Mauro, a nurse from Buenos Aires and son of the late Oscar Bergoglio, one of Francis’ brothers, had long dreamed of meeting his uncle in Rome but never had the opportunity. When news broke of the Pope’s death, he voiced his deep desire to attend the funeral, but admitted that financial constraints made it impossible. Speaking on Argentine TV earlier in the week, Mauro had said frankly, “I’m trying to find a way to go. I want to go, but I can’t afford the trip.”

That vulnerable moment was all it took. Touched by his story, an Argentine businesswoman—whose name has not been publicly disclosed—offered to cover the full cost of his travel. Mauro accepted the help with gratitude and a dose of disbelief. “I never asked for anything,” he said in an interview from Rome with Radio Mitre. “They offered it to me, and I accepted because it was the only way I could say goodbye.”

Sobrino del Papa llega a Vaticano para su funeral

En el funeral del Papa Francisco sí habrá un familiar directo: su sobrino. Se llama Mauro. Logró trasladarse a Roma gracias a donativos. Y afortunadamente podrá estar con su tío. Me conmueve porque en los funerales de san… pic.twitter.com/cI6VTP1AxC

— P. Jorge Enrique Mújica, LC (@web_pastor) April 24, 2025

The story has resonated deeply in Argentina and beyond, not only because it highlights a poignant family bond in the midst of global mourning, but because it has stirred an uncomfortable contrast: Mauro, a member of the Pope’s own family, arrived in Rome not with an official delegation but through a stranger’s kindness. Meanwhile, the official Argentine delegation, led by President Javier Milei and composed of six government officials, includes no one from the Bergoglio family.

The optics of the delegation—absent any relatives of the late pontiff—have sparked a public conversation about respect, representation, and the often-strained relationship between Pope Francis and his homeland’s political establishment. For some observers, Mauro’s solitary and quietly funded journey has come to symbolize the personal humility that characterized his uncle’s life, in contrast to the pomp of official ceremonies.

As Mauro sets foot in Rome for the first time, it is under circumstances he never imagined. There are no photo ops or state receptions, only a nephew’s wish to stand near the remains of the uncle he admired from afar. He represents not only the Bergoglio family, but countless ordinary Argentines who saw in Pope Francis not just a spiritual leader, but one of their own.

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The declaration was made by Fr. Michel Daubanes, rector of the shrine, moments after the conclusion of the Rosary prayer, in front of gathered pilgrims and clergy. The miracle recognized is that of Antonietta Raco, a woman from the italian Diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro, who was diagnosed in 2006 with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a rare and progressive neuromuscular disorder affecting movement, speech, and even the ability to breathe.

By 2008, her physical condition had drastically deteriorated—marked by tetraparesis, dysarthria, and compromised respiratory function. She was bound to a debilitating trajectory with no known medical hope. But in August of 2009, during a pilgrimage to Lourdes organized by the Italian Catholic association UNITALSI, Raco entered the sanctuary’s famed healing pools. What followed was as swift as it was unexplainable: she stood up, unaided, walked, and experienced what she described as an overwhelming sense of physical and spiritual well-being.

We welcome the official proclamation of the 72nd miracle of Lourdes by Mgr Vincenzo Carmine Orofino, Bishop of the Diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro (MATERA), Italy. Ms Raco, who suffered from Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), was cured in 2009 during her pilgrimage to @lourdes_france pic.twitter.com/8f2Hx8kkME

— AMIL- Association Médicale Internationale Lourdes (@LourdesMedicale) April 17, 2025

She spoke little of the event until her return home, where further medical evaluations confirmed the absence of all prior symptoms. Yet, paradoxically, the diagnosis of PLS remained validated. Over the next several years, an intense and rigorous process unfolded. Between 2010 and 2017, her case was examined by numerous medical experts in Italy and abroad, culminating in a conclusion from the International Medical Committee of Lourdes (CMIL) in 2017: her recovery was “complete, lasting, and medically inexplicable.”

Still, it would take until November 15, 2024, for the committee to officially recognize her case as one that defied scientific explanation. That same consensus paved the way for the ecclesiastical discernment process in her home diocese. Bishop Vincenzo Carmine Orofino of Tursi-Lagonegro subsequently convened a commission of theologians and medical experts to examine the spiritual dimensions of the healing.

On April 16, 2025, the bishop formally declared the event to be a miracle, giving public thanks for what he called a sign of God’s abiding closeness to His people. “Through this divine sign,” the diocesan statement read, “the Lord has once again revealed His presence among us.”

Medical professionals involved in the case have expressed their own astonishment. Raco’s physician described the recovery as “a phenomenon scientifically inexplicable.”

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“Holy Mary my Mother, I thank you again. No one who seeks your intercession is ever put to shame. Honor and thanks are due to you,» the runner wrote on his profile. With a time of just over two hours, Abadi won the traditional Vienna race on Sunday. It was the young athlete’s first marathon victory. Never before had such a young runner won the Vienna City Marathon, which has been held since 1984.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Haftamu Abadi (@haftamu.abadi.9003)

“I Pray Every Morning and Every Night”

Immediately after crossing the finish line, Abadi publicly demonstrated his piety, taking an image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus out of his running gear, kissing it in front of the cameras, crossing himself, and pointing to Heaven. He then knelt on the ground and bowed in all directions. He also kissed his running shoes at the finish line as a symbolic thank you for the material he used during the race. The athlete also acknowledged his deep religious fervour to media representatives. «I pray every morning and every night,» he told the daily Kronen Aeitung. He also goes to church «almost every day.» The interview appeared in the Austrian daily’s Monday edition.

With his victory in the face of strong international competition, Abadi has entered the Vienna Marathon history books. This year’s race attracted some 45,000 participants. In addition to his athletic performance, the winner’s open profession of faith attracted great attention.

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The attack occurred on August 15, 2024, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — a date of profound spiritual significance for Catholics, and especially for Father Murphy, whose own unit honors Our Lady of the Rosary as their patron. That evening, returning from a swim, he was confronted near the gates of his military base by a 16-year-old boy who asked to speak with him. When the priest rolled down his car window, the boy lunged with a knife.

“I tried to drive through the gate to escape,” Father Murphy recounted in his testimony, “but he kept pace, stabbing through the window. When the car stopped, I tried to defend myself — first through the window, then the open door — until soldiers on duty intervened.”

The priest sustained severe injuries to his arms that required surgery and left permanent limitations in his hand. He also suffered facial wounds and internal bruising. For three months, he was unable to celebrate Mass. And yet, standing before the same youth who nearly took his life, Father Murphy spoke not of anger or revenge, but of forgiveness and hope.

“As a man of faith, I am committed to forgiveness,” he told the court. “And I offer it to you, not because you ask it, but because it is the path to healing. May it help you become the man you were meant to be.”

The attacker, who converted to Islam at 15, reportedly acted in protest against Irish military operations in Mali. Gardaí investigations uncovered disturbing material on his phone, including explicit violence and propaganda linked to ISIS. Yet the court heard that the priest was not targeted personally, but rather as a representative of the Defence Forces.

Detective Sergeant Paul McNulty characterized the act as “indiscriminate,” carried out by a teenager whose views had become “radicalized.” The young assailant has been charged with attempted murder and causing serious harm.

While much public discussion has focused on extremism, Father Murphy chose to frame the encounter as something more spiritual — even providential. “That night was filled with blessings,” he said. “I was protected — by Our Lady, by my guardian angel, and by brave men on the ground. And I thank God every day that the knife struck me, and not a fellow soldier. It is an honor to carry these scars.”

Despite his physical limitations, Father Murphy spoke of newfound vigilance, of how trauma had subtly reshaped his sense of safety. “Perhaps I will never feel truly free again,” he admitted. “But I will never stop living, or loving.”

Observers in the courtroom described the final moments of the hearing as unexpectedly moving. After offering his forgiveness, Father Murphy approached the young defendant, shook his hand, and spoke to him quietly. The two then embraced.

The courtroom moment stood in stark contrast to the surrounding tension of the trial, which has reignited debates in Ireland about extremism, youth vulnerability, and interfaith coexistence. Yet for Father Murphy, the lesson is rooted in something deeper than politics or policy.

“Life is meant to be lived with honor,” he told. “And loved with generosity. That’s where you’ll find joy.”

Whether or not the legal system will treat the teen as a radicalized offender or a misguided child remains to be seen. But in a small courtroom in Galway, the power of mercy briefly overcame the logic of fear — and a priest walked out with his attacker’s hand in his own, not as a victim, but as a witness to forgiveness.

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(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.

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(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.’

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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.

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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.

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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.»

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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.»

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