(ZENIT News / Phoenix, 03.31.2025).- A near-tragic accident in Phoenix, Arizona, has turned into a story of faith, community, and what Vincent Robinson’s family believes to be a miracle. The 14-month-old boy, who was found unresponsive in the family’s backyard home pool, not only survived but made a full recovery—something his parents, Caitlin and Wesley Robinson, attribute to divine intervention, more specifically, to the intercession of Cardinal Pell.

The events of that fateful Sunday, March 2, unfolded in an instant. The Robinsons were preparing to visit relatives for lunch after Mass when they realized their youngest child was missing. What followed was every parent’s nightmare. Wesley discovered Vincent at the bottom of the home pool, lifeless. Rushed to the hospital, the toddler had no pulse upon arrival. Medical staff worked tirelessly for 52 minutes to revive him, eventually placing him on full life support. The prognosis was grim, and the family braced for the worst.

As news of the accident spread, an outpouring of prayers and support followed. Vincent’s uncle, Father Dan Connealy, drove two hours from Flagstaff to be with the family, arriving so shaken that he forgot to bring his prayer book for the last rites—an oversight that, in hindsight, he wouldn’t need to correct.

From the moment Vincent was admitted, prayers surged from family, friends, and beyond. The Robinsons reached out to the saints they had always venerated—especially those connected to their children and the family’s own history of loss. Among them was Cardinal George Pell, whom they had met during his visit to Phoenix in 2021. Inspired by their personal encounter with the late prelate, they specifically asked for his intercession, along with that of Blessed Conchita, a Mexican mother of nine who had lost her youngest child to drowning.

As Ash Wednesday arrived, a novena began, invoking the help of Blessed Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. The flood of prayer requests was met with an unexpected and astonishing development—by late Wednesday night, hospital staff showed signs of cautious optimism.

“We knew something had changed when they told us we were now limited to two visitors at a time,” Wesley recalled. “In end-of-life situations, they usually allow as many as want to come.”

By Thursday, an MRI scan delivered a result no one had dared to hope for—Vincent’s brain, heart, and lungs showed no damage. What had started as a desperate struggle for survival quickly turned into a stunning recovery.

On March 13, the ninth and final day of their novena, Vincent was discharged from the hospital in perfect health. Doctors, while hesitant to label the case as miraculous, admitted that his rapid and complete recovery was difficult to explain.

The Robinsons, however, have no doubts. “We asked for a miracle, and we watched it unfold,” Caitlin said. “The doctors may struggle to explain it, but for us, the answer is clear.”

The experience has transformed the family, deepening their faith and solidifying their belief in the power of prayer. Caitlin, now expecting their ninth child, describes the past month as life-altering. “We always believed in the intercession of the saints, but now we’ve seen it in action. The Church Triumphant is not distant—it is present, fighting for us.”

Wesley, reflecting on the darkest days of their ordeal, said, “We know many people pray for miracles that don’t come in the way they hope. For whatever reason, God decided that Vincent’s time wasn’t up. We may never fully understand why, but we want to share this story, to encourage others, and to remind families that faith is real, and prayer is powerful.”

Cardinal Pell’s Unexpected Role 

The story of Vincent’s survival reached Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, who shared it at the launch of a new biography of Cardinal Pell. The news had come to him through Father Joseph Hamilton, Pell’s former secretary, who had been contacted by Father Connealy in the days following the accident.

For those who knew Cardinal Pell, the idea of his intercession is deeply fitting. Described by Archbishop Fisher as a man who embodied faith, hope, and charity in both life and suffering, Pell endured a wrongful conviction and 400 days in prison without giving in to bitterness or despair. Instead, he grew in grace, praying even for his persecutors.

While the Robinsons do not claim that their son’s survival is an official miracle attributable to Pell, they hope that their story will inspire others to seek his intercession. “If nothing else,” Caitlin said, “we want people to realize that those in heaven really do hear us. We are not alone in our struggles.”

For the Robinsons, this experience has reinforced an often-overlooked truth: the home is where faith begins. “We hope that one of the lasting fruits of this experience is that families remember the importance of the domestic church,” Wesley said. “Our homes are where we first learn to pray, where we first encounter God. If our children can hold onto the miracle they witnessed, then perhaps they will carry that faith into the rest of their lives.”

As for Vincent, he remains blissfully unaware of the drama surrounding his survival. Now one month older, he is the same lively child as before—except, as his parents say, with a story that will follow him for the rest of his life.

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Vincent, the boy alive thanks to a miracle attributed to Cardinal George Pell appeared first on ZENIT - English.

(ZENIT News – Asia News / Rome, 03.25.2025).- He had earned a reputation as an educator in the schools of the diocese of Munster. Then, in 1873, he founded a magazine, The Little Messenger of the Heart of Jesus, which – like ours, founded in the same period – brought news from the missions into people’s homes. But Father Arnold Janssen had one regret: unlike what had happened in France, Italy and other European countries, in Germany there was no Institute that sent missionaries throughout the world.

In 1875 he would realise this dream by founding the Society of the Divine Word, the Verbite Institute. Today Father Janssen is considered a saint by the Catholic Church and his missionary family is one of the most present worldwide. But those beginnings were not at all easy: Germany at the time was deeply marked by the Kulturkampf, the ‘cultural battle’ waged against Catholics by the German government, including the imprisonment and physical expulsion of priests and religious. In such a delicate situation, it was a missionary from the then Lombardy Seminary for Foreign Missions, the Institute that in 1926 would become PIME, that encouraged Father Janssen. Father Timoleone Raimondi – after taking part in the first unfortunate and apparently unsuccessful experience of the Milanese missionaries in Melanesia – had become the apostolic vicar of Hong Kong and in 1874, during a visit to Germany, strongly supported the idea of a German missionary Institute. It was also thanks to him that, in 1875, Father Janssen was able to inaugurate his ‘missionary house’ in Steyl, just across the German border, in the Dutch diocese of Roermond. It was a place for training missionaries to be sent to the East: the first two, Johann Baptist Anzer and the future saint of the Ladins Joseph Freinademetz, at the suggestion of Bishop Raimondi, were sent to Hong Kong to work with the Milanese missionaries and prepare for their service in Shandong, China. But the house in Steyl also quickly became an exceptional point of attraction for many lay people who wanted to support the missionary apostolate.

One hundred and fifty years later, how relevant is the charisma of the Divine Word Missionaries? And on what frontiers are these missionaries today witnessing to the Gospel? This will be discussed – at the end of this month – at an important international conference on mission in today’s world, promoted by the Society of the Divine Word and held in Rome from 27 to 29 March at the Gregorian University. And in view of this event we also asked Father Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, a 51-year-old Brazilian missionary with experience in Chiapas and in his homeland, who has been leading the Institute of the Divine Word as Superior General since last summer. ‘Father Janssen,’ he comments, ‘said that the proclamation of the Gospel is the first and highest form of charity. This is why he worked so hard to get the Church to send missionaries to bring the good news of Jesus to places where it was not yet known. Times change, of course, but this insight is still very relevant today, even for many frontiers.

From where and to where? ‘From the beginning there was a strong idea of an international community of missionaries from German-speaking countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands…’, continues the superior of the Divine Word Missionaries. ‘Today it has taken on a multicultural dimension: we come from 76 different countries and carry out our ministry in 77 nations on all five continents. Living the mission together, coming from different realities, is part of our DNA.»

Nowadays, only 15% of the Verbites are of European origin: new vocations come mainly from Asia, the continent where Christians are a small minority. ‘Half of our missionaries were born there,’ confirms Father Ribeiro. ’The largest group is that of the Indonesian brothers, who number 1,575. Then come India, the Philippines, Vietnam, while another 680 grew up in African countries. This plurality of origins is a challenge for us. But it is also a sign for today’s world.’

A testimony called to make the Gospel present on many particularly hot frontiers. ‘I am thinking of our missionaries who are in both Ukraine and Russia,’ comments the Superior General. ‘But I also have in mind Cuba, where I was recently on a visit: I encountered a country that in many respects today is literally a land of first proclamation. Or to the situations that are still waiting to fully experience the challenge of inculturation. However, I also look to Holland, the land where Father Janssen established our first house in Steyl and which has given us so many missionaries: we now have Indonesian, Indian, Ghanaian and Congolese brothers who live their apostolate here on many existential frontiers. One of them, while carrying out his service in a hospital, found himself in front of a Catholic who asked him for Communion saying: ‘Father, it’s the last one I’ll receive: I’ve asked for euthanasia’. What does it mean to be a missionary in these situations? We are constantly called upon to ask ourselves this question’.

What does today’s Europe represent for a missionary coming from Asia? ‘The culture shock is strong,’ admits Father Ribeiro. ‘Generally we come from contexts where Christians are certainly a minority, but where religious identity remains very strong. On the contrary, in Europe we find ourselves immersed in secularised societies, where it is not enough to open the church door for people to come: in today’s cities, for many people, our gestures no longer mean anything. And this doesn’t only apply to the West: even in a country like South Korea, for example, many young people no longer think about getting married or see the idea of a family as an obstacle to their career. So what can we do? It’s about going out, reaching out to those who are alone, coming to terms with many wounds. Get closer to show, despite all our limitations and fragility, that there can be a different life. Show that the Gospel of Jesus has a hope to bring».

Talk to today’s world. With missionaries who often belong to Generation Z themselves: there are still many young people in the Verbite novitiates, in Asia alone there are currently more than 600 in formation. What do they bring to your congregation? ‘They come from a context that prefers experience to rationality, they are much better at using the digital environment than we are,’ replies the superior general. ‘They are fortunate in that they still have family experience behind them, which can become a valuable testimony among their peers. As can their deep sense of the sacred, a dimension that has been lost in the West. The challenge, on the other hand, is to help them grow in generosity, in a cultural context in which we are all much more self-centred».

With a compass that remains clear: the reference to the Divine Word, that is, looking to Jesus as the Word of God made flesh, which Father Janssen wanted in the very name of the Institute. ‘The biblical apostolate is a fundamental aspect of our ministry,’ says Father Ribeiro. ’Which means, first of all, listening to the Word of God in our communities, and then sharing it with others in everyday life.’

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Verbites: 150 years at the service of the world appeared first on ZENIT - English.

The gathering was filled with warmth and joy as attendees sang «Happy Birthday» in English and Arabic. Msgr. Marcuzzo then led prayers and hymns before delivering a speech reflecting on Sister Claude’s remarkable religious life.

On behalf of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Galilee, Msgr. Marcuzzo presented Sister Claude with the prestigious Order of the Holy Sepulchre Cross, recognizing her lifelong dedication to faith and service.

The bishop praised her many contributions, from teaching and mentoring novices to serving as Mother Superior and Superior General ad interim. He also highlighted her leadership as head of the Union of Religious Orders in Galilee (USRTS).

Before offering his final blessing, Msgr. Marcuzzo reflected:«Sister Claude is a shining example of religious devotion. She deeply loved the Holy Land and its Church, especially Nazareth, following in the footsteps of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, whose tomb the congregation has preserved since 1855.»

The celebration was not just a milestone but a testament to a life of unwavering faith, devotion, and service.

With information from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post This was the 100th birthday of an Arab Catholic nun in the Holy Land appeared first on ZENIT - English.

A Papal Knighthood is the highest honour which can be bestowed on a lay Catholic by the Holy See.

Cllr Rigby, Westminster’s first citizen, received the prestigious honour, first created in 1831, which recognises service in public life and to the Catholic Church.

Elected to Westminster City Council in 2010, Cllr Rigby – who became Lord Mayor in May 2024 – is a former chair of the Catholic Union who has used his Mayoral year to speak publicly about his Catholic faith in public life. One of his two chosen charities for the one-year term of Lord Mayor is the Cardinal Hume Centre, which specialises in helping homeless teens.

Ampleforth-educated Cllr Rigby has visited a number of Catholic projects in his time as Mayor. He helped serve lunch to around 60 people on a visit to the Central London Catholic Churches Homeless lunch service run from Farm Street Church, and later served dinner to homeless people at the Companions Café, run by the Companions of the Order of Malta at St James’ Catholic Church in Spanish Place.

The Lord Mayor was also instrumental in reinstating the civic service for Westminster City Council at Westminster Cathedral. While an annual civic service for the Lord Mayor is held at Westminster Abbey, the parallel Catholic celebration had not been held at Westminster Cathedral since 2004. The newly reinstated service – held on 16 March – drew more than 500 worshippers to the Cathedral.

For the Papal Knighthood investiture and Mass, the Lord Mayor wore the traditional Knight of St Gregory uniform of dark green tailcoat and trousers trimmed with silver embroidery, a cocked hat and dress sword with white gloves.

The pews for the Cathedral Mass were packed with leaders from the world of politics, charity and business. Celebrant Bishop Nicholas Hudson said:

“In recognition of Councillor Rigby’s dedicated public service as a member of the City Council and the Catholic Union, and in view of his commitment to his Catholic faith, I was delighted to invest him as a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great.”

The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, said:

“To become a Knight of St Gregory has been a wonderful honour – I didn’t expect anything like this.

“When I became Lord Mayor, I wanted to talk publicly about my faith. Being the first citizen of Westminster you meet a range of different communities, and it is clear to me that faith plays a key role in how people live their lives.

“I was educated by the Benedictines so there are two key strands to my life: listening and humility. I have taken them through to my public life as councillor and then Lord Mayor.

“My two campaigns as Lord Mayor have been highlighting the plight of the homeless and inspiring young people to stay active. The Cardinal Hume Centre has been a brilliant example of both – helping teenagers who have fallen through the cracks and drifted from home to find hope and purpose.

“As Lord Mayor, it has been my privilege to meet some remarkable Catholics who demonstrate their faith in action in a range of ways. This award really is a crowning accolade for me as a public and private person. My huge thanks to Westminster Cathedral, Fr Slawomir Witoń and, Bishop Nicholas Hudson for being the celebrant and making my KSG investiture such a special occasion.”

Cllr Rigby has lived in St John’s Wood for more than 35 years and spent his working life in sales and marketing within the travel industry, including 20 years with Japan Airlines during which time he met his wife Emiko – the first Japanese Lord Mayoress of Westminster. The Lord Mayor’s chaplain is Father Christopher Colven, past Rector of St James’s Church, Spanish Place, in Marylebone, and currently Catholic Chaplain to the Houses of Parliament.

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Lord Mayor of Westminster receives Papal Knighthood appeared first on ZENIT - English.

Sister Giustina, a member of the Servants of Mary Immaculate, is not only a clinical psychologist at the Medical Genetics Center in Lviv but also the founder and president of «Huella de Vida», a pioneering perinatal hospice established in 2017. The organization, driven by its motto—»I cannot give days to your life, but I can give life to your days»—provides perinatal palliative care to families experiencing the heartbreak of severe and untreatable fetal conditions.

During a press conference at the Pontifical Academy for Life’s General Assembly, which explored the theme «The End of the World? Crisis, Responsibilities, Hopes», Sister Giustina spoke passionately about the urgent need to change societal attitudes toward prenatal loss. She pointed out that prenatal diagnoses often lead to pregnancy termination, which, in turn, skews medical statistics by reducing recorded cases of congenital conditions.

Her work at «Huella de Vida» is built on four core pillars:

– Raising public awareness about prenatal and perinatal grief

– Providing emotional and psychological support to mothers and couples facing a severe fetal diagnosis

– Advocating for the dignity and care of unborn children with terminal conditions

– Accompanying parents who have lost a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth

Sister Giustina emphasized that no life is too brief to leave an imprint on the world. The hospice’s approach focuses on helping parents cherish every possible moment with their child, no matter how short.

«A tiny footprint can still leave a mark on this earth,» she said. «Our mission is to strengthen parents so they can continue the journey of pregnancy with love, appreciating each moment they have with their child.»

She also highlighted a widespread lack of awareness surrounding prenatal and perinatal grief, lamenting that many people do not know how to support families in these situations. To change this, «Huella de Vida» promotes October 15 as a global day of awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.

«For us, this day is an opportunity to proclaim the value of even the shortest lives. It is a day to honor motherhood and fatherhood. In the evening, we light candles in memory of these little souls, creating a wave of light across the world—a wave of remembrance, hope, and love,» she explained.

Sister Giustina’s message was clear: even when medicine offers no solution, love remains. «In situations where ‘nothing more can be done,’ there is always something left to do: to love—to love until the very end.»

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Ukrainian Nun Honored for Her Work Supporting Parents Facing Fatal Pregnancy Diagnoses appeared first on ZENIT - English.

Karoline was born and raised in New Hampshire in a devout Catholic family. Her entire education was Catholic-inspired; she attended Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools, the latter in Massachusetts. She also attended a Catholic university, where she graduated with a degree in communications.

In a 2021 interview with Father Robert McTeige, she mentioned that the way her family raised her is key to the person she is today: «I’m very grateful that they worked so hard to send me to a Catholic high school… That place taught me discipline, helped me grow in my relationship with God, and also instilled in me the importance of public service and giving back to the community.»

Karoline also mentioned that she is the first in her immediate family to earn a college degree, thanks to her family’s hard work. She also shared that from a young age, she helped in the family business, which taught her values such as hard work, determination, and the understanding that nothing in life comes for free, everything must be earned.

Leavitt entered politics at an early age. Right after graduating from university, she worked as a communications assistant on Trump’s 2016 campaign, where she began gaining experience. Since then, she has been deeply involved in politics.

In December 2023, she married Nick Richio. At the time, she posted on instagram a photo saying: «It was the best Christmas of my life. I got to marry the man of my dreams. I feel incredibly blessed. Thank you, God.»

In July 2024, they welcomed their first child. She considered stepping away from politics for a while, but after the attack that left President Trump injured in the ear, she returned to work on his campaign just weeks after giving birth.

As the newly appointed White House press secretary, Karoline is responsible for handling media relations, managing press conferences, and shaping the public narrative of the administration.

Although she acknowledges that balancing her job and motherhood has been a challenge, she affirms that her family is the foundation of her life and that her faith in God gives her the strength to keep going:

«I wake up every day, say my prayers, and ask God to give me the strength I need to move forward.»

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post This Is the Young Spokeswoman for the U.S. Government: A Young Catholic Mother appeared first on ZENIT - English.

(ZENIT News – Asia News / Islamabad, 02.18.2025).- The story of Naseem (not her real name to protect her identity) is testimony of unwavering faith and courage of how following one’s faith in Pakistan today involves immense challenges for those who become Christians.

Naseem was born into a deeply religious Muslim family in a small village in central Punjab, where life revolved around the mosque. Her father, a respected member of the community, and her brothers were deeply involved in Islamic practices.

“My father and brothers would wake up every morning at 4 am to pray at the mosque, always standing in the front row with the Imam,» she said.

Growing up, she was under immense pressure to reflect her family’s image of Muslim devotion.

“We also had a Mawlawi (Islamic scholar) who would come to teach us. He would teach us from the Qur‘an and other Islamic studies. My brothers and I studied diligently, and my father was regular in his prayers. We had a strong bond with our community,” she noted.

However, even when she was a child, she was attracted to the stories about Jesus and Mary mentioned in the Qur‘an. “I was touched by the story of Jesus – His miracles, His compassion, and the peace I felt whenever I heard about Him,” she explained.

Years later, while working in the fields of a nearby Christian village, Naseem met a young Christian who listened to her.

“I told him how much I loved Jesus and Mother Mary and how His story gave me peace and comfort,” she said. This simple conversation became the first step in Naseem’s long journey of faith.

“I also came to believe that Christians are honest and truthful, unlike some Muslims I had encountered. With this newfound understanding, I chose to accept Mary and converted to Christianity.”

Sixteen years ago she eloped with a Christian man, registering the marriage in court, without a religious rite. She is now the mother of seven children.

Since she publicly embraced Christianity, Naseem’s life has been marked by incessant persecution. She immediately found herself isolated, no one willing to celebrate her marriage and she suffered numerous attempts on her life.

“I have faced death threats and attempts on my life, but Jesus has protected me,” she said with unwavering faith.

“No Christian priest agreed to celebrate our union, for fear of reprisals. When I ask them, they refuse, saying, ‘If we do it, someone might harm us or cause trouble for us.’”

Naseem and her family live in constant fear. Children endure daily humiliation and threats at a local public school. Teachers regularly try to convince them to renounce Christianity and return to Islam.

“My Muslim parents have even tried to abduct my children and force them to convert to Islam,” Naseem said.

“When I accepted Jesus, I lost all ties with my family, parents, siblings, and relatives.” Now “whenever I go out, I lock my children inside the house, cover my face, and wear a gown to hide my identity”.

She also faces multiple discrimination at work. Local Muslims refuse to hire her or do not allow her to pick vegetables. “We’ve faced hunger, for months in the same clothes and without shoes.

But for Naseem, the biggest threat comes from her own family. Her father, siblings, and even her friends see her as an infidel whose death would bring them salvation.

“Everyone around me sees me as a ‘kafir’ (infidel), an unbeliever. They believe that killing me will bring them paradise,” Naseem explained.

The fear is also constant for her children. “When they go to school, the market, or even play in the streets, I am always afraid,» she said.

Economic challenges also aggravate Naseem’s living conditions. Of the seven children, only one contributes to the income.

My husband is unwell” and “can’t work. We do not have resources for his cure and medication. Sometimes, we only have two kilos of flour,” not enough for everybody.

What she earns from farmwork is almost never enough for everyone.

“During tough times, my Christian brothers and sisters step in to help. Sometimes they give me flour, twenty kilos of grain, or money, one thousand rupees or five hundred. It’s through their support that I manage to survive, and our household continues to function.”

The encounter with the Christian community also takes place in the local church. “I love God and go to church twice a day; at 4 am and 7 pm. God has done something amazing for me.”

Faith for Naseem represents salvation from incessant persecution; thanks to it she dreams of freedom, not only for herself, but also for her children.

Naseem hopes “to be free from the fear and trauma of being killed or seeing my children killed. I want to live in a place where my children can go to church, follow Jesus freely, and attend school without fear.”

In Pakistan there is no real religious freedom, and Naseem’s story clearly demonstrates that.

“My request is that Pakistan should allow religious freedom for all, enabling anyone to choose their faith without fear of persecution or restrictions,” she told AsiaNews.

“Since embracing Christianity and accepting Jesus, I have faced numerous challenges.” None of us “should live in fear.”

This is precisely the aim of a campaign promoted by human rights activist Joseph Janssen, who is challenging oppressive policies such as those of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which does not allow declarations of abandonment of Islam.

By presenting a constitutional petition on behalf of converts, he seeks to defend the fundamental right to choose one’s faith. Such an effort is meant to pave the way for a more peaceful future for many believers who, out of fear, live their faith in secret.

For this reason, despite the pain and struggles, Naseem’s unwavering faith remains a beacon of hope. “We may suffer in this life,” she said, “but I know Jesus is with us, protecting us, and giving us the strength to carry on.”

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post “I met Jesus»: one woman’s faith beyond all odds in Pakistan appeared first on ZENIT - English.

(ZENIT News – Sisters of The Little Way / 02.13.2025).- TW: This article contains accounts of sexual abuse.

Dipping my fingers into the holy water font, I immediately notice large, wide-eyed figures swirling around me in bright luminescence. I freeze, trying to stabilize myself. Eerily reminiscent of childhood bouts with hypoglycemia, my surroundings are distorted as if I were in a circus. The features of the people around me seem exaggerated and the ground unstable beneath my feet. As I cross myself, my thoughts race, “This is a Rupnik chapel. I didn’t realize this would be a Rupnik chapel. I wasn’t prepared for this.”

As I walk into the chapel, my heart pounds in my ears. I motion to Sr. Theresa Aletheia in distress. She looks at me with knowing sadness and discreetly ushers me into the nearest pew. My adrenaline subsides as I begin to pray. For the first time since my experience with an abusive spiritual director, I feel unsafe at Mass. I had come with joy to visit a friend and to worship God. Instead, I was caught off guard, struggling to conceal how deeply I had reacted.

Surrounded by the effect of Rupnik’s creations, my vulnerability had no place to rest in a space completely dominated by the imagination of a sexual predator. Art intended to elevate my soul for worship had instead enveloped my senses with reminders of how clerical abuse can diabolically twist beauty.

Masterful but not Beautiful

The floor-to-ceiling mosaic chapel I walked into that day was designed by Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik. A former Jesuit, the priest now faces multiple accusations of sexual abuse from female religious, many of whom were involved in the creation of his artwork. After great public pressure to address the accusations of abuse, an independent tribunal at the Vatican has been set up to determine Rupnik’s fate.

Celebrated for many years, Rupnik and his team of artists at Centro Aletti sought to create contemporary liturgical art by blending Eastern and Western tradition. As an artist, I can understand why many were drawn to Rupnik’s work. His designs maintain an interesting consistency and coherence as well as a boldness in color and asymmetry that creates a sense of movement. Drawing the viewer into a cosmos of sacred symbols, his installations encompass entire environments. Scooping the viewer into a world of intentionality, his work reorients tradition in a way that feels authoritative and purposeful.

Centro Aletti, the community that assists in producing and installing Rupnik’s work, describes their artistic style by focusing on the themes of light, movement, and brightness. Their “new organic language” is free, they argue, from anything “gloomy, dark, oppressive, or depressing—it’s an explosion of light.” This aspect of his art always unsettled me; the abundance, brightness, and proliferation of his designs struck me as impersonal, more a product of capitalism’s influence on the Church than something sacred or precious. Overshadowed by revelations of abuse, the emphasis on explosive, bright light in Rupnik’s mosaics becomes not just uncomfortable but ironic. His artistic choices, unfortunately, make sense in terms of research on people who sexually abuse others, which often highlights the stage of “grooming” victims and communities by maintaining an image that comes across to others much like Rupnik’s icons—exceedingly “bright.”

St. John Paul II calls artists “prophets” and “ambassadors of beauty,” tasked with bearing witness to Christ’s presence in the world. Artists are especially entrusted with safeguarding vulnerability, a sacred entry point for God’s healing presence. The Incarnation—God becoming a vulnerable baby—is the ultimate expression of this truth. Throughout history, artists have depicted this primal vulnerability from the Nativity to the Crucifixion. Charismatic, talented, and influential, Rupnik used his artistic skill, fame, and intuition, particularly the vulnerability at the heart of his creative process, to exploit his victims rather than glorify God. Perverting his sacred task as an artist, Rupnik used his authority as a priest and his mastery as an artist to exploit the very vulnerability he was called to protect and hold sacred.

Sacred Art or Artifacts of Abuse?

Because Rupnik was a master in his field, some have argued for the preservation of his art. This line of argument often compares him to artists like Raphael or Caravaggio, who were far from model Christians. However, while Raphael and Caravaggio’s sins were separate from their art, Rupnik’s abuse and perverted mysticism was integral to his creative process. His victims’ testimonies reveal that his art cannot be disentangled from his crimes. Rather, it was intrinsic to it.

As predators in church contexts commonly do, Rupnik targeted devout, dedicated women. The co-founder of a women’s religious community, Rupnik is estimated by one of his victims to have abused almost half of its members. Based on the victims’ testimonies, much of the abuse involved his artistic process. One victim shared in an interview,

Once he asked me to pose for one of his paintings because he had to draw Jesus’ collarbone and he [said he] was not looking for ‘worldly’ girls, who only expressed sexuality in his view, but someone like me who was seeking. … It was not difficult to accept and unbutton a few buttons on my blouse. For me, who was naive and inexperienced, it only meant helping a friend. On that occasion he kissed me lightly on the mouth, telling me that this was how he kissed the altar where he celebrated the Eucharist.

Another former sister described being sexually abused on scaffolding while installing mosaics in a sanctuary. As one sister put it, “His sexual obsession was not extemporaneous but deeply connected to his conception of art and his theological thought.” These testimonies decode and illuminate a disturbing pattern: Rupnik’s artistic process was intertwined with his abuse, making his creations artifacts of abuse rather than sacred art.

In the history of iconography, upon which Rupnik’s work is based, the process is as important as the end result. An icon is written not produced. Iconography is considered more of a prayer than an artistic expression where the artist’s hand is thought to be guided by the inspiration of God. Writing an icon is a sacred experience of effacement for the artist as he or she is caught up in the creative action of the Holy Spirit. Rather than reveal the Father through his art, however, Rupnik chose by his actions to ambiguate, distort and disfigure the face of God. Through the perversion of his artistic process, Rupnik violated not only consecrated women and himself, he committed sacrilege— the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred person or object. This sacrilege, inherent in the process of the creation of his art, is why Rupnik’s art cannot be considered sacred art.

Conclusion: A Call to Memory and Renewal

For Christians, memory is central to our faith. Our liturgical spaces hold the memory of our salvation, sanctified by Christ’s words: “Do this in remembrance of me.” Sacred art is meant to help us remember what Christ did for us. Rupnik’s art, on the other hand, serves as a reminder of abuse and betrayal. An artifact of abuse, his art tells a story of exploitation and institutional failure. To acknowledge the harm done, honor victims, and reclaim these spaces for true worship, we should commit to remove his works from sacred spaces—not as an act of erasure but as a step toward healing and renewal.

Among the first of Rupnik’s victims to publicly share her story, Gloria Branciani has argued that “using a work … borne from an inspiration of abuse cannot remain in a place where people go to pray.” She suggests that Rupnik’s mosaics need to at least be put in a different context. I agree and suggest that Rupnik’s works should be considered contemporary art, rather than sacred art. At Lourdes, for example, the decision to no longer illuminate Rupnik’s mosaics reflects a sacred intuition—what was presented as light actually veiled darkness. Allowing his works to remain in a state of shadow acknowledges the abuse and institutional failure they represent. These actions initiate a restorative process of healing within the Body of Christ and his Church.

As we enter this Jubilee of Hope, however, I propose that we go beyond recontextualizing Rupnik’s art. If we truly care about being an evangelical witness in this modern world, then how we address complex circumstances of abuse matters. We should respond to this situation in a way that Rupnik did not—by respecting the vulnerability of others—and by making great sacrifices that recognize and honor this vulnerability. In this spirit, I would suggest that any institution that must make decisions around Rupnik mosaics should commit to dismantling them. Artists could use the tiles to create new mosaic installations dedicated to survivors. These mosaics could be housed in a chapel dedicated to survivors of abuse. Communicating from the authoritative voice of the Church, a chapel dedicated to victims would say, “We see you, we are sorry that we failed to protect you, bearers of God’s beauty in your vulnerability. And we are listening. You are the Church.”

What better way to celebrate this Jubilee year of Hope than by enlisting artists in this restorative work?

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post The Case of Marko Rupnik: An Artist’s Perspective appeared first on ZENIT - English.

(ZENIT News / Königstein, 02.13.2025).- The Bishop of Masvingo in Zimbabwe says that the Church in his country, and in general, owes a debt of gratitude to the religious sisters who do pastoral work on the ground, sometimes in very difficult conditions.

During a visit to the international headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa spoke of women religious as “foot soldiers of Christ”

“We should thank the female congregations; they have had to carry a lot of burdens in order to serve the Church in Africa. They are the ones on the ground, who serve the poor, the widow and the orphan, but they have very little recognition,” he said.

“They do the catechesis of children, young people and adults, but when people talk about the Church, they say: ‘Father is doing a good job here, he is very good at organising.’ Father might be good at organising, but who implements all these things? Who makes it work? It is the women in the congregations. With very little gratitude. Historically we have had a challenge in the manner in which we have been expressing our gratitude.”

The bishop lamented the fact that in many situations the sisters are not getting retribution or support for their pastoral work, which can lead to negative consequences for dioceses. “The majority are not paid, yet they have bills to pay, they have food and medicine to buy, healthcare needs. The Church has been slow in recognising that contribution and supporting them financially, to the point that a good number has lost heart and are now more interested in their work as teachers or as nurses, where they get a salary from the government, and many are leaving pastoral work, because they feel that they are not well supported.”

Bishop Raymond spoke of a personal experience he had when he visited a parish on the border with Zambia and Mozambique. “It is the remotest part of our diocese, with a very poor community. They could not even afford to house us. We had to bring small tents to live in in order to celebrate the Easter festivities,” he recalls. Bishop Raymond watched in wonder as the sisters quickly established a close connection with the parishioners. “I thought to myself, ‘who is the bishop here? The sisters are the bishops!’” he recalled with a smile. “They know the people better than us! The amount of time they give to the knowledge of the people is amazing! They are really the foot soldiers of the Church!”

Fortunately, he said, things are beginning to change, and in some dioceses the bishop now sees the sisters receiving more recognition from the Church authorities.

This, the bishop believes, is part of realizing Pope Francis’ call for a more synodal Church. “We pray that we become more synodal, more caring, more attentive to the needs of the oldest and the youngest. We want to transform the Church into a real family of God, where the dignity of every person is respected.”

ACN is currently supporting dozens of projects in Zimbabwe, including for formation and living costs of religious sisters in the Diocese of Chinhoyi, the construction of a convent in the Diocese of Masvingo, and the refurbishment of a novitiate in the Diocese of Gweru.

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Religious sisters are “the foot soldiers of Christ” in Zimbabwe, says bishop appeared first on ZENIT - English.

The year 2024 was for her a period full of success and achievements. She was named Player of the Year in the college basketball league, standing out with records such as two “triple doubles” (this occurs when in three statistical categories, such as points scored, rebounds, assists or turnovers, a double-digit number is reached, that is, at least 10). She also set the most points scored in a game, with 49, among other achievements.

In March, she was selected as the first option by the Indiana Fever team, and in her debut in May she scored 20 points, dished out three assists and had 10 turnovers, setting a record in this category for a rookie player.

During the season, Caitlin registered other records and, finally, she was nominated as WNBA Rookie of the Year. She was also named Time magazine’s Sportswoman of the Year, the second woman to receive this recognition after Simone Biles in 2021.

What is particularly interesting is how Caitlin has attracted many fans to the WNBA thanks to her special and surprising style of play. She has been compared to Stephen Curry, as, like him, she is not afraid to shoot three-pointers, or even 30 feet shots. This has proven very entertaining for fans attending the games or watching them on television. In fact, the league’s ratings have increased considerably thanks to her impact.

But Caitlin stands out not only for her basketball talent, but also for her faith, something that has caught the attention of those who know her personally. Both her family and coaches have spoken about the importance of her spirituality in her life.

From her days at Dowling Catholic High School, Caitlin was already publicly displaying her faith. In an interview with a sports magazine in 2018, she said, “We can live our faith every day. Dowling starts every day with prayer and ends every day with prayer. This is one of the main reasons Dowling has such a special culture and is such a special place to study.”

Her relationship with her brothers is very special, as they and their friends were her first playmates. To this day, Caitlin says, “They are two of my biggest fans and probably two of my biggest ‘haters’ because they humble me all the time…when I don’t have a good game, they text me something funny, and that helps me put everything in perspective.”

Her brother Blake, who leads the Iowa State Cyclones at quarterback, constantly motivates her not to neglect her faith. Despite his busy schedule with football and college classes, Blake finds time to remind Caitlin to pray the Rosary and attend Mass near her campus. Parishioners comment that she is present most of the time. During last year’s Final Four, Blake was seen wearing a St. Benedict armband and it was learned that before the game he prayed the Rosary, completing the last decade inside the stadium.

Kristin Meyer, Caitlin’s former coach during her years at Dowling, also highlights Caitlin’s fervent faith and understanding of her God-given gifts. In a recent interview with Crux, Meyer commented, “It’s not just about scoring a lot of points or winning; she loves playing in front of sold-out stadiums because she can entertain people and make them smile. For two hours, she lets them have this great experience, and she takes it very seriously. She knows that these gifts from God are an opportunity to bring joy to other people.”

Father Joseph Pin, who has a close relationship with the entire Clark family, told Crux how the parish community is very proud of Caitlin, including himself. “We are proud of our student, who has accomplished such great things in life. It’s always good, as we shape the kids, to see this happen and watch success not only on the basketball court, but also in their lives of faith.”

Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.

The post Caitlin Clark: Basketball’s new star is Catholic appeared first on ZENIT - English.