The Church in Texas

The French Parliament passed a law on July 21 banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media services. This measure makes France the first European country to include such a restriction in its national legislation. The Senate approved the compromise bill with a vote of 243 to 2, and the National Assembly passed it a few hours later.

The law aims to protect children from risks such as addiction, bullying, and abuse. President Emmanuel Macron has campaigned for such measures since 2017, arguing that online anonymity can lead to abuse. Anne Le Hénanff, the minister delegate for digital sovereignty, stated that the country is establishing a digital age of majority to improve online child protection.

The ban prohibits minors under 15 from accessing online social network services, which is expected to include platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. However, lawmakers did not define the exact scope of the ban, and it is not expected to apply to educational platforms, open-source software, or online encyclopedias like Wikipedia. Because the law requires identity checks to verify age, some have raised concerns regarding increased government oversight of all internet users. The measure now awaits a review by the Constitutional Council before the president signs it into law.

Pope Leo XIV urged members of the Knights of Columbus to act as prophets of harmony by promoting unity and charity. In a video message shared with attendees of the 144th Supreme Convention in Denver, the pope encouraged the fraternal organization to cultivate concord within families, parishes, and the wider community through honest and humble dialogue.

The pope expressed gratitude for the order's generosity toward the less fortunate and its continued service. He noted that preserving unity requires active effort and referenced Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper for his followers to be one.

The annual convention, held from August 4 to 6, included prayer services, Masses, an awards session for members and councils, and the presentation of the organization's annual report. The theme for this year's gathering was "In the One We Are One."

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, to offer greetings to the city's Jewish community for their upcoming religious holidays.

In the message, the pope expressed his wishes for blessings and joy during the celebrations of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. He expressed hope that these feasts would serve as an opportunity for the community to experience peace and renewal.

The pope also requested that the Eternal One help the Church and the Jewish community grow in mutual friendship within Rome and across the world. Rosh Hashanah began on the evening of Sept. 11, with Yom Kippur scheduled for Sept. 20 and Sukkot for Sept. 25.

Bishop Thomas Daly is asking the people of the Diocese of Spokane to pray for those affected by major wildfires burning near the diocese and across Washington state. In a letter to the diocese dated August 3, Daly requested prayers for neighbors forced to evacuate, people who lost homes or property, and everyone whose lives have been disrupted by the fires. He also asked for prayers for firefighters, doctors, volunteers, and other emergency responders.

The fires have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. According to Washington state government data from August 4, more than 13,500 acres burned since July 31, contributing to a total of over half a million acres burned in the state so far in 2026. Several large fires have been burning north and west of Spokane.

On August 3, Bishop Daly and Vicar General Father Darrin Connall toured parts of the damaged region with a police escort. Speaking to EWTN News on August 4, Daly noted that while the region is used to wildfires in forests and the countryside, the current situation is different.

Pope Leo XIV warned in May and June about the increasing loneliness and abandonment experienced by elderly people. The Pope described this social issue as a challenge facing much of the modern world.

In response to similar social pressures, Caritas Lithuania launched a free emotional support hotline called Caritas Listens. The service, which has been operating for one year, uses 86 trained volunteers to provide a listening ear to older adults. Caritas Lithuania reported that the hotline recorded 67,308 minutes of conversations during its first year of service.

The organization noted that the hotline's usage reflects the scale of loneliness among the elderly. Similar demographic shifts, including rising life expectancy and the emigration of younger generations, have contributed to social isolation in Eastern Europe and other nations such as Japan, South Korea, and China.

Leaders of the Order of Discalced Carmelites called on nearly 33,000 Secular Carmelites to embrace their vocation as equal members of the order. This appeal occurred during the first world meeting of the Secular Carmelites, held July 23–26, 2026, in Ávila, Spain.

More than 900 members attended the meeting, representing nearly 80 of the 92 countries where Secular Carmelite communities exist. The group, known as the OCDS, consists of laypeople who meet monthly to study the writings of Carmelite saints and develop a life of prayer.

The Order of Discalced Carmelites changed the name of the lay group from Third Order Carmelites to Secular Carmelites in 2003. This change was intended to show that the laity holds equal importance to the priests and nuns who make up the first and second orders.

The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are closing their convent and leaving Aleppo, Syria, after 112 years of ministry in education, social service, and humanitarian work.

Sister Pierrette Jabbour, the congregation’s regional councilor for the Middle East, told ACI MENA that the departure is not due to political or security issues. Instead, the decision was made during a regional chapter in 2018 because of internal factors, including a shortage of new vocations, an increasing average age among members, and a declining number of sisters. The congregation’s regulations require at least four sisters to maintain a religious community. Similar restructuring is occurring in convents in Lebanon and Egypt.

Bishop Hanna Jallouf, the apostolic vicar for Latin-rite Catholics in Syria, stated that the congregation has been reorganizing its presence in the country for over five years. The Salesians announced last May that they would take over responsibility for the Franciscan convent.

Pope Leo XIV warned during an August 5 general audience that many Christian families are no longer passing on the tradition of prayer. Speaking inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope urged the faithful to rediscover prayer as a fundamental part of human life.

The pope noted that modern mindsets driven by consumerism and efficiency can make prayer seem trivial or pointless. He also stated that in a world where science and technology are seen as providing all answers, some may view prayer as a form of escapism.

During his address, which was part of a teaching series on the Second Vatican Council, the pope said people often misunderstand prayer or confuse it with psychological techniques used for personal well-being. He referenced the document Sacrosanctum Concilium to highlight the importance of liturgical prayer and the need to return to its true form.

The Archdiocese of Mexico City dedicated the historic Our Lady of Mount Carmel church as an archdiocesan shrine on July 15. Located in the San Ángel neighborhood on the south side of Mexico City, the former non-parochial church received this new status following an announcement in May by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, the primatial archbishop of Mexico.

The elevation to shrine status has increased the number of visitors to the site. Hundreds of pilgrims already travel to the church annually for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16. The site maintains a connection to the region dating back to 1585, when Discalced Carmelite missionaries arrived in New Spain to assist in evangelization.

Bishop Luis Lerma Martínez of Nuevo Laredo expressed concern over the lack of highway security after a group of pilgrims was robbed at gunpoint in Mexico. The group was traveling by bus back from a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City when the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 1.

The robbery took place around 3:45 a.m. on a highway in the state of Guanajuato. According to pilgrimage organizer Anahí Zamora, two men wearing uniforms similar to those of the National Guard intercepted the bus. The group included 47 pilgrims, such as children, seniors, and families, as well as a driver and co-driver.

Bishop Lerma noted that while no one lost their life or sustained serious injuries, the event remains deeply concerning. He urged authorities to increase security on the roads to prevent similar incidents.

Caritas Venezuela is adding recovery efforts to its ongoing relief work following devastating earthquakes in the country.

The social services arm of the Catholic Church in Venezuela stated in an updated bulletin that the immediate emergency phase is now overlapping with the initial steps toward recovery.