Newswatch ( April 2026 )

Newswatch

Cardinal Anthony Poola President of CBCI 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) elected Cardinal Anthony Poola as its new president, making him the first Dalit (term referring to the lowest rung of castes in India) to lead India’s Catholic bishops. The archbishop of Hyderabad, elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022, called for unity, reconciliation, and service-oriented leadership amid social tensions. 

During its February meeting in Bangalore, the bishops urged repeal of state anti-conversion laws, arguing they violate Article 25 of Constitution of India and enable false arrests and harassment of Christians. They criticised vigilante violence and what activists term ‘saffronisation', pressing the government of Narendra Modi to safeguard minority rights. 

The CBCI also highlighted discrimination against Dalit Christians and Muslims, who are excluded from Scheduled Caste benefits granted to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits. Reaffirming commitment to constitutional values, the Church pledged continued advocacy for religious freedom, equality, interreligious dialogue, and national unity. 

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Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J Sheen Confirmed 

Fulton J Sheen will soon be beatified after the Vatican authorised his cause to proceed, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria announced on 9 February. Bishop Louis Tylka said the diocese is coordinating with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to finalise details, though no date has been set. Sheen’s 2019 beatification was postponed weeks before its scheduled celebration following concerns from some US bishops about his tenure leading the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester (1966-1969), amid scrutiny tied to clergy abuse cases and New York’s Child Victims Act. However, Peoria officials maintain that no allegations were ever made against Sheen personally. His cause, opened in 2002, advanced after Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to his intercession. Sheen, a prominent 20th-century evangelist known for his preaching and writings, has seen growing devotion, with increased pilgrimages to his tomb and renewed interest in his works. 

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The Society of St Pius X heads towards an uncertain future 

The Society of St Pius X (SSPX) has announced it will proceed with consecrating new bishops on July 1 without papal approval, escalating tensions with the Vatican and risking a formal schism. In a 19 February letter, Superior General Fr Davide Pagliarani informed Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that the society would not suspend the consecrations despite Rome’s offer of theological dialogue aimed at restoring full communion. 

The SSPX, founded by Marcel Lefebvre, rejects key teachings of the Second Vatican Council, including liturgical reforms and aspects of interreligious dialogue. Lefebvre’s illicit 1988 consecrations led Pope John Paul II to declare a schismatic act, though Pope Benedict XVI lifted excommunications in 2009. SSPX argues the new consecrations do not constitute schism, claiming they remain loyal to Pope Leo XIV. However, canon law requires a pontifical mandate for episcopal ordinations, setting up a direct confrontation with Rome. 

Adult Baptisms Surge in Belgium 

Adult baptisms in Belgium are projected to rise sharply again in 2026, with dioceses reporting 689 adult candidates, nearly 30% more than in 2025 and triple the number recorded a decade earlier. The Catholic Church says the figures confirm an ongoing ‘baptism boom’ in a country long seen as highly secularised. While overall baptisms and Sunday Mass attendance continue to decline – infant baptisms fell from 51,000 in 2017 to 30,000 in 2024 – the growth in adult conversions is viewed as a hopeful sign. 

The increase is particularly strong in French-speaking dioceses such as Brussels, Namur, and Tournai, though Flemish dioceses like Antwerp and Ghent are also seeing notable numbers. Church commentators describe the trend as a shift from ‘cultural Christianity’ to a faith based on personal conviction. 

A similar rise is reported in neighbouring France, where more than 10,000 adults were baptised in 2025 and numbers continue to grow in 2026. 

Sagrada Familia reaches Maximum Height

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona reached its maximum height of 172.5 meters (566 feet) on 20 February, as a crane placed the upper arm of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ. The milestone makes the basilica the world’s tallest church, surpassing Ulm Minster in Germany. 

Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, construction began in 1882. Only one tower was completed when Gaudí died in 1926, but work has accelerated in recent decades thanks to tourism. Though the structure has now reached its planned height, interior work on the central tower continues, and the cross will be fully unveiled this summer. 

The completion of the tower comes ahead of June commemorations marking the centenary of Gaudí’s death. His cause for sainthood is underway. Funded largely by visitor fees, the basilica remains under construction, blending Catholic symbolism with Gaudí’s distinctive organic modernist style. 

Pope Leo Urges Avoiding use of Artificial Intelligence for Homilies 

At a closed-door meeting with clergy of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Leo XIV urged priests not to use artificial intelligence to write homilies or chase popularity on platforms like TikTok. According to Vatican News, the Pope said relying on AI weakens a priest’s intellectual and spiritual life, stressing that ‘to give a true homily is to share faith,’ something technology can never do. Authentic preaching, he said, must flow from personal prayer and lived experience of Christ. 

Leo also warned against seeking ‘likes’ online, calling digital self-promotion an illusion if it does not transmit the Gospel. He encouraged priests to deepen prayer, foster fraternity, and engage young people through personal accompaniment and creative outreach. Citing an example of priestly friendship in Chicago, he emphasised mutual support. Addressing euthanasia and pastoral care, he urged clergy to witness to life’s value and personally bring Communion and anointing to the sick.