, where the cost of being singled out is usually paid in the medium term, that type of message functions as a mechanism of alignment.

Another matter is whether it is legitimate or prudent. But if the question is whether there is pressure, the answer is yes. Low-intensity institutional pressure, designed precisely to be deniable if someone denounces it.

All this is aggravated if one considers the controversy already uncovered around the Convivium itself, after the revelation of the introduction of doctrinally problematic proposals, internally labeled as “peculiar” to avoid calling them by name. 

The presence of heretical or gravely ambiguous approaches has sown reasonable doubts about an event to the greater glory of a controversial and questioned cardinal, and this type of pressure does not dispel those doubts: it reinforces them.

Bishop Oster will not apply the reforms of the German Synodal Way in his diocese

The Bishop of Passau (Germany), Monsignor Stefan Oster, has publicly expressed his rejection of applying the main resolutions of the German Synodal Way in his diocese, as well as the monitoring system planned to evaluate their implementation in the dioceses.

Criticism of the implementation of synodal decisions

In a post published this week on his personal blog, the prelate argues that the application of the reforms approved in the synodal process would accelerate the processes of internal dissolution of the Church in Germany. For this reason, he states that he cannot and does not wish to support “essential reform claims” already approved by the Synodal Way.

Oster acknowledges that he takes seriously the concerns expressed by many women and people with same-sex attraction, but he considers that the proposed responses—such as blessings of unions not in conformity with Church doctrine or the introduction of a non-sacramental female diaconate—do not adequately address the underlying issues from a theological perspective.

Doctrinal and anthropological objections

According to the bishop, these proposals stem from an insufficient understanding of Christian anthropology and the relationship between God and creation. Furthermore, he warns that they could generate new wounds and experiences of exclusion, rather than offering a truly integrative response.

He is particularly critical of the so-called “monitoring” or control system to verify the application of synodal decisions in the dioceses. In his view, this mechanism already presupposes a new sexual morality and a new anthropology, as well as the expectation of a doctrinal change under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.

Fidelity to the magisterium and priestly promises

Monsignor Oster states that he does not expect changes in Church doctrine and is convinced of the value and validity of the current teaching. In this context, he recalls that as a deacon, priest, and bishop, he has solemnly promised to safeguard and proclaim the Church’s doctrine, a commitment he considers incompatible with most of the demands raised in the framework of the Synodal Way monitoring.

From this perspective, he warns that the application of these demands would deepen internal divisions in the Church, especially with regard to the faithful who remain attached to the faith transmitted by tradition.

Risk of greater ecclesial polarization

The Bishop of Passau alerts that, in this process, the so-called “mainstream” within the Church is shifting further and further toward progressive positions, while the faithful who wish to live from the sacraments and remain in traditional teaching are portrayed as marginal extremists. In his opinion, this dynamic is deeply detrimental to ecclesial communion.

He also expresses reservations about the planned Synodal Conference, considering that many Catholics guided by the magisterium will once again feel insufficiently represented. In this context, he warns of a growing process of “self-secularization” within the Church in Germany.

Underlying criticism of the Synodal Way

In his analysis, Monsignor Oster argues that the Synodal Way has been oriented from its beginnings toward modifying the doctrine on human nature and the priesthood, imposing certain positions on sectors faithful to the magisterium, and not toward fostering an authentic missionary conversion.

He considers that the emphasis on reducing clerical power has been accompanied in many cases by a questioning of the sacramental character of the priesthood, and warns of the risk of replacing one form of clericalism with another, now exercised through control structures over bishops and priests.

Call for spiritual renewal

In the face of these dynamics, the Bishop of Passau points to signs of ecclesial renewal outside the Synodal Way, especially among young people seeking spiritual depth, sacramental life, and liturgical beauty. According to him, these faithful do not usually feel addressed by the dominant synodal themes.

As a positive example, he mentions the spiritual conversation encounters promoted in Rome during Pope Francis’s pontificate, characterized by a climate of discernment and far removed from political or parliamentary logic. In his view, the future of the Church does not lie in redistributions of power, but in an authentic spiritual renewal and interior conversion.

Hilarious Enoch Burke and Roy Keane Valentine’s Day cards are an instant success

Shopping for a Valentine’s Day card can be a bit of a romantic landmine — particularly with the tone of the card you might want to buy.

Whether you met through friends or Tinder, at the bar or Bumble, or, well… probably through an app, who are we kidding — it’s the most romantic time of year (unless you believe it’s a hallmark holiday, to each their own!).

While you might be looking for something that’s also Irish, a humorous card is usually the way to go — with a card company in Derry sharing their hilarious cards ahead of this romance season.

Derry Nice Things, operating out of Derry, showed off their cards ahead of Valentine’s Day to social media, with some of them being admittedly quite nice and romantic — namely a Claddagh design with ‘grá mór, mo Vailintín’ as Gaeilge.

While a lot of the cards reference Derry mainly, there are some from outside the county too — with Mick McCarthy and Kneecap being the main references in the cards.

While some may think that Roy Keane’s ‘Happy Valentine’s Day? Do me a favour’ card would be the piece de resistance, we have found that perhaps their best one is, naturally, Enoch Burke.

The card, which shows the former teacher with a bunch of roses, with the poem: ‘roses are red, I’m here to stay, you’ll never get rid of me, Happy Valentine’s Day.’

The cards were a hit online, with one commenting: ‘You’ve got some talent, brilliant.’

‘These are class,’ another wrote, while the company also have ones for the love in your life that may add six letters to the name ‘Derry.’

While the usual suspects are on the Derry Nice Things cards, one card seller took their subject of their Valentine’s cards to strange new places — opting to have Marty Whelan on their cards, with the man himself sharing them on social media.

Auxiliary Bishop-elect plans to be a ‘shepherd who listens’

Perth Auxiliary Bishop-elect Nelson Po has a simple and pastoral vision for the kind of bishop he hopes to be after his episcopal ordination.

“A good shepherd is one who listens,” he said. “That’s the trademark I hope to bring to this ministry: listening to people, journeying with them, and caring for them.”

The Applecross parish priest was announced as the new auxiliary bishop of Perth by the Holy See on Monday. 

The appointment was welcomed by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who described Bishop-elect Po as “a new and dynamic shepherd” whose gifts will be a blessing to clergy, religious and laity alike.

Before entering priestly formation, Bishop-elect Po, 57, completed a degree in industrial and management engineering and worked in his field for several years – an experience he says continues to shape his pastoral ministry.

“That background helped me a lot, particularly in managing parish life and handling complex situations,” he said. “It fits in well with being a parish priest.”

A defining feature of Bishop-elect Po’s ministry has been his deep commitment to the Church’s synodal journey.

He has contributed to the Archdiocese of Perth’s Plenary Council Reference Group, the Perth Diocesan Assembly Reference Group, and, most recently, participated in the Jubilee for Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies in Rome in October 2025.

Bishop-elect Po offered a message of encouragement to the faithful of Perth, acknowledging the challenges faced both within the Church and in the wider community.

“Let us not give up hope,” he said. “There are many issues – personal, communal, global – but our faith calls us to look to Jesus as our guide and our strength.”

Bishop-elect Po’s episcopal ordination will take place after the Easter Triduum, on a date yet to be confirmed.

Vatican's 'trial of the century' resumes after prosecutors suffer setbacks on appeal

The appeals phase of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” resumed Tuesday after a pair of setbacks for the pope’s prosecutors that could have big repercussions on the outcome of the troubled case.

The case concerns the once-powerful Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight other defendants, who were convicted of a handful of financial crimes in 2023, after a sprawling two-year trial.

However, the Vatican’s high Court of Cassation recently upheld a lower court’s decision to throw out the prosecutors’ appeal entirely. That means the defendants can only expect to see their verdicts and sentences improved if not overturned.

On the same day as the Cassation ruling, the Vatican’s chief prosecutor, Alessandro Diddi, also dropped months of objections and abruptly resigned from the case, rather than face the possibility that the Cassation court would order him removed.

At issue is Diddi’s role in a now-infamous set of WhatsApp chats that have thrown the credibility of the entire trial into question. 

The chats, which document a yearslong, behind-the-scenes effort to target Becciu, suggest questionable conduct by Vatican police, Vatican prosecutors and Pope Francis himself.

Several defense attorneys had argued that the chats showed Diddi was hardly impartial in his handling of evidence and witnesses and was unfit to continue in his role.

Diddi rejected their arguments as “unfounded” and bitterly complained to the Cassation's cardinal judges. But he recused himself regardless “to prevent insinuations and falsehoods about me from being exploited to damage and prejudice the process of ascertaining the truth and affirming justice.”

Had the Cassation actually ruled against Diddi and found that his role was incompatible, the entire case could have resulted in a mistrial or a declaration of nullity. As it is, the appeals court has ruled that Diddi's prosecutorial activities were valid, even if he subsequently recused himself.

The original trial opened in 2021 with its main focus the Vatican’s investment of 350 million euros ($413 million) in a London property. 

Prosecutors alleged brokers and Vatican monsignors fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions to acquire the property, and then extorted the Holy See for 15 million euros ($16.5 million) to cede control of it.

The original investigation spawned two main tangents involving Becciu, a once-powerful cardinal, who was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 5½ years in prison. The tribunal convicted eight other defendants of embezzlement, abuse of office, fraud and other charges, but acquitted them on many counts.

All the defendants maintained their innocence and appealed. Prosecutors also appealed, since the tribunal largely threw out their overarching theory of a grand conspiracy to defraud the Holy See and instead convicted the defendants of a handful of serious but secondary charges.

Diddi had seen the appeals as an opportunity to prosecute his initial case again. In filing the appeal, he merely attached his original request for convictions. But the appeals court threw that out on the grounds that it lacked the “specificity” required by law in an appeals motion.

It was an embarrassing procedural error that the Cassation court, in its Jan. 9 ruling, refused to forgive.

The appeals now proceeds on other defense arguments, with a next line of attack focusing on Francis’ role in the investigation. 

During the trial, defense attorneys had argued their clients couldn’t receive a fair trial in an absolute monarchy where the pope wields supreme legislative, executive and judicial power, and Francis used those powers during the investigation.

At issue are four secret executive decrees Francis signed in 2019 and 2020, during the early days of the investigation, that gave Vatican prosecutors wide-ranging powers, including the unchecked use of wiretapping and the right to deviate from existing laws.

The decrees only came to light right before trial and were never officially published. They provided no rationale or time frame for the surveillance, nor oversight of the wiretapping by an independent judge, and were passed specifically for this investigation.

Legal scholars have said the secrecy of the laws and their ad hoc nature violated a basic tenet of the right to a fair trial requiring the “equality of arms” between defense and prosecution. 

In this case, the defense was completely unaware of the prosecution’s new investigative powers. 

Even Vatican legal officials have privately conceded that Francis’ failure to publish the decrees was deeply problematic.

Diddi had argued that Francis’ decrees provided unspecified “guarantees” for the suspects, and the tribunal originally rejected the defense motions arguing they violated the defendants’ fundamental right to a fair trial. 

In a somewhat convoluted decision, the judges ruled that no violation of the principle of legality had occurred since Francis had made the laws.

Under the church's canon law, the pope can't be judged by anyone but God. 

But the pope also can't promulgate laws that violate divine law, setting up a potential dilemma if the court were to ultimately find that Francis' decrees violated the defendants' fundamental rights.

The Vatican has insisted that the defendants all received a fair trial.