The LOOP
The Wednesday Loop - December 3, 2025
TRUMP: US MAY STRIKE VENEZUELA 'VERY SOON'
President Donald Trump warned yesterday that U.S. land-based military strikes in Venezuela may come “very soon,” further escalating his pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Hours earlier, Pope Leo cautioned the U.S. against moving toward an invasion, urging dialogue instead.
'TRUMP ACCOUNTS' TO BEGIN WITH $1K FOR EACH BABY
Trump yesterday rolled out new details about “Trump Accounts,” a nationwide child-savings program that will benefit every American citizen born between the beginning of 2025 and the end of 2028. Each eligible child will receive a one-time $1,000 contribution to his or her account, and families can contribute up to $5,000 per year.
LUIGI MANGIONE LAWYERS TRY TO GET EVIDENCE BARRED
Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, the man charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December, attempted during a pretrial hearing this week to convince a New York court to exclude evidence against Mangione. The lawyers claimed the evidence was illegally obtained.
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POPE URGES LEBANESE CATHOLICS TO SPREAD PEACE
Pope Leo preached to a crowd of at least 120,000 at Mass in Lebanon before he departed the Middle Eastern country yesterday, exhorting them to be a "prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant!” In comments to government officials before he departed, he stated: "We hope to involve the entire Middle East in this spirit of fraternity and commitment to peace, including those who currently consider themselves enemies.”
RECORD CONVERSIONS AT ARIZONA STATE'S NEWMAN CENTER
Arizona State University’s Newman Center received a record 52 students into the Church Nov. 30. It was standing room only at the Mass, with more than 600 people filling a 450-seat church to witness the crowd of young converts. The center's director told CatholicVote that Generation Z is "hungry for truth, belonging, and an unwavering Catholic faith."
LIVE Q&A WITH CV PRESIDENT: GET THE INSIDE SCOOP
CatholicVote supporters will have an opportunity tomorrow to hear directly from President Kelsey Reinhardt during a live online Q&A at 9 p.m. EST. The first hour will stream publicly, and then CatholicVote Champions Club members will join a private Zoom session, where they can ask questions and hear more about upcoming initiatives.
WORK WITH US!
CatholicVote is looking for passionate, mission-driven people to join the team. Could you be our next hire?
CATHOLICS TO LAUNCH BIGGEST BIBLE STUDY IN US
The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, founded by Dr. Scott Hahn and based in Steubenville, Ohio, is in the midst of a national Scripture initiative it believes is the largest group Bible study in the United States.
POPE NAMES NEW BISHOP OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Mario Alberto Avilés to serve as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. Bishop Avilés, a Mexico City native, succeeds Bishop W. Michael Mulvey who oversaw Corpus Christi since 2010.
MAGNIFICENT CHURCH MARKS NOTEWORTHY ANNIVERSARY
The Basilica of the Sagrada Família celebrated Nov. 30 the centennial of the completion of the building’s first tower, the only one its architect, Ven. Antoni Gaudí, saw completed during his lifetime. The event was part of a months-long celebration at Sagrada Família to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ven. Gaudí’s death and to honor the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the basilica’s main tower.
CATHOLIC 101
"We don't always perceive reality accurately," writes a Catholic psychologist, "but that doesn't make it any less real." Here's a neat insight the author reached by way of a lack of sight.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today the Church celebrates St. Francis Xavier, the “Apostle of Asia,” who was born into wealth and gifted with great talents. Francis met St. Ignatius of Loyola while studying in Paris and became one of the first Jesuit priests in 1537. By 1552, Francis had baptized thousands as a missionary to the East.
DAILY PSALM
"I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." (Psalm 23)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
FAITH
Over 150,000 Lebanese Catholics went to a Mass celebrated by Pope Leo in Beirut.
