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Pope at Jubilee: Consolation is found in ‘firm and stable’ faith

Pope Leo XIV presides at a prayer vigil for the Jubilee of Consolation, and invites everyone who has experienced hardship or loss to embrace faith in Christ, so that pain may not lead to violence but forgiving love.

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British royal family set to have first Catholic funeral in centuries 

Front view of Westminster Cathedral, London. / Credit: Adrian Pingstone on Wikimedia Commons

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The first Catholic funeral of a member of the British royal family since the Anglican Reformation will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16, that of the duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994.

The duchess of Kent — born Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley — died on Sept. 4 at Kensington Palace at the age of 92. She was raised as an Anglican and in 1961 was married in that communion to Prince Edward, duke of Kent and grandson of King George V.

Her conversion to Catholicism began in the wake of personal loss and suffering.

In 1975, while pregnant with her fourth child, the duchess fell ill with measles and, following medical advice, had an abortion for medical reasons. In 1977, she became pregnant again and in a speech to the British Congress of Obstetrics, declared that human life was a gift from God and of unique value, as every birth is a miracle. She also paid tribute to those who fight to protect life and family.

However, she lost the baby at 36 weeks, an experience she described as “devastating” and viewed as punishment for the abortion performed two years earlier.

The duchess continued to practice Anglicanism and made the first of several visits to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham with the then-Anglican archbishop of Canterbury.

Her royal highness the duchess of Kent holds a koala during a 1988 visit to Brisbane, Australia. Credit: Queensland State Archives, CC BY 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons
Her royal highness the duchess of Kent holds a koala during a 1988 visit to Brisbane, Australia. Credit: Queensland State Archives, CC BY 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1992, the general synod of the Church of England approved the ordination of female priests. This led to the conversion of several Anglicans to Catholicism. The duchess of Kent would enter the Catholic Church in January 1994.

The duchess of Kent’s conversion was historic, as no member of British royalty had been received into the Catholic Church since the late 17th century, at least publicly. In 1685, King Charles II converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, although he had an Anglican funeral.

The duchess herself described her conversion as a “long-considered personal decision” and that she was drawn to the consolation and clarity of the Catholic faith. “I love guidance, and the Catholic Church offers it to you,” she once told the BBC. “I’ve always wanted that in my life. I like to know what’s expected of me.” In 2001, her son, Nicholas Windsor, also joined the Catholic Church.

Upon learning of the duchess’ death, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster recalled “with fondness her presence in our community, especially her participation in the pilgrimage to Lourdes, as well as her lifetime of public service.”

The royal family’s website reported that the duchess of Kent’s funeral “will take place at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. U.K. time.” The Mass will be attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

“Her royal highness’ coffin will be taken by hearse to Westminster Cathedral on Monday, 15th September, where the Rite of Reception and vespers will take place, on the eve of the Requiem Mass. Thereafter it will rest overnight in the Lady Chapel,” the announcement added.

Following the funeral, the duchess of Kent’s remains will be transferred to the Royal Burial Ground in Frogmore, Windsor.

“Flags will be half-masted at all official royal residences flying the Union flag on the day of the funeral,” the website reported.

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

Nigerian bishops call for peaceful change to avoid violent upheaval

The President of the Nigerian Bishops’ Conference says the country, “haunted by insecurity”, is in need of a constitutional amendment to protect the Electoral Commission from political manipulation in the next elections and restore confidence in development, justice and democracy.

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Arab, Islamic states meet in Qatar after Israeli strike

Arab and Islamic nations convene an emergency meeting in Qatar following Israel’s airstrike last week targeting Hamas leaders in Doha.

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Rising to the challenge: Zimbabwe’s young religious called to be Pilgrims of Hope

Young temporarily professed religious sisters, brothers, and priests have been called to experience and embody hope through the charism of their congregations. These sentiments were expressed by organisers of a recent national workshop for young male and female religious persons held over the weekend, in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. The gathering encouraged participants to live lives marked by transparency, accountability, and moral integrity.

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Religious sisters work for an indigenous Church with an Amazonian face

In the heart of the jungle in Cuzco, Peru, Sr. Giovanna Llerena Alfaro, a Dominican Missionary of the Rosary, walks alongside the Indigenous communities of Bajo Urubamba, promoting an Indigenous Church and a form of evangelization that arises from contemplation.

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Pope Leo XIV appoints new Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Andorra

Archbishop Piero Pioppo is appointed the new Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and the Principality of Andorra.

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Calls for reform after Catholic on pilgrimage killed in Pakistan

With sorrow and shock over the recent murder of a 42-year-old man shot dead while on pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Lahore, leading experts in Pakistan are calling for serious and effective social reforms, especially in education, to combat the phenomenon.

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Pope to Augustinians: Keep love at the centre of religious life

Pope Leo XIV meets with Augustinians at the conclusion of their General Chapter and invites them to place love at the centre of their religious life.

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Beninese Bishop: Jihadist attacks aim at preventing Church's activity

Following a recent attack by jihadists, the Bishop of N'Dali, Benin, Martin Adjou Moumouni, explains that the community is concerned about further violence as the militants "have also made it clear that they want to prevent the Church from continuing its pastoral activities.”

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