Holy Trinity Catholic Church

A general view of a wreath laid by mourners outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria on Sept. 11, 2025, following the fatal shooting of U.S. youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk while speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. / Credit: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

Vatican City, Sep 11, 2025 / 12:11 pm (CNA).

In response to the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of Christian conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Vatican’s secretary of state condemned the use of violence against those with whom one disagrees.

“The Vatican stand is that we are against all types of violence. And we think that we have to be very, very tolerant, very respectful of everybody, even though we don’t share the same view,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists at the sidelines of a conference at the Vatican on Sept. 11.

“If we are not tolerant and respectful, and we are violent, this will produce a really big problem inside the international community and the national community,” he added.

Parolin’s comments were made one day after the 31-year-old Kirk was shot dead during the first stop of his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University on the afternoon of Sept. 10.

Kirk, who often debated students on campus, strongly defended free speech at colleges and was an outspoken critic of discrimination against Christians and of gender ideology. He founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to promote free speech and conservative values on college campuses.

Father Vealumun Paul Ansbert Mom, the superior general of the Via Christi Society in Nigeria, has decried the state of insecurity in his diocese, saying he can no longer travel to his village because “everyone has been driven away by killer herders.” / Credit: ACI Africa

ACI Africa, Sep 11, 2025 / 11:34 am (CNA).

The superior general of the Via Christi Society in Nigeria has decried the state of insecurity in his native Makurdi Diocese, saying he can no longer travel to his village.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of a canonical visit to St. Matthew Kuchikau Parish of the Diocese of Lafia on Sept. 7, Father Vealumun Paul Ansbert Mom described the current insecurity in Benue state and others in the north-central region of Nigeria as “deliberate persecution of Christians in the West African nation.”

“St. Paul Parish Ayititwa in Katsina-Ala Diocese was burnt down and destroyed. The parish house, rectory, and church building were reduced to ashes. From every evidence available, what is going on is the persecution of Christians, and we cannot hide away from that fact,” Mom told ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa.

The Nigerian priest, who has lost family members amid insecurity in Benue state, said the attacks have destroyed entire communities. 

“I don’t have a village any longer; I can’t travel to my village. My village no longer exists because everyone has been driven away by killer herders,” he lamented.

“When Yelewata community was burnt down, I lost two cousins, and another cousin was shot on his farm two weeks ago,” Mom said. “These attacks are targeted. There are areas where Christianity is simply not allowed to grow.”

The priest further explained that priests continue to live and work in dangerous conditions even after government officials have abandoned those areas. 

“Many parishes in Makurdi Diocese and outstations have been closed down because of this insecurity. Local government chairmen have relocated their offices to Makurdi, but Catholic priests remain in those villages. They go to bed every night wondering if they will survive, yet they stay,” he said.

Mom urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to acknowledge the scale of the crisis and take action. 

“The popular narrative among the powers that be is to deny the reality, but those of us who face it firsthand know the truth. Churches are destroyed, priests are displaced, and Christians are being persecuted. Government presence is almost nonexistent in these communities. The only officials left are soldiers,” he said.

Despite the insecurity and criticisms, Mom noted that the Catholic Church does not see itself as an enemy of the Nigerian government and state officials. 

“The Church and the state have always worked hand in hand. The Scriptures call us to pray for our leaders. We love them, we pray for them, and we wish them well. But as a credible moral voice, we must call their attention to the suffering of the people,” he said.

In the Sept. 7 interview, Mom also reflected on the challenges of vocations to priestly and religious life and the formation of candidates.

“The world has become very secular and lazy, and vocations come from this same society. It is tougher now to train priests because many young people lack commitment. We must build virtues of sacrifice and dedication,” he explained.

Mom dismissed suggestions that economic hardship alone prevents young people from joining the priesthood and religious life.

“We train all our seminarians without asking them to pay. What really hinders vocations today is materialism. If you are driven by wealth and comfort, you cannot survive in the priesthood. Our priests in Via Christi Society work in remote and difficult missions where sacrifice is required, not wealth,” Mom said.

“The Lord says, ‘Foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ To follow him means surrender and sacrifice. If you are driven by wealth, you have no place in the priesthood,” he warned, highlighting the sacrifices of Via Christi missionaries both in Nigeria and abroad. 

“In Makurdi Diocese, our priests remain in flashpoints like Udei, Adaka, Aondona, and Naka. In Bauchi, one of our priests installed solar power that became the only source of light for an entire village,” Mom said.

He went on to recount: “In the Caribbean, when hurricanes hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines, one of our priests sheltered an entire community in his church basement. That is what missionary service looks like.”

Mom said the Church will continue to rely on faith to sustain its mission. 

“Our founder, Father Angus Fraser, always reminded us to live by divine providence. Even when obstacles seem impossible, divine providence takes us a step further. That is what keeps us going in Nigeria and in every part of the world where we serve,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau at his episcopal consecration Mass as the new auxiliary bishop of Newark, New Jersey, on Sept. 8, 2025. / Credit: Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 11, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

“Today, we Nicaraguans are making history again. Do not forget: God is with us and God is with Nicaragua!” said Pedro Bismarck Chau, the new auxiliary bishop of Newark, New Jersey, at the Sept. 8 Mass for his episcopal consecration, making him the first Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States.

Amid a festive atmosphere and before a packed Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, where he had been rector since 2020, Chau received episcopal consecration through the laying on of hands by several bishops. The principal consecrator was Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark.

As part of the celebration, Cardinal Christoph Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the letter in which Pope Leo XIV officially appointed Chau as bishop and encouraged him to allow himself to be strengthened “by the grace of this jubilee year and you will have reason to be confident in the gift of hope, which does not disappoint. May God continue to bless you and may he bless the people of God in this archdiocese.”

The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep

In his homily in English and Spanish, Tobin encouraged the new bishop to remember that “you have been called from among the people of God and for the people of God. Not for yourself, but for the things that belong to God. Indeed, episcopacy is the name of a service, not an honor, for a bishop should strive to serve rather than rule.”

“According to the Master’s commandment, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all … Be a faithful steward and dispenser of the mysteries of Christ. Always follow the example of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep and is known by them, and who did not hesitate to give his life for them.”

The cardinal then recalled that “Pope Francis never tired of repeating to bishops that there are three aspects to a bishop’s closeness to the people he serves: closeness to God in prayer, the first task; closeness to the priests and deacons of the Church; and closeness to the people of God. … Do not forget your roots, do not forget those who have passed on the faith to you.”

‘God is with Nicaragua!’

At the beginning of his address as a newly consecrated bishop, Chau thanked the Deaf community in sign language, recalling that for 17 years they have been a great support and encouragement in his ministry, offering them his prayers and concluding with a clear: “I love you!”

Speaking later in Spanish, he addressed his “dear Hispanic community: Thank you for the faith and devotion you possess. You are a great gift of life for the Church in the United States. Continue, brothers, to be a Church that goes out in search of the lost sheep.”

“I would also like to acknowledge the presence this afternoon,” Chau continued, “of a group of people here from a very small country but with a big and resilient heart that cries out with a phrase that no other country has: ‘Who causes so much joy? The conception of Mary. Mary of Nicaragua! Nicaragua of Mary!’”

The prelate addressed his family, especially his mother: “Thank you, my dearest mother, for everything and for praying so many rosaries for me, three, four, and five times a day that you pray for me. I need them, so don’t stop praying those rosaries for me. OK, Mommy?”

“I love you very much,” he told his family, “you know I love you with all my heart.”

The example of the Virgin Mary

Chau said he hopes to “follow the example of Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today. Happy birthday, Mary! She trusted in God’s plan even though she didn’t know what she was being called to or where it would take or lead her. She renounced all the dreams and aspirations that a young girl would have and put God’s will first.”

Then addressing all those assembled he said: “I humbly ask you to remember me in your prayers to the Lord and to ask the Virgin to watch over me and bring me closer to her son, Jesus, so that I may reflect for you the image of the Good Shepherd. Thank you, and may God bless you all!” he said.

Words of Bishop Silvio Báez

Following the Mass, Bishop Silvio Báez, the exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua, Nicaragua, who has been living in the U.S. since 2019, said the episcopal consecration of Chau was a “historic celebration. The first Nicaraguan, born in Nicaragua, to be ordained a bishop in the United States. He was baptized and took his first steps in the faith in Nicaragua.”

“This is a sign of the richness and fruitfulness of the Church of Nicaragua and a message of hope for all the people of God in our country. The fact that Bismarck came from Nicaragua and settled in the United States shows that it is possible to move forward despite the difficulties one may encounter,” he added.

When asked about his meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in August, along with two other exiled Nicaraguan bishops — Carlos Herrera and Isidoro Mora — the prelate said: “The interview with the Holy Father was a moment of grace, a moment of hope, seeing how deeply he holds Nicaragua in his heart as well as the situation the Nicaraguan people are experiencing at this time.”

Who is Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau?

Pedro Bismarck Chau was born on June 28, 1967, in Managua, Nicaragua. He studied at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

He completed his ecclesiastical studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange and later earned a master’s degree in counseling from Seton Hall University.

He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark on May 24, 2008.

He served as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield, New Jersey, from 2008–2012; as director of vocations from 2012–2016; and as head of campus ministry at Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology from 2015–2020.

He also served as pastor of the Pro-Cathedral of Sts. John and Patrick in Newark from 2015–2020 and rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart since 2020.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

null / Credit: roibu/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 11, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A new Pew Research Center study found that religion does not play a large role in how most Americans vote in U.S. elections. 

The research was conducted as part of Pew’s “About the American Trends Panel.” It was conducted May 5–11 and surveyed a representative sample of 8,937 U.S. adults. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.

Of the responding participants, 56% of Americans said religion shapes how they vote “a little” or “not at all,” 18% said religion shapes how they vote “some,” and 25% said religion affects how they vote “a great deal” or “quite a bit.”

Susan Hanssen, a professor of history at the University of Dallas, told CNA the data is “striking” because “it does not follow a normal curve.”

“One would expect that on the edges of the sociological spectrum, a small portion of people would not vote according to their religious beliefs, the majority of people would vote somewhat in accordance with their religious beliefs, and a small number of people would vote absolutely based on their religious beliefs. But this curve is the opposite.”

“This follows what we know to be true about people who say grace before meals,” Hanssen explained. “People either always say grace before meals and vote according to their religious beliefs, or they never say grace before meals and do not vote according to religious beliefs. Very few people only say grace every once in a while, and only consider God every once in a while while voting. It seems to be a kind of all or nothing thing with God.”

Hanssen explained a possible reason behind the research findings. She said: “The fact that a majority of people are on one end of the spectrum, not taking God or religion into account when voting, matches perfectly with our deplorable birth rate.” 

“Clearly people are living for their immediate economic benefit and not thinking about either the next generation (their children and grandchildren) nor eternity. The widespread contraceptive mentality has undermined people’s habit of voting for family, values, and religious principles.”

Catholic subset

Among Catholic respondents, 24% said religion affects their voting patterns “a great deal” or “quite a bit,” 22% said “some,” and 54% said “a little” or “not at all.” 

The majority (67%) of Catholics also said “God does not get involved in U.S. presidential elections.” The research found that 26% of Catholics reported they agree Trump’s election “must be part of God’s overall plan, but doesn’t necessarily mean God approves of Trump’s policies.” Only 5% said “God chose Trump to become president, because God approves of his policies.”

The Pew report revealed that religion affects how evangelical Christians vote the most among religious affiliations. Out of respondents, more than half (51%) of white evangelical Christians said their religion affects how they voted “a great deal” or “quite a bit.” 

Voters least affected by religious beliefs were unsurprisingly self-identified atheists, with 88% reporting that it affects them “a little” or “not at all.” Out of religiously affiliated, nonevangelical Christians were least likely to report their religious beliefs affect how they vote.

Republicans (34%) were almost twice as likely as Democrats (18%) to report religion shapes how they vote. Republicans were also more likely to believe that recent election results must be part of God’s overall plan, even if God doesn’t necessarily approve of the winner’s policies.

In regard to the most recent presidential election, the survey posed a question to Christians about what “good Christians” should think of Trump. It found that 80% of U.S. Christians said “good Christians can disagree about Donald Trump,” 11% said “opposing Trump is essential to being a good Christian,” and 7% said “supporting Trump is essential to being a good Christian.”

Erik Dike, a rising senior nursing student at Belmont Abbey College, carries a patient onboard a hospital ship in Madagascar during a two-week program with Mercy Ships. / Credit: Joshua Kiew Wing Chau

CNA Staff, Sep 11, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Three nursing students from a Catholic liberal arts school in North Carolina spent two weeks on a hospital ship in Madagascar this summer.

Emma Harris, who will graduate from Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte in May 2026, joined fellow students Caroline Gutierrez and Eric Dike on a service-oriented internship in Madagascar with an international faith-based group called Mercy Ships. After returning to the U.S., Harris said she was “transformed.”

Mercy Ships operates the two largest nongovernmental hospital ships worldwide, delivering free surgeries and health care services “to those with little access to safe medical care,” according to the organization. The three Belmont students, along with two other students, were selected to make up the first-ever cohort of The Mercyship, the hospital ship’s summer internship program.

Harris joined Mercy Ships because she wanted to follow Jesus’ example.

“Being on Mercy Ships completely transformed me,” Harris said. “I went in with my whole life mapped out, but the experience changed my perspective and priorities.”

Mercy Ships, which has been operating for nearly 50 years, brings medical care to people in need around the world while incorporating the faith. 

Kerry Peterson, senior vice president of advancement at Mercy Ships, said its mission is “not just about providing medical care but creating a community centered on love, service, and faith.” 

More than 2,500 volunteers serve on the two ships. Students work with volunteer professionals “and witness firsthand how transformative health care can restore hope and dignity,” Peterson said. 

“Serving with Mercy Ships is a unique experience because it brings people from all over the world together with one purpose: using their skills and gifts to bring healing and hope to those who need it most,” Harris said.

Faith and service in a ‘medical desert’ 

Madagascar is a “medical desert,” Peterson said. It is a country of more than 28 million residents, 75% living under the poverty line, and for every 1,000 people, there are 0.2 physicians, according to Peterson.

The Africa Ship, one of the two hospital ships, arrived in Madagascar in February 2024 and will remain there until the end of 2025.

“Access to safe surgical care is extremely limited, making it one of the world’s medical deserts where patients would otherwise go untreated for conditions that are easily treatable,” Peterson said.

But the Mercy Ships program helps in “cultivating the next generation of faith-inspired health care leaders who will carry forward our commitment to bringing hope and healing to those who need it most,” Peterson said.

“We hope students leave with a transformed understanding of what health care can be when delivered with compassion and cultural humility, seeing how healing encompasses dignity and hope far beyond clinical procedures alone,” Peterson said.

Dike, a senior from Wake Forest, North Carolina, said: “Being part of this program was both eye-opening and deeply fulfilling.”

“While I was there, I could see how God was working through the staff to bring healing to those who need it most,” Dike told CNA. “None of the staff are paid, yet they serve with so much joy and love — a rare and inspiring thing to witness.”

Harris said she “was inspired to join Mercy Ships because of my faith in Jesus and my desire to follow his example of serving others with compassion.”

“Mercy Ships’ mission to bring hope and healing through love perfectly reflects the calling I feel to use my gifts in service,” Harris said. “I have always had a passion for caring for others, especially children and families, and the vision of Mercy Ships, to provide free medical care and show God’s love in practical, life-changing ways was the perfect way to do that.”

For Harris, Mercy Ships is a “tangible” connection to Christ.

“For me, it connects deeply to my walk with Jesus, because he calls us to care for the sick, love our neighbors, and serve with humility,” she said.

“Being part of this program is important to me because it lets me live out my faith by serving others, growing in my walk with God, and using my gifts to make a difference,” Harris said.

Gutierrez, a senior in the nursing program at Belmont Abbey from North Carolina, joined the program because she said she felt “drawn to helping people in some of their toughest, most vulnerable, painful moments, because we are called as Christians to heal the sick, feed the poor, and show love to those rebuked by the world.”

“At Mercy Ships, they start the day with prayer and worship, offering up their work and service up to God,” Gutierrez said. “Everyone is there out of love of God and love of others — I found this to be the unifying key to the mission of mercy ships.”

“Mercy Ships is truly something bigger than yourself,” Dike said, adding that the program helped him realize “how beautiful people’s hearts can be.”

“Everyone on the ship speaks passionately about how much they love being a part of Mercy Ships and how it has become a lifelong calling for many of them,” he said. “I was grateful to share even a small part of that by caring for patients and witnessing their joy and gratitude.”

Communicating beyond words

Mercy Ships gives students the opportunity to “witness how our volunteer medical professionals combine clinical excellence with genuine care for each patient’s whole being,” Peterson said.

Dike said it was a “unique experience” and “very different from nursing in America.” 

Health care practitioners on board “rely on translators for every patient,” he noted.  

“This taught me the importance of communicating beyond words, through body language and facial expressions, when language barriers exist,” Dike said.

Peterson hopes students view “their work not just as jobs but as callings to serve.”

“This immersive experience shows them that faith, service, and clinical excellence aren’t separate components but integrated aspects of transformative health care that treats each patient with dignity and compassion,” Peterson said.

After the transformative experience, Harris said she is setting her sights on a future of service. 

“Now, the one thing I know for certain is that I want to finish my degree and get back on the ship as soon as I can,” Harris said. “It showed me what it really means to serve, to live in community, and to trust God with my future.”

Police officers are on the scene at Evergreen High School where a shooting occured earlier in the day, in Evergreen, Colorado, on Sept. 10, 2025. A shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado critically injured three studentsincluding the suspected shooter. Authorities say there is no longer an active threat. / Credit: CHET STRANGE/AFP via Getty Images

Denver, Colo., Sep 10, 2025 / 20:14 pm (CNA).

The suspect in a school shooting in Evergreen, Colorado, has died of self-inflicted wounds after shooting two of his peers.

After a shooting at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, on Wednesday, one student remains in critical condition while the other was released from the hospital in stable condition, according to the hospital’s trauma director, Dr. Brian Blackwood. 

The suspected shooter, identified as Desmond Holly, 16, had been “radicalized,” according to the sheriff’s office. Social media accounts apparently belonging to Holly featured white supremacist content and “explicitly antisemitic” posts, as well as posts suggesting an interest in mass shootings, according to a report by the Denver Post.  

The students were treated at CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. One of the two victims was identified as Matthew Silverstone, 18. The family has asked for privacy “as we continue to heal and navigate the road ahead,” the Silverstone family said in a statement.

The shooting took place at midday about 30 miles southwest of Denver at a high school of 900 students. Hundreds of law enforcement rushed to the scene. The school has since been cleared by law enforcement and there is no longer an ongoing threat, according to local police.   

“My heart is with the students, parents, and teachers at Evergreen High School. Today, we grieve for those critically shot and those left frightened and shaken,” Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver said in a statement. 

“We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement on the scene, whose courage brought calm amid chaos, and for the doctors and medical teams working tirelessly to care for the injured,” he continued. “The victims have been taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital, a Catholic hospital, where they are receiving compassionate care.”

“To our young people, know that Jesus is near you, hears your cries, and his mother Mary holds you close,” Aquila said. “To hurting families, the Church is with you, and we lift you and your children up in prayer.” 

“May Christ bring comfort to your hearts and may Mary at the foot of the cross wrap you in her tender care,” he said.

The nearby parish, Christ the King Parish, is offering ministry for students, families, and staff amid the tragic event, according to the archdiocese. 

A team of deacons “trained to serve in disasters and critical incidents” has also been put on alert. 

“These deacons, who have partnered with the American Red Cross in past crises, stand ready to offer pastoral outreach and guidance should they be needed at the hospital or school,” read a statement from the archdiocese.

“Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “We are all praying for the victims and the entire community.”

FBI Director Kash Patel posted about the tragedy, saying that the FBI was “on the scene and in full support of local authorities to ensure everyone’s safety.” 

This is at least the seventh school shooting in Colorado since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.

The shooting took place within hours of the shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a rally at Utah Valley University.  

“In addition to praying for Charlie Kirk, please also pray for my hometown Evergreen, Colorado, where there is a school shooting and at least two students have been shot,” said Catholic commentator and Daily Wire show host Isabel Brown.

This story was updated most recently on Sept. 12, 2025, at 1:24 p.m. ET.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk (pictured at the White House in May) was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking to college students in Utah. / Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 10, 2025 / 17:37 pm (CNA).

Charlie Kirk — founder of the conservative campus activist organization Turning Point USA and outspoken evangelical Christian — was shot dead in an apparent assassination during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 10.

The 31-year-old was fatally shot in the neck while taking questions from audience members during a stop at the university as part of his American Comeback Tour. He is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and his 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.

The shooting occurred when Kirk was answering a student’s question about transgenderism and gun violence at about 12:10 p.m. MST, shortly after the event began. Utah Valley University was Kirk’s first tour stop.

Kirk, who often debated students on campus, strongly defended free speech at colleges and was an outspoken critic of discrimination against Christians and gender ideology. He founded Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was just 18 years old to promote free speech and conservative values on college campuses.

Vice President JD Vance posted on X that Kirk’s campus events “are one of the few places with open and honest dialogue between left and right,” noting that Kirk “would answer any question and talk to everyone.”

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” Vance said in a follow-up post.

Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump, who expressed sadness about his death in a Truth Social post and referred to Kirk as “great, and even legendary.”

“No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” he wrote. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you!”

Kirk has also been outspoken about his Christian faith on social media, in interviews, and on his previous campus tours.

In a post on X last week, Kirk expressed optimism about a “revival in the Christian church.” 

“Churches are growing,” Kirk said. “Young people are flocking to faith in God. You do not want to live in a non-Christian country. Even the most hardened atheists or agnostics are blessed by the church’s influence.”

As of early Wednesday evening, the shooter has not yet been confirmed captured. The motive is not yet known.

Trump ordered all American flags in the United States to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14, to honor Kirk’s legacy. The president said Kirk was “ a truly Great American Patriot.”

Charlie Kirk speaks with attendees at the 2025 Chapter Leadership Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. / Credit: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 10, 2025 / 15:54 pm (CNA).

Founder and President of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk has been shot in an incident that took place at a Utah Valley University event earlier this afternoon.

Prayer requests for Kirk flooded across social media platforms after video footage depicting him being shot in the neck began to circulate on X. Kirk had been discussing the rising phenomenon of violent attacks perpetrated by trans-identifying individuals. 

AP News reported on X that Kirk has died.

“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,” Vice President JD Vance wrote immediately after news broke of the attack. 

“Dear God, protect Charlie in his darkest hour,” Vance wrote in another post.

President Donald Trump also posted his platform Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”

Kirk is married to his wife, Erika, and is the father of two children. 

Police have reportedly arrested a man in connection with the attack, according to videos posted on social media. The man has not been identified. 

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill will host a prayer vigil for Kirk after its 5:15 p.m. Eucharistic adoration.

Kirk, who has described himself as evangelical, recently went viral on social media for his surprising take on the Virgin Mary, saying during an episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show” on the Real America’s Voice channel that he believed Protestants do not talk about or venerate Mary enough, adding that Mary “is the solution” to “toxic feminism in America.”

“Mary was clearly important to early Christians,” Kirk said. “Have more young ladies be pious, be reverent, be full of faith, slow to anger, slow to words at times. Mary is a phenomenal example, and I think a counter to so much of the toxicity of feminism in the modern era.”

Bishop Robert Barron was among those to post immediately after the attack, writing: “Please pray for Charlie Kirk.” 

FBI Director Kash Patel said that “agents will be on the scene quickly,” and that the FBI would be standing “in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated: “I’ve been briefed on the shooting in Utah. Casey and I are praying for Charlie Kirk and his family.”

“My heart is sick. Charlie is a friend. A good, courageous man. Who cares passionately and deeply about this country. Who loves life. A father and husband. Pray for him, pray earnestly. Pray for his family. Pray for our country. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy,” Live Action Founder Lila Rose wrote in a social media post.

This is a developing story. This story was last updated on Sept. 10, 2025, at 4:48 p.m. ET.

Pope Leo XIV preaches at the historic Rotonda church in Albano, Aug. 17, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 10, 2025 / 13:18 pm (CNA).

On the evening of Sept. 9, when leaving Castel Gandolfo, where he had spent the day, Pope Leo XIV described Israel’s attack earlier Tuesday against leaders of the Hamas terrorist group in Doha, Qatar, as “very serious.”

Referring to the growing tension in the Middle East conflict, the pontiff stated: “We must pray a lot and keep working, searching, insisting on peace.” 

On Wednesday, at the end of the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father encouraged the faithful to remember “in their prayers and in their humanitarian projects also the children of Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions of the world affected by war.”

At Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff specifically expressed his concern about the situation in Gaza, after Israel ordered the immediate evacuation of residents in anticipation of an imminent intensification of military operations.

Pope Leo XIV explained that he had unsuccessfully attempted to contact Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza.

“I tried to call the parish priest just now; I have no news,” he said. “They were certainly OK before, but after this new [Israeli army evacuation] order, I’m not sure.” 

Hours later, Romanelli reported on X that he had finally managed to speak with the Holy Father. “He asked us how we’ve been and what the situation was like. He sent us his blessing and is praying for us and for peace,” the priest wrote.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

St. Francis Xavier statue in front St. Joseph Cathedral in Beijing, China, Feb. 25, 2016. / Credit: Zvonimir Atletic/Shutterstock

Rome Newsroom, Sep 10, 2025 / 12:21 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has created a new Catholic diocese in northern China with the same name as one established decades ago by Beijing without Vatican approval, underscoring ongoing tensions over how China has redrawn Catholic diocesan borders independently of Rome. 

The Vatican announced Wednesday that the pope has suppressed two historic dioceses of Xiwanzi and Xuanhua — both erected in 1946 by Pope Pius XII — and replaced them with the Diocese of Zhangjiakou. The see of the new diocese is based in the city of Zhangjiakou, where China’s state-controlled Catholic association set up its own diocese in 1980 using boundaries never recognized by the Holy See. 

Notably absent from the Vatican’s announcement was any mention of Bishop Augustine Cui Tai, 75, the longtime underground bishop of Xuanhua, the diocese Pope Leo XIV suppressed. Cui has been subjected to repeated detention, house arrest, and forced labor over the past three decades, according to a recent report.

Pope Leo XIV appointed a new bishop to lead the Diocese of Zhangjiakou in Hebei province, Father Joseph Wang Zhengui, who was selected within the framework of the Holy See’s provisional agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops, also referred to as the Vatican-China deal.

The Vatican announcement came hours after Wang, 62, was consecrated bishop of Zhangjiakou on Sept. 10 in a Mass at the Church of the Holy Family in Zhangjiakou attended by about 300 Catholics, 50 priests, and senior Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association leaders. The Vatican said that Pope Leo had appointed Wang on July 8.

“In order to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual welfare, on July 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV decided to suppress the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi in mainland China, which were established on April 11, 1946, by Pope Pius XII,” the Holy See Press Office said in its announcement. “In this way, the territory of the Diocese of Zhangjiakou corresponds to that of the capital city of Zhangjiakou.”

The new diocese covers 14 districts and counties around the city of Zhangjiakou, an area of 14,000 square miles with a population of just over 4 million people, including about 85,000 Catholics served by 89 priests. It will be a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Beijing.

No mention of persecuted bishop

The Holy See’s announcement conspicuously omitted mention of the current underground bishop of the suppressed Diocese of Xuanhua. Bishop Cui has been detained four times since the 2018 China-Vatican agreement was signed and had not been seen since he was taken into police custody in April 2021, according to a 2024 report by the Hudson Institute. His diocese had repeatedly called for his release from detention but to no avail. Asia News reported that Catholic clergy in Hebei were informed that a “retirement” ceremony for Cui, who is currently 75 years old, will take place on Sept. 12.

China’s disputed diocesan borders

The announcement highlights the long-standing issue in Vatican-China relations: The government-sponsored Chinese Patriotic Association redrew diocesan borders to align with state administrative divisions. This redrawn diocesan map does not match the Vatican’s canonical jurisdictions.

The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association is a state-run body under the control of the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. 

Prior to Pope Leo’s decision, Beijing recognized 104 dioceses while the Holy See had 143 Catholic dioceses in China. While the 2018 Vatican-China deal — renewed by Pope Francis in October 2024 — aims to fill vacant sees through a shared process of bishop appointments, its details remain secret. Vatican officials have previously acknowledged that Beijing violated the agreement multiple times.

Pope Leo XIV on China

The Vatican came under criticism during Pope Francis’ pontificate for what some saw as a muted response to China’s human rights abuses, including the internment of Uyghur Muslims and the imprisonment of Catholic pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong.  

On May 1, new restrictions from China’s United Front came into force banning foreign clergy from presiding over religious activities for Chinese people without the invitation of the Chinese government, severely limiting foreign missionary activity in the country. Meanwhile, state-sanctioned Catholic institutions in China offered little acknowledgement of Pope Francis’ death.  

Pope Leo XIV, who inherited the Vatican-China deal from Francis, has retained Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the architect of the deal, as his secretary of state, yet it remains unclear how Vatican-China relations might shift under the new pontiff. 

Cardinal Stephen Chow, the bishop of Hong Kong, who met with Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 2, told his local diocesan newspaper, the Sunday Examiner, that “the Holy Father is not entirely unaware of the Church in China, as he has already gathered insights from multiple sources and through the Sino-Vatican agreement.”

Leo XIV also visited mainland China before his election as pope when he served as superior general of the Augustinian order. 

“He recognizes the importance of dialogue between the Church and the mainland authorities, and considers respectful communication as the priority in addressing challenges in China-Vatican relations,” Chow said.