Catholic News

• 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.
• New Vatican statement underlines achievement of Council of Nicea (Vatican News)
  Looking forward to ecumenical celebrations of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, the International Theological Commission (ITC) has issued a statement: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” The ITC statement expresses hope that the anniversary observances will give “new impetus to the journey toward Christian unity.” In particular the document mentions the “hope for an agreement on a common date for the celebration of Easter.” The Nicene Creed, the document states, along with the Council itself, “bear witness to the same event of Jesus Christ, whose irruption into history offers unprecedented access to God and introduces a transformation of human thought.” The full ITC document, in the original Italian, is posted on the web site of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. An English translation is not yet available.
• New rules to restrict religious activities by foreigners in China (AsiaNews)
  The Chinese Communist Party has issued new regulations, which will take effect May 4, strictly regulating the religious activities of foreigners in China. The new rules require foreigners to seek permission from government officials before participating in any religious activity, and require obedience to the rules set forth by the Communist Party. In practice the rules mean that foreigners in China can worship only in places and in ways sanctioned by the government. The regulations would, for instance, make it illegal for a visitor to join in worship with the “underground” Catholic Church.
• Pope, in message, praises La Civiltà Cattolica for 'rigorous respect for truth' (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
  In a message for the 175th anniversary of La Civiltà Cattolica, Pope Francis praised the influential Jesuit journal that “has accompanied so many generations, like a friendly presence, offering useful indications for interpreting the events of the world in the light of faith.” “I would like to express my deep appreciation for the intelligent service that you render to the Holy See and to the Church, in carrying out a journalistic activity that favors rigorous respect for the truth, giving space to debate and dialogue,” the Pope added in his message to Father Nuno da Silva Gonçalves, SJ, the journal’s current editor. Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other leading Vatican officials attended an event marking the anniversary, as did Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
• Pope encourages charismatics to share expeirience (Vatican Press Office)
  In a message of encouragement to participants in a Jubilee pilgrimage of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal International Service, Pope Francis told that their spiritual experience “is not meant for you alone. It is for everyone!” The Pope said that “just just as the beating heart pumps blood throughout the entire body, you desire to dedicate yourselves not only to the Church but also open yourselves to her universal dimensions, making your own the intentions of the Holy Father, especially for peace and reconciliation.”
• Catholic college president defends commencement honor for McAleese (CatholicVote)
  The president of St. Mary’s College in Indiana has defended the text decision to invite former Irish President Mary McAleese to deliver this year’s commencement address. Katie Conroy denied that McAleese supports abortion, saying that in 2018 she voted only to “give Parliament the authority to consider and legislate” on the issue. During the debate on that measure, when Bishop Kevin Doran warned that legislators who favored it were guilty of serious sin, McAleese replied that such cautions are “man-made rules.” McAleese has been a strong proponent of women’s ordination and favored recognition of same-sex unions. On these issues, Conroy wrote, “Church teaching continues to evolve.”
• Vatican hosts screening of The Chosen: Last Supper (Vatican News (Italian))
  The Vatican Film Library hosted a special screening of The Chosen: Last Supper. Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz. secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and Elizabeth Tabish, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene, took part in the event. “The Chosen is one of the most watched series in the world, with over 280 million viewers, 900 million views of individual episodes (translated into 50 languages), and more than 17 million followers on social media,” Vatican News reported.
• 'Look less at screens, and look each other in the eyes more,' Pope urges in video (The Pope Video)
  In a video for his April prayer intention (proper use of new technologies), Pope Francis exclaimed, “How I would like for us to look less at screens and look each other in the eyes more!” “Something’s wrong if we spend more time on our cell phones than with people,” he said in the video. “The screen makes us forget that there are real people behind it who breathe, laugh, and cry.” “It’s true, technology is the fruit of the intelligence God gave us,” he added. “But we need to use it well”: “to help the poor, to improve the lives of the sick and persons with different abilities,” and “to care for our common home, to connect as brothers and sisters.” The monthly videos typically include excerpts from a papal interview that had been recorded live; there are no such excerpts in this video. Instead, the video features a recorded commentary from the Pope—and the recorded voice is strong, suggesting that his convalescence is proceeding well.
• Axe-wielding man attacks Christian parade in Iraq (AP)
  A man wielding an axe attacked an Assyrian Christian parade in Duhok, a city of 340,000 in northern Iraq. Three people were injured in the attack, with two suffering skull fractures. “Witnesses said the attacker, who has not been officially identified, ran toward the crowd shouting Islamic slogans,” the Associated Press reported. “Videos circulated online showed him pinned to the ground, repeatedly shouting, ‘Islamic State, the Islamic State remains.’”
• Catholic aid organizations in a race against time, obstacles to provide relief in Myanmar (Our Sunday Visitor)
  The recent devastating earthquake in Myanmar (map) has brought a devastating loss of life, a “high number of injuries,” and “wide-scale destruction,” said Cara Bragg, country manager for Catholic Relief Services. “We are bringing emergency supplies to the affected areas and doing our best to reach the people in need as soon as possible,” she said. Aid efforts, however, are hampered by the military regime’s decision to reject calls for a ceasefire in the nation’s civil war.
• Ukrainian Catholic leader links St. John Paul's legacy, nation's struggle for freedom (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
  Speaking at a conference in Poland, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, spoke on Ukraine and the legacy of Pope St. John Paul II. “John Paul II is not merely a historical figure for us Ukrainians,” he said. “His message and charisma remain deeply relevant today, reflecting both our present reality and our calling to true freedom in the future—a freedom we must defend, even at the cost of our own blood.” The Major Archbishop added: John Paul II had the courage to stand for life from its natural beginning to its natural end. He once addressed the oligarchs of Ukraine, saying: ‘Take care not of your own profit and financial gain, but of the dignity of human life.’ He reminded Ukrainians of the words of Volodymyr Monomakh: ‘Do not let the strong destroy the weak’—words that now resonate prophetically in our hearts. He admonished politicians, especially those in whose hands the fate of entire nations rests.
• Did India's bishops alienate Muslims? (UCANews)
  John Dayal, the secretary-general of the All India Christian Council, has expressed concern that the nation’s bishops may have damaged relations with the Muslim community by supporting a government initiative to change laws regulating the donation of Muslim properties for religious or charitable use. The Indian bishops supported the proposal, which will benefit Christian families living on property claimed by Muslim charities. But the measure could cause resentment among Muslims, who—like Christians—frequently suffer from adverse treatment under a Hindu-nationalist government.
• Azerbaijani becomes 56th language available on Vatican News (Vatican News)
  Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, has begun its news service in a 56th language: Azerbaijani. “In today’s world, the media is an increasingly powerful tool for spreading the truth, fostering hope, and strengthening the faith of believers,” said Bishop Vladimír Fekete, SDB, prefect of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, a Caucasus nation of 10.7 million (map), is 97% Muslim and 2% Christian (primarily Orthodox). Seven priests minister to 600 Catholics in two parishes.
• Estonia's President meets with Cardinal Parolin (Vatican Press Office)
  With Pope Francis still not holding meetings as he recovers from double pneumonia, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, met on April 3 with Estonia’s President Alar Karis. A brief Vatican report indicated that the conversation centered on church-state relations, and particularly the coming beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, a Jesuit martyr, who will be the first Estonian to attain beatification. The discussion also included international affairs, with special emphasis on efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
• Cardinal Parolin calls on mankind, Europe to turn to Christ, seek healing, peace (Vatican News (Italian))
  Preaching at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 1 for the second Italian synodal assembly, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, compared mankind and Europe to the paralytic in the day’s Gospel reading. Mankind, he said, is “in the grip of the madness of power on the one hand and heavily wounded by violence on the other.” He continued: Do you want to get well? Do you really want to free yourself from the illusory logic that paralyzes you? Because first of all you need to put your inner resources into motion. If so, then get up, take your stretcher and walk. That is, free yourself from everything that prevents you from walking towards healing and peace . Mankind can free itself through Jesus, “the source of gushing water,” Cardinal Parolin explained, since Christ is capable of “making everything he touches to flourish again.”
• Pope's subject for weekly address: Zacchaeus meets Jesus (Vatican Press Office)
  In his weekly catechetical message for April 2, continuing his series of meditations on Christ’s encounters in the Gospel, Pope Francis focused on the story of Zacchaeus, saying that “It has a special place in my spiritual journey.” Zacchaeus was a short man, the Pope remarked, a reminder that we all “have limitations that we have to deal with.” In this case, Zacchaeus took the initiative to climb a tree so that he could see Jesus. Jesus not only sees him but comes to his home. There, “after listening to Jesus’ words of forgiveness, [Zacchaeus] stands up, as if he were arising from a condition of death.” The Pope’s catechetical address is ordinarily delivered during this Wednesday public audience. While the Pontiff recovers from pneumonia, and audiences are not taking place, the Vatican is releasing his prepared texts.
• Vatican releases Holy Week liturgical schedule without naming celebrants (Vatican Press Office)
  The Vatican has released a schedule of liturgical events for Holy Week and Easter, without naming the prelates who will act as celebrants. Still unsure whether Pope Francis will have recovered sufficiently to take part in public events, the Vatican listed the Palm Sunday Mass, the Chrism Mass, Good Friday devotions, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Mass—including the urbi et orbi blessing—but did not name celebrants.
• Spain no longer a Catholic country, archbishop says (CNA)
  The president of the Spanish bishops’ conference has reminded his colleagues that it is wrong to assume that anyone Spanish is Catholic. Archbishop Luis Arguello, speaking at the opening of the meeting of the episcopal conference, said: “The has passed, settled for centuries, when we said: I’m Catholic because I was born in Spain.” Meanwhile, Catholic protesters held a demonstration outside the bishops’ headquarters to register their disapproval of the bishops’ decision to cooperate with a government plan to “resignify” the Valley of the Fallen. Built to honor the victims of the Spanish Civil War and to promote reconciliation, the memorial houses a basilica and a Benedictine monastery. The Socialist government wants to convert the memorial to secular purposes. The bishops’ conference is currently negotiating a compromise solution.
• Flashback 20 years ago: the death of Pope John Paul II (CWN)
  The CWN report that follows originally appeared on April 2, 2005.
• Cardinal Nichols, in pastoral letter, denounces assisted-suicide bill (Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales)
  Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster has issued a pastoral letter encouraging Catholics in the United Kingdom to contact their representatives in Parliament, urging opposition to a bill that would make assisted-suicide legal. In the letter—which will be read as all parishes in the diocese this weekend—the cardinal makes a special point of saying that Parliament has moved hastily toward approval of a bill “which has not been properly scrutinized and which will bring about damaging consequences.” “It is sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide,” the cardinal writes.
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