CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Theo, a free Catholic prayer and meditation app for children and their parents, plans to host the largest Advent celebration for children to help them discover the true meaning of the season.

From Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, more than 1 million children are expected to take part in a 25-day journey filled with stories, songs, activities, and reflections.

The Advent campaign will be led by Theodore, a cheerful animated donkey who is described as a direct descendant of the donkey that carried the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. It will also feature several special guests including Catholic actor David Henrie and Father Ambrose Criste, among others.

Participants will read through the first two chapters of Luke, which will be accompanied by some meditations and reflection questions for children to do with their parents as well as hearing the stories of several saints, listening to songs, and explaining activities that both parent and child can do together.

Francisco Cornejo, CEO of Theo, told CNA in an interview that this campaign will help children “hear the word of God” and “prepare their hearts for the birth of Jesus.”

“We prepared these four weeks in a way that is engaging; it’s fun, but it’s also educational,” he added.

While Theo can be used for children of all ages, Cornejo pointed out that the Advent campaign is best suited for children between the ages of 4 and 12.

“The content tends to be on the more mature side of things, I would say, meaning 6 to 8 and older, but again this is the beauty of creating an app that is for the parent and the child — if the theme or the topic is a little hard to grasp or we want to go deeper in the learning, you have your parent by your side,” Cornejo said. “So you can discuss that and we’ll provide those discussion points and all the guidance there.”

Theo launched seven months ago and already has over 2 million users. Cornejo attributes the app’s success first and foremost to God but also to the need among Catholics families for a tool like this.

“We’ve seen over the last few years how families and how parents specifically wanted to have something like Theo because it’s not enough to take kids to Mass every Sunday or to get them through holy Communion preparation or confirmation preparation,” he said. “What happens every other day of the year or of their lives? So we really wanted to create a tool that makes faith accessible and teachings accessible for everyday kids and families regardless of where they are in their faith journey.”

He added: “It’s not meant to replace all the good things that we parents have to do, but it’s meant to help make faith an everyday thing. Something that kids want to hear more because it’s packed in a way that it’s accessible for them.”

The content on Theo includes daily Scripture readings, prayers, bedtime stories, faith-based affirmations, meditations, novenas, stories of the saints, the rosary, and much more. 

Cornejo also highlighted the importance of having both child and parent involved in using the app because “education needs to be done together.”

“You need to exemplify what you want to try to teach and you have to do it with your kids — that’s the domestic Church. That’s what we are meant to do as parents,” he added. 

As for what he hopes children and their parents will take away from participating in the Advent campaign, Cornejo said: “I think the main thing is remembering and living the actual meaning of Advent — the waiting for Jesus’ birth, preparing our hearts as the manger to welcome Jesus into our hearts” and that participants “forget about the fluff and the gifts and the ‘me me me’ and start thinking about what this actually represents.”

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Marking the 100th anniversary of the feast of Christ the King, which this year falls on Nov. 23, EWTN has released “The Kingship of Christ,” a four-part docuseries that explores some of the core aspects of the kingship of Christ. 

The four 30-minute episodes look at the origin of kingship in the Old and New Testaments, what type of kingship is that of Christ’s, the growth in interest and devotion to kingship in the 1800s and 1900s, and how Christ’s kingship is being realized today. 

Currently airing on EWTN, the docuseries features Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ; Father Dominic Holtz, OP; and Father Mark Lewis, SJ.

The four-part series was filmed across five principal locations in Rome that are highly relevant to Christ’s kingship, namely St. Peter’s Basilica, the Gesù (the main Jesuit Church in Rome), the Scala Santa, the Basilica of Santa Croce Gerusalemme, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ the King. 

Additionally, many other churches, basilicas, and monuments are featured across many countries throughout the world that were built in honor of the kingship of Christ.

Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, who co-produced the series alongside EWTN Studios and EWTN Vatican, told CNA in an interview that he was approached by McGuckian 18 months ago to see if he was interested in making a series on the kingship of Christ to “commemorate and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of feast of Christ the King in 1925, which had followed Pope Pius XI’s papal encyclical Quas Primas.”

From there, they worked to create a comprehensive series looking into this devotion and its importance. 

“At the heart of this work lies the desire that the kingship of Christ is recognized, realized, and accepted by individuals, peoples, societies, countries across the entire world so that Christ can reign in all hearts and thus be truly king of the world, leading us to peace,” he said. 

He explained that extensive work “has been put into researching and evidencing the fact that Jesus Christ is King, where we highlighted relevant Scripture across thousands of years from the Old Testament and New Testament. So, for thousands of years it has been there, and we hope that people will take away this fact from watching the series.”

The film premiered at the Filmoteca Vaticano, a screening room in the Vatican, on Nov. 18. Ambassadors to the Holy See, journalists, and dignitaries were present for the screening. 

Gallagher shared that it was “very well received” and “there was excitement about watching the full series online.”

After watching the series, he said he hopes that “people will understand the type of kingship which Christ presents and that recognition and allegiance to his kingship can ultimately lead us to peace, holiness, and the betterment of human existence — both in this life and the next.”

“The Kingship of Christ” can also be viewed on EWTN Ireland’s website.

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

As Advent quickly approaches and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins to make its way into our lives, here are five resources to help you prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas. 

From Ascension: 

Join Father Mike Schmitz this Advent for “Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz” on the Ascension app. 

Beginning Nov. 30, a 26-day video series will guide viewers on becoming aware of how God is shaping them through seasons of waiting and how to wait well. Each day a five-minute video will be released and feature a reflection from Schmitz that unpacks the daily Mass reading as well as Scripture versus, catechism excerpts, and reflection questions to encourage participants to go deeper into the meaning of Advent. 

Schmitz’s weekly homily videos during Advent are part of the “Waiting Well” series and available for free on YouTube. However, the daily reflections will only be available on the Ascension app with a subscription or free trial.

This year’s video reflections will also be accompanied by the “Waiting Well” printed journal for individuals, parishes, and small-group study. It is designed to help readers slow down for 15 minutes a day as they prepare to meet Christ in the manger. Each day includes a word or Scripture verse to pray with, a reflection, and a prompt to write down your thoughts and insights. 

From Hallow:

Hallow’s annual “Advent Prayer Challenge” is back once again. Beginning Dec. 1, “Pray25: Be Still” features Jonathan Roumie; Chris Pratt; Gwen Stefani; Father John Burns; Mother Natalia; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; and Father Pierre Toussaint, CFR. This Advent, listeners are invited to discover deeper stillness amid the chaos of the holiday season, just like the Blessed Mother did that first Christmas. 

Roumie and Heidland will lead reflections on “The Reed of God” by Caryll Houselander, while Pratt will guide sessions on “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. Stefani and Mother Natalia will guide sessions focusing on being still, using the lives of saints as inspiration. Burns will guide listeners through sessions of imaginative prayer and Toussaint will offer homily reflections each Sunday during Advent.

From Blessed Is She:

Blessed Is She has Advent devotionals for the whole family this year — women, men, and children. “In Time: An Advent Devotional for Women” invites readers to reflect on God’s continuous presence in our lives. Written by Claire Dwyer, this devotional helps women see that waiting is filled with God’s loving action. 

“Feast: An Advent Devotional for Men” is written by Paul George, rooted in Scripture, and inspired by the story of the prodigal son. This devotional invites men to return to God the Father with courage, humility, and hope. It also aims to encourage those seeking renewal, healing, and deeper faith during Advent. Both the devotionals for men and women include daily Scripture readings, prayer, and reflection.

Lastly, “Watch and Wait: A Kids Advent Devotional” written by Olivia Spears helps kids prepare for Christmas with daily prayers, reflections, and simple Scripture-based activities. This devotional teaches children to wait with hope and joy as they prepare for the birth of Christ. It is recommended for children older than 7 years old.

From the Augustine Institute:

The Augustine Institute is inviting Catholics to enter into the Advent season with renewed purpose and joyful expectation with a new video series titled “How To Advent.” 

The video series will consist of four 12- to 15-minute-long episodes that explore the beauty and meaning of Advent traditions in an engaging and meaningful way and highlight a different cherished Advent tradition — the Advent calendar, Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, and Nativity scene. The video series is available on Formed. 

From EWTN’s Religious Catalogue:

The EWTN Religious Catalogue offers a wide variety of Advent devotionals including “Encountering Emmanuel: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Heather Khym, cohost of the “Abiding Together” podcast, and “The True Gifts of Christmas” by Megan Alexander, which takes readers on a journey through the deeper meaning of our most cherished Christmas traditions. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Christians recite the Creed, it should prompt an examination of conscience about what they truly believe and what kind of example of faith in God they give to others, Pope Leo XIV wrote.

"Wars have been fought, and people have been killed, persecuted and discriminated against in the name of God," he wrote. "Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, a vengeful God has been presented who instills terror and punishes."

Publishing "In Unitate Fidei" ("In the Unity of Faith") Nov. 23, Pope Leo marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and its Creed. He said he wanted it released in anticipation of his visit to Turkey Nov. 27-30 to celebrate with Orthodox and Protestant leaders the anniversary of the Creed Christians share. 

The bishops who had gathered in Nicaea in 325 had survived anti-Christian persecution, the pope said, but were facing the fracturing of their communities over disputes regarding "the essence of the Christian faith, namely the answer to the decisive question that Jesus had asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi: 'Who do you say that I am?'"

"Arius, a priest from Alexandria in Egypt, taught that Jesus was not truly the Son of God," the pope explained. Arius taught that "though more than a mere creature," Jesus was "an intermediate being between the inaccessible God and humanity. Moreover, there would have been a time when the Son 'did not exist.'"

The challenge facing the bishops, he said, was to affirm their faith in one God while making it clear that, as the creed now says, Jesus is "the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages ... true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father."

The bishops, he said, knew "no mortal being can, in fact, defeat death and save us; only God can do so. He has freed us through his Son made man, so that we might be free." 

In affirming monotheism and the true humanity and divinity of Christ, the pope said, "they wanted to reaffirm that the one true God is not inaccessibly distant from us, but on the contrary has drawn near and has come to encounter us in Jesus Christ."

"This is the heart of our Christian life," Pope Leo wrote. "For this reason, we commit to follow Jesus as our master, companion, brother and friend."

The version of the Creed recited by most Catholics at Mass each Sunday and shared with other mainline Christians is formally called the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, because it includes an article of faith inserted by the bishops at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 about the Holy Spirit.

Western Christians say: "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets." 

A footnote in the pope's letter said that the phrase known as the "filioque" -- and proceeds from the Father and the Son -- "is not found in the text of Constantinople; it was inserted into the Latin Creed by Pope Benedict VIII in 1014 and is a subject of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue."

Recent popes, including Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and Pope Leo, have omitted the phrase at ecumenical prayer services.

In his letter, Pope Leo affirmed the Catholic Church's commitment to the search for Christian unity and said, "The Nicene Creed can be the basis and reference point for this journey."

And he prayed that the Holy Spirit would come to all Christians "to revive our faith, to enkindle us with hope, to inflame us with charity."

"The Nicene Creed does not depict a distant, inaccessible and immovable God who rests in himself, but a God who is close to us and accompanies us on our journey in the world, even in the darkest places on earth," Pope Leo wrote.

Reciting the Creed, he said, should prompt Christians to "examine our conscience." 

The questions they should ask, he wrote, include: "What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of my life, or do I have idols that I place before God and his commandments? Is God for me the living God, close to me in every situation, the Father to whom I turn with filial trust?"

And, he continued with more questions: "Is he the Creator to whom I owe everything I am and have, whose mark I can find in every creature? Am I willing to share the goods of the earth, which belong to everyone, in a just and equitable manner? How do I treat creation, the work of his hands? Do I exploit and destroy it, or do I use it with reverence and gratitude, caring for and cultivating it as the common home of humanity?"

Believing that God became human in Jesus means "that we now encounter the Lord in our brothers and sisters in need," the pope said. That is why Jesus said, "As you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me."

The Creed "does not formulate a philosophical theory," Pope Leo wrote. "It professes faith in the God who redeemed us through Jesus Christ. It is about the living God who wants us to have life and to have it in abundance."
 

Dublin, Ireland, Nov 23, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 following his encyclical Quas Primas. Today it is celebrated on the final Sunday before Advent. 

Quas Primas was Pope Pius XI’s profound response to the rising tide of secularism and nationalism in the early 20th century. 

In his introduction, Pope Pius wrote: “Manifold evils in the world were due to the fact that the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics; and we said further that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations.”

Composed in the aftermath of World War I and the tumultuous revolutions between 1917 and 1923 — which resulted in the downfall of the Hohenzollerns, Romanovs, Habsburgs, and Ottomans — the encyclical underscores the enduring sovereignty of a king “whose kingdom shall have no end.”

Irish historian Father Fergus O’Donoghue, SJ, told CNA that ”Pius XI was thinking about emerging ideologies of power and strong leadership.”

Yet although Quas Primas and the inauguration of the feast of Christ the King were undoubtedly influenced by the affairs of the early 20th century, they were not new ideas.

The origins of the establishment of Christ the King as a feast day lie with a request to the papacy in 1870 from a Jesuit, Father Jean-Marie Sanna-Solaro. The Congregation of Rites in the Vatican rejected it, and the Holy Father had just responded favorably to Maria Drostezu Vischering’s request to consecrate the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This request for a feast day consecrating his kingship came at an inopportune time. 

Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ, told CNA: “The cause of bringing the feast of Christ the King to the Church was taken up by a marvelous French woman, Marthe de Noaillat, who had taken over the running of the Hieron museum at Paray Le Monial from the very wealthy Baron Surruchaga. Marthe decided that the kingship of Christ should be highlighted properly, and she wrote to the pope, urging him to establish the feast day. She was told that rather than the decision be made merely by the pope, she must seek the support of the teaching Church, the bishops, and the listening Church, which is the faithful, so she set about contacting all the bishops in the world, all the big religious orders, all the apostolates.”

Remarkably, her efforts gathered momentum and attracted widespread support around the world. “It began to become obvious that there was a groundswell of opinion in favor of this,” McGuckian said, and this evidence was brought to the attention of the pope.

Convinced of the support from the faithful, Pope Pius XI let Marthe know of his intention to establish the feast in a Mass on the last day of the holy year of 1925, to which she and her husband were invited as guests of honor. 

Biblical origins

The concept of the kingship of Christ is biblical and is rooted in the Old and New Testaments.

Father Dominic Holtz, OP, vice dean of the faculty of philosophy at the Angelicum in Rome, explains in the new EWTN Ireland series “The Kingship of Christ”: “In the Old Testament God uses the kings to be the place where his promises will be fulfilled. So even though the kings of Israel often fail them, God’s promises don’t fail. And he says, ‘I will give you a king, and through this Davidic line, I will give you one to come from that line, who will fulfil all of my promises.’ A king who is, of course, Jesus Christ.”

Jesuit Father Mark Lewis, rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, explains in his contribution to the new “Kingship of Christ” series: “In the 16th and 17th centuries, you get the sense of the divine right of kings, and that there’s an absolute authority that comes directly from God and somehow covers imperfection. But in fact, we realized that they were just as imperfect as their predecessors.”

He added: “In the 20th century, you start getting governments that react against this idea of a single divine-right king in favor of a more scientific kind of government. There’s the liberal revolutions of the Enlightenment, where reason triumphs everything, and there’s no more strong man, or there is a strong man, but it’s not tied to God, not tied to being anointed. And what ends up happening is, is it goes from a sort of theism, it doesn’t matter whether you have religion or not, to atheism.”

Now a century later, many of the themes and concerns that prompted Quas Primas are still relevant. Lewis explains the relevance of the Kingship of Christ to our world now as it was then. 

“The challenge of us celebrating the anniversary of the Christ the King is to not see kingship as something that’s just another defective form of government, but to see Christ the King as the embodiment of perfection that we can aspire to, that we aspire to become people who want to live our lives with integrity, with honesty,” he says, “in some ways, as people who are responsible citizens, we can be witnesses to what we we know are the characteristics of God’s reign, justice, peace, care for one another, care for the places, the place that we live. And I think a lot of the things that the Church talks about today, especially peace with justice, are calling us to witness to the reign of God that’s represented by Christ.” 

After Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the King in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo makes a heartfelt appeal for the release of students and priests kidnapped in recent days in Nigeria and Cameroon.

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Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo issues the Apostolic Letter 'In unitate fidei' on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, broken down into 12 points, with the hope of "encouraging the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith."

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On the Jubilee of Choirs, Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass, urging choristers to live their ministry as a sign of ecclesial unity, singing “in unison” as a people walking together in faith. He notes that liturgical music must foster communion, helping the whole Church journey forward.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed:

Majority of Australian and French priests are thriving, reports say

A report has found that the majority of Australian priests and deacons are thriving in their ministry roles. 

In the first-ever survey of well-being among Australia’s clergy, the National Centre for Pastoral Research and the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office found 75% of clergy reported having “good” or “very good” self-confidence, 66% reported they maintain a healthy diet, 61% said they get sufficient rest, and 55% reported high energy levels.

In addition, the vast majority of clergy, at 90%, described their connections with their parishes as positive. Overall, 71% reported feeling hopeful, and 61% said they felt joyful frequently. 

This comes on the heels of an October survey in France that found most Catholic priests — 80% of those who responded — said they “are happy in their mission” and feel “faithful to their calling,” useful, and “at peace,” according to the Catholic Weekly. The survey by the Observatory of Catholicism was conducted with the French Institute of Public Opinion. 

Dutch bishop says Cardinal Fernández ‘Co-Redemptrix’ title decision is ‘mistaken’

Bishop Rob Mutsaerts, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, has called Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez’s decision to advise against using the “Co-Redemptrix” Marian title “mistaken.” 

“There is no truth that cannot be misunderstood,” he wrote in a blog post, according to the Catholic Herald. The prelate argued that the cardinal’s new guidance, issued via the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, is “mistaken to claim that it is no longer advisable to use the title ‘Co-Redemptrix’ for Mary.”

“If he is concerned that people will equate Mary with Christ, the problem lies with him, not Mary,” the bishop said. “Christ’s position is so absolute that it is nonsensical to imagine anyone overshadowing him. Cooperation does not imply rivalry.”

South African sister at G20 summit calls Africa’s debt crisis ‘ethical and spiritual tragedy’ 

The associate secretary general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has described Africa’s debt crisis as “an ethical and spiritual tragedy” that needs to be addressed. 

Presenting during the G20 Social Summit side event that was held in Johannesburg on the theme “A Jubilee for Solidarity: Towards a People and Planet Driven Financial Architecture for Africa,” Sister Dominica Mkhize said Africa’s debt crisis wounds human dignity, ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, reported Nov. 20. 

“Across Africa, the debt crisis has become one of these wounds,” she said. “As a Catholic family, guided by the Gospel and by our social teaching, we cannot remain silent in the face of this ethical and spiritual tragedy.”

House of Nazareth Listening Center opens in Syria to support families

In the heart of Homs, Syria, the new House of Nazareth Listening Center has opened its doors with a mission to provide safe, compassionate support for families, young people, and individuals facing emotional, spiritual, or psychological challenges. 

The initiative, launched with a special liturgy, aims to strengthen family life and promote healing in a city still recovering from years of conflict, according to a Nov. 17 report from CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, ACI MENA.

Staffed by religious sisters and trained counselors, the center offers marriage preparation, youth guidance, individual accompaniment, and programs designed especially for women navigating hardship, including widows and women supporting their households alone. Counselors say the demand for such services has grown significantly, particularly among young people.

Pope Leo’s visit to revise symbolism of Istanbul’s patriarchal church

As Turkey prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 27, attention is turning toward the historic St. George’s Patriarchal Church in the Phanar district of Istanbul. 

The church, regarded as the spiritual heart of global Orthodoxy, will once again host a pivotal moment of Christian unity, as the pope joins Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for the Great Doxology and the signing of a joint declaration, ACI MENA reported.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who has worked closely with four popes over the past several decades, continues to play a central role in nurturing dialogue between Rome and Constantinople. 

Cash reward offered in Indian state for reporting violations of anti-conversion laws 

A cash reward is being offered in the northern Indian state of Punjab for anyone who provides evidence-backed tips of violations of the state’s anti-conversion laws. 

The Save Punjab Movement is offering 200,000 rupees ($2,250) for any “information with proof” of conversions to Christianity, according to a UCA News report. The group’s president, Tejasvi Minhas, said identities of informants would be kept confidential as it seeks to counter “large-scale illegal religious conversions across Punjab.” 

Minhas claimed that the Christian population has “grown to nearly 15%” and that “around 65,000 pastors” are engaged in conversion schemes involving manipulation and pressure tactics such as promises of miraculous cures. “The Catholic Church has never indulged in religious conversion activities,” Father Daniel Gill, vicar general of the Jalandhar Diocese, said in response to the allegations. 

Hope persists in Haiti amid ongoing violence, kidnapping, natural disasters

A Catholic missionary in Haiti expressed hope amid ongoing violence and natural disasters in the beleaguered country.

Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary in Haiti, told Agenzia Fides he has “finally managed” to return to his parish in Pourcine-Pic Makaya after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

While the natural disaster has destroyed bean crops, orchards, and livestock, he said, banana groves, “after being cleared, are beginning to raise the flag of hope: the first large leaf, a sign of rebirth.”

The devastation of Hurricane Melissa comes amid clashes between gangs and the U.S. military, and continued violent crime.

Sunday, November 23, 2025 | Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe  |  Luke 23:35–43 Friends, today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. This day reminds us what the Christian thing is all about: that...