Caracas skyline. | Credit: Olga Berrios, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jan 1, 2026 / 10:00 am (CNA).

2026 dawned in Venezuela in an atmosphere of ambivalence: sorrows and joys, tensions and consolations, and more questions than certainties. The work of the Catholic Church goes on within the country’s turbulent reality, a task that is far from easy due to “the autocratic drift of national politics,” as the bishops stated at the beginning of last year.

This past December in their Christmas message, the Venezuelan bishops did not hesitate to reaffirm that the “joyful experience” of Jesus’ birth is “overshadowed” by the turbulent national reality. Thus, people go about their daily lives enveloped in a barrage of news, rumors, and hardships.

The collapse of the economy and basic services, which seems to have no solution, is causing great suffering for the most vulnerable. The latent threat of foreign military intervention on the national territory continues due to the severe tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The worsening political and ideological persecution by the socialist regime is evidenced by the hundreds of prisoners — men and women without distinction, including minors — who are being held in the most deplorable conditions. All of this looms over the new year and the Catholic Church, which has experienced firsthand the worst of the current situation in Venezuela.

So what does 2026 hold for Catholicism in Venezuela? ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, spoke with analysts and experts to consider what the coming months will bring.

Nicaragua, a model to follow?

In February, ACI Prensa asked Archbishop Jesús González de Zárate, archbishop of Valencia and president of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference, whether the episcopate believed the country was heading toward the type of persecution against the Catholic faith like what has been experienced in Nicaragua for several years under the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo.

González simply replied that the bishops pray and work so that the Church does not go through a similar situation. The president of the bishops’ conference said the bishops’ goal is for everyone in Venezuela to be able to “live in harmony and peace” and for the country to have “the conditions of freedom, work, and pluralistic religious expression” that the majority aspires to.

Today, following months of systematic harassment and abuse suffered by the Venezuelan bishops to the point of humiliation, those aspirations remain elusive.

Víctor Maldonado, a Venezuelan political scientist, told ACI Prensa that the relationship between the socialist government and the Catholic Church is clearly “very bad,“ despite the fact that the bishops’ conference has tried to maintain a stance where “a certain moderation and self-censorship“ prevail in order to avoid “falling into a situation where they lose everything.“

“They are subjected to contempt and insults every time they speak out as a body,“ Maldonado explained, which is why they are currently focused on “holding their ground“ to try to avoid “the brutal persecution that has taken place in Nicaragua.“

Despite the prudence of the episcopate, in the last months of 2025 it was violently persecuted by the socialist government, which has been increasingly called into question and isolated internationally. Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, was perhaps the most prominent voice in the Church criticizing the situation in Venezuela, and thus has earned the particular enmity of the Maduro regime.

“Its essence is totalitarian and atheist. Nicaragua is the testing ground for extreme measures. And a clear demonstration of what they are capable of doing. In this sense, Nicaragua has served as a showcase for intimidation,” Maldonado said, referring to the so-called “socialism of the 21st century,” which gained worldwide prominence when the late Hugo Chávez was president of the country.

Like Nicaragua, a persecuted Church

Martha Patricia Molina is a Nicaraguan lawyer and researcher, author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church,” in which she compiled the prohibition of more than 16,500 processions and acts of piety as well as more than 1,000 attacks by the Nicaraguan dictatorship against the Catholic Church. Her report was delivered to Pope Leo XIV in October 2025.

Molina noted that when dictatorships like those of Ortega and Maduro identify a de facto power that is not supporting their policies, “they begin to attack it until it disappears.” When, in Venezuela, as in Nicaragua, all resistance by civil society disappears, then the socialist regime “will focus its fury and punitive power against the prelates.”

“It’s important that Venezuelans begin now to study and identify the patterns of repression that have been used in Nicaragua to attack religious freedom,” Molina said, emphasizing the urgency of “instilling in laypeople and clergy the importance of citizens protesting the government.”

Similarly, Maldonado noted that the Maduro regime has gradually incorporated “efforts to delegitimize the Catholic religion,” especially through the promotion of Santería and Protestantism, to “demonstrate that they, through the arbitrary use of resources and power, can determine religious hegemony at any given moment.”

Furthermore, the political scientist pointed out that the Maduro regime has also used “certain openly revolutionary priests” to promote its political agenda. Perhaps the most representative case is that of Jesuit Father Numa Molina, who “behaves like a committed party member, regardless of the interests and positions of the Church.”

“I believe that the bishops’ conference is still a respected voice that has a tradition of assuming the prophetic role that belongs to the Church. Like all Venezuelans, it is subject to the same threats of persecution and repression,” Maldonado said, although he noted that at this moment “it’s not a unified voice” and that “the close relationship of some pastors with those who violate rights and persecute with such ferocity” is causing scandal among believers.

“This struggle over what is the Church’s position weakens their moral authority, and Catholics probably don’t feel fully supported in their suffering and anguish,” he added.

Molina, however, emphasized that the episcopate has been “united and alongside the unprotected and persecuted people.”

“Of course, there will be instances — which also need to be identified — of priests backing the regime. In Nicaragua, we have identified all of them; they are bishops and priests (a few) who have gone so far as to claim that there is no religious persecution in Nicaragua,” she said.

The autocrat vs. the religious leader

In a statement to ACI Prensa, Marcela Szymanski, an expert on religious freedom at the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need, stated that an autocrat “is a man thirsty for power who seeks by all means, especially with weapons and money, to increase his wealth and territorial control.”

Szymanski explained that the religious leader is the one most feared by the autocrat, who will try to co-opt him in any way possible. If unsuccessful, “the autocrat will eliminate him and his community using both violent and nonviolent tactics.” In Latin America specifically, autocratic regimes of a Marxist bent usually ally themselves “with organized crime to eliminate their opponents.”

“In countries where the rule of law has collapsed and human rights violations are increasing, this alliance of Marxist ideology with criminal organizations has become more evident,” she said.

In Nicaragua, Szymanski continued, the Ortega dictatorship “doesn’t care about world opinion,” only about its own survival. That is why it has decisively ramped up its persecution of the Church. In Venezuela, on the other hand, “where the alliance of left-wing parties with organized crime is clear, international reputation is still valued, but less and less.”

“The victim, in this case the Church in Nicaragua and Venezuela, cannot be blamed for having the wrong religion, or for being unwise for not obeying the autocrat,” she said. Their situation is precarious because “they do not have — and will not have — weapons or money, therefore they cannot stand on an equal footing with the autocrat.”

“The men and women who make up the Church must persevere in their faith, because reason cannot comprehend the motive behind such blatant aggression. Resilience, hope, and a life of prayer are what no one can take away from the faithful, even if they close churches and schools and take away hospitals and nursing homes,” Szymanski added.

“The priests and sisters who persevere alongside them are the pillars of this suffering Church,” she emphasized.

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 at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 1, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 07:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Catholics to pray for peace, “first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering,” and also “within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain,” during the Angelus address on the first day of 2026.

Greeting pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 59th World Day of Peace, the pope reflected on the start of a new year as a time to renew hope and reconciliation.

“While the rhythm of passing months repeats itself, the Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all peoples,” he said. “Without this desire for the good, there would be no point in turning the pages of the calendar and filling our diaries.”

Leo also looked back on the jubilee, which he said “is about to end,” noting that it has taught the Church to cultivate hope for a new world by converting hearts to God, so as “to transform wrongs into forgiveness, pain into consolation, and resolutions of virtue into good works.”

The pope then turned to the Marian feast, saying Christmas today “directs our gaze towards Mary, who was the first to experience Christ’s beating heart.” He evoked “the silence of her virginal womb,” where “the Word of life presents himself as a heartbeat of grace.”

“God, the good creator, has always known Mary’s heart and our hearts,” Leo said. “By becoming man, he makes his heart known to us.” He added that the heart of Jesus “beats for every man and woman,” both for those who welcome him and for those who reject him.

“His heart is not indifferent to those who have no heart for their neighbor,” the pope said. “It beats for the righteous, so that they may persevere in their dedication, as well as for the unrighteous, so that they may change their lives and find peace.”

At the end of the Angelus, Leo greeted the tens of thousands of pilgrims in the square and offered “good wishes of peace.” He also returned to the theme of the World Day of Peace, recalling that it has been celebrated on Jan. 1 since 1968 at the request of St. Paul VI.

In his message for the day, Leo said he wanted to repeat the wish he felt the Lord gave him at the start of his pontificate: “Peace be with you all!”

“A peace that is unarmed and disarming, which comes from God, a gift of his unconditional love, and is entrusted to our responsibility,” he said.

“Dear friends, with the grace of Christ, let us begin today to build a year of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence,” the pope continued.

Leo also expressed appreciation for peace initiatives held around the world, mentioning a national march held the previous evening in Catania and greeting participants in a march organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio.

He offered greetings as well to a group of students and teachers from Richland, New Jersey, and to the Romans and pilgrims present.

Finally, the pope noted that 2026 marks the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, and he invoked a biblical blessing for the new year: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

“May the Holy Mother of God guide us on our journey in the new year,” Leo said. “Best wishes to everyone!”

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 celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 07:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through force or exclusion, as he celebrated his first liturgy of the new year on Thursday. 

“The world is not saved by sharpening swords, nor by judging, oppressing, or eliminating our brothers and sisters,” the pope said in his homily for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Rather, he added, it is saved by “tirelessly striving to understand, forgive, liberate, and welcome everyone, without calculation and without fear.” 

As is customary for the Jan. 1 Mass, a large group of diplomats accredited to the Holy See attended the liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, underlining the international scope of the Church’s prayer for peace on the World Day of Peace, observed each year on the first day of January. 

A blessing for a new beginning 

At the start of his homily, Leo XIV pointed to the ancient biblical blessing proclaimed in the liturgy: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace” (Num 6:24-26). He recalled that this blessing was addressed to a people set free, Israel after slavery in Egypt, and he drew a parallel to the Christian life at the opening of a new year. 

“For each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, his mercy, and the response of our freedom,” he said. The coming year, he continued, can be seen “as an open journey to be discovered,” lived with confidence “free and bearers of freedom, forgiven and bringers of forgiveness,” trusting in “the closeness and goodness of the Lord who accompanies us always.” 

Mary’s ‘yes’ and the human face of mercy 

The pope centered his reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation and Mary’s decisive role in salvation history. “By her ‘yes,’ she helped give a human face to the source of all mercy and benevolence: the face of Jesus,” he said. 

Leo XIV invited the faithful to contemplate God’s love through Christ’s life: “Through his eyes — first as a child, then as a young man and as an adult — the Father’s love reaches us and transforms us.”

He urged Catholics to begin the year with renewed confidence in that love: “Let us ask the Lord to help us experience at every moment, around us and upon us, the warmth of his fatherly embrace and the light of his benevolent gaze.”

‘Unarmed and disarming’ peace 

Echoing the theme he chose for this year’s World Day of Peace message, Leo XIV returned repeatedly to the image of God’s humility revealed in the Nativity. Citing St. Augustine, he emphasized “the complete gratuity of his love” and described God’s approach to humanity as one of radical vulnerability.

“As I emphasized in the message for this World Day of Peace, God presents himself to us ‘unarmed and disarming,’ as naked and defenseless as a newborn in a cradle,” the pope said. 

That divine “style,” he suggested, is the model for Christian action in a world tempted by coercion, retaliation, and fear. Christian witness, he said, should reflect a God who does not overwhelm but invites, and who heals rather than humiliates. 

Mary the disciple who ‘laid aside every defense’ 

Leo XIV also reflected on Mary’s path after Bethlehem, presenting her not only as mother but also as disciple. He described her as one who followed Jesus “with the heart of a humble disciple… all the way to the cross and the Resurrection.” 

“To do so, she too laid aside every defense,” he said, renouncing “expectations, claims, and comforts,” and “consecrating her life without reserve to the son she had received by grace.” 

In Mary’s divine motherhood, the pope added, the Church sees “the meeting of two immense, ‘unarmed’ realities”: God, who “renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh” (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and the human person who embraces God’s will, offering “the greatest power she possesses: her freedom.” 

A renewed mission 

Near the end of the homily, Leo XIV recalled a Jan. 1 homily of St. John Paul II that invited Christians to begin again with courage after the Jubilee of 2000. As the Church approaches the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, Leo XIV urged the faithful to return to the Nativity with faith and then step forward with renewed commitment. 

“Let us approach it as the place of ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace par excellence,” he said, and then, “like the humble witnesses at the grotto,” to set out once more, “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20) for what they have seen and heard. 

“This be our commitment and our resolve for the months ahead, and, indeed, for the whole of our Christian lives,” he concluded. 

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 waves from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square in October 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 1, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a very busy year at the Vatican in 2026, with important events such as the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope and his first consistory of cardinals since his election on May 8, 2025.

1. Closing of the Jubilee of Hope — Jan. 6

On Jan. 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass and perform the rite for the closing the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing to an end the Jubilee of Hope that Pope Francis began on Dec. 24, 2024. This liturgical act officially closes a year that, according to the papal bull Spes non Confundit, has been experienced as “a time of grace and hope” for the global Church.

2. Extraordinary consistory of cardinals — Jan. 7–8

Following the conclusion of the jubilee, the pope has convened an extraordinary consistory of cardinals for Jan. 7–8. This type of meeting is usually reserved for discussing major doctrinal, institutional, or pastoral issues affecting the entire Church. Its scheduling in the days immediately following the close of the holy year underscores the pope’s intention to set a new course after the intense experience of the jubilee.

3. Extraordinary restoration in the Sistine Chapel — January

Beginning in January, the Vatican Museums will undertake extraordinary conservation work on Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” fresco in the Sistine Chapel, which will continue until March, with the expectation of completion before Holy Week. This project addresses the need to preserve the masterpiece in light of the impact of millions of visitors each year.

4. Appeal hearing in the Becciu case — Feb. 3

The appeal hearing in the case concerning the management of funds by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in the purchase of a building in London has been postponed until Feb. 3. Spanish judge Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, dean of the Roman Rota, presides over the three-judge panel hearing the appeal of 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Becciu. On Dec. 16, 2023, the cardinal was convicted of embezzlement and barred from holding public office. He was also fined 8,000 euros ($9,400).

5. Second World Children’s Day — Sept. 25–27

Pope Leo XIV has announced the celebration of the second World Children’s Day, which will take place in Rome Sept. 25–27. Organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, this event aims to bring together thousands of children and families from around the world for a time of encounter, prayer, and celebration for peace and the future of children.

Possible international trips for Pope Leo XIV in 2026

Although the official travel schedule is not yet finalized, the pontiff has expressed a desire to visit several countries during 2026:

— Algeria, an African country with deep ties to St. Augustine, is still in the planning stages as part of a possible continental itinerary.

— Argentina and Uruguay have been mentioned as possible destinations, along with an extended visit to Peru and Mexico, with a particular interest in visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world.

— There is also a strong possibility of an upcoming papal trip to Spain.

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 speaks to teenagers during a digital encounter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis during the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) on Nov. 21, 2025. | Credit: Tessa Gervasini/CNA

Jan 1, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).

On Nov. 21, 2025, Pope Leo XIV spoke to young Catholics during the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis, marking his first digital encounter with American teens.

During this encounter, several young people were chosen to ask the Holy Father questions. These questions ranged in topic from prayer and technology to friendships and the future of the Church. Pope Leo gave invaluable advice to all those gathered in the stadium and watching via digital media.

Inspired by this wisdom, and with New Year’s upon us, here are 10 ideas for commitments and pratices to implement in 2026:

1. Go to confession regularly.

When asked if it’s hard to accept God’s mercy after making a mistake or letting someone down, Pope Leo encouraged young people to go to confession frequently.

“​​In confession, Jesus meets us through the priest. When we honestly confess our sins and accept our penance, the priest gives absolution and we know with certainty that we are forgiven,” the Holy Father said. “So, yes, it can be discouraging when we fall. But do not focus only on your sins. Look to Jesus. Trust his mercy and go to him with confidence. He will always welcome you home.”

In the new year, make a concrete plan to receive God’s mercy more often instead of staying stuck in shame or discouragement.

2. Begin and end each day with Jesus.

Pope Leo recommended that everyone work on giving their problems to the Lord.

“Giving our problems to Jesus is something we can do, we need to do, again and again. Each morning we can invite him to be with us during the day. Each night we can talk with him about our day,” the pope said.

Try to offer your day to the Lord in the morning and review it with him at night, handing him your worries, joys, and failures.

3. Make Eucharistic adoration a habit.

In several instances, the Holy Father spoke about the importance of spending time with Jesus in Eucharistic adoration so that we can experience how “he looks at you with love.”

Commit to visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament weekly, even briefly, and speak to him honestly from the heart.

4. Commit to real friendship with Jesus in prayer.

Pope Leo encouraged young people to form a real friendship with Jesus through daily prayer.

“Jesus does not just understand our struggles from a distance,” the Holy Father said. “He actually wants us to hand them to him because he loves us. And that kind of trust starts when we have a real relationship. We cannot give our problems to someone who we barely know.”

In the new year, consider setting a daily time of silent prayer or Scripture reading so you are not giving your problems to someone you barely know but to someone you truly know.

5. Find and invest in one “faithful friend.”

Pope Leo acknowledged how difficult it can be for people to find and form genuine friendships. He described a real friend as someone who is “not only someone who’s fun to be with, though that is good too, but it’s someone who helps you grow closer to Jesus: someone who encourages you to become a better person.”

If you’re struggling with finding “faithful friends,” pray to find one or cultivate at least one friendship that helps you grow closer to Jesus and encourages you to seek help when life gets heavy.

6. Pray the rosary for help and protection.

The Holy Father reminded the faithful that in addition to speaking to Jesus about our daily problems, we should also remember to share those problems with the Blessed Mother.

“And remember also Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. She understands what we go through, and she prays for us. There’s a powerful way to ask for her help, and that’s praying the rosary,” Pope Leo said.

Consider praying the rosary more often in the new year — whether it be a decade a day or a full rosary once a week — and ask Mary to carry your struggles to her son.

7. Limit your screen time.

When speaking to the constant use of technology in our lives and how that can pull us away from spending time with Christ, Pope Leo used St. Carlo Acutis as an example. He explained that while Acutis used technology to help people grow in their faith, he set time limits for himself.

Due to this discipline, “he found a healthy balance and kept his priorities clear. My friends, I encourage you to follow the example of Carlo Acutis. Be intentional with your screen time,” he shared.

Try setting a specific and concrete limit on social media and entertainment so technology serves your vocation instead of ruling your day.

8. Choose one way to be more present in person.

Along similar lines, when speaking about the use of technology in our lives, Pope Leo also highlighted how too much use of technology can also pull us away from being present to others with whom we have relationships.

The Holy Father said: “There’s nothing that can replace true human presence, being with one another. So, while technology certainly can connect us, it’s not the same as being physically present. We need to use it wisely without letting it overshadow our relationships.”

In the new year, aim to intentionally prioritize a face‑to‑face encounter — such as sharing a family meal, going to a youth group, or visiting someone lonely — over staying behind a screen once a week.

9. Join something in your parish.

Pope Leo encouraged young people to get involved at their parishes, not only by attending Mass but also by taking part in other activities as well.

“Stay connected to your parish. Attend Sunday Mass. Join youth activities and say ‘yes’ to opportunities, just as you’ve done taking part in this conference; opportunities where your faith can grow,” he said.

Look at the different activities or groups at your parish and make one concrete commitment to take part in something — maybe a youth group, singing in the choir, becoming a lector, or participating in a service ministry.

10. Teach the faith to someone else.

Sharing and teaching our faith to others is vital, Pope Leo explained, especially in helping the Church grow.

“One great way to build up the Church is by sharing your faith, teaching the faith to others, helping others who need you,” he said. “Teaching is often the best way to strengthen your own understanding. Deepen your prayer life as well.”

Consider becoming a catechist, volunteering in youth ministry, or peer mentoring in the new year.

Credit: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

Dec 31, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and the first day of 2026, the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences as a sign of God’s mercy and the desire for the sanctification of all her members.

A plenary indulgence is remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.

Indulgences on Dec. 31

On the eve of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Church grants a plenary indulgence to those Christian faithful who publicly recite the “Te Deum,” thanking God for the year that is ending. This blessing is extended especially on Dec. 31.

To recite the “Te Deum,” click here.

Indulgences on Jan. 1

Likewise, on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a plenary indulgence is granted to those who publicly recite the hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring blessings for the new year that is beginning.

To recite the “Veni Creator,” click here.

Additionally, those who devoutly receive the papal blessing “urbi et orbi” (“for the city and for the world”), either through radio, television, or the internet, as well as those who devoutly receive the blessing of the bishop of their diocese, will also be able to obtain these special blessings from the Church.

Conditions to obtain a plenary indulgence

In addition to performing the specific work mentioned above, the following conditions must be met:

First, it is necessary to be detached from all sin, even venial sin.

Second, one must make a sacramental confession, receive Communion, and pray for the pope’s intentions. These conditions can be met a few days before or after carrying out the action prescribed to obtain the indulgence, but it is suggested that Communion and prayer be performed on the same day that the action is carried out.

It is important to note that several indulgences can be obtained through a single confession, although frequent participation in the sacrament of reconciliation is recommended in order to deepen one’s conversion and purity of heart.

As for receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, it should be noted that with just one Communion and one prayer, made on the same day, a plenary indulgence is obtained.

Finally, the condition of praying for the intentions of the supreme pontiff is fulfilled by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. However, each Christian is given the right to use any other formula according to his personal piety and devotion.

What is a plenary indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.

It is not a forgiveness of sin but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to souls already in purgatory.

In order to obtain a plenary indulgence the faithful must — in addition to being in the state of grace — both have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin (even venial sin), have sacramentally confessed their sins and received the Eucharist (either within or outside of Mass), and must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

The conditions for a plenary indulgence can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the actions specified to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.

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

2025 was a complex and multifaceted year for Christians in the Middle East, oscillating between supportive initiatives and messages of hope alongside persistent challenges. | Credit: Ismail Adnan/ACI MENA

Dec 31, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

2025 was a complex and multifaceted year for Christians in the Middle East. Across six pivotal countries, the contours of this reality reveal an uneven trajectory that is nevertheless unified in essence: a steadfast attachment to land and faith amid harsh circumstances and ongoing challenges.

Egypt: Official support and societal challenges

Throughout the year, the Egyptian state continued its positive policies toward Christians, most notably through the development of the Holy Family Trail, the legalization of the status of 160 churches and related buildings, and the disbursement of a “Christmas grant” to informal workers. At the same time, Copts faced ongoing challenges, including the failure of some universities to take Christian feast days into account when scheduling examinations.

More profoundly, sporadic attacks led by extremists persisted, involving the abduction of girls, the displacement of families, and the vandalism of property, churches, and cemeteries, along with hate speech targeted at Christians. These incidents underscored a gap between official positions and certain societal practices.

Jordan: A model of stability awaiting completion

Jordan remains among the safest countries in the region for Christians, with increasing official support.

This year, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities established eight Christmas celebration sites nationwide, launched the Baptism Route for Christian pilgrimage, and issued postage stamps featuring icons of Jordanian saints.

The country also hosted church-related intellectual conferences, and the king of Jordan held significant meetings this month with Church leaders from the region and from around the world.

Nevertheless, Christians continue to await the issuance of a new personal status law, while emigration persists, having significantly reduced their population over past decades to around 4%, according to some sources, which is down from nearly 12% in 1956.

Lebanon: Papal hope amid persistent crises

Lebanon continues to grapple with the legacy of its civil war 50 years on, along with deep divisions and ongoing crises.

In 2025, the country suffered destruction from Israeli bombardment, particularly in the south, alongside security breakdowns that included the killing of a priest in his home and a spate of church thefts.

The pope’s visit offered a profound spiritual balm, carrying strong messages of peace, Lebanon’s role in the world, the responsibility of youth in shaping the future, and the imperative not to forget the poor and vulnerable.

Yet political and economic realities continue to weigh heavily on Christians, leaving emigration as an ever-present option.

Syria: Official reassurances and deep-seated anxiety

Syria’s Christians endured a difficult year amid security breakdowns and scattered acts of vandalism targeting churches and religious symbols.

The most serious incidents occurred in the heart of Damascus with the bombing of St. Elias Church and in Suwayda, where at least six churches were vandalized, numerous properties looted, and several Christians killed.

In response, cooperation between the state and the Church, along with meetings between political leadership — particularly President Ahmed al-Sharaa — and patriarchs, helped ease some concerns, alongside heightened security measures around churches on Sundays and feast days.

Still, Christians continue to face harsh living conditions and fears of an uncertain future, including those in eastern Syria under the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

The Holy Land: Cautious celebration amid ongoing threats

Holy Land Christians returned this year to celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem and elsewhere following a decline in the intensity of the war there, despite the destruction it left behind, especially in Gaza, where those who remain face the challenge of living with dignity.

In the West Bank, settler attacks escalated, particularly in the Christian town of Taybeh.

With ongoing unemployment and instability, Christian emigration continues from the Holy Land, reducing the Christian proportion to around 1%. Their numbers have declined sharply, especially in Jerusalem, where Christians now number no more than about 6,700.

In Bethlehem, emigration is no longer an individual phenomenon but increasingly affects entire families, fueling fears that the Holy Land could be emptied of its indigenous Christian population and transformed into little more than a living museum.

Iraq: Church reconstruction and ongoing attacks

Iraq witnessed a stark paradox in 2025: repeated attacks on cemeteries and churches, and renewed waves of emigration that have cost the country nearly 90% of its Christian population.

The decline of the Christian population has taken place over two decades, alongside the reconstruction and reopening of monasteries and churches. These include the Monastery of Mar Oraha, the Chaldean Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Light in Ankawa, and the consecration of the altar of Our Lady of the Syrians Church in Duhok for the Syriac Orthodox.

This year the Church of Abraham in the ancient archaeological site of Ur hosted its first-ever prayer service. Politically, the 2025 parliamentary elections revived debate over the Christian quota and representation, amid Church calls for unity and the defense of rights.

Emigration — especially among youth — remained the dominant theme.

A sign of hope

The Vatican announced this year the canonization of the martyred bishop Ignatius Maloyan, a deeply symbolic step that once again cast light on the history of martyrdom that has shaped Christian presence in the region.

The resonance of the Roman pontiff’s message at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy in Beirut continues to echo among the peoples of the Middle East: “The Middle East needs new attitudes: a rejection of the logic of revenge and violence, a move beyond political, social, and religious divisions, and the opening of new pages in the name of reconciliation and peace. We have traveled the path of mutual hostility and destruction for far too long, and we all witness the painful results. We must change course and educate the heart for peace. To the Christians of the East, the sons and daughters of these lands, I repeat and say: Take courage.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter's Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.

Dec 31, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV at a New Year’s Eve prayer service reflected on God’s divine plan of salvation for the world — and the hope of ordinary people.

“The world moves forward in this way, propelled by the hope of so many simple people — unknown to the world but not to God — who, despite everything, believe in a better tomorrow, because they know that the future is in the hands of the One who offers them the greatest hope,” the pope said in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31.

Leo presided over first vespers (evening prayer) in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The liturgy included hymns, Psalms, readings from Scripture, and the singing of the “Te Deum,” a Latin hymn of thanksgiving from the early Church.

In his homily, the pontiff spoke about God’s plan versus the plans the world makes.

“In our own time we feel the need for a wise, benevolent, merciful plan — one that is free and liberating, peaceful and faithful, like the plan that the Virgin Mary proclaimed in her canticle of praise: ‘From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him’ (Lk 1:50),” he said.

But, Leo noted, the world is enveloped in other plans: “Strategies aimed at conquering markets, territories, spheres of influence — armed strategies, cloaked in hypocritical rhetoric, ideological proclamations, and false religious motives.”

However, the holy Mother of God sees things with God’s eyes, the pope continued. She knows that “with the power of his arm the Most High scatters the schemes of the proud, casts the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty.”

The Holy Father referenced the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4, that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”

The apostle presents the mystery of Christ as “a great plan for human history,” Leo said. “A mysterious plan, yet one with a clear center, like a lofty mountain illuminated by the sun in the midst of a dense forest: This center is the ‘fullness of time.’”

On the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he emphasized Mary’s motherhood and her role in the revelation of the great mystery and paradox of “a God who is born of a virgin.”

“The mother of Jesus is the woman with whom God, in the fullness of time, wrote the Word that reveals the mystery,” he said. “He did not impose it; he first proposed it to her heart, and once her ‘yes’ was received, he wrote it with ineffable love in her flesh,” he said.

“Thus God’s hope became intertwined with Mary’s hope,” he added.

Pope Leo pointed out that the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, concludes the Octave of Christmas and “spans the passage from one year to the next and extends over it the blessing of the One ‘who is, who was, and who is to come’ (Rv 1:8).”

“The liturgy of the first vespers of the Mother of God possesses a singular richness, deriving both from the dizzying mystery it celebrates and from its placement at the very end of the solar year,” he said.

Recalling that the Church is at the end of the Jubilee Year 2025, he added that the “Te Deum” prayer, to be sung at the end of the liturgy, “seems to expand so as to give voice to all the hearts and faces that have passed beneath these vaults and through the streets of this city.”

“We thank God for the gift of the jubilee, which has been a great sign of his plan of hope for humanity and for the world. And we thank all those who, during the months and days of 2025, have worked in service to the pilgrims and to make Rome more welcoming,” he said.

“What can we wish for Rome?” he continued. “That it may be worthy of its smallest ones: of children, of elderly people who are alone and frail, of families who struggle most to make ends meet, of men and women who have come from afar hoping for a dignified life.”

After the prayer service, Pope Leo visited the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, a papal custom, while the Swiss Guard Band gave its annual Christmas concert.

He then personally greeted the band and some of the people gathered in the square.

A Planned Parenthood facility in Minneapolis. | Credit: Ken Wolter/Shutterstock

Dec 31, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

Here’s a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news:

Appeals court will allow government cuts to Planned Parenthoods

A federal appeals court will allow federal funding cuts to Planned Parenthoods that provide abortion, permitting a key Trump administration policy to go forward after a lower court blocked it.

The Dec. 30 ruling held that the federal government had likely not exceeded its authority when it ordered Medicaid funding cuts to certain nonprofit groups that perform abortions, many of which constituted Planned Parenthoods.

The suit against the Trump administration was brought by nearly two dozen states. The policy had originally been passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Louisiana sues to block abortion pill mailing rule

The Louisiana government is suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to block a Biden-era rule allowing for the mailing of abortion pills.

State Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office announced the lawsuit against the FDA, with Murrill arguing that “unfettered and unsupervised access to these pills is dangerous.”

A 2023 policy from the Biden administration had allowed for the “dispensing of mifepristone through the mail ... or through a mail-order pharmacy,” part of the White House’s efforts to increase abortion access after the 2022 repeal of Roe v. Wade.

A hearing for the lawsuit is set for Feb. 24.

Veterans department institutes ‘near-total’ abortion ban

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has instituted a near-total abortion ban in its facilities following guidance from the Department of Justice.

The Trump administration had proposed the rule change first in August, moving to prohibit medical centers operated by the veterans department from performing both surgical and chemical abortions in most cases and from providing counseling that encourages abortion.

Department spokesman Pete Kasperowicz told the Military Times on Dec. 29 that the ban was officially in effect after guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The veterans department was “complying ... immediately” with the Justice Department’s directive, Kasperowicz said.

Downtown Indianapolis is seen on March 10, 2021. | Credit: John McDonnell/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Dec 31, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

Leaders overseeing an empty parish in downtown Indianapolis are demanding to be allowed to destroy the building, arguing that the parish is “unused and unusable” even after the local government declared it a protected landmark.

St. Philip Neri Catholic Church filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleging that the city had engaged in an “unlawful landmarking” of the Parish of the Holy Cross.

The Holy Cross parish was formally merged with St. Philip Neri in 2014; it has stood unused for years due to structural deterioration.

Indianapolis Archbishop Charles Thompson had relegated the building in 2019. Relegation is the process by which the Church “desacralizes” a Church building, allowing it to be turned over for secular usage, though not for “sordid” activities. Thompson issued the relegation for St. Philip Neri that year due to the building’s significant structural instability.

In the lawsuit, St. Philip Neri says the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission engaged in “unconstitutional interference” when it issued an emergency historic designation for Holy Cross in 2024, removing the ability of the parish to demolish the building.

A local neighborhood association had brought the issue before the commission, looking to preserve the building before its intended demolition.

The preservation group, along with the city Metropolitan Development Commission — which accepted the preservation committee’s recommendation to preserve the church — violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by “intrud[ing] on the religious decision making” of the parish and “substitut[ing] the religious judgments of government actors for those of religious officials,” the lawsuit claims.

The suit asks the federal court to declare the historical designation “unconstitutional and illegal.” It further asks the court to allow the parish to tear down the unused building.

The city government did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit. The Indianapolis Archdiocese also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.