Lent, the spiritual season of prayer and sacrifice, has an extra pull to it this year because once again — and now for the third time — it will be under the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus Pandemic
Vaccinating Kids Essential to Ending Pandemic, Vatican Official Says
As Europe rolls out its vaccination campaign for young children this week, a top Vatican official has endorsed the move, saying children have been uniquely impacted by the pandemic and must be protected and cared for.
Pope Francis Launches Weekend Twitter Rampage as a ‘Pest’ for the Poor
Over the weekend Pope Francis issued a barrage of tweets outlining his vision for a post-COVID world, pushing for an adaptation of current socio-economic models so they prioritize the poor and are based on a mentality of solidarity rather than profit.
Knights Seen as ‘Poised’ to Lead Way to Recovery, Renewal as Pandemic Ends
The new CEO of the Knights of Columbus said the international fraternal organization’s members “are poised to lead the way toward recovery and a future of renewal.”
Diocese of Brooklyn Prepares For 2023 World Youth Day
Two years may seem a ways off, but the Diocese of Brooklyn is already planning for the intercontinental edition of World Youth Day (WYD), scheduled to be held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023. Father Gerard J. Sauer, diocesan director of pilgrimages and pastor of St. Patrick’s in Bay Ridge, said the diocese is keeping health and safety measures in mind and remaining attentive to COVID-19-related news and updates.
Cardinal Gregory to Lead Worldwide Rosary to Pray for an End to the Pandemic
Today, at noon, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington will lead up to 1,000 in-person faithful in a worldwide recitation of the rosary in response to Pope Francis’ call for a “marathon” of prayer in May “to ask for the end of the pandemic.”
Players Grateful to Play in CHSAA Hoops Tourney
The CHSAA is hosting a boys’ spring basketball tournament.
At Rosary, Pope Francis Prays Resources Move From Military to Pandemic Prevention
Under the gaze of a seventh-century icon of Mary, Pope Francis launched a monthlong, global recitation of the rosary, pleading for Mary’s intercession for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. And he prayed May 1 that Mary would move people’s consciences “so that the enormous amounts spent to increase and perfect weapons are instead used to promote research to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.”
Vatican Tackles Psychological Fallout From COVID Pandemic
The Vatican released a new document “Accompanying People in Psychological Distress in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Members of One Body, Loved by One Love,” which was summoned by Pope Francis to try to imagine a post-pandemic world.
Catholic Leaders Urge India to Deploy Military to Help With Pandemic
As COVID-19 continues to claim thousands of lives daily in India, some Catholic leaders have called on the federal government to deploy the military to deal with the crisis before it worsens.