Catholic News
- Ailing Pope shocks pilgrims at Jubilee of the Sick by appearing at conclusion of Mass (CNS)
The Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers culminated on April 6 in Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis shocked the estimated 20,000 pilgrims by appearing at the conclusion of the outdoor Mass; he sat in a wheelchair and wore a nasal cannula. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, was the principal celebrant of the Mass and read aloud the homily, written by the Pope. “Dear friends, let us not exclude from our lives those who are frail, as at times, sadly, a certain mentality does today,” the papal homily concluded. “Let us not banish suffering from our surroundings. On the contrary, let us turn it into an opportunity to grow together and to cultivate hope, thanks to the love that God first poured into our hearts (cf. Rom 5:5), the love that, above all things, remains forever (cf. 1 Cor 13:8-10, 13).” - Papal Angelus reflection: the 'finger of God' writes a new story for the woman caught in adultery (Vatican Press Office)
In his written Angelus address for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis reflected on Jesus and the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-11), the Gospel reading of the day’s Mass. “Jesus restores the lost beauty to this woman,” the Pope wrote. “She has fallen in the dust; Jesus passes his finger on this dust and writes a new story for her. It is the ‘finger of God,’ who saves His children (cf. Ex 8:15) and frees them from evil (cf. Lk 11:20).” The Pontiff also prayed for the sick and healthcare workers thanked the inmates of Rebibbia women’s prison for a note recalled the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace renewed his call for prayer for peace in Ukraine, Gaza, the Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Haiti - 10 million Christian immigrants in US could face deportation (USCCB)
More than 10 million Christian immigrants living in the US could be subject to deportation, according to a new report released by the US bishops’ conference. The report finds that another 7 million Christian citizens of the US live in households with those who might be deported. The immigrants included in that 10-million figure include some who are now living in the US legally, but whose legal status could be revoked if US policies change. The study, entitled “One Part of the Body,” was prepared by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in cooperation with the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief, and the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. - New fees, rules discouraging visitors at St. Peter's basilica? (The Catholic Thing)
New rules and fees for visitors to St. Peter’s basilica may discourage tourists—and potential converts—write Elizabeth Lev. To alleviate crowding during the Jubilee Year, and to add needed revenue for the Holy See’s overstrained budget, the Vatican has instituted new fees and rules for tourists visiting St. Peter’s basilica and the Vatican Museums. (Registered pilgrims, carrying the Jubilee pilgrim card, are exempt.) Lev, who has guided tours around the Vatican for 20 years, reports that the new system has caused long lines, overcrowding, and massive confusion. Worse, Lev suggests, the system ignores the fact that some people who come to the Vatican as tourists will be inspired to become active believers. Rather than the following the spirit of the Jubilee, welcoming all to the Church, “the basilica’s arrangement has created two castes of visitors, the tourist and the pilgrim, under which system the tourist is seen more as a cash cow than a human in need of salvation.” - McCarrick dead at 94 (CWN)
Theodore McCarrick, the former cardinal who became the central figure in the sex-abuse scandal in the US hierarchy, has died at the age of 94. - French bishops approve process for adult victims of clerical sexual abuse (CWN)
At the conclusion of their spring meeting, the bishops of France approved a document that establishes a process by which adult victims who allege sexual abuse by diocesan clerics can receive support and seek redress. - Colombian bishops rue nation's healthcare crisis, offer to mediate (Conferencia Episcopal de Colombia)
Emphasizing that “health is one of the primary goods of the social order and a right of all,” the leaders of Colombia’s episcopal conference lamented the nation’s healthcare crisis and offered to facilitate dialogue to help end it. “We view with concern the growing difficulties in guaranteeing the right to health, especially timely access to medical care, the shortage of medications, the delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment, the serious financial situation affecting the health sector, the climate of uncertainty surrounding entities and institutions dedicated to promoting or providing this service and their providers, as well as the health personnel and workers associated with them,” the bishops said. They added: All social actors must avoid, particularly in this field, the temptation of corruption, bureaucratization, the desire to politicize a reality that serves exclusively the common good, not particular interests, or the desire to suppress joint efforts between the public and private spheres. - Papal almoner bringing ambulances to Ukraine (Vatican News)
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, has been by Pope Francis to Ukraine, brining a gift of four ambulances to assist with medical services for troops fighting against Russia. - Vatican notes McCarrick's death (CWN)
The Vatican noted the death of Theodore McCarrick, the former cardinal who was laicized in 2019. - Cameroon: missonary kidnpaped, quickly released (Fides)
An 83-year-old missionary was kidnapped in Cameroon on April 1 along with his aide. They were released two days later. Brother Huub Welters, a Mill Hill missionary, and his assistant Henry Kang were seized outside Bamenda, in a province where English-speaking separatists have clashed with the government. - Vatican newspaper laments brutality in Sudan (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In “Fuga da Khartoum” [Flight from Khartoum]—the most prominent front-page article in its April 5 edition—the Vatican newspaper lamented the atrocities committed by Sudan’s army as it reconquered the nation’s capital, nearly two years after a - Sexual orientation, women's 'pastoral responsibility' come to fore in Italian synodal assembly (CWN)
The Church in Italy concluded its second synodal assembly on April 3 with the publication of a message to the Pope, the approval of a motion, and the publication of participants’ priorities. - Is BBC afraid of Catholicism? (Catholic Herald)
Gavin Ashenden—once an Anglican priest and chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, now a Catholic convert—offers an explanation why the BBC will not allow Catholics to contribute to its “Thought for the Day” program. He argues that “Catholicism is dangerous to them, and they know it.” Ashenden writes: “Thought for the Day” has an editorial policy of presenting spiritual and theological truisms that are applicable to its audience. Inevitably that requires a commitment to a universalistic world view and a relativistic scale of ethical priorities. - Vatican marks 20th anniversary of St. John Paul's death with Mass, newspaper tributes (CWN)
On April 2, the Vatican marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Pope St. John Paul II (1920-2005), who governed the Church from 1978 to 2005. - Gang members murder 2 women religious in Haiti (Our Sunday Visitor)
As Haiti plunges deeper into violence, gang members killed two religious sisters in Mirebalais, a city of 100,000. Sister Evanette Onezaire and Sister Jeanne Voltaire were members of the Little Sisters of St. Thérèse, a Haitian religious institute dedicated to serving the poor. - Vatican 'foreign minister' and Russian counterpart talk about Ukraine (Vatican Press Office)
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’ Secretary for Relations with States, held a phone conversation on April 4 with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, to discuss prospects for peace in Ukraine. Archbishop Gallagher confirmed the Vatican’s readiness to continue humanitarian initiatives, particularly involving the exchange of prisoners. - Cardinal Re: At key moments, St. John Paul ignored views of Cardinals Wyszyński, Casaroli on Poland (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In an address for the 20th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s death, the dean of the College of Cardinals said that the Pope ignored Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński’s assessment of the Solidarity movement and Cardinal Agostino Casaroli’s advice to tone down his advocacy for human rights in Poland during his 1983 apostolic journey there. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said that Cardinal Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland, feared that the Solidarity movement would provoke a Soviet invasion—but after the Pope disagreed with his assessment and backed it, he, too, became a supporter. Cardinal Re recalled that Cardinal Casaroli, then the Secretary of State, urged the Pope to tone down his call for human rights in Poland, fearing it would provoke a crackdown on the Church there. Cardinal Re, now 91, added: John Paul II listened attentively to Cardinal Casaroli, but did not allow himself to be convinced: he continued on the line he had taken until the end. When he returned to Rome I remember that at the working dinner the next day he confidentially said, “I am happy that I was able to say everything that seemed right to me” ... John Paul II knew the strength of the Church in Poland better than Cardinal Casaroli. But in the case concerning the beginnings of Solidarity, I think he was able to see further only because of the special assistance that came to him from above through his constant prayer. - Pope continues 'slight' improvement, Vatican reports (Vatican News)
It the latest update on the recovery of Pope Francis from double pneumonia, the Vatican press office reported on April 4 that the Pope “has shown further slight respiratory, mobility, and voice-related improvements,” along with “a slight improvement in his pulmonary infection.” The “slight” improvements seemed to signal that the Pope would not return to normal activities soon. But the press office strongly hinted that some arrangements would be made to allow the Pontiff to make a public appearance this weekend. The update said: “On Sunday, the Angelus may take place in a different manner compared to previous Sundays.” The press office promised that more information on plans for the Sunday Angelus audience would be released on Saturday. The press office also said that the next briefing on the Pope’s recovery would be issued on Tuesday, April 8. However, in recent weeks, updates have frequently been released earlier than promised. - Cardinal Aveline elected president of French bishops' conference (CNA)
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille has been elected president of the French bishops’ conference. Pope Francis named him a cardinal in 2022, bypassing the new archbishop of Paris, and favored Marseille with a one-day apostolic journey in 2023. - Kansas priest shot and killed; suspect arrested (Our Sunday Visitor)
Father Raj Carasala was shot by an assailant in his rectory in Seneca, Kansas, on April 4, and died of his wounds at a local hospital. Police arrested an Oklahoma man, Gary Hermesch, and charged him with the crime. - More...