Vatican & World News

-   Pope Leo will celebrate Easter Vigil this evening. -   The Cuban government announces it granted pardons to over 2,000 prisoners in light of Holy Week. -   The Easter Vigil is being celebrated for the first time in three years in the cathedral of Loikaw, in eastern Myanmar.

-   Almost 3500 people have died across the Middle East, as war continues for a fifth week -   Vatican Secretary of State and Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See meet following incident with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. -   Pope Leo calls to pray for priests who are facing a personal crisis in their vocation in the month of April.

-   The Pope meets with a delegation of Municipal leaders from his home state of Illinois. -   The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says an agreement has been reached with Israeli authorities to ensure Easter celebrations at one of Christianity's holiest sites. -   The Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, writes a letter to his diocese describing the severe humanitarian crisis he witnessed on a recent visit to Cuba.

-      Pope Leo XIV undertakes a one-day apostolic visit to the Principality of Monaco -      In his meetings with authorities, the catholic community and young people, he has words of encouragement for the witness of Christian faith and the building of the common good -      Concluding his visit with the celebration of Holy Mass, the Pope reminds the faithful never to get used to the clamour of war

-      U.S. President Donald Trump says he will delay plans to begin destroying Iranian energy facilities for another 10 days -      Teresa Morris Kettelkamp steps down from her role as Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors -      The Preacher of the Papal Househod, Fr Roberto Pasolini, holds his final Lenten meditation on the theme “The freedom of the children of God. Perfect joy and death as a sister.”

-   Israel says it plans to take control of a large part of southern Lebanon -   The Holy See warns of emerging digital bias as it marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination -   Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to the Principality of Monaco, its archbishop speaks of the spiritual fragilities of the tiny state

-   Pope Leo meets with the Italian airline responsible for bringing him on his apostolic journeys. -   The prior of Taizé community reflects on what he considers the biggest danger in the West regarding the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. -   The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem cancels this year’s Palm Sunday procession due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.  

-   Pope Leo urges the Focolare Movement to promote unity and peace within their organization and throughout the world. -   Sacred music returns to the Sistine Chapel with the World Premiere of a concert entitled Angels Unawares. -   The 17th GreenAccord International Forum on sustainability concludes in northeastern Italy after four days of discussions.

-   The Church in the Amazon region announces its new presidency -   The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concludes its Spring Assembly, a week-long meeting which was focused on victim–survivor engagement and strengthening accountability -   In his third Lenten meditation, the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Roberto Pasolini, reflects on the theme of mission and proclaiming the Gospel to every creature.

- On the 10th anniversary of the publication of Amoris Laetitia, Pope Leo calls presidents of national Bishops’ Conferences to come to Rome in October. - The former Custos of the Holy Land appeals for an end to violence, stressing that the only weapons Christians should use are "prayer and fasting." - The GreenAccord's 17th Forum on sustainability kicks off in Treviso, Italy.

-   Pope Leo XIV continues his cycle of catecheses dedicated to the Second Vatican Council -   19 days into the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the Israeli conflict in Lebanon, the death toll continues to rise amid concern for the far-reaching economic consequences of the war -   The Holy See calls for the dismantling of barriers that prevent women from accessing justice

-   Over 2000 people have died in the Middle East, as US-Israeli strikes in Iran continue for a third week. -   Cardinal Pizzaballa says that truth must continue to be told about the ongoing violence in the Middle East. -   In a statement the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations calls for religious freedom to be upheld.

-   Pope Leo urges Christians who bear responsibility for war to make a serious examination of conscience. -   Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe shares his experience visiting war-torn Ukraine over the last two weeks. -   A Franciscan priest recounts the importance of displaying the relics of St. Francis for the first time ever.

-   Conflict in the Middle East continues to rage on into the 13th day with Iranian attacks on oil tanks in the Gulf. -   At least sixty-four people died in southern Ethiopia after heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in the Gamo Zone. -   Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín as the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, known as the Papal Almoner.

-   Pope Leo XIV expresses his sorrow for the death of a Maronite priest killed in Lebanon while he was assisting a parishioner -   The Synod’s Study Group number 5 publishes its final report focusing on women in the Church -   Environmental academics and representatives gather at the Laudato si’ Village to discuss integral ecology and sustainability

 - The Israeli air force launches new strikes in three different areas of Iran  - The Order of Malta is working to support the population of Lebanon where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced  - The Holy See Press Office announces the itinerary for Pope Leo’s upcoming visit to Monaco