Rafael Llanes, Author at ZENIT

Articles By Rafael Llanes

Dicasteries•Marriage and Family•Pro Life

Abortion as an Ideological Weapon: The Vatican’s Denouncement

In the face of the promotion of abortion and the lack of respect for life, the document calls for focusing attention on other factors it considers truly harmful, such as extreme consumerism, pollution, the throwaway culture, and the desire to exert absolute power over the human body through its manipulation, facilitated by technological advances.

May 08, 2026 12:22

Rafael Llanes

Testimonies•Vocations

In His Youth He Was Expelled from the Church: In 2026, He Was Ordained a Priest by Leo XIV

The curious story of the «threat of excommunication» came to light through testimony that emerged in the context of the priestly ordinations performed by Pope Leo XIV.

May 03, 2026 11:28

Rafael Llanes

Church and World•Vatican Diplomacy

Holy See Raises Its Voice in Favor of Protecting Cultural and Religious Heritage Amidst Armed Conflicts

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to UNESCO, Monsignor Roberto Campisi, addressed the 224th Session of the organization’s Executive Board on April 13 in Paris and stressed the urgent need to protect places of faith and culture amidst conflicts, especially in the Middle East and Ukraine. Their destruction damages the culture of peoples and erases the collective memory, he explained

Apr 28, 2026 07:12

Rafael Llanes

Analysis Opinion•Gender Ideology•Young People

Gender Transition Worsens Mental Health, According to New Study

The key finding is that young people with gender dysphoria had «significantly higher psychiatric morbidity than control groups, both before and after surgery,» and that «reassignment» treatments involving mastectomies of healthy breasts and genital surgeries such as phalloplasty and vaginoplasty require specialized psychiatric care that increases significantly over time.

Apr 28, 2026 07:09

Rafael Llanes

Testimonies

Pope Francis’ Last Words Are Published One Year After His Death

The gesture encapsulates the Pontiff’s personality: approachable, humble, and attentive to those around him. The author considers it a synthesis of his way of living the priestly ministry with direct, informal interactions.

Apr 20, 2026 18:47

Rafael Llanes

Local Church

What You Don’t See About a Papal Trip: The Spanish Church and the Difficulty in Covering the Expenses

On the official website of the Preparatory Committee for the Visit, it is stated that «The Pope’s trip will be paid for by all of us who are eager for Pope Leo XIV to visit Spain, because the visit does not receive state funding. The organization will be carried out in a sober and transparent manner, and the accounts will be audited.»

Apr 07, 2026 17:41

Rafael Llanes

Vatican City

The Extraordinary Restoration of the Last Judgment of the Sistine Chapel Is Completed

The restoration began on February 1 with scaffolding on the wall that offered a reproduction in high definition of the image of the fresco, which permitted visits to the Chapel during the work of the restorers.

Apr 06, 2026 17:28

Rafael Llanes

Local Church

Oldest Benedictine Abbey in the West Approaches Landmark 1500th Anniversary

The historic Benedictine monastery was founded by St. Benedict of Nursia in 529 and was the cradle of the Benedictine Order.

Mar 30, 2026 16:05

Rafael Llanes

Justice and Peace•Pope Leo XIV•Woman

Pope Meets with Israeli and Palestinian Women at the Vatican

Layla al-Sheik, a Palestinian mother who lost her son Qusay in the Second Intifada, and Elana Kaminka, mother of Yannai, an Israeli soldier killed on October 7, shared their memories with their children and future generations, urging them to build a better future.

Mar 28, 2026 21:11

Rafael Llanes

Analysis Opinion•Justice and Peace•Local Church

Four Years of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: An Analysis from the Church

Following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict has changed its face: from fighting with tanks to swarms of technologically advanced vehicles.

Mar 11, 2026 17:27

Rafael Llanes

Local Church

Barcelona’s Basilica of the Holy Family Becomes Officially The Tallest in Europe

The inauguration of the Tower of Jesus will take place on June 10, anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose heroic virtues Pope Francis recognized on April 14, 2025, as the first step toward his beatification. Pope Leo XIV will preside over the inauguration during his visit to Spain.

Mar 03, 2026 09:07

Rafael Llanes

Local Church•Virgin Mary

How Many Pilgrims Visited the Shrine of Fatima in 2025? Shrine Reveals Surprising Data

In 2025, Europe was the continent with the most pilgrims, especially from Spain, Poland, and Italy. Asia came in second, a position previously held by the United States. Pilgrims from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines were particularly prominent. From the Americas, there were many from the United States, Brazil, and Mexico.

Feb 15, 2026 16:16

Rafael Llanes

Vatican Clarifies Iran Ambassador Controversy: Routine Diplomatic Honor Miscast as Political Endorsement

According to clarifications issued by both Vatican officials and the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, the honor formed part of the Vatican’s longstanding diplomatic protocol: ambassadors accredited to the Holy See who complete at least two years of service commonly receive the distinction.

Leo XIV’s first book offers a glimpse into the Augustinian spirit of the new papacy

The first copy of the Italian edition was formally presented to the Pope on May 2 by Father Joseph Farrell, the current Prior General of the Augustinians, together with Father Rocco Ronzani and Vatican publishing executive Lorenzo Fazzini.