Catholic Nutshell News: Monday 3/16/26
Topics include: From Buddhism to Catholicism; Christianity in Philippines - 505 years; Mideast belligerents: ‘Cease fire!’; & What pulls Christians toward Trump?
“Worth your weight in walnuts”
Today's sources are Crux, Graphs about Religion, Aleteia, Zeale News, OSV News, Catholic Culture, & EWTN News. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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Zeale News
Woman shares journey from Buddhism to Catholicism after healing
By Elizabeth Weiss, March 14, 2026
After experiencing an extraordinary healing, Sachini Dilshani Weerakoon, a young woman from Sri Lanka raised a Buddhist, is preparing to receive Baptism in the Catholic Church this Easter. According to UCA News, Weerakoon suffered for years from a severe skin condition, recurring blisters and bleeding wounds on both of her legs, which doctors attributed to an autoimmune disease, leaving her unable to “sleep, work, or travel freely.” In May 2025, however, after asking Jesus to heal her, Weerakoon said the blisters suddenly stopped appearing. She describes it as a miraculous cure. “I believe Jesus healed my legs completely.” Although Weerakoon grew up in the predominantly Buddhist community of Ashokapura, a small Catholic presence in the village allowed her to become familiar with Catholic practices. Two years ago, she married a Catholic, further exposed to Catholic practices. Weerakoon visited a nearby Marian shrine and asked for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying that Mary would ask her “son Jesus Christ, the God, to cure me.”
CRUX
Pope Leo XIV to Mideast belligerents: ‘Cease fire!’
By Christopher R. Altieri, March 15, 2026
Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday, as the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon continued into their third week. “May paths of dialogue be reopened,” the pope said in remarks to the faithful gathered for the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. “The situation in Lebanon is a cause for great concern,” the pontiff said, adding expression of his “hope that avenues for dialogue will emerge to support the country’s authorities in implementing lasting solutions to the serious crisis currently unfolding, for the common good of all the Lebanese people.” “On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East,” Pope Leo XIV said, “and of all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: cease fire!”
Related: Lebanon asks Vatican to help protect threatened Christian villages in the south - EWTN News, By Romy Haber, March 10, 2026
Aleteia
March 17 marks 505 years of Christianity in the Philippines
By Philip Kosloski, March 16, 2026
On March 17, 1521, Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães (“Ferdinand Magellan”) arrived at Homonhon Island, making first contact with the local inhabitants. Along with Magellan was Father Pedro de Valderrama, as it was a legal requirement for expeditions to have a Catholic chaplain on board, both for the sailors' spiritual needs and for the evangelization of new lands. While the crew caught sight of land on March 16, they didn't land until March 17, which at the time was the feast of St. Lazarus. According to Vatican News, "On Easter Sunday in 1521, Father Pedro de Valderrama celebrated the first Catholic Mass in what is now the Philippines, specifically on the island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte." The Philippines currently has one of the largest Catholic populations in the world, a legacy dating back to Magellan's arrival in 1521.
OSV News
Return to tradition: Pope Leo moves into the Apostolic Palace
By OSV News, March 14, 2026
Pope Leo XIV moved into his new apartments at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on March 14, the Holy See Press Office announced that afternoon in Rome, marking a change from his immediate predecessor and a return to more than 100 years of tradition. Pope Leo’s new quarters include several rooms, among them the private study — where the pope appears at the window to lead the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square every Sunday — a library, and a small chapel. According to Italian media, the apartment also includes a home gym. With Pope Leo’s return to the Apostolic Palace, his rooms will be different from those of Pope Benedict XVI, the last pope to live in that space. Instead of occupying the traditional papal living quarters, Italian media reported Leo will live in a loft, or attic, above the “Third Loggia,” or top floor, of the building. Vatican media also noted that Pope Leo will live with his private secretaries, Msgr. Edgard Rimaycuna and Father Marco Billeri.
EWTN News
David Bartimej Tencer: The only Catholic bishop in Iceland
By Bohumil Petrík, March 16, 2026
The only Catholic bishop in Iceland, David Bartimej Tencer, is celebrating a double jubilee this year — the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination and the Franciscan jubilee marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi — as a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins. Looking back, he said, he feels great gratitude. He became a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins in 1990. Even if he had not become a priest, he “would do everything to become one,” the bishop of Reykjavik, the only diocese on the island, said in a conversation with EWTN News in Rome. He was ordained in Slovakia, then communist Czechoslovakia, but “even if communism had not fallen, and thank God it did, a priest would still do what he was supposed to do,” he stressed. He had good priests in a seminary and in a parish who worked hard and were able to eschew the regime's imposed limits, the prelate explained.
National Catholic Register
Only surgeon for 2 million in war-torn Sudan
By Kate Quiñones/EWTN News, March 16, 2026
As the only doctor at a hospital serving more than 2 million people, Dr. Tom Catena works seven days a week and is on call every night — and still makes time for morning Mass. An American Catholic missionary and the only surgeon at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the remote Nuba Mountains of Gidel, Sudan, Catena has spent more than two decades in Sudan despite civil war and conflict. Catena told EWTN News that Sudan is “home to one of the worst humanitarian crises. The United Nations has described the civil war, which began in April 2023, as the most devastating humanitarian crisis, killing more than 150,000 people and displacing another 12 million people. In the region, the mother and infant mortality rate for maternity care is among the highest in the world. “At Mother of Mercy Hospital, we are the only major medical facility serving more than 2 million people in the Nuba Mountains, so the volume and variety of what we see is staggering.”
Graphs about Religion
What pulls Christians toward Trump: Abortion or immigration?
By Ryan Burge, March 16, 2026
Abortion is not the deal breaker for white evangelicals that a lot of people think it is. In fact, I contended that the issue of immigration may be the “bright line” in evangelical politics. The data seemed to point to the reality that white evangelical Republicans would be more likely to support a politician who was in favor of legalized abortion but took a hard-line stance on immigration, compared to the reverse. Republicans are in almost lockstep on this: 90–95% of most groups support more border agents. But even among many Harris voters, this is seen as a good idea. Among white evangelicals who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, only 27% want to see abortion made completely illegal in the United States. A bare majority of white evangelicals said that women shouldn’t have access to abortion if they want one and that there shouldn’t be a pathway to citizenship for people who came here illegally, only 53%. Among white Catholics, the number is just 34%
The Pillar
Catholic politician’s faith strengthened in Venezuelan prison
By Edgar Beltrán, March 3, 2026
Juan Pablo Guanipa is one of the best-known faces of the Venezuelan opposition. He is widely considered to be Nobel Peace Prize Award winner María Corina Machado’s right-hand man. He has served as a local councilmember, congressman, and vice president of the National Assembly. In 2017, he won the gubernatorial election in Zulia state -the largest in the country– but was prevented from taking power by the Venezuelan regime. Guanipa is well known in Venezuela for three things: His directness, radically, to some, in confronting the Maduro regime, his sense of humor, and his Catholic faith. He was found and arrested on May 23, 2025, and accused of conspiracy and terrorism. He was then imprisoned until Feb. 9, 2026, when he was freed amid a massive release of political prisoners after the Jan. 3 American capture of former dictator Nicolás Maduro.
EWTN, UCA, and CW News for 3/16/26
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — March 16, 2026
EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and the activities of the Holy See, and is available to anyone with internet access.
Vatican releases itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey to Africa - By ACI Africa - The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.
Millionaire businessman plans to preserve churches in the UK - By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú - Disturbed by the widespread demolition and repurposing of churches across the U.K., Samuel Leeds has launched a personal mission to purchase and restore these historic buildings.
Preacher of the Papal Household: ‘Fraternity is where true conversion takes place’ - By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú - In a sermon to the pope and the Roman Curia, Preacher of the Papal Household Father Roberto Pasolini explained that achieving true fraternity poses many challenges and requires inner transformation.
UCA News
The Union of Catholic Asian World News - 3/16/26
UCA News (UCAN) is the leading independent Catholic media service from Asia, with a convergent media approach that couples traditional journalistic practices with multimedia and social media
Court dismisses Indian nun’s plea against conversion charge - March 16, 2026 -The top court in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has declined to quash a case accusing a Catholic nun of illegal religious conversion, which she and her supporters dismiss as fabricated. Madhya Pradesh is among the 12 Indian states that enacted strict anti-conversion laws.
Bangladesh’s state allowance for clergy triggers mixed reactions - March 16, 2026 - A state-funded monthly allowance scheme for clergy from all major faiths in Bangladesh has sparked mixed reactions from religious leaders in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation. Muslim and other faith leaders welcome the scheme; Christians politely refuse to accept money.
Cambodian scam ringleaders face life in jail - March 16, 2026 - Scam kingpins in Cambodia now face life in jail after the government moved urgently on its pledge to “permanently” wipe out a scourge which has pummeled the country’s international standing and its economy. The Kingdom acts unusually swiftly with a new law, spurred by scathing international criticism.
Catholic World News
CatholicCulture.org from Trinity Communications
Catholic World News (CWN) is an independent Catholic news service staffed by lay Catholic journalists, dedicated to providing accurate global news from a distinctly Catholic perspective.
Bishop Barron pains the Catholic Left. He heartens the rest of us. - by Peter Wolfgang - Almost the whole of the hierarchy sees the world as Steven Greydanus, a deacon of the Archdiocese of Newark, sees it. Only Bishop Barron is calling out what the rest of us see. The political left and political right in the United States in 2026 are not morally equivalent. The left is worse. Far worse, though, I don’t expect Barron to ever say it as explicitly as I just did.
A just-war examination of conscience - By Phil Lawler - My dismay has been caused by the failure to recognize that the Catholic Church has a very sophisticated system for appraising moral questions concerning war and peace. For centuries, the Church has mourned the bloodshed and destruction that war causes, but also developed a challenging set of questions to pose to the warring parties.
Confronting the Ideology of Inevitability - By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky - Dispensationalists teach that Christianity did not fulfill Israel. Rather, biblical promises to ethnic Israel remain to be fulfilled in a future earthly kingdom. Events in Jerusalem are not merely political developments, but rather necessary steps in a prophetic timeline.
Nutshell reflections for 3/16/26:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO - March 16, 2026
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Word on Fire
Clickbait Catholicism
By Dr. Richard DeClue, March 13, 2026
One of Word on Fire’s eight principles is a “special commitment to new media.” As St. Paul did on the Areopagus (Acts 17:22–34), to evangelize, we need to go where the people are. For better or for worse, many people today are most easily encountered online. As Bishop Barron has said, “If we don’t get into the new media game, then we just get hopelessly behind the curve. We’ll just get out-narrated. And then the Christian message won’t be heard.” I think there are actually quite a lot of Catholic social media outlets that do great work in evangelization and theology. I avail myself of them fairly regularly. I relish the fact that I can easily access commentary and scholarly presentations by accomplished and faithful Catholic intellectuals. It is a true blessing. At the same time, I do encounter a significant amount of concerning content claiming to be Catholic. Even if well-intentioned, misleading and mistaken views on issues of Catholic teaching and theology are not uncommon.
Dominicana
Preaching is not like other human communication
By Br. Andrew Lyons, O.P., March 12, 2026
Preaching the word of God is a funny thing. On the surface, it looks just like any other instance of human communication. The speaker presents an idea; the listener can choose to accept or reject it. But in reality, preaching is different from every other instance of human communication, for one reason: the preacher communicates not the word of man, but the word of God. People can learn from the word of man by a simple choice. We have a natural ability to learn from others and to believe others' words. When you tell me something new, I can see its reasonableness by my own lights. The word of God is a different matter. We cannot simply choose to believe by our own lights, because our natural lights are too dim to reach divine truths. To believe God’s word, we need a higher light: the light of supernatural faith. Only God can give so great a light. This truth—that supernatural faith is a gift of God alone—shows that preaching is not like other human communication.
Caeli
Is God enough?
By Caeli Catholic and Ava Frecker, March 14, 2026
In our ideal routine, my husband and I try to go to confession once a month. This used to be easy when we were dating and early married, especially since our young adult group took part in weekly Wednesday Mass and adoration in the evenings, where confession was available. Now with a bouncy toddler, we are grateful for the 5:15 p.m. confession time offered most days at my parish. And still, it’s been too long since we’ve gone. And I’m feeeeeeeeeling it. How often do you ideally want — and, possibly, need — to go to confession? This is a great thing to ask yourself. What structures of prayer make your life better? In short, that’s what having a rule of life is about. So, God willing, this will be the week we resume our monthly confession schedule. And I hope you make time this Lent to go, too.
Bishop Barron Reflections
Healer: That’s why Jesus has come
By Bishop Robert Barron, March 16, 2026
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the son of a royal official. Healer: That’s why he’s come; that’s who he is. In Jesus, divinity and humanity meet. His hands and mouth and eyes—his whole body becomes a conduit of God’s energy. What’s God’s energy, God’s purpose? To set right a world gone wrong, a suffering world. Out of every pore of his body, Jesus expresses the healing love of God. Jesus’s ministry of healing expresses in history God’s ultimate intention for the world. In Jesus, we see a hint of that world to come where there will be no more suffering, no more sadness, no more sickness. He does not wait for the sinner, the sufferer, the marginalized to come to him. In love and humility, he goes to them. This same Jesus, risen from the dead, present and alive in the Church, is still seeking us out, coming into our homes—not waiting for us to crawl to him but seeking us out in love and humility.
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