Pope sends message about violence in Rosario, Argentina
Crux
by Eduardo Campos Lima
2h ago
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – As random attacks by criminal organizations caused the deaths of transportation workers and led them to paralyze much of the normal life in the Argentinian city of Rosario, Pope Francis sent a video calling for measures that not only combat crime but “strengthen communities.” The wave of violence began a few weeks ago, after Santa Fe’s governor Maximiliano Pullaro published on social media pictures of shirtless inmates sitting on the floor of one of Rosario’s prisons, surrounded by armed guards. The scene, reminiscent of the crackdown on organized crime promoted by El Sal ..read more
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U.S. Catholic agency says proposed bill will improve aid effectiveness
Crux
by John Lavenburg
2h ago
NEW YORK – A proposed bill that incentivizes the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase collaboration with local organizations would help improve aid efficiency and effectiveness, according to the U.S. Bishops’ international humanitarian aid agency. The Locally-Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act was introduced in both the Senate and House on March 20. In both chambers the bill has been referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee, and still has a number of hurdles to cross before votes. Commenting on the legislation in a March 20 statement, Bill O’Keefe, the Ca ..read more
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Pope washes the feet of 12 women during Holy Thursday Mass
Crux
by Elise Ann Allen
18h ago
ROME – Pope Francis on Holy Thursday washed the feet of 12 women inmates at a Roman prison, notably including no men in the ritual, telling inmates to never tire of asking for God’s forgiveness. Speaking off-the-cuff during his March 28 Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the pope said, “At this moment of the supper, two episodes call our attention,” the first of which is “the washing of the feet.” With this act, “Jesus humbles himself, Jesus with this gesture made us understand what he said, ‘I did not come to be served,’ he taught the path of service,” he said. The second episode ..read more
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Pope during Holy Week urges Catholics to feel a little more ‘guilt’
Crux
by Elise Ann Allen
22h ago
ROME – In his first major liturgy for Holy Week, Pope Francis offered an extended reflection on the spiritual underpinnings of so-called “Catholic guilt,” a by now notorious concept associated with an almost compulsive need to feel overly guilty for any perceived offense. The roots of this concept come from an ancient tradition in Christianity called “compunction,” meaning a sense of remorse and repentance for one’s sins which for centuries has been a source of reflection by the Catholic Church’s most celebrated minds, many of whom are saints. Pope Francis dedicated his homily for his March ..read more
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Italy honors mafia victims in Holy Thursday Mass
Crux
by Elise Ann Allen
1d ago
ROME – An Italian association dedicated to keeping alive the memory of victims of mafia violence have donated oil produced at the site where two judges were killed to several Italian dioceses for the annual Holy Thursday Chrism Mass. Chrism is the sacred oil used to anoint faithful in the Church’s sacraments, such as Baptism, Confirmation, and the Anointing of the Sick. Each year during Holy Week, which precedes Easter and is the holiest week on the Church’s calendar, a special Chrism Mass is held in each diocese in which the oils that will be used in the sacraments for the upcoming year are ..read more
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Catholic Army chaplain, Servant of God, to get statue at Kansas Capitol
Crux
by John Lavenburg
1d ago
NEW YORK – A Catholic priest from the Diocese of Wichita who served as an Army chaplain in World War II and the Korean war, known for risking his life to minister to troops on the front lines, will soon have a permanent statue in his honor at the state Capitol. On March 22, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 431, which directs the Capitol Preservation Committee to create a memorial honoring Father Emil Joseph Kapaun at the state Capitol. The bill passed through both chambers of the Kansas Legislature with unanimous votes. “The Diocese is thrilled to witness the desire of the people o ..read more
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Brazilian priest becomes first Latin bishop in Cyprus in 340 years
Crux
by Eduardo Campos Lima
1d ago
SÃO PAULO, Brazil – After 340 years, Cyprus has once again a Latin bishop. On March 16, Brazilian-born Franciscan priest Bruno Varriano received in Nicosia his episcopal ordination from Cardinal Pierluigi Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and officially became the Patriarchal vicar of Cyprus. Varriano, who also holds an Italian citizenship, will lead a group of 16 priests and will keep accompanying a number of Latin Catholic communities, something that he has been doing since he arrived in the Mediterranean island in December of 2022. He will also work on the reorganization of th ..read more
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Nigerian group says U.S. presidential elections could be shaped by violence against Church
Crux
by Ngala Killian Chimtom
1d ago
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – A leading Nigerian criminologist and board chair of the Catholic inspired NGO, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) says the group could launch an international campaign urging American voters to vote out the Biden administration if it continues to turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. “The U.S. government must be compelled to take action, if not it should be voted out,” Emeka Umeagbalassi told Crux. “It is likely that we might launch an international campaign urging American voters to vote out the Democratic Par ..read more
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Belgian bishop defrocked: Last Week in the Church with John Allen Jr.
Crux
by John L. Allen Jr.
2d ago
Is the Pope okay? Vatican challenges German bishops ISIS attack in Russia a risk for Easter? Belgian bishop defrocked Remembering the Ardeatine massacres ..read more
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Facing Easter amid war, Pope urges Holy Land Catholics not to lose hope
Crux
by Elise Ann Allen
2d ago
ROME – As Christians throughout the Holy Land prepare for Easter against the backdrop of war, Pope Francis has sent a letter to the region’s Catholics assuring them of his closeness and urging them not to lose hope. He also met with two fathers, one Israeli and the other Palestinian, who have each lost children as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land and who are now friends. Prior to his March 27 general audience, Pope Francis met briefly with Bassam Aramin, who is Palestinian, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, before entering the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall for his weekly publi ..read more
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