Catholic News
- Dozens killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria (CWN)
Dozens of Christians were killed in Easter attacks across Nigeria. - New DNA research confirms Shroud of Turin's passage through the Middle East (Vatican News)
DNA research on the Shroud of Turin “suggests the likelihood that the cloth passed through the Middle East,” according to a summary of new research provided by Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The principal author of the research was Gianni Barcaccia, professor of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Padua. She and her coauthors wrote: Over 55.6% of the human DNA corresponds to lineages from the Near East, while Western European lineages account for less than 5.6%. The presence of 38.7% of the overall human genomic data from Indian lineages is unexpected and is potentially linked to historical interactions associated with importing linen or yarn from regions near the Indus Valley. - Zambia's bishops deplore mob killing of woman (AMECEA)
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly condemned the mob killing of Eneless Kamutumbe, a 46-year-old woman. The Zambia Monitor reported on the accusation that led to the mob violence, as did the Zambian Observer. - Colombian cardinal washes feet of transgender prostitutes (CWN)
Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio of Bogotá, Colombia, washed the feet of transgender prostitutes on Holy Thursday, according to multiple Latin American media reports. - Cardinal Nichols ponders why more people are becoming Catholic (Catholic Herald)
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, until recently the archbishop of Westminster, England, reflected on the reasons behind the increasing number of conversions. He listed four: the search for belonging, the search for meaning, the beauty of Catholicism, and the Eucharist. He concluded: One day, I asked a woman, married to a Catholic for over twenty years and now seeking full communion, what had taken her so long. Her answer: “Nobody ever asked me!” This, too, is well worth pondering. - Pope Leo at Easter Sunday Mass: 'Death no longer has power over us' (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Mass of Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square this morning (booklet, video) and emphasized that Christ’s Resurrection has overcome the power of death. - The Gospel needs to reach the oppressed, Pope tells pilgrims on Easter Monday (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today contrasted the reactions of the guards at Christ’s tomb, who spread the “fake news” that Christ’s body had been stolen, with the reaction of the women at the tomb, who spread the Good News of the Resurrection. This Good News, the Pope said, needs to “reach, above all, those oppressed by the evil that corrupts history and confuses consciences.” - Pope Leo, in Easter message, proclaims Christ's Resurrection, urges prayer for peace (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed his Easter message urbi et orbi (to the city and the world) from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at midday today (video). The Pontiff reflected on Christ’s Resurrection, lamented indifference to violence and the “deaths of thousands of people,” and called on the faithful to “implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars.” - Growing fear among Iraq's Christians; Holy Week processions cancelled (CWN)
Amid attacks from Iran and rising Shiite Islamic fundamentalism within Iraq, churches in northern Iraq, from Mosul to Erbil, cancelled outdoor processions during Holy Week, the Vatican newspaper reported. - 'Bring everyone the good news that Jesus is risen,' Pope Leo preaches at Easter Vigil Mass (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica tonight (booklet, video) and called on the faithful to “bring everyone the good news that Jesus is risen.” - In Sudan, some Christians are experiencing a 'real passion,' bishop says (CWN)
The bishop of El-Obeid, Sudan, said that Christians there are experiencing a “real passion” amid the Sudanese civil war. - To defray costs of papal journey, Spanish bishops offer top donors chance to meet Pope (Crux)
To encourage donations to cover the cost of the Pope’s upcoming apostolic journey to Spain, the nation’s bishops are offering a private papal audience to donors who contribute more than €500,000 ($577,200), as well as “a working meeting at the Vatican, and reserved spaces at the events during the trip,” the Crux news agency reported. Those who contribute between €250000 ($288,600) and €500,000 have the same benefits, “except the meeting with the Pope won’t be private,” according to the report. “Requesting support, in this case, is our way of covering the material costs of a trip of this magnitude without these falling on taxpayers,” a spokesman for the episcopal conference said. - Myanmar: Easter Vigil celebrated for the first time in 3 years in Loikaw (CWN)
The Easter Vigil was celebrated in the cathedral in Loikaw, Myanmar, for the first time in three years. - Israeli president, Pope Leo discuss Iran war (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV discussed the need for diplomacy and the protection of civilians during a telephone conversation this morning with President Isaac Herzog of Israel. - Pope presides at Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter's, Via Crucis at Colosseum (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV presided at the liturgical Celebration of the Passion of the Lord this afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica before presiding at the Via Crucis at the Colosseum earlier tonight. - Nigerian diocese, army deny report of attack on cathedral (CWN)
In separate statements, the Nigerian army and the Diocese of Sokoto denied a social media report that the cathedral and bishop’s residence there were attacked. - Cardinal Pizzaballa celebrates Holy Thursday Mass in Church of Holy Sepulchre, days after he was denied entry (CWN)
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem celebrated the Holy Thursday evening Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (video), four days after Israeli police denied him access to the church on Palm Sunday. - As Jesus washed our feet, let us serve others, Pope preaches at Holy Thursday evening Mass (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Lateran Basilica this evening (video) and reflected on Christ’s act of washing the feet of His apostles. - Pope Leo, at Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, preaches on the Christian mission in 'this dark hour of history' (CWN)
Stating that “mission is not a heroic adventure reserved for a few, but the living witness of a Body with many members,” Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica this morning (booklet, video) and reflected on the “mission to which God calls us as his people,” in a time the Pope described as “this dark hour of history.” - More...