Stories for April 2025

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Apr. 18

 In Easter encyclical, Ecumenical Patriarch recalls Nicaea anniversary
 Pope’s Good Friday meditations emphasize God’s promises
 Cardinal Parolin speaks on Ukraine, Gaza, and Trump
 Jerusalem’s Christian leaders issue Easter message
 Vatican forbids removal of names from baptismal registers
 80,000 register for Jubilee of Teenagers
 Texas House passes $1B school-choice legislation backed by bishops
 Vatican informed of allegations against Abbé Pierre in 1955, French journalists find
 Once-secret records show how San Francisco archdiocese handled abuse allegations
 Religious sister accused of ‘forced conversion’ in central India
 Judge bars enforcement of Biden-era regulations against diocese, employer
 Over 2,000 to be baptized in Malaysia on Easter Vigil
 USCCB publishes Q and A on immigrant registration

Released Thursday, Apr. 17

 Lourdes sanctuary announces 72nd confirmed miracle
 At Chrism Mass, Pope’s message calls priests to ministry of hope
 Chartres pilgrimage organizers: early registrations overwhelm system
 Rome’s rabbi, Pope exchanges greetings
 Pope makes Holy Thursday visit to Rome prison
 New French converts cite influence of social media
 Jerusalem patriarch exhorts priests to hope in Jesus
 Detroit’s new archbishop ends traditional Latin Mass in parishes
 Father Lazzarotto, pioneer of relations with China in 1970s, dies at 99
 Pope recommends lower holiday travel fares to reunite families
 Vatican spokesman defends historicity of Resurrection accounts
 Corruption is destroying Kenya, bishop warns
 West Virginia enacts Parents’ Bill of Rights
 Typical new US priest: 34-year-old cradle Catholic who prays Rosary, takes part in Eucharistic adoration
 Cardinal Parolin, VP Vance to meet in Rome

Released Wednesday, Apr. 16

 UK Supreme Court rules sex is biological
 Pope launches new catechetical series on parables
 Vatican sending donation to help Myanmar earthquake victims
 Phoenix diocese opens new seminary
 Vatican lists celebrants for Easter vigil, Easter Sunday
 Pope hosts Gemelli Hospital staff at private audience
 Nicaragua bans processions, public Easter celebrations
 US author Marilynne Robinson writes front-page Easter reflection for Vatican newspaper
 Holy Land’s former Custos decries indifference to Gaza’s suffering
 Situation for Sudan’s Catholics is ‘dire’; Trump aid cuts, says missionary, are compounding civil war’s tragedy
 Vatican diplomat calls for governance of AI, rues lack of progress toward universal connectivity
 Cardinal Parolin, in book preface, hails greatness of Chinese civilization
 Federal judge declines to halt Trump administration’s immigration-raid policy
 Archbishop, other Catholic leaders implore Congress: Protect Medicaid, SNAP, Child Tax Credit

Released Tuesday, Apr. 15

 Pope updates curriculum for Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
 Convicted Bishop Zanchetta overdue for return to Argentine house arrest?
 English dioceses report surge in young adult male converts
 Peru-based lay movement, Sodality of Christian Life, formally suppressed
 Vatican updates on papal health, Holy Week schedule
 Armenian leader protests Vatican conference on Azerbaijan
 New revelations bolster Cardinal Becciu’s claim of unfair trial
 Missouri lawmaker: make Easter a federal holiday
 US abortions rose slightly in 2024
 Former nun details allegations of sexual and psychological abuse against Father Rupnik
 Pope visits Santa Maria Maggiore
 10 years after death, Cardinal Tucci recalled at memorial Mass
 Cardinal Fernández blesses statue of Mystical Rose, a year after letter on apparition
 ‘We are not afraid,’ Jerusalem Patriarch emphasizes in Palm Sunday message
 Brazilian priest, devoted to Mary and the Eucharist, angered Masonic lodge before his martyrdom
 Support policies that strengthen family life, Vatican diplomat urges
 President Trump issues Passover greetings

Released Monday, Apr. 14

 President Trump issues Holy Week statement
 Canadian bishops’ leader: confront Catholic politicians on life issues
 Architect Gaudi’s cause for beatification advances
 Papal nuncio in Ukraine: nothing left but turn to God
 Former USCCB official sues gay-dating app for career damage
 Nigerian priest fear rumors of bishop’s arrest
 Vatican tightens rules for Mass stipends
 On Palm Sunday, Pope greets pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square
 Papal preacher, in final Lenten sermon, reflects on Ascension
 Bring the Gospel to all, Pope tells students at Opus Dei-affiliated conference
 Become a Simon of Cyrene for one another, Pope writes in Palm Sunday homily
 Sudan is focus of renewed papal peace appeal
 Papal Angelus address: Trust in the Father, as Jesus did
 US bishops call for passage of Religious Workforce Protection Act

Released Friday, Apr. 11

 Pope’s health bulletin: continued ‘slight’ improvements
 Myanmar air strikes destroy Catholic church
 Catholic activist wins an argument with AI
 Archpriest explains renovation projects at St. Peter’s basilica
 Vatican notice on Carlo Acutis canonization: papal role uncertain
 Vatican newspaper continues lionization of Teilhard de Chardin with 5-article tribute
 Abandon the ‘fallacy of nuclear deterrence,’ Holy See urges
 Maronite Patriarch calls for aid to Syria so that refugees can leave Lebanon, return home
 Thailand’s bishops oppose legalization of gambling
 Cardinals tout book on vocations and sexual orientation; Pope Francis writes preface
 Architectural historian to lead commission for protecting Holy See’s monuments
 Jerusalem Patriarchate’s CEO offers ‘bleak but realistic’ assessment of situation in Holy Land

Released Thursday, Apr. 10

 Illinois bishops drop opposition to restrictions on homeschooling
 Pope meets with Britain’s King Charles
 Pope sends condolences after Santo Domingo nightclub disaster
 Cardinal Parolin seen as an unlikely conclave choice
 Ethiopia: ransom paid, but no news of kidnapped priest
 VP Vance planning trip to Rome?
 French dioceses welcoming surge of conversions
 Peru’s bishops: Cardinal Cipriani free to claim innocence
 Pope makes surprise visit to Vatican basilica
 USCCB outlines 4 policy priorities in letter to Congress
 Holy See calls for debt-free assistance to middle-income countries
 Suspicious financial reports down in Vatican, watchdog finds
 Papal encouragement for Vatican cardinal on mission in Ukraine
 Vatican newspaper devotes page to Teilhard de Chardin in honor of 70th anniversary of his death
 Contemplate Jesus on the Cross and persevere in prayer, Pope writes to Italian pilgrims

Released Wednesday, Apr. 9

 Free your heart, Pope urges in catechetical message
 Vatican official explains support for mission dioceses
 Pope’s opposition to Latin Mass causing divisions among young Catholics
 Trump’s nominee as ambassador to Vatican faces Senate confirmation hearings
 USCCB committee chairman calls on President Trump to lead the way on international debt relief
 EU bishops, other Christian leaders weigh in on priorities for the EU
 Ukrainian Catholic leader links nation’s fight, future of democracy worldwide
 Former Jerusalem Patriarch, other Christians fear imminent Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories
 Vatican foundation awards economy and society prize to work on AI
 Synod council discusses 3-year implementation phase
 Vatican newspaper highlights papal opposition to death penalty as ‘total’ reversal in direction

Released Tuesday, Apr. 8

 Vatican reports ‘slight’ improvements in Pope’s condition
 Islamic countries dominate capital-punishment reports
 St. Egidio community welcomes 700 Afghan refugees
 Catholics now outnumber Anglicans among young British churchgoers
 Vatican pension fund in crisis
 Father Spadaro, Vatican official, pays tribute to Teilhard de Chardin
 USCCB will not renew refugee, children’s services agreements with federal government
 Bavaria announces ecumenical religious instruction in schools
 North American bishops denounce Trump administration’s immigration policies
 Theme announced for World Day of Prayer for Creation: ‘seeds of peace and hope’
 Cloistered nun meets with Pontiff
 Vatican spokesman: Pope’s surprise appearance shows importance of physical presence
 Papal encouragement to Salesians during general chapter

Released Monday, Apr. 7

 10 million Christian immigrants in US could face deportation
 Is BBC afraid of Catholicism?
 Papal almoner bringing ambulances to Ukraine
 Cameroon: missonary kidnpaped, quickly released
 New fees, rules discouraging visitors at St. Peter’s basilica?
 Vatican notes McCarrick’s death
 Colombian bishops rue nation’s healthcare crisis, offer to mediate
 French bishops approve process for adult victims of clerical sexual abuse
 Vatican newspaper laments brutality in Sudan
 Papal Angelus reflection: the ‘finger of God’ writes a new story for the woman caught in adultery
 Ailing Pope shocks pilgrims at Jubilee of the Sick by appearing at conclusion of Mass

Released Friday, Apr. 4

 McCarrick dead at 94
 Eastern Catholic churches seen as bridge toward unity with Orthodox
 Kansas priest shot and killed; suspect arrested
 South Korean bishops call for reconciliation after president’s impeachment
 Vatican ‘foreign minister’ and Russian counterpart talk about Ukraine
 British pro-lifer sentenced for silent vigil
 Pope continues ‘slight’ improvement, Vatican reports
 Papal greetings to Slovak Jubilee pilgrims
 Cardinal Aveline elected president of French bishops’ conference
 Cardinal Re: At key moments, St. John Paul ignored views of Cardinals Wyszyński, Casaroli on Poland
 Sexual orientation, women’s ‘pastoral responsibility’ come to fore in Italian synodal assembly
 Vatican spokesman emphasizes importance of Council of Nicaea
 Gang members murder 2 women religious in Haiti

Released Thursday, Apr. 3

 Did India’s bishops alienate Muslims?
 New Vatican statement underlines achievement of Council of Nicea
 Estonia’s President meets with Cardinal Parolin
 New rules to restrict religious activities by foreigners in China
 Catholic college president defends commencement honor for McAleese
 Pope encourages charismatics to share experience
 Azerbaijani becomes 56th language available on Vatican News
 Vatican hosts screening of The Chosen: Last Supper
 Ukrainian Catholic leader links St. John Paul’s legacy, nation’s struggle for freedom
 Axe-wielding man attacks Christian parade in Iraq
 Pope, in message, praises La Civiltà Cattolica for ‘rigorous respect for truth’
 ‘Look less at screens, and look each other in the eyes more,’ Pope urges in video
 Catholic aid organizations in a race against time, obstacles to provide relief in Myanmar
 Vatican marks 20th anniversary of St. John Paul’s death with Mass, newspaper tributes

Released Wednesday, Apr. 2

 Vatican UN envoy wants interest-free loans to ‘middle-income’ countries
 Vatican investigator warns: Institute of the Incarnate Word resisting reform
 Pope’s subject for weekly address: Zacchaeus meets Jesus
 Ecumenical group denounces Israeli displacement of Palestinians
 Vatican releases Holy Week liturgical schedule without naming celebrants
 Spain no longer a Catholic country, archbishop says
 Cardinal Nichols, in pastoral letter, denounces assisted-suicide bill
 Flashback 20 years ago: the death of Pope John Paul II
 Syracuse abuse victims back $100M bankruptcy plan
 Kentucky lawmakers defy court decision, order return of Ten Commandments monument to capitol
 Church in Bahrain takes further root with introduction of child missionary society
 Report finds 111 attacks on Israeli Christians in 2024; most perpetrated by ‘ultra-Orthodox’ Jews
 Italian synodal assembly begins: dialogue with the world is essential, says Cardinal Zuppi
 Cardinal Parolin calls on mankind, Europe to turn to Christ, seek healing, peace

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Sat19 April
Lent

Holy Saturday — Easter Vigil

Image for Holy Saturday — Easter Vigil

On Holy Saturday, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death and on his Descent into Hell and awaiting his Resurrection. The Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation…

Learn more about this day.

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