- At Chrism Mass, Pope recalls tears of St. Peter (Vatican News)
In a lengthy homily at the Chrism Mass on March 28—Holy Thursday—Pope Francis exhorted the priests of the Rome diocese to imitate the example of St. Peter, who wept bitterly when he realized how he had betrayed Jesus. The Pope observed that “the healing of the Apostle, the healing of the pastor, came about when, grief-stricken and repentant, he allowed himself to be forgiven by Jesus.” He went on to say, “If we fail to weep, we regress and grow old within.” - Vatican cardinal leads Holy Week prayer vigil for recently martyred Christians (CNA)
Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, presided at a prayer vigil at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew in Rome, in remembrance of Christians slain in recent years for their faith.“In the martyrs, we see that communion with Jesus is far more precious than earthly life, family ties, everything,” said Cardinal Farrell. - See the face of Jesus, Pope urges Catholics in El Salvador (Vatican News)
Pope Francis sent a message to the Catholics of Sonsonate, El Salvador, who are celebrating the 420th anniversary of the arrival of a beloved image of Jesus of Nazareth. In his message, which was read aloud by Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona at a service in the Sonsonate cathedral on March 28, the Pope said that the image, and the traditional veneration of that image, give the faithful an opportunity to “go up into the presence of the Lord and speak with him ‘face to face, as a man speaks to a friend.’” - South Sudan's suffering people are on 'brink of destitution,' bishop says (Our Sunday Visitor)
“The number of internally displaced persons who are living in deplorable conditions and are starving has increased tremendously across the country, with the most affected being women, children, the aged, and people living with disabilities,” Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, South Sudan, wrote in a recent letter.“Consider the South Sudanese mother who watches her child die because of malnutrition caused by severe hunger; the young man who dies in the hospital because there is no medicine to treat him; the 9-year-old girl who, for a piece of ‘bambe’ (potato), is forced to sell her body; and the emaciated old woman who is lying inside her ramshackle hut awaiting death to take away her suffering,” he added, as he pleaded for international assistance.The nation of 12.1 million (map), plagued by drought and flooding as well as the effects of civil war, is 61% Christian (38% Catholic), 31% ethnic religionist, and 7% Muslim; it gained independence from largely Muslim Sudan in 2011. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in February 2023. - War is a 'catastrophe' for Holy Land's Christians, abbot says (Aid to the Church in Need)
In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel of the Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem discussed the catastrophic effects of the war on the Holy Land’s Christians.Christians, he said, were among those killed in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and in the subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza. In addition, “many Christians work as bus drivers, restaurant owners, hotel staff, or tour guides. The lack of pilgrims has resulted in an economic catastrophe for them.” - Idaho prohibits discrimination against religious believers in adoption and foster care cases (Religion Clause)
The State of Idaho has enacted legislation barring discrimination against adoption and foster care agencies, as well as individuals, on account of religious beliefs.For nearly two decades, Catholic adoption agencies in some places have experienced discrimination for declining to place children with homosexual couples. More recently, an Oregon widow and mother was denied the opportunity to adopt because of her lack of support for transgenderism. - Canadian territory's capital imposes property tax on churches (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Representatives of the only Catholic church in Iqaluit, the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut (map), have appealed a property tax imposed on churches in 2022.The parish paid $41,000 (US$31,120) in property taxes in 2023.A representative of the parish suggested that the church might take legal action or file a human-rights complaint if the city council did not grant the exemption.Pope Francis visited Iqaluit during his 2022 apostolic journey to Canada. - Sri Lanka bishops call for 'major change' in nation's system of governance (Daily Mirror (Colombo))
In their Easter message, the bishops of Sri Lanka called for a “major change” in the nation’s political system.“Easter is being celebrated at a time when the country is facing a severe social, political and economical crisis,” the bishops stated, according to the Colombo-based Daily Mirror.“It is essential to bring in a major change to the country’s governing system to ease the people’s suffering,” they continued. “It is the responsibility of all citizens to work towards bringing this change.”Buddhism is the official religion of the South Asian nation of 23.3 million (map). Sri Lanka is 68% Buddhist, 13% Hindu, 9% Muslim, and 9% Christian. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2015. - Catholic Army chaplain, Servant of God, to get statue at Kansas Capitol (Crux)
The State of Kansas will create a memorial at the state capitol honoring the Servant of God Emil Kapuan (1916-1951).The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly, passed the state house and state senate unanimously.