Catholic monk who sent naked photos of himself to woman holidaymaker will not be prosecuted after it's ruled the snaps were 'spiritual'

A Catholic monk who admitted sending naked photographs of himself to a woman holidaymaker will not be prosecuted after the Crown Prosecution Service ruled the snaps were 'spiritual'.

Brother Titus Keet, 77, confessed to having 200 pictures of himself posing naked on a beach at daybreak, but says they are not sexual.

He sent some of the pictures to Lisa Love, 56, a visitor to Caldey Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, which has a sordid history of harbouring sex offenders and paedophiles.

Miss Love, of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, went to police after receiving multiple photographs from Keet showing him exercising naked on one of the island's remote beaches.

The monk was arrested in September 2024 on suspicion of harassing the mother-of-two, and while on bail he fled the island and is believed to be in Belgium.

The Crown Prosecution Service wrote to Miss Love to say they will be taking no further action against Keet because the photographs are 'spiritual'.

Miss Love accused police and the CPS of protecting the monk because of his religious background.

She said: 'He's admitted sending the pictures, I can't understand why he is not being taken to court.

'He says the pictures are art and now the police are agreeing with him that they are spiritual. Tell me where in the Bible it says to prance around naked on a beach.

'He's a Catholic monk living in an ancient monastery where they are supposed to pray in silence all day.

'But he is going to the beach, stripping off in front of a camera and then posting pictures to someone who doesn't want them. I can only think he's been let off because he's a monk.'

Miss Love, a tour guide, met Keet 15 years ago while she was staying with her elderly parents at a whitewashed two-bedroomed cottage on the island.

After her mother died in 2011 she continued to holiday on the island with her teenage daughters, staying near the imposing abbey where the monks have their quarters.

She struck up a friendship with the monk and he helped her grieve for her mother, writing to her when she returned to the mainland.

But Miss Love said she was 'startled' when he began enclosing naked photographs of himself in the letters.

She ignored them, but last year the monk started sending the same indecent images to her mobile phone.

Miss Love reported him to the monastery's Abbott and was advised Brother Keet had been disciplined and told to stop sending the explicit snaps.

When he continued to send them she informed Dyfed-Powys Police, who have investigated other monks on the island for sex offences.

Officers were shown text messages between the mother-of-two and the monk which backed his claims that they had been friends.

The letter, from CPS prosecutor Sandra Subacchi, said: 'Those conversations supported the account he gave that the photos were spiritual and there was nothing sexual in your relationship.

'After consideration of all the evidence I have made the decision that the case cannot go ahead.'

Miss Love said she was 'sickened' by the CPS's lack of understanding and has launched a Victims' Right to Review request through her solicitor.

She said: 'Sex offenders make friends with their victims, we all know that, it's called grooming.

'Just because of my friendly and unsuspecting nature, the CPS has decided I brought this on myself.

'They agree that the photographs are unwanted, they are of a naked man but because he says they are spiritual, he gets away with it.'

When confronted by the Daily Mail shortly before his arrest, Keet, who has lived on the holy island for 22 years, confirmed he is the man in the pictures and said he had been 'stupid' and 'naive'.

He said: 'It is art. I was putting my body in the light. I wanted to share with her the body and the light. It is the human body, in its original state. It's not sexual.

'I have a whole collection of myself, it is healthy for people to put their body in nature.'

The monk said he kept his risqué pictures on a digital stick and denied getting sexual gratification from sending the pictures to Miss Love saying it was 'not an option'.

Caldey Island, which welcomes 60,000 holidaymakers each year, was at the centre of a major child abuse scandal after claims more than 50 children were sexually abused by the Trappist monks in the 1970s and 80s.

Some victims were paid meagre amounts of compensation and a review published in 2024 recommended a 'no touch' policy banning the monks from physical contact with visiting tourists.

Victim Kevin O'Connell, who runs the Caldey Island Survivors Campaign said it was 'outrageous' that the CPS is not charging Brother Keet after he admitted sending the unwanted nude photos.

He said: 'It's appalling that CPS lawyers have agreed that these photos are spiritual and even artistic just because he's a monk.

'This case highlights Dyfed-Powys Police's failure to properly investigate and support victims. The force's shortcomings have led to a culture of silence, deterring victims from coming forward.

'It's unacceptable that victims are left without support while perpetrators are seemingly given a free pass. Until Dyfed-Powys police take abuse allegations seriously, Caldey island will remain a haven for perpetrators.'

The CPS declined to comment because Miss Love has made an application under the Victims' Right to Review Scheme.

The Popes Theologian

When Lent begins in the Vatican, the rhythm of life within the Apostolic Palace changes. 

The Holy Father withdraws for the annual Spiritual Exercises, praying alongside cardinals, bishops, and members of the Roman Curia. 

Among them is a quiet but crucial figure: the Theologian of the Papal Household.

Considered part of the so-called “papal family,” he lives and works at the heart of the Vatican, closely involved in the Pope’s spiritual and intellectual life. 

Since 2005, that role has been held by Fr. Wojciech Giertych, a 74-year-old Dominican priest who has served the last three popes. 

One of the few people who reside permanently inside the Apostolic Palace, he now awaits Pope Leo’s move there - ready to welcome him as a neighbor.

Guarding the Pope’s Words

When asked about his responsibilities within the Papal Household, Fr. Giertych responded with characteristic humility: “Well, that’s a good question. I would like to have an answer. I was never given an answer, strictly speaking,” he said, before explaining the practical reality of his work.

“Basically the procedure in the Holy See is such that the discourses which are prepared for the Pope, basically not by the Pope, but for the Pope. It’s obvious that the Pope has many, many meetings and so many discourses are prepared; And they’re prepared by various people depending on the subject matter. And so before the Holy Father receives the text, the function of the theologian of the Holy Father is to look at them and see if they’re not confusing, if they’re not ambiguous, if something has to be corrected. And this is the prime reason why I live here in the Vatican, because these texts are sometimes prepared in the last moment.”

In other words, his task is to safeguard theological clarity. Before a papal address is delivered to the world, it passes through his careful review — ensuring precision, faithfulness, and coherence.

What Lent Truly Means

Beyond his daily responsibilities, Fr. Giertych sees Lent as a deeply spiritual invitation. Asked what Lent means for a believer, he pointed to Christ’s forty days in the desert.

“It’s a time of maybe a deepened prayer,” he explained, recalling how the liturgy reminds the faithful of “the encounter of Jesus with the evil one, and the three temptations.”

He described those temptations in vivid terms: “to use the power of Jesus and change stones into bread, to use the power of the angels and do something stupid, to jump off the pinnacle of the temple and crust in an absurd way, and then to bow in front and adore the evil one as to possess the entire world.”

Christ rejected them all. In doing so, Fr. Giertych noted, Jesus entered fully into the human condition — even into moments “where the meaning of life seems to be difficult, seems to slip through the fingers.”

“And yet, nevertheless, he continued in his prayer,” the Dominican priest emphasized.

For believers today, Lent becomes “an invitation for a deepened prayer, a deepened focus on God and the putting away of distractions and assuring that God is essential in our lives.”

Human Effort and Divine Grace

Lent often raises a fundamental question: is it primarily about human effort — fasting, sacrifice, discipline — or about God’s grace?

Fr. Giertych insists the two cannot be separated. “We have to distinguish between nature and grace,” he explained, “between our natural thinking and working on the basis of faith, which opens us to grace. But grace doesn’t appear as a rival to our will and to our mind.”

He offered a concrete example. A father who spends ten minutes each day speaking with his teenage child gives a fully human gift. “That gift of the dad is 100% human. It’s his gift,” Fr. Giertych said.

But when that effort is lived in faith — perhaps as a special Lenten commitment — something more occurs. “This time given to the child is 100% human and 100% divine at the same time, because grace is working within us.”

Grace, he added, does not diminish freedom. On the contrary, it strengthens it: “in such a way that we don’t lose the dignity and liberty of our will, but we become even more free, even more generous, even more true.”

Why Confession Matters

Confession stands at the center of Lenten practice. When asked why people seek the sacrament, Fr. Giertych again highlighted both the human and divine dimensions.

“There is the human aspect and the divine aspect, and the divine aspect is working through the human, through the gestures, through the words, through the sacramental signs,” he explained.

While it is possible to encounter God outside the sacraments — “through faith, hope, and charity expressed in prayer” — the sacraments provide something distinctive. 

He pointed to Christians who maintained deep spiritual lives even when deprived of sacramental access, such as “In Siberia, under communism,” where believers “had no access to the sacraments.”

“Nevertheless,” he concluded, “the sacraments give, they strengthen the supernatural order in us, and they give the certitude that the grace of God has been given.”

Inside the Apostolic Palace, where papal texts are refined and Lent is lived with particular intensity, that conviction remains central: grace works through human words, human gestures, and human lives — quietly shaping the Church from within.

Candid talk from senior cardinal on Pope Francis, Benedict XVI

Cardinal Camillo Ruini thinks Benedict XVI’s resignation was a mistake. 

Ruini also found himself flummoxed by the Francis pontificate and unsure whether the reign of the late Argentinian pontiff will prove to have done more harm or good.

Ruini said so – in words – in a wide-ranging interview with Italy’s Corriere della sera newspaper that was published late last week.

Ruini, who served the better part of two decades as Pope St. John Paul II’s vicar for the Rome diocese and as president of the Italian bishops’ conference, is more than a venerable figure in the Italian episcopate and senior member of the college of cardinals.

Now 95 years old, he has seen more of the last century than almost anyone else, not only because he lived through it but because he was there for it.

When he gives an opinion about anything – especially about a pope – it is a good idea to take him seriously.

Ruini knows his opinions carry weight, even though he has been retired from active public life since 2008, which is why his candid remarks to the Corriere regarding Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV are themselves remarkable.

It probably won’t surprise many leaders to know that Ruini ranked Pope St. John Paul II as maggiore – which is the comparative of grande or “great” – saying “he was a true leader on the world stage.”

Corriere had asked him to rank the popes of his lifetime, and Ruini said it was a tall order.

“For the Church, Ruini said, “it has been a fortunate period, in which various great popes have succeeded one another.”

“I think of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI,” Ruini said.

“I found myself in difficulty with Pope Francis,” Ruini said in response to a question asking whether the late pontiff had disappointed him. “The change was too great and sudden,” Ruini said.

“More than disappointed,” Ruini said he was “surprised.”

Asked for his measure of the Francis pontificate, whether it did “more good or more harm to the Church,” Ruini said his would be “a complex assessment, with very positive aspects and others much less so.”

“It’s too early to judge which of them prevail,” he said.

Ruini was less circumspect regarding the pontificate of Benedict XVI, especially regarding Benedict’s shocking February 2013 decision to resign the papal office.

“I’ll tell you the truth,” Ruini said in response to the Corriere’s point-blank question whether is was a mistake for Benedict to resign, “it was a mistaken decision, at least it seems so to me.”

“He knew his circumstances better than I did,” Ruini said, “so I don’t want to judge.”

About Benedict as pope, Ruini said the German had been “above all a great theologian.”

“Governance was his weak point,” Ruini said, adding that “real alternatives did not emerge,” as far as could see, during the 2005 conclave (in which it has been widely reported that the man who would eventually become Pope Francis ran second).

About Leo XIV, Ruini said he has “an excellent impression,” though he noted having only one audience with the new pope, very shortly after his election. “I am very happy to have this pope,” Ruini said.

When you’ve made 95 turns around the sun, you get to speak your mind, but Ruini’s willingness to disclose his own to the Corriere was arguably more than the forthrightness that comes with venerable seniority.

He acknowledged things red hats and curial officers – along with the rank and file in the Church’s central governing apparatus and bishops around the world have whispered privately for years: that Benedict’s resignation was a mistake and Francis’s reign was not easy for the Church.

That Ruini offered his sentiments both carefully and clearly, with subtlety but unambiguously, was further proof that clear-eyed acknowledgment of reality is both necessary and possible to offer without verbal fireworks or polemics.

Both what Ruini said and how he said it were important, in other words, because both together showed that frank speech can be measured and judicious.

The papacy – the papal office – is an impossible burden for anyone who takes it up. Nobody halfway sane should ever want it. 

It is certain that the all-too-human holders of the office will make mistakes and inevitable that the all-too-human electors of popes will from time to time choose poorly.

These and similar subjects ought not be off-limits, though they oughtn’t be bandied about.

Ruini’s reflections may well make it easier to discuss hard topics, in other words, precisely because the measure of care and judgment he displayed in offering them shows us how.

Tanzania’s Cardinal Pengo remembered as giant of faith, a ‘towering presence’ for Africa

Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, the archbishop emeritus of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was remembered by Pope Leo XIV and Church leaders as a leading voice for the underprivileged and interreligious dialogue in Africa. 

Cardinal Pengo died Feb. 19 at age 81 and will be buried at the Pugu Pilgrimage Center, where the archdiocese is building a new cathedral.

Cardinal Pengo died while undergoing treatment at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiology Institute in the Tanzanian capital, hours after arriving in the country from India. 

The cardinal had sought treatment in the Asian country since late December, according to Church officials, but had requested he be brought back to Tanzania after his health deteriorated.

Leading spiritual, moral, national voice

Condolences have continued to pour in for the prominent prelate, considered a leading spiritual, moral and national voice in the East African country. 

He spoke strongly on social justice, advocated for marginalized, poor, and against corruption. He also advocated for the coexistence of Christians and Muslims.

On Feb. 21, Pope Leo mourned Cardinal Pengo as a “wise and gentle pastor” who devoted episcopal ministry over many years to several local churches, highlighting especially his dedication to the formation of the clergy, as well as his service to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, known as SECAM,  and the Holy See.

‘Wise and gentle pastor’

“I offer heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam,” Pope Leo said in a telegram to Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam. “I join you in commending the soul of this wise and gentle pastor to the mercy of Christ, the Good Shepherd.”

On Feb. 27, his body will be brought to the St. Joseph’s Cathedral and a requiem Mass will be celebrated in the afternoon. His funeral Mass will be Feb. 28 at Pugu Pilgrimage Center.

“The Catholic Church has suffered a great loss following the death,” Archbishop Ruwa’ichi said, announcing the cardinal’s death. 

Promoted Church’s financial self-reliance

Archbishop Charles Kasonde of Solwezi, Zambia, chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, known as AMECEA, said bishops in Africa will remember Cardinal Pengo for promoting the Church’s financial self-reliance and for depending on Africa’s cultural values.

“Among us, he was a towering presence of Christian integrity and courage, making him the prophetic voice of the church. His pastoral zeal and leadership style were so admired that he was highly regarded among fellow bishops across the” bishops’ conference in Tanzania, said Kasonde in a message of condolence.

Cardinal Pengo was born on Aug. 5, 1944, and ordained priest in 1971. He obtained a doctorate from Pontifical Lateran University in 1977. 

First named a bishop in 1983

He was appointed the bishop of Nachingwea (now Lindi) in 1983 and of Tunduru-Masasi in 1986.

In 1990, he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Dar es Salaam, and in 1992, he became the archbishop. St. John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1998.

He participated twice in a conclave, electing Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013.

He served as president of SECAM from 2007 to 2009 and was a member of various Vatican dicasteries, then called congregations, including the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Retired as archbishop in 2019

In 2019, Cardinal Pengo retired from leading the archdiocese, but continued to support the Church in Tanzania and Africa.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa, Congo, who is SECAM president, expressed sorrow and paid tribute to Cardinal Pengo for his outstanding service to the Church and commitment to its mission.

“Cardinal Pengo was a remarkable shepherd, whose dedicated service to the Church and unwavering commitment to the mission of Christ left a lasting legacy,” Cardinal Ambongo said in a statement.  

‘Deep faith, pastoral zeal’

“His leadership as the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam and as the President of SECAM was marked by deep faith, pastoral zeal and tireless efforts to promote unity and solidarity among the African Churches,” the prelate said.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan mourned Cardinal Pengo as a firm crusader of peace, morality and national peace. In 2021, she recognized the cardinal for his advocacy on peace and unity.

Zambian Archbishop Kasonde added in Cardinal Pongo’s remembrance message: “We shall truly miss his presence in the region, especially the wisdom he shared with us whenever we sought his counsel,” he added.

82-year-old nun killed in Brazilian convent

An 82-year-old nun was brutally killed in Brazil by an unknown man who invaded the convent where she lived, in the city of Ivaí, Paraná state. The crime caused great commotion among the Ukrainian Brazilian community and the city’s residents, who tried to lynch the suspect.

Sister Nadia Gavanski, a member of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Sisters Servants of Immaculate Mary congregation, was feeding the hens of the religious house when she came across the intruder.

According to a police report obtained by Crux, a photographer was present at the monastery to take pictures of an event and saw the man shortly after the crime. He told her that he worked there, but she noticed he was agitated and had blood marks on his clothes.

The criminal told the photographer he saw Gavanski lying on the ground. She became suspicious of the man and  secretly recorded him. She also called an ambulance and the police, to whom she showed the footage.

The suspect was already known to police due to prior crimes and was easily identified and located. As the officers came to his house, he tried to escape and resist, but was contained by the agents. He admitted the crime.

A picture posted on social media by local radio station Copas Verdes shows the 33-year-old suspect sitting on the police van with signs of physical altercation.

“He was taken to a station of the Paraná state civil police, where he confirmed his initial statement. During questioning, he reported having spent the night consuming crack cocaine and alcoholic beverages. He also claimed to have heard voices ordering him to kill someone, which, according to him, prompted him to jump over the convent wall with the intention of taking a person’s life,” the police report read.

The man told the police that the victim saw him and asked what he was doing there. He told her he was working at the convent, but noticed that she didn’t believe him.

“The perpetrator stated that he pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground, at which point she began to scream. He declared that he inserted the fingers of his right hand into the victim’s mouth, causing asphyxiation,” the statement said.

The suspect said he didn’t strike the nun on the head, but admitted that injuries may have resulted from her fall. He also denied having committed sexual violence and having the intention of robbing the monastery.

The police found Gavanski’s lifeless body on the ground, partially naked and with evident signs of physical aggression. The hypothesis of sexual crime will be analyzed during the autopsy and additional steps of the inquiry.

The man was charged with the crime of aggravated homicide, with indications of qualifying circumstances such as trivial motive, asphyxiation, and the use of means that hindered the victim’s defense, as well as resistance.

As he was being taken from a military police station in Ivaí to the civil police station in neighboring Imbituva city, local residents gathered in front of the facility in order to lynch him.

Video clips posted on social media show dozens of people waiting for the police car to leave the station with the suspect, while shouting and insulting him.

“Come out, you old lady rapist!” one of the men shouted. Another one is heard saying: “You robbed my boy, you lowlife!”

The police managed to steer around the crowd and took the man to the police station. He was later sent to prison.

“I was shocked when I received the news of Sr. Nadia’s death. We were preparing to visit the seminary of the priests of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, along with bishops from Ukraine and other countries,” Bishop Meron Mazur of the Eparchy of Immaculate Conception in Prudentópolis in Paraná state, told Crux.

Over the past few days, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv–Galicia, who is the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, has been visiting Brazil along with a number of prelates of the rite in Canada, Germany, Poland, and Argentina for their permanent synodal process.

In their meetings, one of the most discussed topics has been the war in Ukraine and the terrible impacts on ordinary people’s lives.

Most of the Ukrainian Brazilian community, estimated at 600,000 people, live in Paraná state. In cities like Prudentópolis, near Ivaí, more than 80 percent of the population of 52,000 people has Ukrainian ancestry.

Almost 90 percent of the Ukrainian immigrants who came to Brazil were originally members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, while a minority was Orthodox. Now, many fourth and fifth-generation Ukrainian Brazilians have different creeds, but most of the community continues to be Catholic.

Gavanski was born in Prudentópolis in 1943 and had seven siblings. She joined the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in 1971 and worked in a number of communities over the years.

“Sister Nadia’s mission within the Congregation was always fulfilled through silent, simple, and humble service: preparing meals, tending the vegetable garden, caring for the chickens, and maintaining the daily routine of the house. Everything was done with love and faithfulness, transforming the ordinary into an offering pleasing to God,” Sister Juliane Martinhuk, one of her colleagues, told Crux.

Years ago, Gavanski had a stroke, which impacted her speech. Martinhuk said the limitations didn’t impede her from remaining “faithful to her simple duties.”

“Strong in faith, she accepted everything with serenity and trust in God. For us sisters, Sr. Nadia was a true example of consecration, self-giving, and the cultivation of an interior life, made manifest in the concrete attitudes of everyday life,” Martinhuk added.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s prelates visited the sisters’ convent on the day of the murder in order to comfort her colleagues and pray for her, Mazur said.

“We have been talking about the tragedy of war and now such a tragedy has happened. It was a great blow for all of us,” he said.

Mazur, who knew Gavanski in person, said she led her whole life in humility and poverty.

“She was a silent woman who devoted life to work and prayer. She didn’t like to be in the spotlight,” he recalled.

On social media, many residents of the region of Ivaí and Prudentópolis expressed their shock. Some recalled Gavanski’s work in their communities.

“Every life pertains to God. Our outrage is great, but Jesus taught we should forgive. Nobody can take a life. We need to eradicate violence from our society by being promoters of peace and love,” Mazur said.

Cardinals criticize Society of St. Pius X for plan to consecrate bishops without papal approval

Cardinal Gerhard Müller and Cardinal Robert Sarah, two prominent supporters of the Traditional Latin Mass, have spoken out against the decision of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to defy the Vatican and ordain new bishops on July 1.

The decision to proceed with the episcopal consecrations without papal approval was confirmed in a Feb. 18 letter, penned by SSPX superior general Father Davide Pagliarani a week after his Feb. 12 meeting with Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).

In the letter, the Catholic traditionalist group said it could not “accept the perspective and objectives” for resumed dialogue proposed by the DDF prefect, insisting the July 1 consecrations would “not constitute a rupture of communion” with the Church.

The SSPX, which exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, maintains doctrinal differences with certain teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly with regard to religious freedom and the Church’s approach to other faiths.

Under canon law, a bishop who consecrates another bishop without a papal mandate and the person who receives that consecration incur automatic excommunication.

Müller, who served as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) from 2012 to 2017, issued a lengthy Feb. 21 statement, saying “personal sensitivities should take a back seat” for the good of Church unity.

“If the Society of St. Pius X is to have a positive impact on Church history, it cannot fight for the true faith from a distance, from the outside, against the Church united with the pope,” Müller wrote.

Highlighting the importance for SSPX to recognize papal authority “not only in theory but also in practice,” the German prelate said the society must submit to the teaching authority of the Church “without preconditions.”

“No orthodox Catholic can invoke reasons of conscience if he withdraws from the formal authority of the pope regarding the visible unity of the sacramental Church in order to establish an ecclesiastical order not in full communion with him,” Müller said.

Over the weekend, Sarah, who served as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2014 to 2021, also shared his “deep concern and sadness” after SSPX confirmed its decision to ordain new bishops without a papal mandate.

“Is it to desire the salvation of souls to tear apart the mystical body of Christ in a way that may be irreversible? How many souls are in danger of being lost because of this new division?” Sarah lamented in a Feb. 22 Le Journal du Dimanche article.

“We are told that this act is intended to defend tradition and the faith,” he added. “I know how much the deposit of faith is sometimes despised today by those very people whose mission it is to defend it.”

The African prelate ardently appealed for SSPX to be united to the Church founded by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the care of the apostles, particularly St. Peter, the first pope, and his successors.

“Can we really do without following Christ in his humility unto the cross? Is it not a betrayal of tradition to take refuge in human means [and] maintain our works, however good they may be?” he said.

The proposed July 1 date for the episcopal consecrations coincides with the anniversary of the 1988 excommunication of SSPX founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for consecrating four bishops without permission of Rome.

Bishops urge prudence, prayer, invoke Guadalupe's protection as violence erupts in Mexico

Mexican bishops called on the faithful to follow safety protocols as violence broke out in several states following the military's killing of a powerful cartel boss.

In a message published by the Mexican bishops' conference Feb. 22, the bishops expressed their closeness with Catholics, "sharing your concern and inviting you to prudence and prayer."

"We exhort you, with a pastoral and fraternal spirit, to strengthen personal and community security measures, take shelter in your homes when necessary, and avoid unnecessary travel, always following the instructions of the civil authorities," the statement read.

The message, which was addressed to "The Pilgrim People of God in Mexico," was signed by Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca and Auxiliary Bishop Héctor Pérez Villareal of Mexico City, the president and secretary general of the bishops' conference, respectively.

Mexican military officers conducted an operation in the town of Tapalpa, located in the central western state of Jalisco Feb. 22, in an attempt to capture Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, who was known by his nickname, "El Mencho."

Osegura was the head of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known by the Spanish acronym CJNG, Mexico's most powerful drug cartel known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States.

According to The Associated Press, a shootout occurred, resulting in the deaths of four people; three more, including Osegura, were wounded and later died.

Hours after his death, violence broke out in half a dozen states across the country, with gunmen blocking highways and setting cars and businesses on fire. 

Residents and tourists were forced to shelter in place in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, after several major airlines canceled flights due to the increasing violence.

The Reuters news agency also reported that gunmen attacked a National Guard military police base in Jalisco.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a cartel member confirmed that the attacks were done out of revenge for Osegura's killing and warned that more attacks would be coming as rival gangs attempt to take control of CJNG.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via X that the United States "provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist" with the operation.

In their message, the bishops called on the faithful to "intensify their prayer for the peace that our nation so greatly needs" and prayed that through Jesus, Catholics renew their commitment "to be sowers of reconciliation and fraternity."

Invoking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the bishops prayed that Mary would "cover us with her mantle, protect our families, and help us build paths of justice, peace, and hope."

"May the Lord strengthen us and grant us to live through these moments united, with prudence, solidarity, and faith," the bishops wrote.

Display of St. Francis of Assisi's bones confirms enduring appeal of relics for Christians

The bones of St. Francis of Assisi went on public display for the first time Sunday, capping an 800-year saga over his bodily remains and confirming the enduring appeal to Christians of venerating a saint's relics.

Nearly 400,000 people registered in advance to see the bone fragments, which are contained in a slim, bulletproof Plexiglas case in the lower Basilica of St. Francis in the hilltop Umbrian town the medieval friar made famous.

The Franciscans decided to exhibit the bones for one month, through March 22, to honor the 800th anniversary of St. Francis' death in 1226. 

The aim is to revive his message of peace and fraternity that made him one of the most beloved Christian saints and inspired Pope Francis to take his name, the first pope to do so.

The exposition of his bodily remains is particularly remarkable given the somewhat tortured history of the body of St. Francis, a wealthy merchant's son born in 1182 who gave up all his possessions to live as a mendicant friar.

At the end of his life, St. Francis' body was said to have acquired the stigmata, the first documented case of a saint acquiring the marks of Christ on the cross.

In death, his body was lost for hundreds of years, after it was secretly buried by one of his followers who feared it would be stolen during the fight over relics that was common in Christianity in the Middle Ages.

That history is recounted in an exhibition mounted in the Franciscan convent, adjacent to the basilica, which pilgrims can visit as part of their appointment to pass by the bones.

A fascination with relics that isn't gruesome

Brother Giulio Cesareo, spokesman for the Franciscans in Assisi, said the exposition wasn't a macabre celebration of the dead. Rather, he said, it was part of the long tradition of Christians venerating the physical remains of saints to experience the spirit that lived in them.

"It is not so much about venerating Francis, but rather encountering Francis by venerating the Holy Spirit who filled that humanity and made it capable of giving itself," he said. "And it is, at least for a believer, a way to renew oneself in this one life."

Over centuries, the fascination with relics has of course led to abuses, with thefts, forgeries and now online sales all part of their history. 

But that doesn't diminish their hold on the faithful, said Sean Pilcher, who runs Sacra: Relics of the Saints, which provides consulting and authentication services to the Catholic Church.

If the saints are our brothers and sisters in heaven, "then it makes sense that we're going to have things that we hold on to," he said. "And what the church does is just take this natural desire that we all have for connection and belonging and direct it in a way that leads us toward Christ."

What is remarkable to a viewer today is how tiny St. Francis seems: He was known to suffer poor health and nutrition, and the delicate, slight skeletal bones seem to confirm his diminutive stature.

For Fiorella Farina, a resident of northern Reggio Emilia who is so devoted to St. Francis that she bought a country house in Assisi and named her children Francesco and Francesca, the exposition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Just talking about it gives me goosebumps," she said outside the basilica. "It's an event I couldn't miss."

St. Francis, she said, went against all societal norms to live out the Gospel message of peace, care for the poor and the environment.

"In this historic moment, we need him," she said.

Security significant but discreet to protect bones

Security was tight but discreet on Sunday morning as the first pilgrims passed through metal detectors before filing into the basilica. 

Police declined to provide details, but said extra officers, sniffer dogs, plain-clothed police, television cameras and other measures were being used to protect the relics.

Given the history of St. Francis' body, such measures seem only appropriate.

Even before he died, St. Francis had gained such a reputation for sanctity that he traveled with an armed escort when he made his final return to Assisi, said Br. William Short, professor of Christian spirituality at the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego.

There are also references in contemporary accounts of people reaching up to try to grab parts of his tunic as he went by on horseback, believing that his relics could help heal the sick or prevent calamity, Short said in an interview at the Franciscan residence in Rome, where he directs an international Franciscan study center.

When St. Francis died Oct. 3, 1226, he was initially buried in a small Assisi church, San Giorgio. Within two years, Pope Gregory IX had canonized him and laid the cornerstone for a basilica to house his tomb.

But on the eve of the transfer, St. Francis' trusted aide, Br. Elias, took the body and secretly buried it in the basilica, fearing it could be stolen, said Short. 

The body remained there, hidden in a column but unmarked, until 1818. That's when excavations discovered the remains and Pope Pius VII confirmed the bones belonged to St. Francis.

"It was a matter of safety and economics," Short explained. "If you have a big saint, a new saint — and this guy had the potential to be a really big saint — whoever gets the body gets the pilgrims."

And Assisi now has them, in spades.

Some people signed up to visit the relics when the exposition was first announced in October, and they were slotted into 10-minute increments starting Sunday morning.

Silvanella Tamos traveled to Assisi from Pordenone, north of Venice, with a group of 54 people from her diocese. They had had one of the earliest slots Sunday, at 9:30 a.m.

"It's a body that's alive," she said. "It's not a dead body. He still has a lot to tell us today," she said.

Swiss Guard barracks renovation delayed amid escalating costs

A major project to redevelop new barracks for the Pontifical Swiss Guards, the pope’s body guard and Vatican City military, has been postponed due to a lack of funds and escalating project costs.

Although the Vatican granted building permits to construct new barracks for the Swiss Guards in January of this year, with construction originally slated to begin immediately, the foundation responsible for the construction announced Feb. 18 that construction has been delayed until 2027 because of a fundraising shortfall for the project.

The Swiss Guards, the smallest standing army in the world, are based in barracks near Porta Sant’Anna in Vatican City which have barely been renovated since they were built in the late 19th century.

The Barracks Foundation was established in Switzerland in 2016 to raise funds for the construction of new barracks and to lead the project. 

The foundation began fundraising in 2019 and while it had secured the almost 50 million euros necessary for the project by late 2024, rising construction costs and technical difficulties have led the project costs to grow by 27 million euros.

While building permits were granted in January, construction is now expected to begin in 2027 and scheduled for completion by the end of 2029. 

Originally, the plan was to begin construction right immediately following the close of the 2025 Jubilee Year.

According to the foundation, building costs in Rome have increased by 33.5% since the project was drawn up in 2019, requiring a further 12 million euros in new funding. 

An additional 5 million euros are also needed for anticipated price increases across the timeline of the project until completion.

In addition to increased costs, there have also been changes in the project plans themselves.

The original plan was to demolish entirely and rebuild the barracks, but revised plans call for the facade of the current barracks to be kept in place, which has further increased costs and caused delays in construction.

Also factoring into increased costs is the need to reinforce the building’s foundations and renovations to the sewage system, which were not in the original construction proposals or plans.

Moreover, the foundation is also set to cover the costs of the renovation of the Passetto di Borgo, an elevated passage that goes from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican, and is adjacent to the Swiss guards’ barracks.

The original building plan intended for nearly all unmarried guards to live in single rooms, but the revised plans have been adjusted to accommodate them in double rooms. 

This is still a significant upgrade, as low-ranking guards currently live in shared dormitories that accommodate up to ten guards, moving to double or triple rooms as they move up the ranks, or to private quarters for married officers.

The foundation originally fundraised almost exclusively in Switzerland, receiving funds from the Swiss federal government, Swiss cantons, local foundations companies and Catholic organizations, and private individuals. 

Now, the foundation is launching another campaign in Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and the United States to cover the additional costs, which is expected to happen by year’s end.

The push for independent fundraising for the renovation project comes amid a wider cash crunch in the Vatican.

The most recent Holy See budget statement offered broadly positive news, reporting a €1.6 million surplus after years of overspending, alongside a slashing of the Holy See’s structural budget deficit by nearly half.

However, much of those gains were the result of an increase in non-recurring donations and one-time realizations of investment gains. 

Recurring operating income still fell short of budgeted operational expenses by more than 33 million euros. 

The Pillar reported in April 2025 that the Vatican’s pension fund deficit was internally estimated at 1.4 billion in 2014 and it is widely believed to have grown ever since.

The current barracks were built in the 19th century and almost no renovations have been carried out since. 

The Barracks Foundation says that the poor state of the building causes disproportionately high maintenance costs.

According to the foundation, the building’s insulation is poor, and the walls are full of stains, with plaster crumbling in many places. 

Moreover, the current space and conditions of the barracks mean that married guardsmen have to live in Rome instead of within Vatican City itself.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard was established in 1505, after Swiss Bishop Matthäus Schiner suggested that Pope Julius II hire Swiss mercenaries – considered the most effective in Europe – to protect Rome, and the pope took him up on his suggestion, hiring 150 Swiss mercenaries to serve him.

All Swiss guards are required to have Swiss citizenship. 

However, there are no requirements as to whether that citizenship must have been acquired by birth or by naturalization, which is why there have been Swiss guards coming from Filipino, Colombian, or Indian families. 

Currently, there are 135 Swiss Guards after Pope Francis decided to increase the number of guards from 110 in 2018.

Recruits must be unmarried, Catholic, Swiss men between the ages of 19 and 30. 

They must have a high school degree or a professional diploma, and must have completed the basic Swiss Armed Forces training, which is usually between 18 and 21 weeks long, and recruits must be over 5’’8’ tall.

Pope’s Angelus address on the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV marked the first Sunday of Lent with an urgent appeal for peace in Ukraine, warning that war remains “a wound inflicted upon the entire human family” as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches.

Addressing pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus on February 22, the Pope reflected on the Gospel account of Christ’s temptation in the desert and called the faithful to embrace prayer, fasting and almsgiving during the Lenten season. 

He said the conflict had brought “so many victims, so many lives and families shattered, such immense destruction, such unspeakable suffering”.

In his Angelus address, the Holy Father spoke of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert and tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days. 

He said that in experiencing hunger and temptation Christ shared in the struggles faced by all humanity, demonstrating that the devil’s deception can be overcome. 

Lent, he said, should be seen as a “luminous path” through which Christians renew their cooperation with God in shaping their lives as a “unique masterpiece”.

The Pope warned of the constant risk of discouragement and the lure of false satisfactions such as wealth, fame and power, which he described as “poor substitutes for the joy for which we were created”. 

Citing the Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini of February 17, 1966, by Paul VI, he recalled that penance does not impoverish humanity but “enriches, purifies and strengthens it” as believers move towards love and surrender to God.

He urged Catholics to practise penance generously, alongside prayer and works of mercy, suggesting practical steps such as turning off televisions, radios and mobile phones in order to create space for silence. 

The faithful were encouraged to meditate on the Word of God, approach the sacraments and listen to the Holy Spirit. He also called for greater attentiveness within families, workplaces and communities, especially towards the elderly, the poor and the sick.

Quoting Augustine of Hippo, the Pope said that prayer offered “in humility and charity, by fasting and giving, by restraining ourselves and pardoning” would reach heaven and grant peace. He concluded the Angelus by entrusting the Lenten journey to the Virgin Mary.

After the Marian prayer he turned to the situation in Eastern Europe. “Four years have passed since the beginning of the war against Ukraine,” he said. “My heartfelt thoughts remain focused on the tragic situation unfolding before the eyes of the whole world.” He reiterated that every war leaves “a trail of pain that marks generations”.

“Peace cannot be postponed,” the Pope declared. “It is an urgent necessity that must find a home in our hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.” 

His Holiness appealed for an immediate ceasefire, calling for weapons to fall silent and bombings to cease, and for dialogue to be strengthened in order to pave the way towards peace.

The appeal came as reports emerged of further casualties in Ukraine on the eve of the anniversary. At least four people were killed in a fresh wave of Russian attacks, according to local officials. 

In the southern region of Odesa, two people died after drones struck industrial and civilian infrastructure. Regional authorities reported damage to production and warehouse facilities, administrative buildings and vehicles. 

In Zaporizhzhia, more than 750 attacks were said to have been carried out across 44 settlements, leaving two people dead in the city of Zaporizhzhia. 

Further north, a missile struck the Kholodnogirsky district of Kharkiv, with emergency teams assessing the damage.

The violence coincided with a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss additional financial assistance for Kyiv and a 20th package of sanctions against Russia. 

The proposed measures include restrictions on maritime services linked to Russian crude oil exports and further financial constraints intended to limit Moscow’s ability to conduct international payments. 

A loan of 90 billion euros, agreed in principle in December and approved by the European Parliament, is designed to meet Ukraine’s financial needs until the end of 2027, though it has faced opposition from Hungary.

While diplomatic efforts continued in Brussels, the Pope called on Catholics worldwide to join in prayer “for the embattled people of Ukraine and for all those who suffer due to this war and every conflict in the world, that the long-awaited gift of peace may shine upon our days”.

Cardinal Sarah reacts to planned SSPX episcopal consecrations

Cardinal Robert Sarah has issued an appeal to the Society of St Pius X not to proceed with episcopal consecrations without a pontifical mandate, warning that such a step would constitute disobedience to the law of the Church and risk an “irreversible rupture” within the Body of Christ.

Writing in French in Le Journal du Dimanche on February 22, the Guinean cardinal said he had learned of the Society’s intention to consecrate bishops and expressed his “deep concern and profound sadness” at the announcement. 

The intervention makes him one of the most senior churchmen to speak publicly against the proposed consecrations in recent days, following Cardinal Müller’s article on February 20 with Kath.Net.

“We are told that this decision to disobey the law of the Church is motivated by the supreme law of the salvation of souls,” he wrote, referring to the canonical maxim suprema lex, salus animarum. “But salvation is Christ, and He gives Himself only in the Church.”

Cardinal Sarah questioned whether the defence of souls could be invoked to justify an act carried out without the authorisation of the Holy See. 

“How can we claim to lead souls to salvation by means other than those He Himself has indicated to us?” he asked. He warned that to proceed would be to “tear the Mystical Body of Christ in an irreversible manner”, adding: “How many souls risk being lost because of this new rupture?”

The cardinal acknowledged that the Society maintains that its actions are intended to defend Catholic Tradition and fidelity to the Faith. “We are told that this act aims to defend Tradition and the faith,” he wrote. “I know how much the deposit of faith is today sometimes despised by those who themselves have the mission to defend it.”

At the same time, he insisted that fidelity to Tradition cannot be separated from obedience to ecclesial authority. “Faith can never lead us to renounce obedience to the Church,” he said. “How can we continue to tear apart His Body under the pretext of saving souls?”

Cardinal Sarah argued that the Church alone is the ordinary means of salvation and that unity with the Successor of Peter remains the surest safeguard against error. Citing the words of St Augustine that “Where the Church is, there is Christ,” he stressed that Christ “does not give Himself outside the Church”.

“There exists a centre, an obligatory point of reference: the Church of Rome, governed by the Successor of Peter, the Pope,” he wrote, recalling Christ’s words to St Peter in the Gospel of St Matthew: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

He warned that to separate oneself from that visible unity is to court spiritual danger. “To leave the barque of Peter and organise oneself autonomously and in a closed circle is to deliver oneself to the waves of the storm,” he said.

The cardinal also addressed concerns about doctrinal confusion and scandal within the Church, acknowledging that many faithful Catholics are troubled by what they perceive as failings among pastors. 

He spoke of “the cowardice of Christians and even prelates who renounce teaching the deposit of faith and prefer their personal opinions on matters of doctrine and morality”, and added: “I know full well that often even within the Church itself, there are wolves disguised as lambs.”

Nevertheless, he maintained that such realities do not justify a break with Rome. “The best protection against error remains our canonical bond with the Successor of Peter,” he wrote.

Cardinal Sarah referred to St Catherine of Siena, who exhorted the faithful to remain united to the Pope even in times of crisis, and to St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who endured disciplinary restrictions without rebelling against ecclesiastical authority. 

Of Padre Pio, he noted that the Capuchin friar was “unjustly condemned” and forbidden to hear confessions for years, yet “remained silent” and embraced obedience.

“The good God made me know that obedience is the only thing that saves souls,” he quoted Padre Pio as saying.

The cardinal rejected the suggestion that disobedience could be justified in the name of fidelity to previous magisterial teaching. “We are told that this is a matter of fidelity to the previous Magisterium, but who can guarantee this to us except Peter’s successor himself?” he asked.

He posed a series of questions about certainty in the faith: “Who will give us the certainty of being truly in contact with the source of salvation? Who will guarantee us that we have not taken our own opinion for the truth?” 

For Cardinal Sarah, the answer lies in the authority given by Christ to the Apostles and their successors. “He who hears you hears me,” he recalled from the Gospel of St Luke.

The intervention from Cardinal Sarah follows closely upon remarks by Gerhard Müller, who also warned that the Society must remain “within the Church” if it is to have a positive effect. Both cardinals have taken a firm stance against the planned consecrations.

Their comments contrast with the more conciliatory tone adopted by Athanasius Schneider, who has called for renewed dialogue between the Holy See and the Society and suggested that recent negotiations have been hindered by what he described as “harsh behaviour” on the part of Vatican officials.

Cardinal Sarah, however, emphasised that unity with the Pope is not only a juridical requirement but a supernatural bond that guarantees communion with Christ Himself. 

“It is a supernatural view of canonical obedience which guarantees our bond to Christ,” he wrote.

He concluded by affirming that no defence of faith or liturgy can come at the price of ecclesial unity. “We can affirm that the best way to defend the faith, Tradition, and authentic liturgy will always be to follow Christ in obedience,” he said. “Christ will never command us to break the unity of the Church.”

The Society of St Pius X has yet to announce any change to its planned episcopal consecrations, which were announced on February 2. 

The consecrations are set to take place on July 1 and will likely be held at the Society’s International Seminary in Écône, Switzerland. 

However, the candidates and the number of men to be consecrated as bishops have yet to be announced.

Dolan speaks on refugee funding disagreement with Vance

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has said that United States Vice President JD Vance apologised to him after suggesting that Catholic bishops supported immigration for financial gain.

The archbishop emeritus of New York made the remarks during an interview with EWTN on 20 February, when he was asked to comment on the vice president. Reflecting on their relationship, Cardinal Dolan said: “I’ve met him a number of times. He’s a very good guy. I enjoy him a lot. I agree with a bunch of the things he talks about. At times, though, I’ve said, ‘Uh-oh – can’t agree with you there.’”

He continued: “He and I had a little tête-à-tête, as you probably know, when he suggested that bishops in the United States were pro-immigrant because we were making money. I told him that was not only untrue – it was scurrilous. And he apologised. He said that was out of line, and that it wasn’t true.”

The exchange followed comments made by Mr Vance in a January 26, 2025 interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation”. Speaking to Margaret Brennan, the vice president said he believed “the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has frankly not been a good partner in commonsense immigration enforcement that the American people voted for”, adding: “I hope … as a devout Catholic that they’ll do better.”

During the same interview, he questioned the bishops’ role in refugee resettlement. “The [USCCB] needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognise that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns?” Mr Vance said. “Or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We’re going to enforce immigration law. We’re going to protect the American people.”

He also defended the administration’s rollback of refugee admissions, stating that not all refugees had been “properly vetted”. “In fact, we know that there are cases of people who allegedly were properly vetted and then were literally planning terrorist attacks in our country,” he said. “So clearly, not all of these foreign nationals have been properly vetted.”

Two days before that interview aired, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, a domestic initiative established by Congress in 1980 to formalise the process by which refugees vetted and approved by the federal government are legally resettled in the United States. The move suspended a decades-long partnership between the federal government and the USCCB.

As a result of the suspension of its agreement with the government, the bishops’ conference laid off about a third of its resettlement staff. The USCCB subsequently filed suit against the administration, seeking reimbursement for more than $24 million it said it had paid out for resettlement services.

In response to criticism, the USCCB issued a statement defending its refugee work as part of the Church’s mission. “In 1980, the bishops of the United States began partnering with the federal government to carry out this service when Congress created the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP),” the bishops said. “Every person resettled through USRAP is vetted and approved for the program by the federal government while outside of the United States.”

“In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs,” the statement continued. “Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.”

'The church is not a parish hall': Leitrim parishes directed to stop wakes in Churches

A letter sent to funeral directors has stated that the practice of holding wakes in churches in South Leitrim must stop.

The practice began in recent years in some parishes, where churches were used for wakes due to their accessibility and parking facilities, with the permission of local priests, instead of funeral homes or private houses.

The decision to end the practice from February 9th was made by Bishop Paul Connell, of the Ardagh and Clonmacnois, which covers parts of south Leitrim and Longford.

In a letter, Bishop Connell said that using churches in a manner similar to funeral homes “breaks with the tradition that we hold.”

“I am directing that in parishes where the practice of reposing in churches has not begun, that these parishes do not introduce the practice,” he said.

The move has been described as “very disappointing” by some local parishioners, who felt the practice was helpful due to the ample parking and central location of churches in rural areas, making things easier for bereaved families.

Bishop Connell defended the decision, saying he was just maintaining the traditions of Catholic burial, where a body reposes at home before being brought to the church and then to the final resting place.

“The church is not a parish hall,” he said, adding that parish and community halls may still be used for wakes if need be, while bodies can still repose overnight before funeral Masses.

He said the church is a space for prayer and worship, and that wakes disturb the sacred nature of the building where the Blessed Sacrament is held.

However, the Bishop stressed that the convenience of churches as venues does not mean they will be made available to parishioners.

“There is no question,” he wrote, “That the demand for reposing in churches has come about not just because there is a lack of venue available,” while also blaming the “perceived” high cost of using funeral homes by comparison, calling on funeral directors to “offer their facilities at reasonable rates.”

A local funeral director has said that there is “no foundation” to that claim, adding: “There is nothing wrong with funeral homes. There’s a set rate there, and they are entitled to it.”

The reason is people in the country don’t want to go to funeral homes in towns, “while their own church is sitting there idle,” they added.

There have been calls for Bishop Connell to meet with parishioners to hear their concerns, and reportedly, committees have been formed regarding this issue in Bornacoola and Annaduff. The Bishop has told the Observer he would be willing to meet with locals and hear their concerns.

Guidelines vary between dioceses, with decisions on funeral protocols ultimately resting with each Bishop. Responding to criticism that parishioners were not consulted, Bishop Connell said it was his responsibility to oversee the diocese and that the practice had begun without consultation with him.

“Consultation goes both ways,” he said.

Abuse claims against Catholic diocese halted amid concerns over church's ability to pay

Historic clerical abuse compensation cases against a Catholic church diocese are to be temporarily suspended amid uncertainty over its financial capability to fund pay-outs, a High Court judge ordered today.

Mr Justice Scoffield granted the request for a moratorium on a number of existing claims for damages already before the court.

The application was made by the Diocese of Dromore Trustee while it seeks legal clarification on whether parish property can be sold to help meet any liabilities to victims.

It is understood that dozens of cases could now be put on hold.

The Diocese has been sued in a series of cases, many of them centred on the activities of paedophile priest Malachy Finegan.

Finegan, who died in 2002, allegedly groomed and sexually abused boys while he taught and worked at St Colman’s College in Newry, Co Down.

Millions of pounds in damages have already been paid out in lawsuits mounted over failures to prevent him from targeting pupils.

In 2021 church authorities set up a redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy within the Diocese, with payments capped at £80,000.

Other steps have also been taken to liquidate or realise assets to help compensate claimants.

Last year the sale of the Bishop’s House in Newry was completed, while the sale of associated land remains pending.

An application was lodged at the High Court’s Chancery Division for an adjudication on what other assets are available to trustees for any settlements in King’s Bench compensation claims.

Based on uncertainty over the Diocese’s entitlement to sell off parish property, Mr Justice Scoffield has been asked to make a judicial assessment.

The court heard there is currently a cash-flow risk that it may not be able to meet any liabilities in the historic abuse cases.

Counsel for the trustees stressed that the request for a moratorium was just to obtain some "breathing space” until the position is resolved.

Unrecoverable legal costs could be incurred by the plaintiffs and defendants in those cases if they were not temporarily put on hold, it was submitted.

With no objection raised by the Attorney General, Mr Justice Scoffield granted the order he likened to stay imposed in corporate insolvency cases.

“The costs are potentially depleting the assets available to meet the previous and existing forecast claims,” the judge pointed out.

“I have been persuaded that it is a sensible and appropriate option to make an order.”

He confirmed that the order, which covers existing King’s Bench claims and bids to enforce damages, will be reviewed in four weeks time.

Judge to hold contempt hearing for Enoch Burke's mother and sister after court disruption

A judge has said he will hold a hearing into whether Enoch Burke's mother and sister were in contempt of court in relation to their behaviour last week when a High Court case involving the teacher had to be temporarily suspended.

Justice Brian Cregan at the High Court on Monday told Enoch Burke’s mother, Martina, and his sister, Ammi, that they could represent themselves or get legal representation for the hearing next Wednesday.

Addressing the two women directly, the judge said he will hear them on the matter on Wednesday.

Enoch Burke’s mother, Martina, stood up in court and said she “will always speak out when injustice is done.”

“It is my duty as a parent,” she added.

The judge said the pair will be given the full right of audience when the case comes before the court on Wednesday.

Justice Brian Cregan also made a production order for jailed teacher Enoch Burke to join the proceedings on Wednesday by videolink when the issue of costs will be decided in relation to his failed attempt to challenge the membership of a disciplinary appeal panel convened to hear his appeal over his dismissal from Wilson’s Hospital School.

On that occasion Justice Cregan ruled the case was moot, or pointless.

The judge made the ruling in circumstances where two of the panel’s three members had resigned, and the remaining member accepted that she could play no further role in the jailed schoolteacher’s appeal.

The ruling means a new panel must be appointed to hear Burke’s appeal of his dismissal. It will be the third panel convened to hear the appeal.

Burke was dismissed from his position at the Co Westmeath school over his conduct towards the then principal at a school religious event in June 2022. She had earlier requested teachers to address a student by a new name and the pronouns “they” and “them”.

The ruling followed a chaotic hearing at the Four Courts on Friday, which was suspended temporarily after the judge directed Enoch Burke be returned to Mountjoy Prison and re-join proceedings via video-link.

The judge earlier had warned that, in the event of his or his family’s disruption of the hearing, he would direct Burke’s participation in the proceedings from the prison, where he is currently incarcerated for failing to comply with court orders banning him from the school.

After disrupting lawyers for the school in the midst of making submissions to the court, Burke was escorted from the court by prison guards.

The judge also directed gardaí to remove his sister Ammi and mother Martina, who had begun shouting at the judge after he directed Burke’s removal.

Bishop John Fleming welcomes Archbishop Duffy’s appointment as Bishop of Killala

I warmly welcome the appointment by Pope Leo XIV of Archbishop Francis Duffy as Bishop of Killala.  

I congratulate him, wish him well and pray God’s blessings on him as he leads the Church in Killala into a new future. 

Archbishop Duffy’s time as Apostolic Administrator of Killala has introduced him to the diocese and allowed him to get to know its priests, religious and lay faithful, its deep-seated faith and its traditions.  

The openness of the diocese to the Synodal Pathway, begun by the late Pope Francis, heralds well for a new, faith-filled future, under his guidance.

Bishops Doran and Duignan welcome the appointment of Archbishop Duffy as Bishop of Killala

We very much welcome today’s announcement that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Francis Duffy as Bishop of Killala while at the same time uniting the Diocese of Killala and the Archdiocese of Tuam in Persona Episcopi.

Having worked with Archbishop Francis for many years now, we have both been struck by his deep faith and the considered wisdom and commitment he brings to whatever he is called to do.  

Our prayer is that, under his shepherding care, the coming together of the Archdiocese of Tuam and the Diocese of Killala will be a most blessed and fruitful one.  

We are both conscious of the fresh challenges and the new possibilities that are presented to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the two dioceses, and we wish them every blessing as they embark on this next stage of their journey as Church.

The uniting of both dioceses in the person of Archbishop Francis follows a similar pattern to the uniting of the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora with the Diocese of Clonfert, and the Diocese of Achonry with the Diocese of Elphin. This is restructuring for renewal and we welcome it. 

The “West is Awake” – awake to the importance of developing new ecclesiastical structures which are consistent with a renewed sense of mission.

We look forward to continuing our work with Archbishop Francis, and indeed the entire people of God in these parts, to progress this project into the future. We pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our three new faith communities as we journey together towards tomorrow in the hope that only Christ can give.

Pope Leo XIV appoints Archbishop Francis Duffy as the new Bishop of Killala

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Francis Duffy, to minister simultaneously as Archbishop of Tuam and as Bishop of Killala.  

The two Dioceses concerned, united in persona episcopi, will be pastorally administered by one Bishop. 

The news of this Episcopal appointment will be made public today at 11.00am Ireland time (12.00pm in the Vatican), following the celebration of 10.00am Mass in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, Co Mayo, in the Diocese of Killala. 

In attendance will be Archbishop Duffy; Father Michael Gilroy, Chairperson of the College of Consultor, as well as clergy and parishioners.

Words of Archbishop Francis Duffy

Good morning.  I welcome you to Saint Muredach’s Cathedral and I welcome all who join us online.

A biblical phrase comes to mind as my appointment as the new Bishop of Killala is announced.  Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord says: “Yes, I know the plans I have in mind for you, Yahweh declares, plans for peace, … to give you a future full of hope.”[1]

I wish to pay tribute to, and thank my predecessor, Bishop John Fleming, who served as bishop in this diocese for twenty-two years.  Bishop John’s vision, his ability to listen and read the signs of the times, and his dedicated work have contributed immensely to pastoral initiatives in this diocese.  Bishop John, we owe you a debt of gratitude and we thank you for your leadership.

With the appointment of a new Bishop, the Lord is honouring his promise to provide shepherds to teach, govern and sanctify his people by proclaiming the Gospel, by the work of administration and leadership, and by celebrating the sacraments, most especially the Sunday Mass, “summit and source of the entire Christian life.”[2] 

On this occasion, something new is happening here.  For the first time, the Bishop of Killala is, at the same time, the Archbishop of Tuam, and in him both dioceses are united.  The Church describes this as the union of dioceses in persona episcopi, in the person of the Bishop.  The two dioceses remain distinct, their individual identities are preserved, they are governed separately, but they share the same Bishop.[3]

This development was foreseen when, almost two years ago, the Apostolic Nuncio outlined the broader structural vision for the dioceses in the West of Ireland, in our grouping of six dioceses known as the Metropolitan Province of Tuam.   Archbishop Montemayor, spoke of a gradual reorganisation, shared episcopal governance, strength through unity, and an eventual merging of dioceses.[4]  It is important to note, and it must be emphasised, that the Apostolic Nuncio framed this reorganisation not as decline, but as strategic adaptation to evolving pastoral realities.

However, reorganisation is not purely administrative.  It is rooted and lived in pastoral experience.  That is not to say that an occasion such as this does not also generate feelings of loneliness, or even regret that what was so familiar and normal in the past, is no longer the case.  There may be a sense, among some, that something is being lost – our identity, our diocesan history and culture, our uniqueness.  These are real feelings, and they must be understood and acknowledged sensitively.

For that reason, today’s announcement follows from an extensive synodal-style consultation across the Dioceses of Killala and Tuam[5] during the spring and summer of 2025, through which the faithful – that is, lay women and men, religious, clergy, and youth – had an opportunity to contribute to the conversation and to have their voices heard in the decision-making process. 

The announcement also celebrates what is already in place, including the presence of the Diocesan Synodal Team, the Implementation Committee, the Diocesan Pastoral Plan – Placing Hope in Faith, and the recently-commissioned lay ministers.  In this context, then, diocesan reorganisation across the province, and specifically in terms of Killala and Tuam, is not institutional survivalism but mission-driven renewal.  It is mission-focused reform, with the Good News of Jesus Christ at the centre.  We are standing on the threshold of something new, something exciting, something providential.  We are standing before the Lord, the head of the Church,[6] who says, “I came that [you] may have life, and have it more abundantly.”[7]

When I became Apostolic Administrator almost two years ago, it was a priority for me to get to know the priests, people and parishes of Killala, not to mention its geography.  It was a great experience to visit priests in their homes and listen to their accounts of life and their views.  These visitations brought me across great stretches of territory, and beautiful landscape, from Blacksod Bay in Erris over to Drumard in County Sligo; down south to Ballycroy and Glenhest in County Mayo.

Having already accompanied you since Bishop John’s retirement, I am honoured to have been given this appointment, and I invite you to join me as we, trusting in the Lord,[8] go forward together into “a future full of hope”.

Thank you.

Homily of Bishop Fintan Monahan for first anniversary Mass for Bishop Walsh RIP

The late Mary Walsh (no relation to Bishop Willie) was the housekeeper and cook for Bishop Harty in Westbourne. 

She stayed on with Bishop Willie until her death. Her efficiency and personality are still talked of in Westbourne.  

She used tell the story of how a few days after his consecration, Bishop Willie having got the lie of the land as it were in Westbourne, made one and only one change to the domestic situation there.

You see, up to then, Westbourne was a cup and saucer house with not a mug in sight. Willie suggested to Mary that mugs were required.  

She didn’t object, but what horrified her to some extent was that Bishop Willie went down to Dunnes Stores and personally picked out and purchased a set of mugs for Westbourne.  

“Oh” Mary exclaimed “Imagine a bishop in Dunnes!”

Times have changed, but back in October 1994 things were different.  

I don’t want to over-squeeze the metaphor of the mugs as a sign of change to come, but mugs had come to Westbourne and Bishop Willie had marked his arrival and that was thirty two years ago.

The Passing of Time?

It seems only like yesterday that we gathered here to say our final farewell to Willie Walsh much loved shepherd, family man and friend to so many.  

And yet here we are today one year on celebrating his first anniversary.  

That feeling of “only like yesterday” is a sign of how missed Bishop Willie is by all of us.  

We miss the man we knew – his presence, his humour, his passion for hurling, and the compassion that he seemed to bring to every situation. We miss the chance meetings with him on the street, walking in Flannan’s grounds and I miss the visits I made to his home and he to mine.

Loss takes on many forms and each of us feels it in our own individual ways. 

Apart from his presence, I think we all miss his distinctive voice and his habitual phrase “Is that so?” with which he punctuated his unique gift of listening.  

He was a great listener, and he was so good at it that one felt you could almost hear him listening.

Where Memory and Faith meet

An anniversary Mass such as this is that moment when memory and faith meet. Our memories are of a special man and today all those memories of his giftedness marry with the sacredness of his faith. 

His strong Faith filled by his love for all opens into the Hope we all share and profess: a hope that tells us death is not the end but a passing into the fullness of life promised by Jesus Christ.

A Life of Service

The gospel line “Well done good and faithful servant” could have been written with Bishop Willie in mind.  

He never saw himself in any other light except that as servant of the people of God. Some saw it as a weakness in him – that constantly being at the service of others.  

Many saw it as his great strength and our memory of it is as challenging for us today as it was during his life among us.  

Willie was a leader who outshone others and he continues to be a shining example to us today.  His generosity to all feels even more challenging now that he’s gone to his eternal reward.

Cinéaltas Chríost

On his first anniversary, we look back with gratitude, with fondness for his lifestyle which had its share of human foibles and weaknesses. Above all, he saw himself and others as human beings who at times struggled and at times triumphed as they journeyed through life.  

Faith in God for him was faith in humanity and he embraced the mystery of humanity by passing no judgement on others. He was more aware than most of the fact that humanity lived out its passage through life graced by the fact that Christ himself was human and touched saint and sinner alike with love and understanding. In that sense, we can say Bishop Willie was Christ-like.

Christ-like to the disadvantaged, those with whom he worked closely, priests he supported and all the laity he respected and encouraged. Christ-like to those who felt heard when few others listened – his legacy lives on. 

It lives on in a Church that continues to learn how to be humble, compassionate, and open to the signs of the times.

A legacy that gently challenges

As we pray for Bishop Willie today, we also allow his life to question us and challenge us in the manner in which we live our Christian lives.  

How do we serve? How do we listen? How do we lead in our families, our parish communities? 

Bishop Willie’s life reminds us that the Gospel of Christ is lived most convincingly through kindness, courage and quiet faithfulness.

Prayerful Remembrance

Once again as we did a year ago, we commend Bishop Willie Walsh to the God he served with such integrity. May the Lord now grant him rest from his labours, peace in the company of the saints, and joy in the presence of the Good Shepherd whom he followed so faithfully in this life.

We remember him with love for all that he did for us as individuals and all he did for the diocese of Killaloe and our country.  

I think of a few lines from the poet F R Higgins, who wrote a lament for fellow poet Padraig Ó Conaire.  They could be written for Bishop Willie:

“Alone I’ll mourn my old friend, while the cold dawn

Thins out the holy candlelight.  Respects are paid to one loved by the people,

And so he was to me,

Close friend, near brother,

So lovable, so courteous,

And noble.”

Bishop Willie’s nobility was found in the ordinary events and practices of life.  A man who would choose a mug before a cup and saucer!

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen!

Bishop of Lincoln arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

The bishop of Lincoln has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, according to police.

Lincolnshire police confirmed that a 68-year-old man was arrested as part of an “ongoing investigation following an allegation that a man was sexually assaulted between 2018 and 2025”.

This comes after The Church of England said the Right Rev Stephen Conway was suspended from ministry while a “safeguarding complaint” was being investigated. The bishop has been released on conditional bail, and the Guardian has attempted to reach him for a comment.

Earlier, the diocese of Lincoln confirmed that the bishop had been suspended from his duties. It said in a statement: “The bishop of Lincoln, the Right Rev Stephen Conway, has been suspended from ministry while a complaint made to the national safeguarding team is responded to according to House of Bishops code of practice. This includes referral to the appropriate statutory authorities.”

No details of the complaint were given.

According to the statement, while proceedings take place the bishop of Grantham, the Right Rev Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, will take over diocesan duties during the suspension.

The diocese added: “Support is in place for those affected and there will be no further comment while the process is ongoing. We understand that this will be a deeply unsettling time. The diocesan safeguarding team is available for anyone who wishes to contact them.”

Conway was installed as bishop of Lincoln in 2023, previously having served as bishop of Ramsbury and bishop of Ely. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2014.