Saint Michael Parish

Credit: JCDH/Shutterstock.

Jan 4, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).

With the signing of the law that recognizes that “the human being in gestation or the unborn child is a natural person,” Puerto Rico concluded 2025 with historic achievements in the defense of life. For Puerto Rican Sen. Joanne Rodríguez, it was a year “in which unprecedented progress was made.”

On Dec. 22, 2025, the governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González, signed Law 183-2025 — formerly Senate Bill 504 — which recognizes that the conceived child, “at any stage of gestation within the mother’s womb,” is a “natural person.”

A “natural person” is simply a human person as distinguished from a juridical person such as a corporation.

Three days earlier, on Dec. 20, González had signed Law 166-2025 — formerly Senate Bill 3 — which stipulates that it will be considered “first-degree murder when a crime is committed against a pregnant woman, resulting in the death of the unborn child at any stage of gestation within the mother’s womb.”

It will also be considered first-degree murder when the unborn child dies as a result of “the use of force or violence against the pregnant woman.”

These laws are in addition to the signing on Oct. 30, 2025, of Law 122-2025 — Senate Bill 297 — which establishes guidelines for abortion cases involving minors under 15 years of age, stipulating that at least one of the girl’s parents or legal guardians must sign an informed consent form and that authorities must be notified in cases of suspected rape.

Laws 166 and 183 were authored by the president of the Senate of Puerto Rico, Thomas Rivera, and Rodríguez is listed as a co-author, among other legislators.

Rodríguez is also the author of the bill passed as Law 122.

‘Unprecedented progress’ after more than 4 decades

In a Jan. 1, 2026, interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Rodríguez noted that “despite the fact that the majority of the population had consistently expressed itself in favor of protecting the lives of unborn children, the political class, dominated primarily by progressive factions, refused to pass any legislation that represented even the slightest step in defense of the human right to life.”

“Multiple legislative efforts were defeated for more than four decades, until 2025, when unprecedented progress was achieved. In just the first year of the new government, the Legislative Assembly approved three bills that address the issue of abortion,” she said.

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States; its constitution governs internally, but it is subordinate to the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, such as the now-overturned Roe v. Wade — which at the time opened the door to abortion throughout the United States — also apply in Puerto Rico and directly affect its legal system.

Rodríguez emphasized that the constitution of Puerto Rico “expressly recognizes the right to life, a recognition that, according to the legislative record during the drafting of the constitution, was included with the clear purpose of protecting the lives of human beings in the womb.”

“However, our constitutional intent was overridden by the now-obsolete U.S. Supreme Court precedent established in Roe v. Wade. Since then, Puerto Rico became one of the most permissive jurisdictions regarding abortion, allowing abortions at any stage of pregnancy, at any age, and for any reason.”

For the Puerto Rican senator, “the fundamental change” brought about by the laws signed in recent months “lies in the explicit recognition of the dignity of human life from conception, thus restoring the moral foundation that, as a people, we established in the drafting of our constitution in 1952.”

A ‘powerful message’

Rodríguez pointed out that “by recognizing the unborn child as a natural and legal person, and by classifying as first-degree murder an attack against a pregnant woman in which the baby dies, we are not only recognizing the human nature of the child in the womb, but also the dignity of its humanity.”

“In other words, it is not only about the importance of the new legal implications and the practical consequences in the application of the law, but about an even more profound change due to its ontological dimension,” she said. “The message is clear: In the womb of a pregnant woman there is not an indecipherable object without dignity but a subject, a developing human being, who has dignity and whose value is intrinsic to his or her human nature,” she added.

In response to the criticism that has circulated following the signing of the law that recognizes the unborn child as a person, the senator clarified that “no article of the new law alters the Medical Practice Act, the Medical Emergencies Act, or the standards of treatment in life-threatening situations.”

“Clinical decisions in emergency scenarios continue to be based exclusively on the risk to the patient’s life or health. The bill does not introduce anything that could prevent or delay such treatment,” she emphasized.

“It is the legal opinion of the current secretary of justice of Puerto Rico that, after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States, abortion in Puerto Rico is governed by the Puerto Rican Penal Code. This interpretation means that abortion is only legal when performed to protect the life or health of the woman,” she said.

Surgery ban

Rodríguez said “the passage of Law 63-2025 constituted another colossal achievement in defense of the dignity of human life, specifically of minors at risk from the currents of woke ideology that have reached our shores.”

Law 63-2025 — which bears the signatures of Rivera, Rodríguez, and Sen. Jeison Rosa as authors — prohibits “surgical interventions or drug treatments that alter the biological sex of a minor under the pretext of a gender transition or as part of a treatment for gender dysphoria.”

“This law represents an absolute halt to the use of minors to promote unscientific and unnatural ideas that cause them irreversible physical harm,” Rodríguez emphasized.

“With the signing of this law, no minor under 21 years of age in Puerto Rico can be subjected to chemical or surgical mutilation treatments as part of a progressive trend that, through the denaturalization of the human being, uses the most vulnerable to advance its agendas,” she emphasized.

With the achievements accomplished in 2025 and with an eye on the future, Rodríguez sees her work as “continuing to contribute to the reconstruction of the moral and human fabric that has characterized us as a people since the dawn of our national identity.”

“Puerto Rico was forged in the crucible of Christianity, and it is from our cultural and spiritual heritage that I seek to continue upholding the values ​​that were the cradle and foundation of Puerto Rican identity,” she affirmed.

‘A turning point’

In a Spanish-language article titled “The Courage to Legislate with Conviction,” published on the Senate’s website, Rivera emphasized that “this 2025 legislative year marked a turning point in the legal and moral history of Puerto Rico,” highlighting that these and other laws passed stem from “the commitment I made to the people to protect fundamental rights, the traditional family, and the reaffirmation of the principles and values ​​that distinguish us as a society.”

“These laws reflect a vision of the state that recognizes that religious freedom is not an administrative concession but a fundamental right; that the family is not an abstract concept but the institution and backbone of a society; that childhood requires special protection from public authorities; and that human life, from its most vulnerable stage, deserves legal and moral respect.”

“From a Christian perspective, these laws are rooted in principles of conscience, responsibility, stewardship, and justice,” he affirmed.

After warning that “Puerto Rico faces the challenge of preserving its freedom without losing its legal and moral soul,” the Senate president said that “from the perspective of the Christian faith, it is proclaimed that the law must serve life, the family, and social peace. From a legal perspective, it is maintained that all legislation will be evaluated in the courts, as is appropriate in a democracy, but also in the court of history.”

Rivera concluded his article by quoting St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio: “The future of humanity passes by way of the family.”

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

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus on January 4, 2026. In his message after the prayer, the pope called for respecting Venezuela's sovereignty and constitution following the capture by U.S. forces of the country's President Nicolás Maduro. / Screenshot: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2026 / 06:51 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela and called for the country’s national sovereignty to be fully respected, one day after a U.S. operation ended with the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

“With a heart full of concern I follow the evolution of the situation in Venezuela,” the pope said, underscoring that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail above any other consideration.”

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus, Leo XIV insisted on the need to “overcome violence” and called for “embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty.”

The Holy Father also pointed to the importance of “ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution” and of “respecting the human and civil rights of each and every person.”

He further urged working together to “build a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concordia.”

The pontiff emphasized that this effort must be carried out “with special attention to the poorest, who suffer because of the difficult economic situation.”

Finally, the pope invited Catholics to unite in prayer for Venezuela, entrusting this intention “to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto and of Saints José Gregorio Hernández and Sister Carmen Rendiles,” canonized last year.

The pope’s remarks come at a moment of maximum political and international tension for Venezuela following the capture of President Maduro and his wife, and Maduro's imminent prosecution on U.S. soil on drug trafficking charges.

Hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said a second wave of attacks was planned if forces in the country offered resistance. “We are going to govern Venezuela until there is a safe transition,” he said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice has ordered that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the presidency due to Maduro’s “forced absence.”

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

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Douala in Cameroon. | Credit: Douala Archdiocese

Jan 4, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of the Archdiocese of Douala in Cameroon has outlined a moral and social vision for the Central African nation, calling for a change of hearts that would translate into forgiveness, unity, justice, and an end to violence.

Presiding over the New Year Mass in the courtyard of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral of his archdiocese on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Kleda urged Cameroonians to begin the year by dismantling not only weapons of war but also the inner attitudes that fuel division and conflict.

In his homily, the archbishop framed peace as the defining task of 2026, insisting that it cannot be imposed by force or decrees.

“Peace cannot take root in society unless it first reigns in individual lives,” he said, calling for what he described as a profound conversion of hearts.

He urged the faithful to scrutinize their words and actions, warning that everyday behaviors can either build peace or deepen wounds.

Kleda appealed to Cameroonians to banish “bitterness, irritation, anger, scorn, insults, and all forms of wickedness,” and to replace them with generosity, tenderness, and forgiveness as the foundations of social renewal.

Rejecting violence as a false solution to Cameroon’s crises, the archbishop had a message for all who bear arms or justify armed conflict: “Let us destroy all weapons of war and stop fighting one another,” he said, warning that violence breeds only fear, terror, and death — never peace.

Reflecting on the struggles of the people of God in Cameroon, the Church leader said that many Cameroonians today lack what he called “peace of heart,” weighed down by economic hardship and social insecurity.

He listed some of the realities eroding hope, including youth unemployment, limited access to health care, food insecurity, shortages of water and electricity, prolonged pretrial detention, internal displacement caused by conflict, and widespread poverty, among others.

“Cameroon is a very rich country, yet many of our people feel forced to emigrate,” Kleda observed, describing the situation as a troubling paradox that demands serious reflection and urgent action.

He noted that insecurity, corruption, and injustice continue to undermine social cohesion and stall national development.

Still, Kleda sought to encourage those who feel overwhelmed by fear or discouragement.

“Every obstacle we encounter is a grace that helps us to grow,” he said, inviting Cameroonians to see even painful experiences as opportunities for transformation and solidarity.

Addressing the country’s ongoing conflicts, particularly in the North West, South West, and Far North regions, the archbishop issued a moral challenge to those who sustain or profit from violence.

He warned that anyone who deliberately fuels conflict will be judged “first by the court of history and then by the divine court” for the bloodshed of innocent people.

In his homily, the Catholic leader also pointed to signs of hope, praising the spirit of solidarity shown in Douala, where displaced persons fleeing violence have been welcomed. He said the city has opened its doors to those affected by conflict, receiving them “as brothers and sisters,” a gesture he presented as a living example of the Gospel in action.

Unity, he stressed, must become a guiding principle for Cameroon in the new year. Drawing on a familiar proverb, he said: “One hand alone cannot tie a bundle,” underscoring the need for collective effort and mutual support.

He clarified that true unity does not mean uniformity, but harmony rooted in diversity, likening it to the spirit of Pentecost rather than the confusion of the Tower of Babel.

Kleda emphasized reconciliation, reminding the people of God that restoring broken relationships takes precedence even over acts of worship. Quoting Scripture, he said: “If your brother has something against you, go first and be reconciled,” insisting that responsibility for peace does not lie only with the one perceived to be at fault.

Forgiveness, he insisted, must be generous and persistent. It is not a one-time gesture but a continuous commitment that must be renewed again and again. Forgiveness, he added, “must be offered not just once, but 70 times seven.”

Warning against hardened attitudes, Kleda said that “resentment, refusal to forgive, and hardened attitudes make peace impossible, reviving tensions and perpetuating conflict.” Genuine peace, he explained, “requires honest dialogue, acknowledgment of shared responsibility, and a sincere commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Turning to leadership and governance, he called on political and social leaders to take concrete responsibility for peace by responding to the real suffering of the population. He urged them to “leave their offices and engage directly with the daily realities of ordinary Cameroonians,” cautioning that indifference to suffering breeds despair and erodes public trust.

Peace, the archbishop insisted, cannot endure without justice and development. Condemning corruption as a grave injustice, he said the nation’s resources belong to “all Cameroonians, not a privileged few.”

He urged both leaders and citizens to “reject greed and to serve the common good, following the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.”

At the start of 2026, the archbishop called on all Cameroonians to become servants of peace, willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the nation.

Entrusting the year to the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, he concluded his homily with a note of hope and prayer. “Let us commit ourselves to living this new year 2026 under the protection of the mother of Our Lord and our mother. If we walk with her in recourse to her intercession during this new year, her Son will fill us with his graces and his blessings,” he said.

This article was published by ACI Africa, CNA’s African news partner, and has been adapted for CNA.

A chalk home blessing from the feast of the Epiphany. | Credit: A.Davey via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Jan 4, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Have you ever walked past a door and seen what appears to be random letters and numbers written at the top? These letters and numbers actually have a great significance.

Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M, and B and the numbers of the year on either side — so this year it would look like “20+C+M+B+26.”

The letters stand for the traditional names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. They also represent the Latin blessing “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means “May Christ bless this house.”

Many Catholic parishes will give their parishioners a piece of chalk, a small bottle of holy water, and the words for the house blessing so that each family can bless its home.

Epiphany, which is also known as “Little Christmas,” is the feast that celebrates the arrival of the three Magi who came to worship the child Jesus shortly after his birth. It is traditionally celebrated on Jan. 6. However, the Church in the United States celebrates it on the Sunday between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. Many around the world celebrate this feast with as much pomp and circumstance as Christmas, including the exchanging of gifts.

The blessing, which is popular in Poland and other Slavic countries, has spread around the world and become increasingly popular in the United States.

How do you bless your home?

Begin by having all family members gather outside the front door. All make the sign of the cross. One person will then read this prayer:

Leader: Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who dwell herein.

Leader: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial.

(Enter your home and read the Magnificat, the hymn of praise sung by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Luke’s Gospel after being greeted by Elizabeth. During this, sprinkle the area you are in with holy water. After that is complete, pray:)

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of his burial.

Leader: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,

All: But deliver us from evil.

Leader: All they from Saba shall come

All: Bringing gold and frankincense.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry come unto thee.

Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know thee by faith may also attain the vision of thy glorious majesty. Through Christ, Our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee — Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness, and mercy, the fulfillment of thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ, Our Lord.

All: Amen.

After the prayers are recited, walk throughout your home sprinkling each room with holy water. Then write the initials of the Magi connected with crosses at the top of your front door. Then the numbers of the year. The numbers will be split so that they are on each side of the initials. You will write:

20 + C + M + B + 26

This is a special tradition at the beginning of each year, a way to invite God into your home and place your family under his protection.

This story was first published Jan. 6, 2022, and was updated Jan. 2, 2026.

United Nations Headquarters in New York City. - UN Photo/John Isaac.

Jan 4, 2026 / 00:15 am (CNA).

The U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has drawn divergent international reactions, with European leaders calling for restraint ahead of an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting Monday.

Pope Leo XIV has not yet commented on Saturday's operation, though observers expect him to address the situation during his midday Angelus address Sunday. The pope warned in December against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, urging President Trump to seek dialogue rather than force.

The Vatican's daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, led its Saturday edition with coverage of the "sudden escalation," describing the situation in Caracas as "highly volatile."

European leaders stress international law

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on X she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas. Acknowledging Maduro "lacks legitimacy," she called for a peaceful transition while prioritizing EU citizens' safety.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that Venezuelans "could only rejoice" at ridding themselves of dictatorship. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez affirmed Spain never recognized Maduro but will not recognize "an intervention that violates international law".

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said "Britain was not involved" while posting on X that the UK "regarded Maduro as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged Venezuela's drug trafficking while confirming Germany had not recognized the Maduro regime as legitimate. He called for a transition towards a democratically elected government.

China, Russia condemn strikes

China's Foreign Ministry expressed "deep shock" at the "blatant use of force," noting its envoy met with Maduro hours before the operation.

Russia called the strikes "armed aggression", saying “ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”

The U.N. Security Council will convene an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. Monday in New York after Colombia requested the session, backed by permanent members Russia and China.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he is "deeply alarmed," describing the operation as "a dangerous precedent."

Latin American responses divided sharply, with Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico condemning the strikes while Argentina's Javier Milei praised the capture. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado declared "the hour of freedom has arrived."

Maduro is being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of Monday's arraignment on narco-terrorism charges. Venezuelan bishops called for prayer and national unity.

Father Robert Spitzer, SJ, speaks on faith, miracles and science at SEEK 2026, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

Jan 3, 2026 / 20:45 pm (CNA).

As the SEEK Conference continues this week in Columbus, Ohio — one of three locations alongside Denver and Fort Worth — college students selecting from dozens of breakout sessions packed a hall to hear Father Robert Spitzer, SJ, examine scientific research into Eucharistic miracles and the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Father Spitzer, host of EWTN’s “ Father Spitzer’s Universe” and founder of the Magis  Center, is known for addressing questions at the intersection of faith, reason, and science. The Magis Center launched MagisAI in 2025, an artificial intelligence tool designed to answer questions about theology, morality, Scripture, and science — a resource Spitzer highlighted during his presentation.

“I want to be very clear,” Spitzer told the audience. “My objective is to offer good, scientific evidence of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.” 

The talk focused on three  Eucharistic miracles: Buenos Aires (1996), Tixtla, Mexico (2006), and Sokółka, Poland (2008). Each has been investigated rigorously by independent scientists, though only some have received local ecclesial recognition, and none are formally approved by the Vatican. 

Signs of the Real Presence

In Buenos Aires, a consecrated host that had been discarded on a candle holder was later placed in water to dissolve according to Church protocol. Local accounts reported that the host fragments did not dissolve within a week as expected but rather remained largely intact even after more than three years. Over time, a strange substance appeared on its surface, showing morphological features characteristic of human cardiac muscle.

Scientific analysis, approved by then-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis), then involved Dr. Ricardo Castañon Gómez. He reported that the tissue was indeed human cardiac muscle from the left ventricle and, astonishingly, contained living white blood cells that would normally die within hours outside the body.

The samples were sent to famous cardiologist and forensic pathologist Dr. Frederick Zugibe, who confirmed Castañon Gómez’s findings without knowing that they had come from a consecrated host.

“When [Zugibe] was told that it came from a Eucharistic host, he said the findings were scientifically inexplicable,” Spitzer said.

In Tixtla, Mexico, a consecrated host appeared to bleed during Mass in 2006. Investigators, again including Dr. Castañon Gómez, discovered living cardiac tissue embedded in the host, exuding fresh blood. Molecular and histological analysis revealed that the tissue contained cardiac fibers and white blood cells performing their usual immune functions. 

Spitzer described the findings as unequivocal: “This was living human cardiac tissue, producing living blood, without any sign of decomposition. These phenomena are naturalistically baffling.” Re-examination years later showed that the host continued to exhibit signs of life.

In Sokółka, Poland, electron microscopy of a host that bled during Mass in 2008 reportedly revealed that the consecrated bread molecules and the cardiac tissue were fused at the microscopic level, down to the myofibril filaments. Spitzer emphasized that it could not be produced by any biological, chemical, or mechanical means known to humans. 

“Their conclusion was striking,” Spitzer said. “While these findings are reported to be naturalistically inexplicable, their purpose is not to coerce belief, but to show that faith and reason are complementary.”

Speaking to a ‘scientifically skeptical generation’

Spitzer also spoke on the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has survived for nearly 500 years. Made from agave cactus fibers, which normally decompose within decades, the image has never cracked or faded, and its colors are embedded in the fibers themselves with no brush strokes, primers, or protective coatings. “The colors behave optically like butterfly wings, changing with angles and distance. No pigments — then or now — can account for this,” he noted. 

High-magnification studies of the Virgin’s eyes reportedly revealed reflections of the scene that occurred when Juan Diego first unfurled the tilma, including the saint himself, Archbishop Zumárraga, an interpreter, and others present. Spitzer added that the stars on her mantle correspond precisely to the night sky over Mexico on December 12, 1531, from a perspective no human observer could have had. 

He emphasized that these phenomena are not meant to coerce belief but to show the extraordinary ways God can intersect with human experience. “It seems that God is speaking to a scientifically skeptical generation in the language of science itself,” he told the audience. “Without modern science, we would never have known any of this. And perhaps that is the point.”

Pointing to God

Speaking with CNA, Spitzer reflected on the broader significance of these studies. “There’s a widespread viewpoint today that science has somehow disproved God. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there is more scientific evidence pointing to God today than ever before,” he said.

He noted that recent surveys indicate 68% of young scientists believe in God or a higher power, compared with around 15% identifying as atheists.

“Because of science’s credibility today, God is allowing scientific discoveries to open new doors to belief.” Dr. Castañon Gómez, a former atheist, for instance, converted to Catholicism after what he discovered in his studies. 

“You can’t force faith, and you can’t prove it in a way that overrides freedom,” Spitzer said. “But you can provide enough evidence so that a person who wants to believe can do so reasonably and responsibly.”

Spitzer especially highlighted the example of St. Carlo Acutis, who cataloged all the world’s  Eucharistic miracles online before his death in 2006.

“He teaches us that faith and science are not contradictory; in fact, they are deeply compatible. Science has made all this information accessible and compelling, and that makes it a powerful ally in the pursuit of faith,” he said. “Faith and reason must ultimately be consistent because they come from the same source — God Himself.”

In that sense, according to Spitzer, St. Carlo shows young people at SEEK and beyond that “holiness, intellectual engagement, and love for the Eucharist can — and should — go together perfectly.”

SEEK 2026 attendance set records. | Credit: FOCUS

Jan 3, 2026 / 19:15 pm (CNA).

In a ballroom filled to maximum capacity on day two of the SEEK 2026 conference in Columbus, Ohio, Director of Discipleship for SPIRITUS Ministries Mike Iverson shared 10 ways to feel less anxious about the future.

“Unfortunately, today, we live in a culture that is constantly telling us that we are not enough,” said Iverson in his talk, titled: “Feeling Anxious? 10 Ways to Live in the Present While Looking Forward to the Future.”

“There's all these voices telling us that we need something more than how God has created us to be in order for us to be okay. That is a lie. Our faith tells us that God had us in mind when he created the universe,” he said.

“The anxiety that's caused by world relativism and the anxiety that's caused by this culture of not enough takes us out of the present,” he said. “It doesn't allow us to live in what we have in front of us, where God has placed us. Instead, it takes us into the future of anticipation for the next thing that's going to give us happiness or the next thing that's going to give us joy.”

Here are 10 ways to combat anxiety, according to Iverson:

Begin right where you are

“Don’t give into the falsehood of the ‘if only’ mindset,” said Iverson. He encouraged attendees to avoid believing that they must jump through hoops to encounter God. “He is always present,” Iverson said. “If you are looking for him, if you think wrongly that you have to go somewhere to do something or join this organization or buy this thing in order to encounter God, that’s wrong.”

Love the one you're with

“If you are longing for people that aren’t with you, you’re missing what God has given you in the moment,” said Iverson. “I know it can be hard when you go to college, especially as you're an underclassman, to be thinking all the time about the match. ‘I miss everybody. I miss my friends, I miss my parents, I miss my mom. I miss my dog right now, actually. I miss all these things.’ But by doing that, you're living in a past of regret and not in the present of where God wants to call you and use you for his glory.”

Be Grounded

The third way to combat anxiety is to stop trying to always keep up with the latest trends, according to Iverson. “Cling to what is stable and established,” he said. “Don't immerse yourself to such a level in the virtual world that you lose track of the peace and the solace and comfort that God has provided to each of us in the moment, if we just pay attention.”

Recognize God is clearly present here and now

The fourth way Iverson recommended to combat anxiety is to “see where God is working and join him there,” rather than keeping oneself distracted from his presence.

Reduce the voices in your head

There are three main voices in one’s head, according to Iverson: God, one’s human internal monologue, and the enemy. He urged attendees to write in a journal, "to take some dedicated time every day to get the thoughts out of your head and on to paper. That really helps not only to get the thoughts that are on repeat out, but then also in the discernment process of, is this God? Is this the enemy? Or is this just me because I want pizza?”

Seek simplicity

In a world filled with “so many gadgets and life hacks that we take human interaction out of our equation for success,” Iverson encouraged attendees to “practice personal subsidiarity," by relying on only the most basic levels of social and technological complexity to reach one’s goals.

Reduce financial entanglements

“If you don’t have to spend money on stuff, don’t,” he said. “If you're going into debt, if you're charging delicious food and venti caramel macchiatos every day to your credit card, stop that. Stop that because that's just going to create more anxiety because you have this instant gratification, but then you pay for it with interest. That is going to create anxiety in anybody because you owe more than you have.”

Live a life of gratitude

The eighth way Iverson recommended to combat anxiety is to live a life of gratitude and practice poverty in spirit, “recognizing that God is God and that we're creatures who are called to praise, to love, and to serve him.” By placing our dependence on God for our happiness and fulfillment and practicing gratitude, we will be more free, he said.

Make more time for God

“If you're disconnected from the source of happiness and the ultimate remedy for anxiety, which is a relationship with Christ and a relationship with the Trinity, if you're not spending time in that, you're going to be disconnected and you're going to be more anxious,” said Iverson.

Slow down

Lastly, Iverson encouraged SEEK 2026 attendees to slow down, and to reject the “lie in society” that “the measure of our work is the measure of our worth.” This is false, he said. “We are God’s beloved sons, that is the measure of our worth.”

Andrew Laubacher, executive director of Humanality, ahead of his talk at SEEK 2026 in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 2, 2026. Credit: Francesca Fenton/EWTN News

Jan 3, 2026 / 17:56 pm (CNA).

In 2018, Andrew Laubacher, a touring Catholic musician at the time, decided to quit social media completely. Despite his recording label telling him that he was making a terrible decision, he was exhausted from the impact it was having on his life and felt God calling him to make this change.

Fast-forward to today and Laubacher is now the executive director of Humanality, a nonprofit organization that “exists to help people discover freedom through an intentional relationship with technology” and offers individuals help to break their digital addiction through a 12-week digital detox program.

Speaking to hundreds of young Catholics at SEEK 2026 in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 2, he explained how social media can become addictive and have negative effects on the human person – including depression, anxiety, and body image issues – and offered tips on how individuals can use technology practically and intentionally.

Laubacher began by highlighting data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that the average U.S. life expectancy decreased for the first time between 2017 and 2019 and that “Americans are 10 times more likely to have a depressive illness than they were 60 years ago."

Citing the federal data as well as research in Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book “The Anxious Generation,” Laubacher explained that in 2010 a new feature was introduced on smartphones which led to “drastic increases in anxiety and depression.”

What was this feature? The front-facing camera.

“When that front-facing camera came out, all of a sudden our lives became self-defining,” he argued.

Laubacher shared how he saw this play out in his own life – constantly comparing himself and his life to others, experiencing lust, feeling lonely, and wasting his time mindlessly scrolling through his feeds.

“These technologies affected me in many different ways,” he said, “And when I made that leap [off social media] everything got better. My friendships got better, my purity, my productivity, my prayer got better. Everything started to improve.”

“So you guys, the way that you've grown up with these technologies has literally changed everything… It's changed the way you think. It's changed the way you behave. It's changed the way you relate to one another. It's changed the way you sleep. It's changed the way you perceive reality,” Laubacher told those gathered.

“You have to understand algorithms are literally shaping your perception of what is true. And if you are living your life scrolling and getting stuck into these platforms like me you're not necessarily as you want to be.”

Laubacher said that the average 18-year-old in 2025 is on pace to have a 90-year life span. He then broke this down into how many months one might spend doing different activities such as eating, sleeping, going to school or work, and driving.

Over the course of one's life, the average person is left with “334 months of free time – this is where you fall in love. This is where you create music, this is where you write that book, this is where you go on the trip with your loved ones. This is where you discover your vocation,” Laubacher said.

“Right now, of those 334 months, 93% of that time is going to be spent on the screen,” he said. “At the end of your lives, you in this crowd will have looked at the screen for 27 years of your life."

"And friends, my mission is to help you get that time back into your life. So you can invest that time and attention into the things that matter most.”

Offering those gathered practical tools to gain more freedom from digital media, Laubacher highlighted three of the 11 ways Humanality’s digital detox program aims to help individuals gain a more human way to be – be light, be giving, and be present.

“Be light” focuses on individuals stopping the nighttime scrolling and beginning to acknowledge the difference between daytime and nighttime. Laubacher explained that people spend 90% of their time indoors versus 100 years ago when people spent 90% of their time outdoors.

Additionally, when people scroll on their phones at nighttime, the light from the screen tells the brain it’s daytime.

“So, our separation from light in the daytime — and you scrolling yourself to sleep in the nighttime — is a huge reason for our mental health slash sleep disorder slash fatigue and exhaustion,” he said.

“Be giving” turns the self-centered nature of social media to one where you “start to think outside of yourself,” which leads a person to be “more happy and more healthy when you live a life that is giving,” Laubacher explained.

The last way Laubacher highlighted was “be present,” which aims to simply teach people how to be present with themselves, with others, and with God. “Friends, I want to tell you right now, the scariest, best, most amazing adventure in your life is going to be learning to love God, your neighbor, and yourself,” Laubacher said.

“And if I'm honest, I can love people pretty easily, but it's really hard for me to love myself most of the time. And I found that my technologies were not allowing me to get to know the person that God has created me to be.”

“These three ways – there's a lot more – but these three ways I think if you start to implement in your day today you'll start to use technology as a tool and get out of these addictions.”

Gabriel Castillo, popular Catholic lay evangelist and social media influencer, speaks with EWTN News at the SEEK 2026 conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Credit: Victoria Arruda/EWTN

Jan 3, 2026 / 17:45 pm (CNA).

Years ago, lay evangelist Gabriel Castillo physically battled demonic forces as he struggled against a pornography addiction, which he eventually won with the help of Our Lady’s intercession as he prayed the rosary.

Castillo spoke to EWTN News at the SEEK 2026 conference in Fort Worth, where he promoted his new book, “The Power of the Rosary.”

He said the rosary is "the greatest prayer for overcoming vice.”

He cited a 2018 study that found that 91% of men and 61% of women view porn regularly. To combat porn addiction, Castillo said praying the rosary is "essential.”

Asked how to pray well, he started by saying that “it’s ok to begin badly … Be satisfied doing it poorly, just get it done. The only bad rosary is the rosary you didn’t pray. As you pray, you will get better at prayer.”

“At the beginning of each mystery pause, recollect yourself, visualize the mystery as if you’re present. Imagine what it would have been like to be at the Nativity, to hold the beautiful baby Jesus in your arms, and realize that the baby is the Alpha and the Omega, and address your intention to the child Jesus as you’re visualizing,” he said.

“Visualize the mystery as if it’s happening in the place that you are,” he continued. “If you’re on a walk, and you see a tree, visualize Jesus hanging on that tree.”

When we pray the rosary in this way, Castillo says, it is “radically transformational.” He encouraged Catholics to pray the rosary throughout the day, and to pray it more often if one already prays every day.

“If you deny yourself twice a day, or more, and devote that time to prayer, what would happen to your life?” he asked. “If you make space for the voice of God, and allow it to penetrate your life and mind, the presence of Christ will be with you in those times when you’re not praying the rosary."

“Your growth, your transformation, will take place at a much greater rate,” he said.

Four tips for praying the rosary

Castillo offered practical tips for praying the rosary on a regular basis. First, he suggested carrying a rosary everywhere one goes, in the hand, a pocket, or purse. (He carried one wound around his hand while speaking to EWTN News.)

Second, he suggested having a good intention: “Always have your ‘Why?’ before your eyes. We will do any ‘What’ if we have a good ‘Why,’" he said.

He recommended giving yourself "a time limit, not because you'll stop praying when you reach it, but you’ll see it as a finish line, a goal.”

His third tip is: “Don’t be scrupulous. The rosary is a bouquet of roses to Our Lady and a weapon in the hands of the Christian. The devil will do anything to get you to stop praying, using distraction and discouragement,” he said.

“If you hear a voice in your head telling you to pray later, or ‘You’re not good at this’, that’s from the enemy.”

“St. Francis de Sales says if you spend all your prayer fighting off distractions that’s more meritorious than having fuzzy feelings after prayer. Constancy is a sign of spiritual maturity,” Castillo said.

The fourth tip is to make a plan: “If you’re going to be successful at anything, you have a rule of life,” he said. “When should you pray? First thing in the morning, get your prayers in. If a tragedy strikes, you've already prayed. We don’t know what Jesus is going to call us to. You have grace at your back already if you pray in the morning.”

Morally, ‘I was dead inside’

Castillo told EWTN News that he grew up without a father and without religion, and sought the meaning of life from the world, which led him to his sexual addiction in the form of pornography use.

After attending the University of St. Thomas in Houston, he became intrigued by the “reason” for Catholicism. Intellectually, he became convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith, but morally, “I was a dead man inside,” Castillo said.

Through the grace of a relationship with a religious sister, whom he called a “tough woman who told me to stop sinning,” and a devotion to the rosary, Castillo eventually healed from his addiction, but not before a physical struggle with the forces of evil.

The evening in college he first resolved to fight his porn addiction, he failed: “Within 30 miutes, I had no willpower,” he said.

However, “that evening, I had true contrition. I was crying, asking God for mercy, recognizing I was a slave to sin. As I was saying those words audibly, I heard a demonic voice mocking what I was saying.”

After an inspiration to pray to St. John Vianney, he told the religious sister the next day. She told him to pray the rosary, and gave him one, along with a pamphlet on how to do it.

When he tried to pray, he felt “a force choking me. It pinned me to the bed. I then heard another voice telling me to pray the rosary in my head. I wanted to cry out to my mom, who was in the other room, but I couldn’t.”

“I began to pray the ‘Hail Mary’ in my mind. I could feel the force on my throat let up. The second I said the word ‘Mary,’ the force left me and everything was back to normal.”

Castillo said that experience was just the beginning of a moral crisis he had to overcome, but after that, praying the rosary regularly felt like a wall of protection surrounded him, and he no longer felt hopeless, even though it was not easy to avoid sin.

“It took time and practice avoiding the near occasion of sin. I could still hear the devil, but the voice was distant, not on my shoulder,” he said.

A husband and father of four, Castillo serves as director of youth ministry at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas.

Castillo is the founder of True Faith TV, host of the podcast Children of Mary, and host of the YouTube channel Gabi After Hours. He has garnered 50 million views across various social media platforms.

He frequently speaks at conferences, parishes, and events, including appearances on shows like The Catholic Gentleman, Pints with Aquinas, and The Catholic Talk Show.

Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar of Petare, Venezuela Credit: Catedral de Petare, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jan 3, 2026 / 16:07 pm (CNA).

“It is necessary, although difficult, to maintain serenity, peace, and above all, a climate of prayer,” is the appeal of Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar of Petare, Venezuela, following the U.S. law enforcement and military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in the early hours of Saturday, January 3.

In a statement released through the diocese's Instagram account, Bishop Bravo said that in the country, “we are experiencing moments of confusion, uncertainty, and pain, in which we do not clearly understand what is happening. Our strength and hope are in the Lord of Life and Peace.”

The prelate requested, “for the good of our people,” that no “calls for street protests” be made and that “unverified and unconfirmed information, or information from unreliable or unofficial sources,” not be disseminated.

“Let us stay in communication with one another, among pastoral zones and with our closest collaborators,” he urged.

Bishop Bravo, who has served as Bishop of Petare since January 2022, asked that “the Holy Spirit grant us the necessary graces to make a faithful interpretation of this historical moment and of our reality as disciples and shepherds of the faithful.”

“May God bless us all,” he concluded.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 3, a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The Venezuelan dictator has been transferred to New York, where he has been formally charged with, among other crimes, leading a corrupt government that facilitates drug trafficking and conspiracy.

U.S. President Donald Trump later announced that the United States would take over the administration of Venezuela “until a proper transition can be implemented.”

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