Pope Francis visited the Vatican’s COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Good Friday as volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists continued vaccinating the poor, homeless and refugees assisted by charities in Rome.
International News
Irish Bishop: ‘Patience Is Wearing Thin’ Over Ban on Public Worship
Church leaders in Ireland are calling on the government to take the spiritual needs of the population into consideration, noting the country is the only one in Western Europe to continue to ban public worship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holy Week Music Series Recorded at St. Peter’s Basilica
At a time when enjoying choir music in churches is banned almost everywhere in the world due to COVID-19 restrictions, two young German tenors recorded a series of songs inspired by Christ’s passion and his resurrection in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica, with new songs being released every day from Wednesday until Easter Sunday.
Sharing the Gospel Means Embracing the Cross, Pope Francis Says at Chrism Mass
Living and preaching the Gospel always involves embracing “the cross,” whether it be in the form of misunderstanding, hostility or outright persecution, Pope Francis told Rome priests gathered for the chrism Mass.
Pope Francis’ Full Homily at the Chrism Mass
The following is the full text to Pope Francis’ homily at the 2021 Chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Chilean Teen’s Battle With Cancer Inspires Faith in Friends, Family
On March 15, Constanza Alva de Urmeneta got in the car behind the hearse for the funeral procession of her 15-year-old daughter, Pía Urmeneta. Typically somber occasions, it was apparent from the second they drove off the church lot that this was instead a celebration of Pía’s life, just as she had wanted.
Children Write Meditations for Pope Francis’ Way of the Cross
In a passage of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Taking this to heart, this year the Vatican has asked children to write the meditations for the Way of the Cross led by Pope Francis on Good Friday, April 2.
Good Friday Focuses Attention on Plight of Christians in Middle East
When Michael La Civita of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association considers how the agency prioritizes where to send aid, he says the best way to describe it is like a “triage,” given the crises so many countries face.
Pope Francis Sends Letter to Infamous WikiLeaks Founder, Julian Assange
On Palm Sunday, Julian Assange, the Australian founder of WikiLeaks who made headlines in 2010 for publishing thousands of confidential US diplomatic documents, received a personal letter from Pope Francis.
Indonesia’s Cardinal Praises National Response to Suicide Bombing
A suicide bombing at the Catholic cathedral in Makassar “shocked everybody in Indonesia, not only Catholics,” according to the country’s top prelate.