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Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone at the San Francisco walk for life on Jan. 21, 2023. / Credit: Dennis Callahan

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 16, 2025 / 18:03 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Donald Trump has tapped San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone to serve on an advisory board for the country’s newly established Religious Liberty Commission, according to an announcement from the archdiocese.

Cordileone, who has served as archbishop since 2012, is the third member of the Catholic hierarchy to be given a role in the presidential commission’s work. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, are members of the commission.

“Religious liberty is a critical issue in our time that needs to be defended and addressed,” Cordileone said in a statement. “I am happy to join my brother bishops in providing a Catholic voice on this important topic at a national level.”

Cordileone told CNA he does not know what the specific tasks on the advisory board will be but that one objective is to get the perspective of religious leaders. “It’s important to have a Catholic [voice]” on the advisory board to ensure the Church’s concerns are heard, he said.

The archbishop noted several state and federal attacks on religious liberty in recent years, such as the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. He expressed opposition to any possible insurance coverage mandates for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which the Church opposes.

He also raised concerns about a new Washington state law that tries to force priests to violate the seal of confession if they learn about child abuse during the sacrament of reconciliation. In 2019, he noted, lawmakers in California debated a similar bill, which “galvanized Catholics” to oppose its adoption. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating the Washington state law.

Cordileone further emphasized the need to allow religious organizations to continue their services to the poor, the homeless, mothers, migrants, and others “without interference from the government.”

The archbishop said that religious organizations should be “able to serve the community in accordance with our moral values, which we get from our faith,” adding: “We don’t want our government defining for us what our religion is.”

The new commission

Trump established the commission through an executive order on May 1, which coincided with the country’s National Day of Prayer.

The commission is tasked with creating a report on the current threats to religious freedom in the United States and providing strategies to improve legal protections for those rights. The report will also outline the foundations of religious liberty and include guidance on how to increase awareness about the peaceful religious pluralism in the United States.

Some of the key religious liberty subjects the report is tasked with handling include parental rights in education, school choice, conscience protections, free speech for religious bodies, institutional autonomy, and attacks on houses of worship.

The president established the commission because of concerns that some federal and state policies have infringed on those rights.

Other members of the commission include Protestant leaders, such as Pastor Paula White, along with rabbis and imams. Ethics and Public Policy Center President Ryan Anderson, who is Catholic, is also on the commission. Psychologist and television personality Dr. Phil McGraw and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson are also members.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, an evangelical Christian, is the commission’s chairman.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux. / Credit: Public domain

Paris, France, May 16, 2025 / 17:11 pm (CNA).

In 2025, the Church honors a saint whose impact has only grown with time. One hundred years after her canonization, the Jubilee of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face — the saint better known around the world as the Little Flower — is drawing pilgrims to her enduring message of trust, love, and joyful simplicity.  

Canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925, then declared a doctor of the Church by John Paul II in 1997, Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most beloved spiritual figures in modern Catholicism. Her “little way,” rooted in childlike trust in divine mercy, continues to captivate the hearts of the faithful and spiritual seekers alike.

The centenary year began on Jan. 4 and will continue until next Christmas, with a weekend of celebrations taking place from May 16–18 in her hometown of Lisieux in northern France. 

The theme chosen for the event, “Joy in Holiness,” resonates with Pope Francis’ call for the 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope.” For countless people, Thérèse is precisely that: a hopeful companion, guiding them along hidden but luminous paths toward God. 

A special weekend in Lisieux 

The main commemorative events began Friday evening with a candlelit procession of Thérèse’s relics from the local Carmelite convent — where the saint spent her religious life — to the basilica, followed by a singing vigil.

May 17, the centenary day, will open with a solemn gathering before the reliquary, featuring choral hymns and carillon bells. A Mass will follow at 11 a.m., broadcast live on various social media platforms. Throughout the afternoon, pilgrims will be invited to participate in a variety of spiritual, artistic, and family-oriented activities. These include guided tours of key sites in Thérèse’s life, a collaborative mosaic project reproducing her portrait and the façade of the basilica, and a screening of the film “A Giant Race,” dedicated to her life. 

A highlight of the day will be the evening concert by French-Canadian singer Natasha St-Pier, whose musical interpretations of Thérèse’s poems have introduced a new generation to the saint’s mysticism. The artist, who has repeatedly described her personal devotion to the Carmelite nun, has become one of the most prominent cultural ambassadors of Thérèse’s spiritual message in the francophone world. 

The final day, Sunday, May 18, will begin with a symbolic link to the Church’s present: the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be broadcast live from Rome to the basilica’s screens. Later in the afternoon, a special gathering will be held in front of the Carmel to recall the long list of miracles attributed to the saint’s intercession, recalling her enduring closeness to the faithful.

The power of the ‘Little Way’ 

What continues to draw people to the Little Flower is the radical simplicity of her spiritual vision. In a culture driven by achievement, noise, and self-assertion, her “little way” of doing small things with great love offers an antidote. 

Reflecting on the lasting influence of the Lisieux saint, Father Emmanuel Schwab, rector of the shrine, recently recalled Pope Francis’ 2023 apostolic exhortation C’est la Confiance (“It Is Trust”) dedicated to her, which opened with a line from the saint: “It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to love.”

“These last words sum up her ‘little way’: a distraught trust in God who saves, gives life, and leads us to love him beyond all else,” he explained in an interview with the Diocese of Paris.

Thérèse’s message is all the more relevant today, as her spiritual journey was not without trials. Born in Alençon in 1873, she entered the Carmel of Lisieux at just 15 and died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24. On Easter Sunday 1896, already gravely ill, she entered what she called her “night of faith.” For the last 18 months of her life, she experienced the absence of all her usual comforting images of God. This period of spiritual darkness, as described by theologian Father François Marxer, teaches us “not to make a pact or to enter into a confrontation but to put up with that part of atheism we all have within us,” aware that “this night is God himself.”

This capacity to speak to wounded, searching souls is part of what has drawn singer Natasha St-Pier so deeply into the saint’s orbit.

“Therese helped me discover a faith that’s simple to apply on a daily basis,” St-Pier said in a 2018 interview with La Croix. “It doesn’t require big actions, big demonstrations, or guilt-tripping. God loves us, even if we’re sinners, even if we’re not exceptional.”

A global jubilee 

The centenary celebrations extend beyond France. In the U.S., a major relics tour will span over a dozen cities from October to December, including stops at national shrines of the Little Flower in San Antonio, Texas; Michigan; and Florida. Other local parishes such as St. Thérèse Church in Alhambra, California, will offer Eucharistic processions and conferences around the May anniversary. 

In Ireland, Knock Shrine will host a “St. Thérèse International Day” on July 13, combining relics’ veneration, Eucharistic celebration, rosary procession, conferences, and communal celebrations. The United Kingdom is also preparing national commemorations, particularly in parishes named after the saint, with a weeklong celebration culminating in solemn Masses on May 18. 

As the faithful converge on Lisieux and gather across continents, they do so not only to honor a saint but also to reconnect with a spiritual intuition that continues to illuminate the dark corners of modern life. In celebrating the centenary of her canonization, the Church once again turns its gaze toward the childlike audacity of Thérèse’s promise: “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” 

Alessandro Tamburlani is the president and founder of the gym where Cardinal Robert Prevost worked out before becoming pope. / Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 16:41 pm (CNA).

When he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost used to take long walks through the Borgo neighborhood in Rome. He lived in a simple apartment on Via di Porta Angelica until less than two months ago, when he moved to another apartment building reserved for high-ranking Vatican officials in the Sant’Uffizio (Holy Office) building where the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is now located.

In this central Roman neighborhood, just steps from St. Peter’s Square, he also frequented the Omega Fitness Club, which since May 8 — when he was elected pope — has become the most famous gym in Rome.

Last week, like all the residents in the area, the gym’s president and founder, Alessandro Tamburlani, ran to St. Peter’s Square as soon as he heard about the white smoke. His joy was even greater when he saw one of the registered members of his fitness center appear on the balcony.

“I won’t hide the fact that I cheered wildly,” Tamburlani said with emotion and pride. “My joy was doubled or tripled. Joy to finally have a new Holy Father after the obligatory period of mourning we went through. And joy also to know that he’s a good person and, moreover, someone we all already knew here at the gym.”

The then-Cardinal Prevost — who, as is well known, is also a tennis player — spent his free time on the cardio machines, his favorite exercise. He sometimes also used the stationary bikes and treadmills designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and burn calories. 

“He was a person like so many other members. He dressed like everyone else, in simple gym clothes. He was often accompanied by his assistant so he could work out,” he related.

An athletic pope

Tamburlani didn’t hide his enthusiasm when he noted that having an athletic pope really showcases the need to lead a healthy life. “He’s a shining light that allows us all to say that, if he can do it, we can all manage to take care of ourselves and exercise,” he pointed out.

He said Leo XIV’s lifestyle can be a model for all: “In the modern life we lead, always in a hurry, too busy for our own good, he invites us to be aware of our bodies and begin to take control of them, guiding them toward an excellent experience that combines spirituality and sports training.”

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

The classic coat of arms of the Order of St. Augustine. / Credit: NicolasGrisales, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, May 16, 2025 / 16:11 pm (CNA).

A priest who was accused multiple times of sex abuse, including possession of child pornography, has been dismissed from the Order of St. Augustine reportedly after a lengthy “disagreement” with the order.

Father Richard McGrath was allegedly barred from the order “following a prolonged period of disagreement with his direct superior,” according to Michael Airdo, an attorney who has represented the Augustinians in the past. 

The dismissal reportedly happened in December 2024, according to Airdo. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on the controversy on Thursday.

The Sun-Times did not say what prompted its Thursday report if the dismissal happened in December. The Midwest Augustinians did not respond to a request for comment on Friday, including whether or not they knew the whereabouts of McGrath. Airdo also did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. 

McGrath was previously accused of sexual abuse by Robert Krankvich, a former student of Providence High School in New Lenox near Chicago. The priest, formerly the principal of the school, allegedly raped Krankvich multiple times, according to Krankvich’s attorneys. 

The former student’s civil lawsuit was ultimately settled for $2 million before it went to trial. 

McGrath was also investigated over allegations that he possessed child pornography on his phone. Police investigated those claims but ultimately did not bring charges; McGrath refused to hand over the phone to police, and the device reportedly went missing shortly thereafter. 

The Midwestern Augustinians have published a list of past members with “an established allegation of sexual abuse with a minor.” The list, which identifies five past members by name, was last updated in May 2024; McGrath is not on it. 

“In determining whether an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor is established, the province adheres to the canonical standard of moral certitude, meaning that the provincial recognizes that the contrary (that the allegation is false) may be possible, but is highly unlikely or so improbable, that the provincial has no substantive fear that the allegation is false,” the list says. 

Though it is not clear why specifically McGrath was removed from the Augustinians, the Sun-Times reported that at some point the priest “stopped listening to Church officials about where to live.”

During proceedings over Krankvich’s allegations, McGrath was reportedly asked if he knew “why the Augustinians [were] trying to expel” him.

“Because I left on my own, without their approval,” McGrath replied.

Prior to his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV previously served as prior provincial for the Midwestern Augustinian province, and later as prior general of the entire Augustinian order.

Airdo said in a statement to the Sun-Times that the pope — then-Bishop Robert Prevost — was serving in Peru during disputes over where McGrath lived. The future pope “had no responsibility for any Augustinians” and no oversight of McGrath’s living arrangements, the lawyer said.

Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson. / Credit: Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, May 16, 2025 / 15:41 pm (CNA).

Production and distribution company Lionsgate has been chosen as the studio partnering with director Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey’s Icon Productions on the upcoming film “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the much-anticipated follow-up to “The Passion of the Christ.”

The news came in an announcement from Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, on May 15.

“For many, many people across the globe, ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ is the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation. It is also an awe-inspiring and spectacularly epic theatrical film that is going to leave moviegoers worldwide breathless,” Fogelson said in a press release.  

“Mel is one of the greatest directors of our time, and this project is both deeply personal to him and the perfect showcase for his talents as a filmmaker. My relationship with Mel and Bruce dates back 30 years, and I am thrilled to be partnering with them once again on this landmark event for audiences,” he added. 

“Lionsgate’s brave, innovative spirit and nimble, can-do attitude have inspired me for a long time, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect distributor for ‘The Resurrection of the Christ,’” Gibson said.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Adam and the team several times over recent years. I know the clever ingenuity, passion, and ambition the entire team commits to their projects and I’m confident they will bring everything they can to the release of this movie.”

The first title teaser for the film was also released on social media platforms with the caption “THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHRIST — coming soon.”

In March it was reported that filming would begin this August in Italy, according to Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of Rome’s Cinecittà Studios. 

The film “will be shot entirely in Cinecittà starting in August and requires many theaters and stage constructions,” she said in an interview with Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Released in 2004, “The Passion of the Christ” vividly depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life, from his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion. 

The film has been the subject of debate since its release. The graphic scenes of Christ’s scourging and crucifixion sparked controversy; some critics considered it excessively violent, while others praised it for its historical authenticity and its ability to realistically convey Christ’s suffering.

In January 2004, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, then director of the Holy See Press Office, noted that Pope John Paul II had seen the film and gave it a positive review, describing it as “the cinematographic recounting of the historical fact of the passion of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel accounts.”

Despite controversies surrounding the film, it garnered a profit of $370 million domestically with many crediting it as having opened the door to faith-based media in Hollywood.

Photograph of Pope Leo XIV released by the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 16, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).

The Holy See press office released a new photograph of Pope Leo XIV on Friday, available for free download at this link.

In the image, the pontiff appears smiling, dressed in the traditional white cassock and the gold pectoral cross he wore during his first greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election as the successor of Peter on May 8.

The Vatican stated that “the image is provided free of charge and may only be reproduced for institutional purposes” and that “any use for commercial or other purposes is expressly prohibited.”

The Office of Liturgical Celebrations on May 10 had already published the official portrait of the Holy Father in which he appears wearing the red mozzetta, embroidered stole, rochet, and golden pectoral cross.

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

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