U.S.
U.S. bishops name head of racial justice committee
WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops have named Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin, Texas, as the first-ever chairman of their now-permanent Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation. The news was announced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a Nov. 20 media release. Bishop Garcia was appointed by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. That committee — the scope of which includes Catholic social teaching on issues such as poverty, housing, criminal justice and the environment — oversees the subcommittee, since such challenges typically have a disproportionate effect on communities of color. Bishop Garcia explained how he saw segregation at work in his small town, with designated sections in restaurants for African Americans and police stops based on racial profiling. Such discrimination even extended to the Church, Bishop Garcia said, who recalled an African American friend being discouraged from attending a Catholic school by its pastor, while also seeing Mass attendees withhold the kiss of peace during the liturgy from families of color. Rather than being innate, “racism is taught,” Bishop Garcia said — and it can be unlearned. (OSV News)
Chicago Catholic coalition sues ICE over denial of holy Communion, pastoral care
CHICAGO — A group of clergy and religious and a Catholic social justice organization filed a lawsuit Nov. 19 against the Trump administration over being barred from bringing holy Communion and pastoral care to detainees at an immigration processing center just west of Chicago. The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, which has organized Masses and a eucharistic procession in support of migrants without legal authorization to be in the country, along with three priests and a religious sister, submitted the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois. The complaint describes Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “complete denial” of the group’s “rights to practice their religion at a detention center in Broadview, Illinois, without such denial serving any compelling governmental interest and without allowing such practice under the least restrictive means for serving any governmental interest in safety and security at the detention facility.” The group claimed their rights under the First Amendment, Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Lands Use and Institutionalized Persons Act were violated by ICE when they were not allowed to give holy Communion to Catholic detainees on Oct. 11 and Nov. 1, and to give pastoral care to them. (OSV News)
WORLD
Two Catholic priests freed in Belarus after visit of papal envoy to the country
MINSK, Belarus — Two Catholic priests long considered political prisoners in Belarus were freed Nov. 20, a move Church leaders are linking to an October visit from Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Pope Leo XIV’s envoy and a former nuncio to the country. Oblate Father Andrzej Juchniewicz and Father Henrykh Akalatovich had been serving harsh sentences handed down earlier in 2025 on charges widely dismissed as political. Belarus’ bishops said the release came after President Alexander Lukashenko granted a pardon “as an expression of mercy and respect for the Pope.” Cardinal Gugerotti called the moment an example of what dialogue can achieve. Belarusian journalist Ruslan Szoszyn said the release is a real victory for the Church — but likely came at a hidden cost, and many Catholics remain in prison. Among the most prominent are Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and Sakharov Prize winner Andrzej Poczobut, whose release observers say is far less likely. (OSV News)
Red Wednesday: A global stand for persecuted Christians saw 600 churches lit up in red
LONDON — As night fell on Nov. 19, more than 600 churches and landmarks across the world glowed red for Red Wednesday — the centerpiece of Red Week, the annual Nov. 15-23 campaign led by Aid to the Church in Need to spotlight Christian persecution. In the Jubilee Year, ACN said more than 100 events were planned worldwide, drawing over 10,000 participants and reaching hundreds of thousands online. In London, St. George’s Cathedral hosted ACN U.K.’s national Mass, where Nigerian catechist Tobias Yahaya — stabbed during his ministry work — received the Courage to be Christian Award. ACN U.K. placed special focus on Nigeria this year, citing rising attacks on Christian communities and growing engagement from the Nigerian diaspora. ACN’s latest report estimates 413 million Christians live in countries with severe religious-freedom violations. (OSV News)
Pope’s first trip focuses on religious harmony, peacemaking
VATICAN CITY — By choosing to make his first trip as pope to Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will shine a huge spotlight on the faith Christians share and on the yearnings for peace and prosperity common to all people. The main motivation for the trip Nov. 27-Dec. 2 is to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which laid the basis for the Creed all mainline Christians still recite. In Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo also will meet with government officials and is likely to praise the people of both nations for the generosity they have shown to refugees, particularly from Syria. (CNS)
