Pope Leo XIV signs his first apostolic exhortation, 'Dilexi te', at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 14:39 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 4 signed the first apostolic exhortation of his pontificate, the text of which is expected to be released next week.

The Vatican said in a press release that Leo signed the exhortation “Dilexi te” in the library of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy See did not reveal the text of the document, which it said will be presented on Oct. 9 by the Holy See Press Office.

The focus of the document was also not officially announced, though it is reportedly expected to focus on the poor. It was signed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The signing of the document took place in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Vatican said.

Pope Leo XIV greets a member of the Swiss Guard during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 13:05 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday attended the swearing-in of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, the first time a pope has attended the pomp-filled ceremony since the pontificate of Pope Paul VI in 1968.

The event took place in the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard. The Holy Father was joined by a crowd of spectators watching as the 27 new members were sworn into the ranks of the papal guard.

The swearing-in ceremony, when the new guards promise to protect the pope, if necessary with their lives, was postponed from the traditional date of May 6 due to the conclave that saw Leo elected.

The pope met the recruits and their families at the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 3, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

“From the first steps of my pontificate, dear Swiss Guards, I have been able to count on your faithful service,” the pope said on Oct. 3.

“The successor of Peter can fulfill his mission in service to the Church and the world in the certainty that you are watching over his safety,” he added.

He encouraged the new guards to draw inspiration from the stories of the first Christian martyrs in Rome to deepen their relationships with Jesus and to cultivate their interior lives “amid the frenzy of our society.”

The centuries-old Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan is partially damaged following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu, Central Philippines, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 / Credit: Santosh Digal

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 11:15 am (CNA).

Catholic aid agencies in coordination with local dioceses and authorities are spearheading efforts to assist people affected by a major 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu, central Philippines this week.

Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian, development, and advocacy arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, is at the forefront of relief efforts in the affected areas.

“In the spirit of mercy, solidarity, and fraternal cooperation among Caritas Philippines’ network, we stand with the people of Cebu,” Jeanie Curiano, the humanitarian head of Caritas Philippines, told CNA on Oct. 3.

“We are committed to supporting them, putting the affected communities at the center of our work — in rebuilding lives with dignity and hope,” she added.

On Sept. 30 a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit Cebu and surrounding provinces. Its epicenter was located 19 kilometers northeast, offshore of Bogo City. 

More than 300 recorded aftershocks were felt. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology subsequently issued a tsunami alert.

The Office of Civil Defense confirmed as many as 68 deaths following the earthquake. 

The earthquake has reportedly impacted more than 80,595 families and around 366,360 people, with aftershocks forcing many to sleep outside in unsafe conditions. Homes, schools, and parish buildings in Cebu have suffered severe damage, with electricity, water supply, and telecoms still unavailable.

There were reportedly 1,795 individuals staying in eight evacuation centers, while 75,227 others were temporarily staying outside of their homes due to fear of aftershocks.

Caritas Philippines has begun relief efforts, sending rice, drinking water, and shelter repair kits, while rapid assessment teams coordinate next steps.

According to the volcano institute, the earthquake in Bogo City is the strongest ever recorded in northern Cebu. It has affected 47,221 families and displaced 20,000 individuals there, Philippine officials said.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, meanwhile, reported the discovery of sinkholes in several locations. 

Churches damaged or collapsed

The earthquake partially collapsed or damaged at least five churches in Cebu.

Parts of the centuries-old Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan fell during the earthquake. Notably, the retablo picture of Santa Rosa de Lima, the city’s patron saint, was completely unharmed.

The Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Church on Bantayan Island urged people to stay away from its property after debris fell in front of the church.

Some of the walls and ceilings in St. Martin de Porres Parish at Tabogon fell, while the earthquake broke an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and made cracks appear in the bell tower of San Sebastian Martyr Parish in Borbon.

The San Juan Nepomuceno Parish in San Remegio reported that several holy images have fallen, and there is clear damage inside the church.

Archbishop Alberto Sy Uy of Cebu instructed his staff to inspect the structures of churches and rectories. He also instructed parishes in northern Cebu to refrain from holding Mass in the churches until they are considered safe.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Caritas Philippines in Manila, the country’s capital, quickly activated the Emergency Operations Center at the national level and has been monitoring the ongoing situation in Cebu and nearby dioceses. Caritas Cebu deployed an assessment team to the most affected areas, awaiting initial findings and data.

Immediate needs

Immediate needs include emergency shelter, food and clean water, medical aid and trauma support, restoration of electricity and communication, debris clearing, and road access.

On Oct. 1, Archbishop Uy visited the affected communities to provide pastoral support and check damage to parish structures. A local appeal was issued for emergency support through the Adopt-a-Parish strategy. Other dioceses also launched local appeals to support response operations.

Caritas Philippines is preparing to launch a local emergency appeal through the Alay Kapwa Solidarity Fund, a flagship program of Caritas Philippines, to support the immediate needs of the most affected communities in Cebu.

Laity’s involvement

Besides Caritas Philippines’ involvement with relief, the Commission on the Laity of the Archdiocese of Cebu has begun providing immediate help like food, water, and hygiene kits, among others.

Fe Mantuhac Barino, who chairs the Commission on the Laity for the Archdiocese of Cebu, told CNA: “People’s donations have been delivered to the earthquake-affected families in the north of Cebu, bringing not just material support but also the comforting presence of our faith community.”

She thanked all supporters for living out the Gospel through their generosity.

Appeal for donations

The Archdiocese of Cebu, in partnership with LH Foundation Inc., launched “Hatag Paglaum” (Give Hope) to provide humanitarian aid.

“The Hatag Paglaum invites us to become living instruments of Christ’s love,” said Uy. “After the earthquake, many brothers and sisters have lost homes, churches, and livelihoods. What they need most is hope.”

“When we give help, we do not just share food, clothing, or money; we share Christ himself, for he is our true hope,” he added. “Every gift we extend becomes a sign of His presence, reminding the needy that they are not forgotten and that God walks with them.”

On Oct. 2, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited some affected areas of Cebu and held discussions with government agencies. 

Pope prays for Cebu quake victims.

Also on Oct. 2, Cebu Archbishop Uy said that Pope Leo XIV prayed and offered his condolences to the victims.

Leo also assured his spiritual closeness to people as they grieve over the loss of lives and move on to recovery.

Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown informed Uy that the pope expressed his “sympathies for all the survivors of the earthquake and his prayers for the eternal repose of the victims.”

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has announced a “National Day of Prayer and Public Repentance” to be observed nationwide on Oct. 7.

President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on Friday, June 27, 2025. / Credit: Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt/The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 3, 2025 / 17:53 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against individuals and entities that staged a protest outside of a New Jersey synagogue, which officials say descended into violence.

The DOJ named two organizations involved in the protest — Party for Socialism and Liberation New Jersey and American Muslims for Palestine New Jersey — as well as six individuals who allegedly participated in the protest as defendants in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was brought under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which imposes federal penalties on people who restrict access to places of worship. The DOJ alleges protesters used threats, intimidation, and violence while protesting the Congregation Ohr Torah synagogue, which interfered with the community’s right to exercise its religion.

“No American should be harassed, targeted, or discriminated against for peacefully practicing their religion,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement on Sept. 29.

“Today’s lawsuit underscores this Department of Justice’s commitment to defending Jewish Americans — and all Americans of faith — from those who would threaten their right to worship,” she added.

The DOJ allegations contrast with the assertions of local prosecutors who allege that pro-Israel counterprotesters initiated the violence.

Protest background and lawsuit

The DOJ lawsuit notes the planned protest coincided with the synagogue’s religious memorial service for the late Rabbi Avi Goldberg. It notes the event included a Torah sermon, religious songs, prayerful dancing, a festive barbecue, and a real estate fair, all of which were “part of the religious observance.”

Protesters rallied outside the event primarily in opposition to the real estate fair, which included the sale of land in the Palestinian West Bank that was obtained through settlements authorized by the Israeli government. The United Nations’ International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion last year that declared those settlements illegal under international law.

The DOJ lawsuit alleges that protesters defied police orders and entered synagogue property “shouting and blowing vuvuzelas.” It alleges they “disrupted the religious event by blowing vuvuzelas to drown out the memorial service and Torah sermon.”

It alleges two protesters blew vuvuzelas in the face of an event organizer, which the organizer swatted away. One protester allegedly charged toward the event organizer in response, which led a second worshipper to pepper-spray the protester to halt the alleged attack.

According to the allegations, that protester attacked the person who pepper-sprayed him by throwing the man to the ground, dragging him to the parking lot, and slamming his head onto the ground.

As the assault allegedly continued, the worshipper eventually hit the protester in the head with a flashlight and escaped to safety, according to the lawsuit.

“This Justice Department will vigorously enforce the right of every American to worship in peace and without fear,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement. “Those who target houses of worship and violate our federal laws protecting people of faith are on notice that they will face the consequences.”

The DOJ’s interpretation of the events conflicts significantly with that of the local prosecutors.

According to an article from the North Jersey Media Group, Essex County prosecutors allege that “pro-Israel counterprotesters” launched the attack on the pro-Palestinian protesters. The prosecutors allege pro-Israel counterprotesters “stormed toward the pro-Palestinian protesters and began ripping away their materials.”

The event organizer and the other worshipper — whom the DOJ states were the victims — faced several charges in Essex County for their alleged roles in the conflict. They were charged with bias intimidation, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the article.

According to an article by the New Jersey Monitor, the event organizer maintains his innocence and his lawyer said the DOJ interpretation of events “recounts what occurred on that tragic day [and] we are gratified that finally the people who deserve to be brought to justice will be.”

Muslim Legal Fund of America, which is representing American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), said in a statement that the complaint “contains no allegations of violence on the part of any representative of AMP.” 

“AMP continues to stand up for the rights of all to lawfully exercise peaceful First Amendment-protected free speech,” the statement added.

In addition to establishing special protections for houses of worship, the FACE Act also provides similar protections for abortion clinics and pro-life pregnancy resource centers.

Milwaukee archbishop Jeffrey Grob said he would consider granting dispensation from Mass obligations to migrants fearing deportation if the situation worsens in his archdiocese. / Credit: Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 3, 2025 / 17:16 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee said he would consider granting dispensation from Mass obligations to migrants fearing deportation if the situation worsens in his archdiocese, according to a spokesperson. 

Sunday Mass dispensations for migrants became a “discussion point” with Grob and south side pastors in Milwaukee, the archbishop said at the Milwaukee Press Club’s Oct. 2 Newsmaker Luncheon, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. 

Sandra Peterson, spokesperson for Grob, said “at this point there are no plans to make that decision” regarding lifting the Sunday Mass obligation. The Nashville Diocese was the first to lift the obligation in May, while the Diocese of San Bernardino lifted the obligation in July following immigration enforcement activities. 

Peterson said there have not been reported incidents of ICE enforcement on church grounds in Milwaukee, telling CNA “there have not been any incidents that we are aware of” and that the archdiocese “will continue to monitor the situation and pray that [a dispensation] does not become necessary.”  

During the Newsmaker Luncheon, Grob said “things have continued to deteriorate” since February, when the Wisconsin bishops released a letter calling for human dignity to be upheld regarding immigration enforcement. As a result, Grob said pastors began discussing dispensations and are waiting “to see if the situation escalates,” the Journal Sentinel reported.

“In U.S law, every person, regardless of immigration status, has certain fundamental human rights, which can never be infringed,” the bishops said in the February letter. “All people have the right to religious freedom to attend church services and to receive sacraments and pastoral care.” The bishops further acknowledged that “while the Catholic Church always welcomes the stranger, she also recognizes the right of nations to regulate immigration for the sake of the common good.”

Earlier Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, California, granted a dispensation from Sunday Mass to members of his flock who possess “genuine fear” of deportation. 

The move by Rojas came after attendance for Spanish-language Masses across the diocese had been “down about 50%” since immigration enforcement raids began to escalate in Southern California in June, according to the diocese. 

John Andrews, director of communications for the diocese, told CNA at the time that the diocese was aware of two instances of ICE enforcement actions on church properties, which both took place on June 20. 

One of the instances, he said, occurred at St. Adelaide Church in Highland and “involved several men who had been working in the neighborhood where the church is located.” The men were chased into the church parking lot and detained, according to Andrews, who said “we do not know whether these men were actually arrested.”

The second instance occurred at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair and “involved the apprehension and arrest of one man who was on parish property to do landscaping work,” Andrews told CNA, adding: “He and his family are longtime parishioners there and we know that he was arrested and ultimately sent to a detention facility in Texas.” 

Pope Leo XIV greets an elderly woman at the Vatican on Oct. 3, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 3, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Friday said that old age is both a gift and a challenge, and in response the Catholic Church is called to develop missionary pastoral care that involves the elderly as witnesses of hope.

On Oct. 3, the pontiff received at the Vatican Apostolic Palace participants in the Second International Congress on Pastoral Care of the Elderly, organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life.

In his address, Leo XIV emphasized that the theme of the meeting, “Your Elders Shall Dream Dreams,” taken from the book of the prophet Joel, contains words dear to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who often spoke “of the need for an alliance between young and old.”

The pontiff explained that in this biblical passage, “the prophet announces the universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who creates unity among generations and distributes different gifts to each person.” He also lamented that today, “relationships between generations are often marked by divisions and conflicts that pit them against each other.”

Specifically, he referred to two criticisms: that the elderly “do not leave room for young people in the workforce” or that they are “consuming too many economic and social resources to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a fault.”

In this regard, Leo XIV expressed his conviction that “the elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed,” and that longevity “is one of the signs of hope in our time, everywhere in the world.”

At the same time, the pontiff emphasized that this is “a challenge, because the growing number of elderly people is an unprecedented historical phenomenon that calls us to discern and understand the reality in new ways.”

In this sense, in the face of the current mentality that “tends to value existence if it produces wealth or success, if it exercises power or authority, forgetting that the human being is always a limited creature with needs,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the fragility that appears in the elderly is “hidden or removed by those who cultivate worldly illusions, so as not to have before their eyes the image of what we will inevitably become.”

However, he added, “it is healthy to realize that aging is part of the marvel of creation,” as he expressed during the Jubilee of Youth last August.

The pope invited people to stop being ashamed of human weakness so that “we will in fact be led to ask for help from our brothers and sisters and from God, who watches over all his creatures as a Father.”

“The Church is called to offer times and tools for understanding old age, so that we can live it in a Christian way, without pretending to remain forever young and without letting ourselves be overcome by discouragement,” continued the pope, who recommended the catechesis Pope Francis dedicated to this topic as “very valuable.”

Active participants in evangelization

Pope Leo XIV valued the presence of older people who, once their working life is over, “have the opportunity to enjoy an increasingly long period of good health, economic well-being and more free time” and who are often “the ones who attend Mass assiduously and lead parish activities, such as catechesis and various forms of pastoral service.”

“It is important to find an appropriate language and opportunities for them, involving them not as passive recipients of evangelization but as active subjects, and to respond together with them, and not in their place, to the questions that life and the Gospel pose to us,” he added.

Coming from different life experiences and relationships with the faith, the pontiff noted: “For all of them, the pastoral care of the elderly must be evangelizing and missionary, because the Church is always called to proclaim Jesus Christ the Savior to every man and woman, at every age and stage of life.”

This involves, first and foremost, bringing “them the good news of the Lord’s tenderness, to overcome, together with them, the darkness of loneliness, the great enemy of the lives of the elderly” in a missionary task that “challenges all of us, our parishes, and, in a particular way, young people, who can become witnesses of closeness and mutual listening to those who are further along in their lives.”

“In other cases, missionary evangelization will help older people to encounter the Lord and his word. With advancing age, in fact, many people begin to question the meaning of existence, creating an opportunity to seek an authentic relationship with God and to deepen their vocation to holiness,” the pontiff noted.

Finally, Leo XIV recalled that “proclaiming the Gospel is the primary task of our pastoral ministry: By involving older people in this missionary dynamic, they too will be witnesses of hope, especially through their wisdom, devotion, and experience.”

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

The bones and reliquary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux make their first stop at the Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, Michigan, on Oct. 1, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Detroit Catholic

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Oct 2, 2025 / 17:02 pm (CNA).

The faithful are gathering in Michigan, where the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux are on display at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak, near Detroit. A Mass of installation was celebrated on Oct. 1 by Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and rector Father John Bettin as the beautiful, glass-encased reliquary was present near the altar. 

In an interview with CNA, Bettin said the saint’s bones and reliquary first visited the United States and the basilica named for her over a quarter of a century ago, in 1999. The 2025 tour is the first stop of 40 in 11 states. According to the StThereseusa2025.com website, her relics will go to California; Washington, D.C.; Texas; Wisconsin; and various Carmelite convents through December.

Bettin pointed out that the “simplicity and depth” of the saint’s spirituality has a growing appeal that transcends national boundaries. “She is a doctor of the Church and one of the most beloved saints of all time. The last time she was here, approximately 70,000 pilgrims visited the shrine in one day. We are planning for even bigger crowds,” he said.

Over 400 volunteers are supporting the shrine’s staff to accommodate the many pilgrims who will visit from Oct. 1–8. During a recent visit, volunteers could be seen signing up duty rosters while others were busy festooning the beautiful sanctuary with roses. 

Born in Alençon, France, on Jan. 2, 1873, Thérèse Martin was the daughter of Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin. When Zélie died, young Thérèse and her family moved to Lisieux in northern France. When her sisters entered the Carmel of Lisieux, she wished to follow them but was turned down because of her youth. But during an audience with Pope Leo XIII, she was granted permission. She entered the Carmel in 1888 and made her religious profession in 1890.

During her nine years in the Carmel, she was ultimately wracked with doubt. Even so, she wrote fervently about her love of God, much like the Carmelite saints Teresa de Avila and John of the Cross. Following her death from tuberculosis at the age of 24 in 1897, her Carmelite sisters gathered her writings, which have since formed the basis of “The Story of a Soul,” a book that has been translated into numerous languages and millions of copies.

Bettin spoke warmly of the special devotion that Chaldean Catholics, for example, have for the saint, and said he expects many to visit the relics. Father Patrick Setto, a priest of Iraqi origin of the Chaldean Catholic Church in the Detroit area, told CNA that he and his community are grateful for being able to celebrate their liturgy at the basilica. He noted that he recently held a silent retreat for adults, centering on the life of St. Thérèse and her Little Way. 

In an interview, Setto said his relationship with St. Thérèse goes back to his childhood. When he was in the sixth grade in 1999, he and his mother waited for hours to venerate the relics. He recalled that when the reliquary came around in a procession, he wanted to reach out and touch it.

“But I was so short, I couldn’t get to it. So, a man — out of nowhere — lifted me out of the pew and I got to touch it,” Setto said. “Soon, 26 years later, I will celebrate a Mass in the shrine with her reliquary there.”

“It’s a very powerful, special blessing that God has bestowed on me,” he added. He never saw the man again, he said.

The priest said that Dominican and Redemptorist missionaries to Iraq spread devotion to St. Thérèse in the early 20th century. The Catholics in Iraq feel a connection to her amid their suffering during war and Muslim domination, and during their flight as refugees. In a 2014 video message, Pope Francis referred to Iraqi refugees as “the reeds of God,” in parallel to the saint’s spirituality of perseverance and faith despite adversity.

Bettin also has a special relationship with St. Thérèse. As the youngest of 11 children in his family, he was often chided as “spoiled,” much like the saint, who was also the youngest in her family. In her memoir, St. Thérèse recalled that when she was 14, she was tearful upon overhearing her father say that it would be the last Christmas she would receive gifts typical for children. 

“St. Thérèse’s spirituality began as a little girl when she was not sure that there was a world outside of herself. But she had an epiphany, if you will, on Christmas in 1886 when she experienced a profound conversion,” Bettin said. “She realized there was a world outside, and she gained a great devotion for God. It was not so much for herself, but for others.”

Both priests called on Catholics to come to the shrine to venerate the relics. When Bettin was asked what Christians can expect from venerating the relics, he said: “It’s interior for each pilgrim who comes, whether they are parishioners, from Detroit, or other countries.”

Some may even see miracles, said Setto, who cited the Old Testament, where in 2 Kings 13:21, a dead man was brought back to life after his body touched the bones of the prophet Elisha. “Come and see her,” he said. 

Dominican Sister Mercedes Torres, who serves as vocations director of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in nearby Ann Arbor, invited the world, especially young people, to visit with the saint while her relics are in the U.S.

In a video, Sister Mercedes said: “Faith is essential to who we are. But it’s really that call of love that we have all been called to live. St. Thérèse is making herself known to young people in the country right now. Go and see her as she is making herself known, and you can make yourself known to her. Make your intentions known to St. Thérèse. It is such a gift, and I want everyone to participate in that gift.”

Setto said that those who are discouraged in their search for closeness to God can go to the writings of the saint and experience renewal. When people experience shame and discouragement, he said St. Thérèse can help them “refocus on God’s mercy rather than their weakness, just as St. Paul says that in my weakness, God is able to be strong in me. She was able to flesh that out in a very human and practical way that is easy to understand.”

The FDA approved a new abortion pill this week made by a company seeking to “normalize abortion.” / Credit: Postmodern Studio/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Oct 2, 2025 / 16:13 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week approved a new abortion pill made by a company that explicitly says it seeks to “normalize” abortion.

A Sept. 30 letter obtained from the office of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said the FDA approved the abbreviated new drug application for “mifepristone tablets” from Evita Solutions, a Virginia-based pharmaceutical company.

The FDA said in the letter that it had “concluded that adequate information has been presented to demonstrate that the drug meets the requirements for approval” under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

On its website as of Oct. 2, Evita Solutions was advertising a “new generic mifepristone product” coming to the U.S. Mifepristone constitutes one of the major components of abortion pill prescriptions.

The company says it “assist[s] the medical community in recognizing the utility and freedom that medical abortion provides patients.”

“[W]e seek to normalize abortion care, and we commit to making care accessible to all,” it says. 

Evita Solutions did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Oct. 2. The drug’s approval, meanwhile, was met with criticism and pushback from pro-life advocates. 

In an X post, Hawley called the approval “shocking.” 

He wrote that the approval came “when the evidence shows chemical abortion drugs are dangerous and even deadly for the mother. And of course 100% lethal to the child.” 

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a media statement that the “reckless” approval by the FDA was “unconscionable.” 

“These dangerous drugs take the lives of unborn children, place women and underage girls at serious risk, empower abusers, and trample the pro-life laws enacted by states across the nation,” she said. 

Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, said in a statement that the Trump administration’s approval of the drug “represents a true failure.” 

“More babies will die; more women will be harmed; and more Americans [will be] exposed to abortion water pollution as a direct result of this unfathomable decision,” she said. “This is a stain on the Trump presidency and another sign that the deep state at the FDA must go.”

Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi (left), the secretary-general of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, meets with Latin patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the Holy Land during a Sept. 27–30, 2025, trip to the region. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Italian Bishops’ Conference

Rome Newsroom, Oct 2, 2025 / 14:46 pm (CNA).

The secretary-general of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI, by its Italian acronym), Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi, has concluded a significant visit to the Holy Land, the CEI announced. The visit took place Sept. 27–30.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, in the CEI statement said: “In this difficult moment of solitude and abandonment, closeness and presence are important: for this we wish to express our sincere gratitude. We know that these visits are not to be taken for granted, and we know, as we have said in recent days, that all this is true and heartfelt. We have perceived it in recent months from many Italian churches — a real closeness.” 

During the visit, Baturi had the opportunity to meet “some priests gathered on retreat: They told us they felt the need and were grateful for this empathy and closeness they have needed, more so than any projects,” Pizzaballa said.

In addition, during the same visit, Baturi announced a major joint project between the CEI and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem: the opening of a hospital in Gaza. The archbishop noted that “there is a very serious health problem, and we want to address it together with the patriarchate: It is a concrete commitment, which will take a great deal of effort,” Baturi explained.

The visit was also an opportunity to explore the possibility of a pilgrimage by representatives of the Italian episcopate, as has already happened with several regional bishops’ conferences, the statement added.

In this regard, Baturi said: “We want to relaunch pilgrimages as a practice capable of forging bonds with communities, not just visiting places. This appeal has come to us from many parish priests, both in Judea and Galilee. We will therefore make a pilgrimage as Italian bishops and promote many others: It is a concrete form of closeness and solidarity.”

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