USCCB News

USCCB NEWS

'Technomancers' and AI worship: Catholic experts warn of spiritual dangers online

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ROME (CNS) -- Catholic exorcists and occultism experts warned that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for rituals, divination and even forms of worship, raising concerns that some people are replacing God with technology.At a five-day conference in mid-May on the ministry of exorcism and deliverance prayer hosted by the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, some speakers said the rapid rise of AI chatbots and online occult communities has created new pathways for spiritual confusion, isolation and what some described as demonic influence.Auxiliary Bishop Cesare Di Pietro of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela in Italy said social media and artificial intelligence can foster the illusion that freedom comes from distancing oneself from God."When AI or the internet help us access evil, we are not protected, we are exposed," he told Catholic News Service May 11, adding that modern culture often lacks the discernment needed to recognize spiritual dangers

Pope remembers attempt on St. John Paul, calls Mary the Church's "perfect model"

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Marking the anniversary of the attempted assassination of St. John Paul II and the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Leo XIV said Mary is the “perfect model” of what the Church is called to be and urged Catholics to imitate her “humility, active faith and obedience.”During his May 13 general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope dedicated his catechesis to Mary, reflecting on her role as “model,” “mother” and “pre-eminent member” of the Church through the teaching of the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution "Lumen Gentium."The date marked 45 years since St. John Paul was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square during a general audience in 1981. The Polish pope was struck twice while passing through the square in his open popemobile. He was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that no vital organ was pierced. He later credited his survival to the

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Frank Dewane of the Diocese of Venice; Appoints Reverend Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap., as Successor

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WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Venice, and has appointed Reverend Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap., as Bishop-elect of Venice. Father Biosca is a member of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and currently serves as pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2026, by Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, chargé d’ affaires, a.i., of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States. The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Biosca was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:Father Biosca was born on December 15, 1964. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Borromeo College in Wickliffe, Ohio (1987); a master’s degree in theology (

One year in, Pope Leo navigates division through dialogue in his push for peace

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- One year after stepping onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and greeting the world with the words, "May peace be with you all," Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a pontiff attempting to guide a polarized church and fractured world through dialogue, peace and increasingly forceful speech defending human dignity.His first year of the papacy has been marked with palpable tensions around the globe and persistent divisions within the church -- challenges many cardinals believed he was uniquely positioned to confront when they elected him to continue Pope Francis’ broader vision.Beyond the Vatican, members of the U.S. President Donald J. Trump administration have frequently criticized the first American pope as "weak" on crime and dismissed his warnings about war and nuclear escalation after the pope reiterated that "God does not bless any conflict."Yet through it all, Pope Leo has remained remarkably consistent and stead

Pope Leo XIV: A timeline of his first year

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May 8, 2025 U.S. Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian, is elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pope in history. "Together we must try to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and always dialogues, that is always open to receiving everyone like this square with its arms open to everyone, everyone in need," he told the crowd. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) June 22, 2025 Pope Leo leads a Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome, saying it presents Jesus "to the hearts of those who believe, so that they may believe more firmly" and "to the hearts of those who do not believe, so that they may reflect on the hunger present w

The Church must speak clearly, decisively against all evil, pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church is the guardian of hope, whose members are called to speak clearly against all evil and in defense of human life, Pope Leo XIV said.The Church, as "the pilgrim people of God on earth," he said during his general audience in St. Peter's Square May 6, "reads and interprets the dynamics of history through the Gospel, denouncing evil in all its forms and proclaiming, in word and deed, the salvation that Christ wishes to bring about for all humanity and his kingdom of justice, love and peace.""As the guardian of a hope that enlightens the path," he added, the Church is "invested with the mission of speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life and prevents its development, and to take a position in favor of the poor, the exploited, the victims of violence and war, and all those who suffer in body and in spirit." Pope Leo XIV waves to those gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Annual Catholic Communication Campaign Collection Supports Bishops’ Mission to “Shed the Light of Christ on Everyone”

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WASHINGTON - Catholics in dioceses across the United States are invited to support the Church’s mission of evangelization by contributing to the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign at Mass on the weekend of May 16-17.This annual collection supports efforts to proclaim the Gospel through digital media, social platforms, and Catholic news coverage, helping the Church reach people where they are—especially in an increasingly online world.“Throughout my ministry as a parish priest, a chaplain to university students, and now as a bishop, I have seen how deeply people—especially the young—are shaped by digital media,” said Bishop William D. Byrne, chairman of the Committee on Communications for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “If we hope to share the Gospel effectively, we must be present in digital spaces, offering clarity and sharing the mercy and truth of Jesus Christ.When Catholics give to the Catholic Communicati

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Larry Silva of the Diocese of Honolulu; Appoints Reverend Michael Castori, SJ, as Successor

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WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Larry Silva, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Honolulu, and has appointed Reverend Michael T. Castori, SJ, as Bishop-elect of Honolulu. Father Castori is a member of the Society of Jesus, a religious order, and currently serves as rector of the Arrupe Jesuit Residence at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 6, 2026, by Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, chargé d’affaires, a.i., of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States.The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Castori was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:Father Castori was born on October 21, 1960, in Sacramento, California. He received a bachelor’s degree in classics from Harvard University (1982); a master’s degree in philosophical resources (1991); a master of divinity from the J

On the road: Popemobile heads to the USA

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even though Pope Leo XIV is not visiting the United States this year, the popemobile is!The white, custom-built Hyundai vehicle will go on a 13-city tour of the U.S., covering 3,700 miles from New York to California.Dubbed the "Hopemobile," Pope Francis wanted the popemobile to be used after his death to benefit those who are poor and vulnerable.This week it was given to Cross Catholic Outreach, the U.S.-based Catholic relief and development organization, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, head of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, hands the popemobile key over to Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, April 28, 2026, at the Vatican. (CNS photo/ courtesy of Cross Catholic Outreach) Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, head of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, handed the keys over to CCO's president, Michele Sagarino, who said t

Pope Leo XIV Appoints Two New Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington; Accepts Resignation of Most Reverend Roy Campbell

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WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend Gary R. Studniewski and Reverend Robert P. Boxie, III, as auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Washington. Bishop-elect Studniewski is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington and currently serves as pastor of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C. Bishop-elect Boxie is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington and currently serves as chaplain to Howard University in Washington, D.C. At the same time, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Roy E. Campbell, 78, from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. The appointments and resignation were publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Studniewski and Bishop-elect Boxie was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:Bishop-elect Gary R. Studniewski Bishop-el

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