Vatican City, Apr 29, 2025 / 09:41 am (CNA).

Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes, will be the first Haitian prelate in the Church’s history to participate and vote in a papal conclave.

Following the death of Pope Francis, Langlois released a statement honoring the life and ministry of the Argentine pontiff who “showed special attention to Haiti” through his words and actions.

“Throughout his pontificate, he embodied a concrete spirituality founded on mercy, listening, and solidarity,” the cardinal wrote on April 22. “He made the Gospel a living invitation to console hearts and inspire actions in favor of the most vulnerable.”

“In a world plagued by injustice and suffering, he put faith at the service of everyday life, reminding everyone that the light of God is revealed in the care of each person, particularly the most deprived,” he added.

He is one of two cardinal electors representing Caribbean countries who will participate in the conclave to commence on May 7. Cuban Cardinal Juan García Rodríguez, archbishop of Havana, will also participate in the upcoming conclave to vote for the universal Church’s 267th pontiff.

Since being elevated as a cardinal by Pope Francis on Feb. 22, 2014, Langlois has served as a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Langlois received his episcopal ordination on June 6, 2004, two months after Pope John Paul II chose him to be the head of the Diocese of Fort-Liberté that same year. His episcopal motto is “Servire Cum Caritate” (“To Serve with Charity”).

In 2011, the 66-year-old prelate was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Les Cayes by Pope Benedict XVI. From 2011 to 2017, he served as president of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti.

In October 2014, Haiti’s first and only cardinal was one of 114 bishops’ conference presidents invited to participate in the Vatican’s Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “the pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.”

Born on Nov. 29, 1958, in La Vallée, Haiti, Langlois joined the seminary in 1985 and obtained a bachelor of arts degree in theology from the Grand Séminaire Notre-Dame in Port-au-Prince. He was ordained a priest on Sept. 22, 1991, for the Diocese of Jacmel.

From 1994 to 1996, Langlois continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University and was awarded a license in pastoral theology with his dissertation titled “La nouvelle évangélisation, oeuvre d’inculturation en Haïti” (“The New Evangelization, a Work of Inculturation in Haiti”).

Following the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010, Langlois gained recognition among local Church leaders for his dedicated efforts to spiritually and materially assist the poor and vulnerable of his country.

After a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti in August 2021, Langlois spoke out about the social inequalities affecting the Caribbean nation’s population in a webinar hosted by Caritas Internationalis.

“The people of Haiti are suffering, believe me,” Langlois said in the Sept. 21, 2021, webinar. “Wherever you look around the country — where poverty is rife, where violence is spreading, where catastrophes take place — the Church is present and the Church is a first responder.”

A young laywoman with almost no education, Catherine of Siena became known for her intense experiences of prayer, her powerful preaching, and her scathing critique of the political and church leaders of her day.  She is...

CNA Staff, Apr 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are significantly higher among Christians than among the religiously unaffiliated, according to a poll by Pew Research released to coincide with Trump’s first 100 days in office. 

Trump’s approval rating continues to be highest among white evangelical Protestants, while Catholics are almost split at 42%, according to the poll.

Across the board, Christians gave Trump a higher approval rating than nonaffiliated Americans by more than 20 percentage points (48% versus 26%, respectively). 

The approval rating for President Donald Trump among Christians is also 8 points higher than among U.S. adults overall.

Among Christians, white evangelical Protestants had the highest approval rating of Trump at 72%. Black Protestants had the lowest approval rating of the current president at 10%.  

Trump’s overall approval rating with white Catholics was significantly higher than with Hispanic Catholics, standing at 52% and 26%, respectively. 

Pew surveyed more than 3,500 U.S. adults from April 7–13 for the poll. 

Policies and ethics  

Forty-three percent of Christians found the Trump administration’s ethical standards were “excellent” or “good.”

When asked about the ethical standards of top Trump administration officials, about 7 in 10 white evangelicals rated them as “excellent” or “good.” Nearly half of white Catholics and a quarter of Hispanic Catholics agreed. 

About half of Christians approved of the Trump administration’s action to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and its budget cuts to federal departments, while 46% approved of the substantially increased tariffs on imports.

For these various Trump administration policies, approval rating points among Catholics sit in the 40s. 

Overall, 43% of Catholics approved of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI action; 47% approved of federal department funding cuts; and 41% approved of increased tariffs.

More than half of white Catholics surveyed (54%) said they approved of the anti-DEI initiative, while a large majority of Hispanic Catholics (69%) disapproved. 

In addition, 55% of white Catholics approved of cuts to federal departments and agencies while 65% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved. 

Another 70% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved of the increased tariffs, while 49% of white Catholics approved.

Across the various categories, Catholics do not vary from U.S. adults by more than 3 percentage points.

Trend now downward

This month Trump’s approval ratings dropped by 7% among U.S. adults overall, according to Pew. 

The drop comes in the wake of the Trump administration implementing a surge of tariffs on various foreign imports.  

Trump’s approval ratings dropped by 1 percentage point more among white Catholics than it did among the religiously nonaffiliated. 

The president’s approval rating declined within several categories among Christians. Among white Catholics and Black Protestants, his approval ratings had an 8-point drop. Among white evangelicals and the religiously nonaffiliated, it dropped by 6 and 7 points, respectively.

CNA Staff, Apr 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, was laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major following his funeral on April 26. 

As the world continues to mourn the late pope during the nine-day period known as “Novendiales” (also rendered “Novemdiales”), preparations are underway for the highly-regulated conclave process, which is the means by which a new pope is elected for the Church. 

Here’s what you need to know about what will happen next.

Setting the stage: Who can take part in the conclave?

The task of electing the new pope falls solely upon the members of the College of Cardinals who are younger than age 80 and otherwise eligible or able to participate, of which there are currently 134. 

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, is the current dean of the College of Cardinals, i.e., the most senior member, elected from among the ranks of the cardinal bishops and confirmed by the pope. Normally, it would be Re’s job to move the conclave process forward once it gets underway. 

Re is too old to take part in the conclave, however, as is his vice dean, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri. So the upcoming conclave will be directed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the next eligible most senior cardinal bishop and the Vatican’s secretary of state.

May 7: The conclave begins

The conclave system was formalized in 1274, and its procedures are spelled out in great detail in the 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of Pope John Paul II, which was amended slightly by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Normally, the day on which the conclave begins is to be the 15th day after the death of a pope, the 16th day of the interregnum (which just means the period between popes). It can begin up to the 20th day “for serious reasons,” or earlier than the 15th day if all the cardinals are present. 

The Holy See Press Office announced Monday that the conclave will begin on the morning of May 7, with the Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica. 

That afternoon, the cardinals — only the electors — will make their entrance into the Sistine Chapel, chanting the “Veni Creator Spiritus,” invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Once inside, each cardinal will take an oath to observe the procedures, maintain secrecy, and vote freely for the candidate he believes most worthy.

When the last of the cardinal electors has taken the oath, the master of papal liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, will give the order “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”), indicating that all those not taking part in the conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel. 

Other than the cardinals, the only people allowed to remain in the chapel are the master of papal liturgical celebrations and a clergy member chosen to preach a meditation to the cardinals. After the meditation is given, he and the master of papal liturgical celebrations will leave the chapel (though the master of papal liturgical celebrations will need to be readmitted several times during the process, particularly when a vote is about to happen). 

The chapel doors will then be closed to the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

How does it work once the cardinals are inside?

The cardinals must swear to absolute secrecy both during and after the conclave process, and great care must be taken to ensure the Sistine Chapel has not been bugged. Whenever they leave the chapel — such as for meals and to sleep — the cardinals are not allowed to discuss anything about what took place in the chapel.

Inside the locked chapel, votes are taken among the cardinals once on the first afternoon session, and twice on each morning and afternoon session for each day of the conclave.

The ballot papers all bear the words “Eligo in summum pontificem” (“I elect as supreme pontiff”), above a space for the cardinals to write a name. During the vote, cardinals individually approach Michelangelo’s painting of the Last Judgment, profess an oath in Latin, and drop their ballot into a large urn.

This is the oath that the cardinals pray as they vote:

“I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected.”

Three randomly designated cardinals, known as scrutineers, then tabulate the results in front of the assembly. First, they count the ballots, and if the number of ballots doesn’t match the number of electors, they are burned immediately and a new vote is taken. 

If the number of ballots is correct, the three scrutineers read each ballot, the last of the three reading the name aloud and writing it down. Each elector also writes down the running result on a sheet provided for this purpose. Each ballot, after it is counted, is pierced with a needle and placed on a thread for security.

Another three randomly selected cardinal electors, the revisers, check the ballot count and the notes of the scrutineers to ensure the tabulation of the ballots was carried out exactly and faithfully.

Three additional cardinal electors are randomly chosen as “infirmarii,” whose job it is to assist any electors who, although within the enclosure of the conclave, are too sick to be present in the Sistine Chapel. The infirmarii take with them a locked box that, having been shown to the other electors to be empty, receives the votes of the infirm. They then return it unopened to the scrutineers.

A Catholic man needs two-thirds of the votes — in the present case, 90 votes — to be elected the next pope. Looking at the record of the last century of conclaves shows that the college elects a new pope, on average, by the afternoon of the third day, after about eight ballots.

The new pope

When a voting session concludes without a man reaching the required majority, the ballots are burned with wet straw, causing black smoke to emanate from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. However, if a pope is elected, the ballots are burned with the addition of a chemical agent, producing the famous white smoke. 

Before that happens, however, there is a process that must be followed once a man receives the required number of votes. 

After the junior cardinal deacon has readmitted the secretary of the college and the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, the cardinal dean, or the cardinal who is first in order and seniority, goes to the one elected and asks:

“Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?”

With consent he becomes bishop of Rome and the pope (thus ending the conclave, unless the new pope decides to keep it in session for some reason). The cardinal dean then asks:

“By what name do you wish to be called?”

The master of papal liturgical ceremonies, with the witness of the two masters of ceremonies (who are now summoned), then will draw up a document certifying the consent of the man elected and the name he has chosen.

The new pope spends a few moments in a room off the Sistine Chapel known as the Room of Tears, where he is dressed in his white papal vestments. Each cardinal then comes forward in turn and makes an act of homage and obedience to the new pope. An act of thanksgiving to God is then made. 

The senior cardinal deacon announces from the loggia of St. Peter’s to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square: “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”) and what name he has taken. The newly elected pope then comes out to address and bless the city and the world (“urbi et orbi”).

Presiding over the fourth Novemdiales Mass in memory of Pope Francis, Cardinal Gambetti reminds the faithful that they should see God in everyone as the late Pope did.

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Every last Sunday of the month, Catholic asylum-seekers, migrants, and refugees in South Africa come together in some cities to participate in a Eucharistic celebration. Most of these migrants are from Zimbabwe and have made South Africa (SA) their home.

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The final leg of the 108th “Giro d’Italia” will pay homage to Pope Francis when for the first time in history it will pass through the Vatican gardens.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- True discipleship is not measured by the creeds Christians recite or the theology they know, but by how deeply they love, a cardinal said at a memorial Mass for Pope Francis.

"It is not the profession of faith, the theological knowledge or the sacramental practice that guarantees participation in the joy of God," said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, "but the qualitative and quantitative involvement in the human experience of the least of our brothers and sisters."

Celebrating Mass in the basilica April 29 for the fourth day of the "novendiali" -- nine days of mourning for Pope Francis marked with Masses -- the cardinal said that Christ's final judgment will not be based on knowledge or status, but on acts of mercy toward the hungry, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned.

His message came as cardinals gathered in Rome said they are beginning to reflect on what qualities the next pope must embody. The cardinals are meeting daily in general congregation meetings ahead of the conclave, which is scheduled to begin May 7.

Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Gambetti were the cardinals who lead the three other papal basilicas in Rome: Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar of Rome and archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran; Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major; and U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Patrick Kelly, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, was seated in a front row.

Reflecting on the Gospel's imagery of sheep and goats, Cardinal Gambetti explained that those who are welcomed into God's kingdom are not those who sought independence and self-interest, but those who lived with gentleness, solidarity and compassion.

"At the personal and institutional level, we must ask ourselves: which of these two styles do we embody?" he said.

Pope Francis' humanity, tenderness and commitment to peace touched believers and nonbelievers alike, the cardinal said. Quoting Edith Bruck, a Holocaust survivor, poet and friend of Pope Francis, Cardinal Gambetti said the late pope was "a man who loved, who wept, who invoked peace, who embraced and spread warmth wherever he went."

True evangelization, the cardinal said, does not come through grand proclamations but through humble acts of solidarity that reveal God's love in tangible ways.

"Who touches humanity touches God; who honors humanity honors God; who scorns humanity scorns God," he said.

Recalling Pope Francis' conviction that "all, all, all, are called to live in the church," Cardinal Gambetti reflected the on the episode from the Acts of the Apostles in which St. Peter meets Cornelius.

In that account, St. Peter enters the gentile's home despite Jewish custom forbidding him to do so, and, after preaching about Jesus, the Holy Spirit descends upon them both, and the apostle baptizes Cornelius.

The Gospel account is "an episode that, in an age that is globalized, secularized and thirsting for truth and love such as ours" reveals the first pope's attitude toward evangelization, the cardinal said: "Openness to the human person without reservation, gratuitous concern for others, sharing and deepening experiences to help every man and woman give credit to life, to the grace of creation."

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Reporting by CNS Rome is made possible by the Catholic Communication Campaign. Give to the CCC special collection in your diocese May 10-11 or any time at: https://bit.ly/CCC-give

WASHINGTON – Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria, the bishop-promoter of Stella Maris in the United States, will commemorate National Maritime Day and the Catholic Church’s observation of the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea on May 22. The maritime apostolate for the Catholic Church that serves those who work or travel on the high seas and work in ports is known as “Stella Maris” (Star of the Sea). 

The men and women who make their living working on the seas include merchants, sailors, seafarers, fishermen, port personnel and many others in the maritime industry whose work is vital to global commerce. The work of seafarers ensures that raw materials, food, medicines and countless other products are transported to keep the global economy moving.

The nature of maritime work means they are not always a visible presence in the community, and seafarers make great sacrifices with their families to carry out their work. Stella Maris chaplains, deacons and lay ministers serve at ports across the United States to welcome them and be a network of support for them and their families. 

“On National Maritime Day, we thank our brothers and sisters who work as seafarers for their dedication. We also seek the intercession of Our Lady, Star of the Sea -- that she protect and guide those in this important industry that is vital to global commerce,” said Bishop Cahill. 

Commemoration in the Dioceses

In commemoration of National Maritime Day, Bishop Cahill is encouraging dioceses in the United States to remember seafarers during Mass. Dioceses may also wish to consider holding events to support and thank seafarers and raise public awareness of the contributions they make to our country.  

Commemoration in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Cahill will celebrate the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 12:10 p.m. in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (400 Michigan Ave. NE; Washington, D.C.  20017)

Jubilee Year 2025

Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Vatican has appointed the Italian naval ship Amerigo Vespucci, as a Jubilee church and pilgrimage site, providing seafarers the opportunity to be part of the Holy Year celebrations. A pilgrimage to the ship will allow the faithful to gain a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year. Read more about the Amerigo Vespucci from Catholic News Service in Rome: https://catholicreview.org/chapel-onboard-historic-italian-naval-ship-designated-a-jubilee-church/. 

For more information on the ministry of Stella Maris, please visit: https://www.usccb.org/stellamaris.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The next pope needs to continue the path set by Pope Francis: Promoting a church that is welcoming, listens to everyone and unifies, some members of the College of Cardinals told reporters April 29.

As members of the College of Cardinals head most days to the Vatican's New Synod Hall for their pre-conclave meetings, scores of reporters and camera operators rush toward them in a wave seeking information about the closed-door deliberations and insight into what they are looking for in a pope.

Speaking to reporters April 29, Cardinal Louis Sako, the Iraq-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, said the atmosphere among the cardinals is "fraternal and sincere."

Cardinal Jorge Jiménez Carvajal, the 83-year-old retired archbishop of Cartagena, Colombia, said there was "a great spirit of communion" even with the expression of many different opinions.

Cardinal John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 68, said the atmosphere was "free, welcoming" with everyone being open to one another. 

Cardinal Sako said there is a sense of responsibility "in finding someone who continues Francis' efforts." Asked to comment on the April 28 homily of Cardinal Baldassare Reina, who said the church cannot go backward, and whether this was the right direction for the church, Cardinal Sako said, "For me it is."

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, retired archbishop of Vienna, 80, also agreed with the homily's message and said, "We are always moving forward. Do not be afraid."

Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, 82, retired auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, said there is a sense that the church needs to be a kind of "utopia" where there is room "for everyone: 'todos, todos, todos."

The next pope could be a surprise, he said, just as Pope Francis was a surprise for most.

As the cardinals each get a turn to say what they see happening in the church and the world, and what they would like to see happen, Cardinal Rosa said the late pope made those priorities "very clear" in his brief final testament: the need for world peace and brotherhood among peoples.

Cardinal Ribat said the next pope should be "open to all," but there should also be "a way of kind of controlling, not in a bad way, but in a way that keeps everyone together and unites everyone and to journey together in that way."

So far most of the cardinals who have spoken at the general congregation have been from Europe, he added.

Nearly three-quarters of the 135 cardinal electors -- 99 of them -- were elevated to the college by Pope Francis. Fifty-two of them were named in the last three years, and 20 were named less than five months ago. There are a total of 252 cardinals in the whole college.

That means the cardinals have also spent the first six general congregation meetings trying to get to know each other better, Cardinal Rosa said. "We don't know each other yet."

Nonetheless, he and Cardinal Sako said they expect the conclave to be brief and last two to three days. While not revealing a name, Cardinal Sako said he already had a "very clear" idea of who he intended to vote for.

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Contributing to this story was Justin McLellan at the Vatican.