Posted on 08/2/2025 12:00 PM (CNA Daily News)
Mural of Pope Francis in La Plata, Argentina. / Credit: Municipality of La Plata, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 2, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Just a few meters from Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the Argentine city of La Plata stands the world’s largest mural dedicated to Pope Francis, painted by renowned artist Martín Ron. This work represented a great technical challenge and aims to be a message of peace, of union “between earth and heaven,” and — why not? — a place of prayer and pilgrimage.
Ron’s career spans both time and space, with more than two decades of painting and works that beautify cities around the world. In his native Argentina, a soccer-loving land par excellence, two of his most talked-about murals are those depicting star players Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, just a sample of the hundreds that bear his signature.
On July 26, in the presence of city officials and the archbishop of La Plata, Gustavo Carrara, a 50-meter-high (164-foot) mural depicting Pope Francis, another of the “popular idols” Ron was tasked with painting, was inaugurated and blessed.
“As muralists, beyond painting our own works, we are constantly identifying those figures that have a strong popular following,” because muralism “is still pop art,” the artist told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
“Painting them in these dimensions and contributing to enhancing the collective memory of these figures, especially in places where art doesn’t reach, is very important,” he said.
In the case of Francis, “beyond the fact that he’s the pope, who is the most important person in Argentina, and his position in the Catholic Church, he still has the imprint of a pop idol — although the word ‘idol’ is, in this case, in quotation marks — because he has that reach, he’s still a healthy pop idol,” he noted, because there’s something about these idols “that has to do with how they become incarnated in the culture.”
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Located at the intersection of 54th and 14th Streets, the mural of Pope Francis completes the already imposing landscape of La Plata Cathedral. Painting it there was a request from the La Plata City Council and represented a major technical challenge.
Although he had complete freedom to choose an image that represented the recently deceased Argentine pontiff, the limitations had to do with the “hardest aspect of the project, which is the dimensions, the format of the wall, and the angles from which it will be viewed.”
“In this case, the path was quite clear, because it’s right next to the cathedral, it overlooks the plaza, and it’s very central. But the only limitation I had, which is what can sometimes filter out the best photos, is the particular format of this building. While tall, it’s very narrow: 50 meters by 5 meters [164 feet by 16 feet].”
This detail meant that in that place” maybe the best photo, the one with the best story to tell, isn’t compositionally suitable for the location.” The first requirement, then, was “to create a composition that gains height and progresses vertically to interpret it from the bottom up, or from the top down.”
“It’s the pope. One can fall into the commonplace of saying: ‘Well, Pope Francis, any photo will do, as long as he looks good in the photo, is photogenic, and we all recognize him.’ But it has to have something more; it has to tell a story,” he stated.
The chosen image was a well-known one from the first months of Francis’ pontificate, where he can be seen smiling and looking up, holding a dove in his hand as it begins to spread its wings.
“It’s a very tender photo. I think it’s one of the best. It’s very well known, and it says a lot because it connects with heaven, through all the symbolism of the dove within the Catholic faith,” he noted.
Furthermore, technically, “it solved the issue of verticality for me, because it begins with the cassock, the cross of the Good Shepherd, then the neck appears, the portrait, and then there’s the arm that emerges from the frame and reenters, and above it, a crown with the dove and the sky, which merges with the real sky. That’s it. In slang, we say we ‘nailed’ it.”
“When you have all those variables, you already know that the work will transcend, it will be talked about, and it will become a new landmark of the city of La Plata,” he summarized.
Ron said he anticipates that the mural will become a landmark in the city, “because of the power of the image, because it’s about who he is, because it’s the first, because it’s in such a central location, in Plaza Moreno, next to the cathedral,” he stated, emphasizing that “when things like this happen, you’re helping to generate new landmarks. There’s something else to see and discover in La Plata.”
A believer but not a practicing Christian, Ron said he felt it was a positive thing that his work “be crowned with a blessing,” because he believes that “beyond who paints it, the important thing is how it reaches people.”
“I’m the channel, the person responsible for a work, but when I sign it, the work belongs to the people,” he explained. “All of us artists who paint murals let go of the work,” he said, especially when traveling around the world, because “the place takes ownership of it, the people take ownership of it, and the artist may never see it again,” he explained. Therefore, each work “is like a gift, an opening.”
In this case, “the fact that a lot of things start happening around us, related to this personage, is the best thing that can happen, not only for me but for the people.”
“That the work is blessed and that, in the future, this even might become a place of pilgrimage, that for some it is an opportunity to be closer to the figure of Pope Francis, going to La Plata, going to the cathedral, saying a prayer, asking him for something there, would be fabulous.”
On a personal level, Ron noted that Pope Francis transmits peace to him. “He is a popular figure who made a certain symbolic rupture, by stripping away absolutely everything material.”
“Beyond his more political legacy, he is a person whom you listen to, and he transmits peace, beyond what he says, even from the look on his face,” he commented.
Therefore, “I wanted to capture that image, which, beyond the dove, is an image that greatly represents peace, and we need it at this time in the world,” he said.
The mural was inaugurated with a massive event attended by the mayor of La Plata, Julio Alak; representatives of the Catholic community; school representatives; members of political parties; and other institutions. In addition to artistic performances, the event included a blessing by the local archbishop, Gustavo Carrara.
“The city must be a place of encounter, of integration, where neighbors help each other walk together,” the prelate said, hoping “that the figure of Francis will inspire us in this city to work for a culture of encounter and inspire us on paths toward fraternity and social friendship.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Posted on 08/2/2025 11:00 AM (CNA Daily News)
Pakistan minority rights campaigners protest the sentencing of a Christian man to death for sharing an allegedly blasphemous TikTok post in Karachi on July 2, 2024. / Credit: RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty Images
Brussels, Belgium, Aug 2, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pakistan’s Senate has passed legislation removing the death penalty for two specific crimes in what officials openly acknowledge is a calculated move to preserve billions in European trade benefits — while leaving untouched the blasphemy laws that have sent dozens of Christians to death row.
The Criminal Laws Amendment Bill, which awaits National Assembly approval and presidential sign-off, eliminates capital punishment for publicly stripping women and harboring hijackers. Pakistani officials did not attempt to disguise their motivation: the changes were explicitly designed to satisfy European Union requirements under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) trade scheme, which demands that death sentences be “limited to the most serious crimes only.”
“This bill is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s laws with its international obligations under the GSP+ trade agreement with the European Union,” Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told senators, according to Pakistani media reports.
The GSP+ scheme grants Pakistan zero-duty access to European markets on 66% of its exports — benefits worth approximately $3 billion annually that Pakistani officials admit they cannot afford to lose. In return, Pakistan must implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor protections, and good governance.
However, the selective nature of Pakistan’s compliance reveals the limits of European leverage when confronting the Islamic Republic’s treatment of religious minorities.
While Pakistan has eliminated death sentences for two relatively obscure crimes, it maintains capital punishment for over 100 offenses — including blasphemy charges that disproportionately target the country’s 3 million Christians and other religious minorities.
“The death penalty currently applies to over a hundred offenses” in Pakistan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar acknowledged during Senate debates, defending the broader system while yielding minimal ground to European pressure.
At least 34 members of religious minorities, including Christians, currently sit on death row in Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Lahore-based researcher Sarmad Ali. The overwhelming majority face blasphemy charges under laws that human rights advocates say are routinely misused to settle personal disputes and persecute religious minorities.
The case of Asia Bibi — a Catholic mother of five who spent eight years on death row before her 2018 acquittal — epitomizes the dangers facing Pakistani Christians. Bibi was convicted of blasphemy after Muslim co-workers refused to drink water she had touched because of her faith, leading to an argument that resulted in false accusations.
Her eventual vindication came at enormous cost: Two prominent Pakistani politicians who supported her — Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti — were assassinated by Islamic extremists. Taseer was gunned down by his own bodyguard while Bhatti, Pakistan’s only Christian cabinet minister, was killed by the Pakistani Taliban.
Even after the Supreme Court cleared Bibi of all charges, nationwide protests by Islamic hardliners forced her family into hiding before they eventually found asylum in Canada.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has made clear that while it will make symbolic concessions to preserve European trade benefits, it will not touch blasphemy laws that remain sacred to the country’s Islamic identity.
Following European Parliament resolutions condemning Pakistan’s blasphemy laws in 2021, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government declared it would “not compromise on the country’s blasphemy law.” It argued that Pakistan’s agreements with the EU “did not include any condition concerning religion.”
The current government maintains this position. During a January visit to Pakistan, EU Special Representative for Human Rights Ambassador Olof Skoog warned that Pakistan “should not take its GSP+ status for granted” and highlighted concerns about blasphemy law abuse. Yet Pakistani officials continue to insist that religious laws remain beyond European influence.
The European Union’s response to Pakistan’s selective compliance has been characteristically diplomatic but ineffective at protecting religious minorities. While European Parliament members have repeatedly called for reviews of Pakistan’s trade status over blasphemy law abuse, the European Commission has maintained the country’s preferential trading relationship.
In 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with 678 votes calling for immediate review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status over blasphemy laws, expressing particular concern about Christian couple Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, who were sentenced to death on blasphemy charges. Yet Pakistan retained its trade benefits.
The 10th EU-Pakistan Political Dialogue held in Brussels this July saw both sides “reaffirm their commitment to deepening cooperation” despite what European officials acknowledge is “growing scrutiny over Pakistan’s human rights record.”
Christian advocates report that blasphemy cases continue to rise in Pakistan despite European pressure. “Unfortunately, blasphemy cases continue to rise, and during this year alone, at least five Christians have been charged with committing blasphemy,” said Nasir Saeed of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance, and Settlement.
The legal system remains stacked against religious minorities. “The whole burden of proof is laid on the victim to prove himself/herself innocent, and court hearings are very often adjourned,” Saeed explained. “As a result, victims of this law have to suffer several years in prison, sometimes longer than their punishment.”
Several Christians remain imprisoned for years on blasphemy charges, including Sajjad Masih (nine years) and Zafar Bhatti (eight years). In comparison, others like Sawan Maish and Imran Ghafur Masih were released only after serving eight and 11 years, respectively.
Pakistan’s approach to the GSP+ requirements reveals a government willing to make minimal adjustments to preserve economic benefits while refusing to address the core issues that endanger religious minorities. The death penalty amendments target two crimes that are rarely prosecuted, allowing Pakistan to claim reform while maintaining the broader system of religious persecution.
According to Justice Project Pakistan’s 2024 report, the country handed down 174 death sentences last year — a significant increase from 102 in 2023 — with 6,161 prisoners currently on death row nationwide.
The GSP+ scheme has been extended until 2027, but European officials conduct reviews every two years. The upcoming renewal cycle will test whether Europe’s commitment to trade benefits outweighs its stated concerns for religious freedom and minority rights.
For Pakistan’s embattled Christian community, the recent death penalty amendments offer no relief from the blasphemy laws that continue to threaten their lives and freedom. As long as European trade policy prioritizes economic relationships over religious liberty, Pakistani Christians will remain vulnerable to a justice system that treats their faith as grounds for persecution.
Posted on 08/2/2025 11:00 AM ()
Three young pilgrims of hope offer powerful testimonies of faith, rediscovery, and love at the pre-vigil of the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, Rome. Their stories, different in language and life experience, converge in a shared desire to respond to God’s love with their own lives.
Posted on 08/2/2025 10:49 AM (Crux)
Posted on 08/2/2025 10:41 AM (Crux)
Posted on 08/2/2025 10:00 AM (CNA Daily News)
Gabby is the Ecuador program’s mother representative on the Innovation Fund proposal selection committee. Standing before a photo of Unbound’s late co-founder Bob Hentzen, she proudly holds the certificate of recognition awarded to her by Unbound for her participation and valuable contributions in the selection process. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Unbound
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 2, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
Once seen as only recipients of aid, mothers in underprivileged areas across the globe are becoming agents of change as the Catholic nonprofit Unbound empowers them to create paths out of poverty and serve as community leaders.
“From our founding in 1981, our mission, our reason of being, our approach from our founders, has been driven by a core belief in letting the people that we support make the decisions,” Ashley Hufft, president and CEO of Unbound, told CNA.
“It stems in part from their own faith, from Catholic social teaching, but those closest to the problem … make the decisions,” she said.
To further execute its mission, Unbound has implemented a number of programs including Poverty Stoplight and Agents of Change that keep the decision-making power in the hands of those who can “effectively improve their families best” — mothers.
Unbound is “driven by empowerment, dignity of the person, [and] goal setting,” Hufft said.
The organization advanced this mission through a partnership with nonprofit Fundación Paraguaya and its coaching tool, Poverty Stoplight.
“What Poverty Stoplight has done with this partnership has brought us a tool … for the families to help better define what the goals are that tie to indicators of multidimensional poverty, help set their goals, and help see goal by goal achievement,” Hufft said.
Unbound works “in 16 countries and with over a quarter of a million families. So techniques and methods that work at a small scale don’t necessarily work at that scale,” Dan Pearson, chief international programs officer of Unbound, told CNA.
As of June, Unbound is the largest implementer of the Poverty Stoplight with more than 250,000 participants.
The first step of the program is for “the families themselves [to] determine the dimensions of poverty in their area,” Pearson said. “We know that poverty is not just about money. It’s about a whole range of lack of opportunities and lack of choices.”
They determine the most relevant indicators of poverty within their specific location. The families examine key indicators including income, employment, housing, education, and health to get a better idea of where they are at.
Then the mothers and families themselves define what “poverty,” “extreme poverty,” and “no poverty” actually mean to them, which Pearson called an “eye-opening” step.
“It surprised us that most of the families we serve never had a clear picture of what they were trying to achieve. They see the wealthy people on TV, and they know that’s probably not where they’re going to get.” Pearson asked: “But, what are they trying to get to? What would that look like tangibly?”
“Then the third step is self-assessing,” Pearson said. Families decide what areas in their lives are “red” for extreme poverty, “yellow” for poverty, or “green” for no poverty. “With up to 50 indicators in each location, families found that they were already green in some areas.”
After finishing the assessment, families set priorities. They are given a “life map” that shows the “red, yellow, and green dots for each of the indicators, and they identify which of those they want to focus on now.”
They then receive a cash transfer from Unbound to aid their newly established goals. “Having the certainty of some income from us helps them do longer-term planning, because that decision-making horizon extends by weeks or months. And we make better decisions when we have a longer-term horizon like that,” Pearson said.
A June assessment found that since implementing Poverty Stoplight in 2020, Unbound “families have logged close to 300,000 achievements,” Hufft said. Meaning their indicators have moved “from extreme poverty to no poverty, or poverty to no poverty.”
Pearson attributed the success to the fact that “the families themselves retain control over the decisions that impact their lives.”
“Ultimately the families, and particularly the mothers … are the experts,” he said.
The mothers are “not doing it alone by any means,” Hufft said.
Unbound offers direct guidance through its local teams that provide training, support, and resources. But what is especially unique is that the families going through Unbound programs work together for assistance and encouragement.
In 2001, Unbound started its small-group model in India, placing 25 to 30 mothers in groups to meet monthly for extra support. Now, there are more than 11,000 groups across the globe.
“As we started to see some success with the Poverty Stoplight at the household level … we were trying to figure out then how [to] take that to the community level, again, without sacrificing the control that they have over these decisions,” Pearson said. “We looked to those small groups of women, and we created a program first called Agents of Change.”
The program places women who know their local challenges best at the forefront of coming up with solutions. They determine how funds are allocated to support community ideas that would improve lives and help break the cycle of poverty.
Unbound recently set aside a $500,000 innovation fund to fund larger approved projects. It will fund 10-12 grants ranging from $20,000 to $60,000, focused on addressing urgent needs identified by those experiencing them.
“The difference, though, is that they don’t submit those proposals to us, and they don’t submit those proposals to our donors or to our partners,” Pearson said.
“Our partners overseas work with the communities to select one representative from each country,” who then make up the committees that receive the program proposals. They decide which to fund, giving the women “the experience of being on the funder side, of having to weigh competing priorities within the community.”
The approved grants from the innovation fund will help thousands, including 600 families in San Marcos, Guatemala, that will receive access to clean water thanks to the “Sustainable and Accessible Water Supply System: Source of Life” program.
Another approved proposal is called “Disability Is Not Inability” developed in Tanzania that is “equipping a technical center for children with special needs” to help 100 Unbound sponsored and non-sponsored students.
“We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible and that our responsibility in international nonprofits is to look for new ways to create a framework where the community itself can take control of their futures,” Hufft said.
“One of our strategic goals is elimination of poverty. If you look overall at the state of our world and … at the numbers of people living in extreme poverty, it does seem overwhelming,” Hufft said. But “what Unbound is showing, with data now because of Poverty Stoplight, it is possible.”
“When you take it family by family, individual by individual, it’s possible,” Hufft concluded.
Posted on 08/2/2025 09:09 AM ()
Amid continuing Israeli attacks on Gazan civilians U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meets with families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in the Strip.
Posted on 08/2/2025 08:16 AM (Crux)
Posted on 08/2/2025 07:24 AM ()
A delegation from the Vatican Museums presents to Pope Leo XIV a restored painting of St. Augustine, the work of an anonymous Roman artist of the 18th century which was restored by the Laboratory for the Restoration of Paintings and Wooden Materials. Among those present were the Director of the Museums, Barbara Jatta, and the President of the Governatorate, Sister Raffaella Petrini.
Posted on 08/2/2025 05:31 AM ()
During their ongoing Plenary Assembly at the Kigali Conference Centre, Bishops from across Africa convened under the theme “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace” for the 20th SECAM Plenary Assembly. The second day’s discussions focused on unpacking this central theme and exploring the continent’s long-term vision.
