Enrique Villegas, Author at ZENIT

Articles By Enrique Villegas

Exile as Policy: Nicaragua Expels Another Priest as Pressure on the Catholic Church Intensifies

With 309 religious already displaced and over a thousand documented acts of hostility, the pattern is no longer episodic. It has become structural

Feb 19, 2026 17:12

Enrique Villegas

Gender Ideology•Local Church

Capuchin Franciscan friar marries transgender couple in Argentina; bishop announces sanctions

The ceremony took place on January 28, 2026, at Nuestra Señora de Pompeya parish in the Archdiocese of Corrientes. According to the couple, they completed the standard prenuptial process and received assurance from a Franciscan friar that no canonical impediment stood in their way

Feb 11, 2026 18:20

Enrique Villegas

Local Church

US government will help the Cuban people: but only through the Catholic Church

The decision reflects a significant level of trust in the Catholic Church’s nationwide parish network. According to Washington, the method has proven “highly effective,” precisely because it bypasses state structures that have historically controlled or filtered humanitarian relief

Feb 09, 2026 10:33

Enrique Villegas

Local Church

León Cathedral and Guanajuato Basilica restored thanks to the help of Catholics

The basilica’s recent restoration history has been extensive. One of the most sensitive tasks was the professional restoration of the image of the Virgin of Guanajuato itself. The wooden sculpture and its silver base had gone more than a century without specialized conservation

Feb 08, 2026 23:54

Enrique Villegas

Local Church•Pro Life

Costa Rica Chooses Laura Fernández: A Pro-Life Presidency Begins as Bishops Call for Unity, Dialogue, and Moral Leadership

During the campaign and throughout her previous government service, Fernández repeatedly underscored the protection of unborn life as a central pillar of her political vision

Feb 04, 2026 10:50

Enrique Villegas

Local Church

Colombian Bishops Push Back After President’s Remarks on Jesus Spark National Outcry

It reflects a broader cultural move toward intentional, values-driven giving, where individuals prioritize long-term commitments over spontaneous responses

Jan 30, 2026 20:57

Enrique Villegas

Justice and Peace•Local Church

From Mourning to Mobilization: Mexico’s Catholic Church Bets on a Decade for Peace

The roots of the National Dialogue for Peace lie in a moment of national trauma. In June 2022, Jesuit priests Javier Campos and Joaquín Mora were murdered in Cerocahui, Chihuahua, after trying to shield a local tour guide, Pedro Palma, from an armed attacker

Jan 15, 2026 17:21

Enrique Villegas

Local Church

Can Masses be celebrated with mariachi music? Mexican diocese issues practical guidelines

The diocese does not ban mariachi outright, but insists that its use must be decided in close dialogue with the priest who presides

Jan 04, 2026 19:50

Enrique Villegas

Causes of Saints•Local Church

From Boardroom to Beatification: How an Argentine Businessman Is Redefining Holiness

The date and place of Shaw’s beatification are expected to be announced shortly. When that moment arrives, it will mark not just the recognition of a miracle, but the elevation of a vision

Dec 21, 2025 16:54

Enrique Villegas

Religious Freedom