ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 3, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that all member states are obliged to recognize so-called “homosexual marriages” legally contracted in another country, even when this type of union is not valid under their own legal system.

Although the CJEU clarified that the regulation of these types of unions remains the responsibility of each state, it requires all European Union countries to recognize the “fundamental rights” entailed by these unions, such as the right to private and family life and freedom of residence.

The ruling, issued Nov. 25, concerns the case of a Polish same-sex couple who “married” in Germany in 2018. Upon returning to Poland, the authorities refused to record the union in the civil registry. The European Court of Justice has deemed this refusal contrary to EU law, meaning that all member states are now obligated to recognize the rights stemming from such a union.

Almost half of the European Union countries have not legalized same-sex marriage. This is the case in Poland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

The Catholic Church affirms that marriage is the exclusive union of one man and one woman, as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, reiterated Nov. 25 during the presentation in Rome of the document titled “Una Caro (One Flesh): In Praise of Monogamy.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that in marriage “a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole life.” By its very nature, it is ordered “to the good of the spouses and to the procreation and education of offspring."

The Church has remained firm in this position throughout its history. Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV reiterated this understanding during an audience at the Vatican: “The family is founded on the stable union between a man and a woman.”

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

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 3, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Catholic adults with disabilities talked about how faith guides their lives and how dioceses and individuals can better accommodate and understand them in a panel ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on Dec. 3.

Every year since 1992, those with disabilities and their supporters have observed the IDPD to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. In honor of this year’s IDPD, the National Catholic Partnership on Disability hosted a panel of adults who reflected on how disability and faith intersect in their lives. 

The panel, “Where Faith and Disability Meet,” featured talks from Sue Do and Kathleen Davis, who are both Catholic adults with disabilities.

Do is in the pastoral ministries graduate program at Santa Clara University. A four-time published author and public speaker, she shared how her experiences led her to disability ministry.

“I started lecturing when I was an undergrad at Santa Clara University. I really enjoy lecturing because it actually helped with my self-confidence and it improved my public speaking skills. Just the thought of being there in front of people, proclaiming God’s word, it gave me a sense of purpose,” she said.

Do shared that she began to face exclusion in her church in April 2023, but it ultimately led to her finding her passion. Her pastor at the time told her she could no longer lecture because of “safety and liability issues,” as she sometimes uses a wheelchair.

“I did not let that situation stop me from advocating for myself,” Do said. “I went to the priest who was in charge of the young adult ministry and used the National Catholic Partnership on Disability resources to educate him. And as a result of that, they reversed the decision and I was able to go back to lecture.” 

“I just kept speaking up and realized this is what I’m meant to do,” she said. “It solidified even more the calling for me to go into this type of disability ministry, to be able to advocate for accessible spaces in parishes, adaptive catechesis, anything I can do to make Catholics with disabilities feel included.”

“I feel like my faith is the key to me overcoming a lot of things, lecturing being one of them,” Do said.

Davis shared similar remarks about finding her place in the Church. She joined a young adults group at St. Brigid’s Parish in Georgia, where a group for individuals with disabilities made her “feel valuable.”

“When you first arrive, you’re greeted with warm smiles,” Davis said about the group meetings. “Your buddy sits next to you and helps you when you need it. The buddy paired with you accommodates your needs and makes you feel welcome. I mean, this sense of belonging and support has been tremendous and uplifting in my life.”

It “has strengthened my faith tremendously,” Davis said. “What makes it special is this buddy system. You’re not alone. I mean, having dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy to make that group experience meaningful is crucial. These well-trained volunteers ensure that every member is supported in their own way, so no one is left behind.”

“Everyone is included,” Davis said. “Since joining the group, I have gained a sense of belonging, support, and growth in my self-worth.”

Getting involved 

Do said there are things that she wishes people better understood about her as an adult with a disability. “When people see me, they immediately assume that I need help … I don’t need help unless I specifically ask for help,” she said. 

Another “misconception … I wish people would know is if you are advocating for a disabled person or talking to a disabled person, you can just talk directly to me and not my parents, because when my parents are there, it’s like they’re speaking for me.”

Do said she is going to continue advocating for Catholics with disabilities, but the community also needs allies along with advocates. 

“We are not just called to a greater purpose, but we are also called to always ask ourselves: ’How can I make it more welcoming, inclusive?’ It’s not just about going to Mass and participating. It’s about the model of inclusion and how people model the Gospel.”

Davis shared some advice to help other adults in the Church who may be struggling to find their place. 

“Don’t limit yourself to your parish,” Davis said. “If your parish does not have the resources … There are many churches that may have more resources. They may have programs, groups, you name it.”

“I limited myself to where I was until I was redirected to go to St. Brigid and give it a try. I learned a whole new side. There are accommodations, there is a group, there are people that care about you, and you’re not alone. So don’t limit yourself to just one parish.”

“Those groups are lifesaving … So don’t stop looking for a group in the Catholic Church because it’s going to help you in the long run,” Davis said.  “We’re part of a mystical body of Christ and that means we need to be connected with others who are part of the Catholic Church.”

Detroit, Michigan, Dec 3, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Detroit will welcome Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, for a pastoral visit Dec. 4–7. In an interview with CNA, Father Adam Nowak, vice chancellor of the archdiocese, said the patriarch was invited after consultations with local Arab Christians. 

“The goals for this event are spiritual and to express our closeness to our suffering Christian brothers and sisters of the Holy Land,” Nowak said. On Dec. 5, Pizzaballa will speak at a dinner hosted by Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger that aims to raise funds for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its charitable works. The patriarchate has jurisdiction over Latin and Melkite Catholics in Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. 

Nowak said Weisenburger hopes that as a result of the pastoral visit, people will “understand on a more personal level, by hearing stories and listening to the patriarch and his experiences, what it is like there now, the difficulties they face, but also the enduring hope they have.” 

Southeast Michigan is home to vibrant Middle Eastern Catholic communities, including Chaldeans, Maronites, and Melkites. Pizzaballa will meet with the faithful and participate in events focused on prayer, solidarity, and relief efforts.  

Announcing the fundraiser, the archbishop praised Holy Land Christians, who “heroically maintain and protect the holy sites sacred to us all. They are counting on our solidarity to keep their ancient faith alive in its homeland.”

Strong local support for the Holy Land

In October, Catholics in the archdiocese responded generously to Weisenburger’s request for aid to Gaza, contributing over $462,000 to alleviate severe food shortages. 

Pizzaballa’s visit will commence on Dec. 4 with another fundraising event hosted by the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle. Father Marcus Shammami told CNA that Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat wants to “highlight the Christian presence in the Middle East because a lot of the world forgets that Christians are still in there.”

In the Archdiocese of Detroit, there are eight Chaldean parishes. Shammami said the visit is also significant for Catholics in these parishes, many of whom suffered years of war and conflict in Iraq. Some 80% of Iraqi Christians are Chaldean Catholics.

“The world mostly remained silent during our years of struggle in Iraq and glossed over it. We want to make certain it doesn’t happen again,” Shammami said. Iraq’s officially Muslim government offers a guarantee of religious freedom and practice but places restrictions on Christians. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has placed Iraq on its list of Special Watch countries.

Also on his itinerary, Cardinal Pizzaballa will celebrate Mass on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Visiting two countries over six days on his first foreign papal trip, Pope Leo XIV preached unity, dialogue and respect for differences as the only paths to peace.

Spending time with Catholics, other Christian leaders and top Muslim clerics in Turkey Nov. 27-Nov. 30 and Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2, the pope made formal speeches about how believing in God as the father of all means recognizing one another as brothers and sisters.

But he also set aside time in a packed schedule for private talks, lunches and late evening meetings with the leaders. 

"The more we can promote authentic unity and understanding, respect and human relationships of friendship and dialogue in the world, the greater possibility there is that we will put aside the arms of war, that we will leave aside the distrust, the hatred, the animosity that has so often been built up and that we will find ways to come together and be able to promote authentic peace and justice throughout the world," he told reporters flying back to Rome with him Dec. 2.

The three iconic moments of the trip were his prayer with top Christian leaders Nov. 28 at the site of the Council of Nicaea, his visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul Nov. 29 and his prayer Dec. 2 amid the rubble of the Beirut port explosion in 2020.

The whole trip was planned to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and its drafting of the Creed that mainline Christian communities still recite today. 

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople hosted the ecumenical prayer service and the common recitation of the Creed on a platform overlooking the ruins of a Christian basilica in Iznik, site of the ancient Nicaea, about 80 miles southeast of Istanbul.

With the Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem or their representatives and with representatives of other Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches, Pope Leo said that at a time when humanity is "afflicted by violence and conflict," the world "is crying out for reconciliation."

"The desire for full communion among all believers in Jesus Christ is always accompanied by the search for fraternity among all human beings," he said. "In the Nicene Creed, we profess our faith 'in one God, the Father.' Yet, it would not be possible to invoke God as Father if we refused to recognize as brothers and sisters all other men and women, who are created in the image of God." 

The desire to reach out and form relationships with others also was on display when Pope Leo, like his two immediate predecessors, removed his shoes and entered the so-called Blue Mosque in Turkey's capital; he spent about 20 minutes inside but did not appear to pause for prayer as Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had done.

Instead, he listened to Askin Musa Tunca, the mosque's muezzin who calls people to prayer five times a day, explain the building, its construction and how Muslims pray. And the pope asked questions.

The Vatican press office said afterward that Pope Leo visited the mosque "in a spirit of reflection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer." 

On his last morning in Beirut, he laid a wreath, lighted a candle and prayed silently at a memorial to the more than 200 people killed when improperly stored chemicals exploded at the port; the blast also injured some 7,000 people and left an estimated 300,000 people without homes.

Standing amid mountains of rubble, piles of burnt-out cars and heaps of tattered clothing and cloth, the pope was joined by family members of those killed and by people still bearing the scars of injuries they suffered that day.

They carried photos of the loved ones they lost and signs appealing for the government to seriously investigate who was at fault for allowing the chemicals to be stored there.

A young woman, crying, asked Pope Leo for a hug, which the pope gave her before putting his hand on her head and blessing her.

At Mass afterward, he said, "I prayed for all the victims, and I carry with me the pain, and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country."

And after Mass, before heading to the airport, he told the people, "During these days of my first apostolic journey, undertaken during this Jubilee Year, I wanted to come as a pilgrim of hope to the Middle East, imploring God for the gift of peace for this beloved land, marked by instability, wars and suffering."

Even when it seems peace is far off, Pope Leo said, "I invite you to lift your gaze to the Lord who is coming! Let us look to him with hope and courage, inviting everyone to set out on the path of coexistence, fraternity and peace. Be artisans of peace, heralds of peace, witnesses of peace!"
 

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 3, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

How far would you go to serve God? Would you be willing to travel to the ends of the earth, with nothing but the guarantee of hardship, deprivation, and persecution? 

Dec. 3 is the feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of missionaries and missions who led an unlikely life of adventure and heroism, full of unexpected twists and turns, taking the faith to the ends of the earth. 

Born in 1506 to a noble Navarrese-Basque family, Francis grew up in a land wracked with war. Wedged between the growing imperial powers of Castile-Aragon (Spain) and France, Navarre seldom knew peace during Francis’ childhood. 

As a member of the nobility, Francis was expected to lead a warrior’s life along with his father and brothers. But at the age of 10, his life took its first dramatic and tragic turn. His father died, his homeland kingdom of Navarre was defeated by Spain, his brothers were imprisoned, and his childhood home, the Castle of the House of Javier (Xavier), was almost entirely destroyed. 

With Francis’ family disgraced and nearly wiped out, his prospects for a bright future looked dim. But God still had incredible plans for young Francis. 

Hoping to rebuild the family’s legacy, Francis was sent in 1525 to the center of European theology and studies — the University of Paris.

There, Francis quickly made a name for himself. Handsome, he also had a keen intellect and was an agile athlete with a particular gift for pole vaulting. The last thing on young Francis’ mind was a life of humble service to God and the Church. However, his life took a second dramatic turn after he met a fellow Basque noble, Ignatius of Loyola.

Headstrong and stubborn, Francis was initially repelled by Ignatius’ ideas of radical devotion to God. But Ignatius would remind him of Jesus’ words in the Bible: “For what doth it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul?” (Mt 16:26).

Inspired by Ignatius’ piety and fervor, Francis finally decided to dedicate his life to the service of God. In 1534, along with Ignatius and five others, Francis took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a chapel at Montmartre in France.

Receiving holy orders alongside Ignatius in 1537, Francis had intended to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. But war in the region made such a journey impossible. Once again, God was about to unexpectedly and radically alter the course of Francis’ life.

Pope Leo III asked the newly-founded Jesuits to send missionaries to the Portuguese colonies in India. Though Francis was originally not supposed to go, one of the Jesuits assigned to the mission fell ill, and Francis volunteered in his place. Through that courageous act of trust, God would use Francis to transform the entire Asian continent.

Francis set out for India in 1541 on his 35th birthday. Traveling by sea at this time was extremely dangerous and uncomfortable, and those who dared to do so risked disease with no guarantee of ever successfully arriving at their destination. Francis had to sail all the way around Africa, past the Cape of Good Hope, almost to the very bottom of the globe, just to cross the Indian Ocean and arrive in Goa, a province in India.

Upon his arrival in India in 1542, Francis immediately faced countless challenges in bringing the word of God to the people of this new and foreign region. For seven years Francis preached in the streets and public squares, laboring tirelessly across India and the Asian Pacific islands, contending with persecution from warlords and at times even from the Portuguese authorities meant to help him. 

After converting tens of thousands and planting the seeds of a renewed and lasting Christian Church in India, Francis began to hear stories about an enchanting island nation known as “Japan.” His heart was set ablaze with the desire to bring the Gospel to Japan.

After he had ensured the faithful in India would be properly cared for, Francis set sail for the mysterious new land, becoming the first to bring the Christian faith to Japan, on the complete opposite side of the world from his home in Navarre.

In Japan, Francis and his companions traveled far and wide, often on foot and with almost no resources. Crisscrossing the nation, he built up a vibrant Christian community more than 6,000 miles from Rome. 

Francis would then hear of the even more mysterious and closely guarded nation of China and there, too, he decided to bring the word of God. But before he could find a way into China’s heartland, he became ill and died in 1552 while on the Chinese Shangchuan Island. 

Now considered one of the greatest of all the Church’s missionaries, St. Francis Xavier proved that one life lived in complete trust in God can transform an entire continent and the whole world. 

This story was first published on Dec. 3, 2022, and has been updated.

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