St. James the Apostle Roman Catholic Church

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. / Credit: David Castor/Public domain

Seattle, Wash., Apr 23, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed more than 5,500 converts into the Catholic Church this Easter — the largest number in over a decade and a striking figure for the nation’s biggest archdiocese, according to leaders there.

Father Juan Ochoa, who directs the archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship, has been watching the numbers closely and told CNA he didn’t expect the surge.

“We usually see a 10% increase from the year before,” he said. “This year, it was about 45%. That’s significant.”

The group includes nearly 2,800 people baptized at the Easter Vigil — individuals with no previous affiliation to Christianity. 

Just as many were already baptized in other Christian traditions and received the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist in Catholic parishes across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

For many, the choice to enter the Church was deeply personal. Ochoa said the conversions this year felt different than other years.

“I can’t point to one reason,” he said. “It’s not just one thing. I think COVID made people reflect. For some, it created space to ask questions. And maybe now they’re ready.”

The release of the 2025 conversion numbers comes just after the death of Pope Francis. Ochoa didn’t hesitate when asked about the late pontiff’s impact. 

“He gave the Church a different image,” he said. “He reached people who didn’t feel seen. And because of that, some people started looking at the Church in a new way.”

For Ochoa, the late pope’s legacy lives on in the very people coming through the Church’s doors this Easter. 

“They’re not here because someone pressured them,” he said. “They’re here because something called them.”

He’s seen a growing number of parishes embrace that same outward focus. “Some pastors are realizing it’s not enough to keep doing what we’ve always done,” he said. “They’re asking how to reach the people who aren’t here yet.”

That shift has taken time. Ochoa pointed to the Office of New Evangelization and Parish Life, which has helped parishes think more intentionally about outreach. Instead of applying a single model everywhere, the office works with local leaders to understand what’s possible — and needed — in their community.

“I’ve worked in three different parishes,” Ochoa said. “Even with similar demographics, you can’t just copy and paste. What works in one place might not in another. Culture matters.”

He also credited a range of Catholic voices on social media and digital platforms for helping people learn about the faith — especially those who might have been hesitant to walk into a church right away. 

Elsewhere in the country, other dioceses are also reporting increases in adult conversions. Thomas Rzeznik, an associate professor of history at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and co-editor of the quarterly journal American Catholic Studies, believes it reflects a deeper moment. 

“There’s a hunger for meaning right now,” he said. “People are searching for something more grounded. And when they find a parish that’s welcoming and prepared, that can make all the difference.”

Even as national data show a decline in infant baptisms, the growth in adult initiations tells another story. Ochoa sees that contrast every year.

“Infant baptisms reflect culture, tradition,” he said. “But adult baptisms — that’s personal. It’s someone deciding, for themselves, that this is what they want. That matters.”

Thousands depart St. Peter's Square after praying the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis, Monday, April 21, 2025 / Credit: Kristina Millare/CNA

CNA Staff, Apr 23, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88. As Catholics around the world mourn his passing, a highly regulated process has now begun that will see the pope’s earthly body laid to rest and a conclave convened to elect his successor. 

As of this moment, the chair of St. Peter is vacant — and you may have seen the phrases “sede vacante” and “interregnum” being used to describe the present period. Here’s a breakdown of what those phrases mean. 

What does the phrase ‘sede vacante’ mean? 

“Sede vacante” is Latin for “the see being vacant,” indicating the period when a pope has died or resigned and a successor has not yet been chosen.

Sede vacante begins at the moment a pope dies or resigns and concludes when his successor accepts his election as pope. The College of Cardinals is entrusted with governing the Church during the sede vacante, but only for ordinary business and matters that cannot be postponed.

The phrase doesn’t only apply to the office of the papacy — if a bishop who is the ordinary of a diocese dies or is removed from his post by the pope, the episcopal see is “sede vacante” until a successor is appointed.

It’s worth noting that the phrase “sede vacante” has also gained usage among some Catholics who erroneously believe that the chair of St. Peter has been empty, with no legitimate pope, for decades. Adherents to this view are known as “sedevacantists” and are, under canon law, in schism because they reject the pope’s authority.

What is the ‘interregnum’?

“Interregnum” is a Latin word meaning “between the reigns” and can refer to the period between the reigns of any two rulers. In the case of the papacy, it refers to the period between the day of the death or resignation of one pope (which is counted as the first day of interregnum) and the election of his successor.

In papal documents, most notably Universi Dominici Gregis, issued by Pope John Paul II in 1996, the interregnum is referred to as the “vacancy of the Apostolic See.”

Three distinct phases take place during a papal interregnum: 

1. The Nine Days of Mourning (Novendiales)

The pope’s body is currently lying in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, permitting the faithful to pay their respects. Between the fourth and sixth day after the pope’s death, a solemn funeral for the pope is celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica by the dean of the College of Cardinals, with the other cardinals. (Obviously, this is not done in the case of a papal resignation.)

The College of Cardinals declares an official mourning period of nine days, called the “Novendiales,” typically beginning on the day of the pope’s funeral. On each of the nine days a different cardinal or Church official celebrates a public funeral rite for the Holy Father, following the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2024). 

Pope Francis had said that when he dies, he will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, and not — as has been the custom of popes for over a century — at the Vatican.

2. The preparation for the conclave

Preparations for the conclave to elect the new pope are begun after the papal funeral. Normally, the day on which the conclave begins is to be the 15th day after the death of a pope, the 16th day of the interregnum.

The College of Cardinals was given the faculty under Universi Dominici Gregis to defer its beginning “for serious reasons” up to the 20th day after death (21st day of the vacancy). However, under changes made by Pope Benedict XVI, the College of Cardinals is granted the faculty to start the conclave early if “it is clear that all the cardinal electors are present; they can also defer, for serious reasons, the beginning of the election for a few days more.”

3. The conclave

The conclave itself takes place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel under strict oath of secrecy; all of the cardinals are under penalty of automatic excommunication if they break the oath.

Cardinals, bishops, and Vatican officials walk alongside Pope Francis’ coffin in St. Peter’s Square on April 23, 2025, during the solemn transfer as Swiss Guards stand in formal formation. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 23, 2025 / 06:06 am (CNA).

Pope Francis’ coffin was carried Wednesday morning in solemn procession to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the late pontiff will lie in state for three days for mourners to pay their final respects and say goodbye.

The rite began in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, where Francis lived for the 12 years of his pontificate and where he was placed in a simple, zinc-lined coffin on April 21, hours after he died at the age of 88.

Members of the lay confraternity of chair-bearers, called “sediari pontifici,” carried Pope Francis’ coffin — led in procession by priests, bishops, and cardinals — through Vatican City and to St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of mourners waited in total silence for a glimpse of their former pope. 

To the sounds of bell tolls and Latin chants, Pope Francis, for the last time, passed over the same road he took hundreds of times before, when he would greet the crowds gathered to see him during turns around St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile. 

Flanked by eight Swiss Guards, the coffin was carried into St. Peter’s Square to loud applause, breaking through the solemn silence. The pope was carried across the left side of the square, up the incline, and through the main door of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

The choir chanted Psalms, the Kyrie, and the Litany of Saints as Francis’ body was carried down the center aisle of the Vatican basilica and his coffin placed on a low, wooden platform in front of the Altar of the Confession.

Four Swiss Guards stood watch as clergy and laypeople prayed together for Pope Francis following the rite of the “translation of the coffin of the Roman Pontiff Francis,” according to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Church’s liturgical book for the funeral rites of popes. 

The camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, presided over the rite, which included incensing and sprinkling the papal coffin with holy water, the sung proclamation of a passage from the Gospel of John 17: 24-26, intercessory prayers, and a prayer that God will “hear us as we pray in union with all the saints and welcome into the assembly of your elect the soul of your servant, our Pope Francis, who placed his trust in the Church’s prayer.” 

The prayer ended with the congregation singing the Our Father in Latin and the Salve Regina. The cardinals and bishops in attendance silently approached the coffin in two lines to pay their final respects, and around 45 minutes later, just before 11 a.m. local time, the first mourners were allowed to enter the Vatican basilica to see the pope. 

Pope Francis will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for the public to see, pray, and say goodbye, until the evening of April 25, when Farrell will close the coffin in preparation for the funeral Mass on the morning of April 26, which will be in St. Peter’s Square. 

April 26 will also mark the first day of a formal period of nine days of prayer and mourning in the Catholic Church, called the “Novendiales.” 

After his funeral Mass, the late pontiff will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, as he requested in his last testament. 

Cardinals, bishops, and priests carrying palm branches gather for the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, April 13, 2025. / Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 18:17 pm (CNA).

At the first general congregation of cardinals in Rome on Tuesday, the estimated 60 cardinals in attendance chose the date of Pope Francis’ funeral and suspended beatification celebrations.

The closed-door meeting to discuss the upcoming conclave and other issues pertaining to the interregnum took place at 9 a.m. local time the day after the death of the pontiff as cardinals hurried from around the world to the Eternal City. 

As part of the interregnum period, the cardinals will meet frequently to make various decisions about the upcoming papal funeral and conclave. 

The cardinals set the papal funeral for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, per his request, following the funeral. Pope Francis’ body will be transferred on Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects. 

Pope Francis’ funeral is the first Mass of the “Novendiales” — a nine-day cycle of liturgical and spiritual preparation for the conclave. Cardinals will arrive from around the world to participate in the general congregations before the conclave, known as "preparatory sessions.”

Tuesday’s hour-and-a-half assembly began with a moment of silent prayer for the repose of the soul of the late Holy Father. 

At the assembly, the cardinals suspended upcoming beatification celebrations until the newly elected pope takes office. 

During the meeting, the cardinals took an oath to follow the norms of the interregnum, which are detailed in Pope John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis. These norms include keeping “rigorous secrecy” around the election of the next pope.

The Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who serves as the camerlengo of the apostolic chamber, read Pope Francis’ will.

During the general congregations, the cardinals will convene on important decisions such as the date of the conclave and approval of necessary expenses. 

The conclave can begin as early as 15 days after the Holy Father’s death so that all voting cardinals may attend, according to Universi Dominici Gregis. Once a maximum of 20 days have passed, the cardinals are obliged to begin the conclave. However, the rules also permit an earlier start should the cardinals agree and all of the electors have arrived.

All cardinals are expected to participate in the conclave unless a serious impediment prevents them, while cardinals older than 80 are ineligible to vote in the conclave. Of the 252 Catholic cardinals, 135 have voting privileges in the conclave.

null / Credit: Wolfgang Schaller|Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 17:56 pm (CNA).

During oral arguments Tuesday, most of the justices on the United States Supreme Court appeared sympathetic toward parents in their lawsuit against a Maryland school board that refused to let them opt their children out of coursework that promotes gender ideology.

Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Muslim parents sued the Montgomery County Board of Education in May 2023 after the body ended its policy of notifying parents of coursework promoting homosexuality and transgenderism and allowing the parents to opt out.

Under the current policy, the school board only permits opt-outs in narrow circumstances, which is mostly related to sexual education in health class. It does not permit opt-outs for coursework that endorses the views that there are more than two genders, that a boy can become a girl, or that homosexual marriages are moral.

Some of the coursework initially introduced in the curriculum was designed to promote these concepts to children as young as 3 years old in preschool.

Eric Baxter, senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, represented the parents before the Supreme Court on April 22. He argued the school board’s policy violates the First Amendment of the Constitution by “indoctrinating” students about values that conflict with the religious beliefs of his clients.

“There’s no basis for denying opt-outs for religious reasons,” Baxter said. “... Parents, not school boards, should have the final say on such religious matters.”

He said that under the policy, there are “children of an extremely young age being indoctrinated in a topic that’s known to be sensitive.” He said it’s “designed to disrupt students’ … thinking on sexuality and gender identity.”

Alternatively, the school board’s lawyer, Alan Schoenfeld, acknowledged that these concepts are “deeply offensive to some people of faith” but said parents have no First Amendment right to opt children out of “learning about them.”

Schoenfeld said “the board wants to teach civility and respect for difference in the classroom” and, through that, “there is obviously an incidental message in some of these books that these life choices and these lifestyles are worthy of respect.”

“Incidental messages that these things ought to be normalized and treated with respect, I think, is simply part of the work that the school is doing in cultivating respect in a pluralistic school,” he added.

Most justices bothered by forced curriculum

The Republican-appointed justices, who account for six of the nine members of the court, expressed concern with the policy during oral arguments and appeared supportive of parents who want to opt their children out of the coursework.

“I guess I am a bit mystified, as a lifelong resident of the county, how it came to this,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh told Baxter during the oral arguments.

Kavanaugh repeatedly grilled Schoenfeld on why the board could not provide opt-outs, noting that the county previously had an opt-out, and “every other school board in the country has opt-outs for all sorts of things.”

Schoenfeld said the opt-outs ceased to be feasible because of the high rates of parents opting their children out in some schools and the inability to secure spaces and supervision for all of the children opted out of the coursework.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted that some of the instruction materials given to teachers on the subjects are “not just exposure to the idea” but rather a “presentation of the idea as fact.”

“It’s saying ‘this is the right view of the world, this is how we think about things, this is how you should think about things,’” Barrett added. “This is like ‘two plus two is four.’”

“We have the books being read in the classroom,” she said. “It’s not mere exposure.”

Barrett pressed Schoenfeld on numerous support materials given to teachers to help instruct students on these matters, which included telling the children that “people of any gender can like whoever they like” and that “when we’re born, people make a guess about our gender and label us ‘boy’ or ‘girl’ based on our body parts — sometimes they’re right; sometimes they’re wrong.” 

“So it was part of the curriculum to teach them that boys can be girls or that your pronouns can change depending on how you feel one day to the next,” Barrett said. “That was part of the goal?”

Schoenfeld said the materials “are to help a teacher answer a student’s questions” and to explain concepts like homosexuality and transgenderism but argued that the material is not a “script” and that children are not forced to affirm those statements.

At one point during oral arguments when Schoenfeld argued that the children do not have to agree with the material in the book or the statements by teachers, Chief Justice John Roberts interjected to say: “Is that a realistic concept when you’re talking about a 5-year-old?”

Justice Samuel Alito specifically referenced one of the books, called “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” which he said “has a clear moral message” promoting a homosexual marriage and a scene in which the mother of a girl instructs her: “You shouldn’t have any reservations about this.”

“The book has a clear message and a lot of people think it’s a good message and maybe it is a good message, but it’s a message that a lot of people that hold on to traditional religious beliefs don’t agree with,” Alito said. “I don’t think anybody can read that and think, ‘Well this is just telling children that there are occasions when men marry other men.’”

Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed concern that the coursework is “being used in English language instruction at age 3,” adding that it appears to be designed “to influence students.”

Schoenfeld suggested it is only meant to influence the children on “civility.”

Where to draw the line

Some of the justices who were appointed by Democrats, which are three of the nine members, expressed concerns about constitutionalizing the issue and that acknowledging a broad constitutional right for opt-outs could produce lawsuits on a variety of subjects.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, for example, said there are “a lot of sincerely held beliefs” and asked Baxter whether an “opt-out” proclamation from the Supreme Court could apply to a student objecting to having a transgender classmate or a gay teacher displaying a photo of his same-sex wedding. 

“This is not just about books,” Jackson said. “This is about exposure to people of different sexual orientations and the sincerely held objection that children shouldn’t be exposed to this.”

Baxter said, however, that a student cannot tell a teacher what to say or object to a transgender classmate under the “opt-out” policies that his clients are requesting.

A panoramic view of St. Peter’s Square filled with faithful attending Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican on April 20, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 17:08 pm (CNA).

With the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Catholic Church has entered a mourning period, which will include nine days of Masses offered for the repose of his soul known as the “Novendiales.”  

Rooted in ancient Christian and Roman customs, the Novendiales is a period of nine consecutive days dedicated to mourning the death of a pope. The practice dates back centuries, mirroring the ancient Roman tradition of a nine-day funeral rite.

According to Church law, while the mourning period begins immediately upon the pope’s death, marking the official start of the “sede vacante,” or papal interregnum, the Novendiales will begin on the day of the pope’s funeral, scheduled for April 26, and will be followed by consecutive days of Masses until May 4.

In the days leading up to the funeral, the late pope’s body is placed in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful can pay their final respects. Pope Francis will lie in state from Wednesday morning until the funeral Saturday morning. 

The funeral: A global farewell 

Between the fourth and sixth day after the pope’s death, the papal funeral takes place in St. Peter’s Basilica or St. Peter’s Square, presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, who is currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Pope Francis’ funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. Rome time.

The funeral follows the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, the Vatican’s official liturgical text for papal funerals, which was updated at Pope Francis’ request in 2024. The late pope’s face, his body having been placed in a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, is covered with a silk veil. 

The ceremony is attended by heads of state, religious leaders, and thousands of faithful from around the world. At the end of the Mass, the traditional antiphon “In Paradisum” is sung, asking for the angels to guide the pope’s soul to heaven. 

“May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.” 

Pope Francis, in accordance with his personal wishes expressed in his final testament, will not be buried in the Vatican grottoes but instead at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a basilica that he visited more than 100 times during his papacy before and after his international trips in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

The Novendiales  

The nine-day period of Novendiales Masses begins on the day of the pope’s funeral, in accordance with the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.

Each day, a cardinal chosen by the late pope presides over a requiem Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Red is the liturgical color for the Novendiales Masses, which follow the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2024).

While the Masses are open to the public, each day traditionally focuses on a particular group associated with the pope. The day after the funeral, Vatican City residents and employees are typically invited to attend. On the third day, clergy from the Diocese of Rome concelebrate the Mass, and on the seventh day, members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are invited. 

The Holy See Press Office has confirmed that the Mass scheduled to take place in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Teenagers on Sunday morning presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin will be the second Novendiales Mass. The following Masses will take place in the afternoon each day until May 4. 

The general congregations 

The mourning period is not only a time of prayer but also of preparation. Throughout the Novendiales, the College of Cardinals gathers daily for general congregations to discuss the Church’s next steps. Cardinals under the age of 80, who are eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, are required to travel to Rome to take part in the election of the next pope. 

The first general congregation can take place as soon as two days after the pope’s death. In these initial meetings, the cardinals focus on funeral arrangements and setting a date for the conclave.  

By the eighth general congregation, discussions shift to the broader state of the Church and the major issues facing the Roman Curia. The Vatican has emphasized that no names of papabile — cardinals considered leading candidates to be elected pope — are brought up during these pre-conclave congregations.  

The mourning period concludes with the end of the Novendiales, after which the Church formally begins the process of selecting the next successor of Peter. The conclave typically begins around the 15th day after the pope’s death. 

As the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica toll in mourning, Catholics around the world pause to reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis. For nearly two weeks, the Church waits before the conclave begins and then waits a little longer for the white smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel once again, signaling the election of a new pope. 

Pope Francis reiterated his call for peace for Gaza and the Holy Land in his April 20, 2025, urbi et orbi message. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2025 / 16:33 pm (CNA).

“He told us he was praying for us, blessed us, and thanked us for our prayers on his behalf,” said Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, summing up Pope Francis’ last call on Saturday night, April 19, moments before going to St. Peter’s Basilica to pray before the Easter Vigil.

The deeply moved Argentine priest explained in detail to Vatican News the Holy Father’s final gesture of closeness toward them, two days before his death.

“Pope Francis is a pastor who loves and follows this small community of ours. He prays and works for peace,” said Romanelli, noting that since the pontiff’s death, the Christian communities in Gaza — Catholic and Orthodox — have united in prayer for Pope Francis.

The priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word did not hesitate to convert the parish complex in Gaza into a makeshift shelter during the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The parish currently houses 500 people. The majority are Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and Catholics, but it also serves as a shelter for more than 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families.

Romanelli recalled how, over the past 19 months, the Holy Father has maintained constant contact with Gaza. “He was concerned about how we were doing, whether we had eaten, about the children,” the priest related.

In fact, he didn’t even stop calling to console them during the 38 days he was in Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis that led to double pneumonia.

“We hope that his appeals won’t be ignored: that the bombing will stop, that this war will end, that the hostages will be released, and that humanitarian aid will reach those who are suffering,” Romanelli said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Francis greets the crowd from the popemobile on Easter Sunday morning, April 20, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 15:54 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis greeted the faithful around the world for the last time from St. Peter’s Basilica on the most important day for Christians: Easter, the heart and foundation of the Catholic faith that proclaims Christ’s triumph over sin and death.

On the morning of April 20, before tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis appeared from the central loggia of the basilica to deliver his Easter message.

His face marked by fatigue and his voice broken by his difficulty breathing, the Holy Father delivered with great effort what would be his last blessing: “Dear brothers and sisters: Happy Easter!” A day later, on the morning of April 21, Pope Francis died at the age of 88.

In his Easter message, read Sunday by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical ceremonies, the Holy Father expressed his profound longing for peace and hoped “that the principle of humanity as its cardinal axis may never fail.”

“On this day, I would like us to once again hope and trust in others — even those who are not close to us or who come from distant lands, with customs, lifestyles, ideas, and habits different from those we are most familiar with — for we are all children of God,” Pope Francis expressed.

At the end of his message, the pontiff gave the faithful one of those “surprises” that have characterized the final days of his pontificate since he was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 23.

Pope Francis made the circuit of the packed square for about 20 minutes, greeting the 35,000 faithful with affection and warmth from the popemobile, the crowd reciprocating with applause and cheers, a scene captured for posterity.

Since his discharge from the hospital, Pope Francis appeared in public on several occasions, always unexpectedly, without an official public agenda.

Although he was not expected to receive large groups or hold audiences during his convalescence, he reappeared for the first time on April 6 to participate in the Jubilee of the Sick.

He also held a private meeting with the British monarchs after the cancellation of their official visit to the Vatican, and on April 10, he surprised everyone with a visit, without papal attire, to St. Peter's Basilica to pray at the tomb of St. Pius X.

The Holy Father also visited St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani” (“Protection of the Roman People”), to whom he always held a great devotion. On Palm Sunday, he could be seen without nasal cannulas greeting the cardinals and faithful at the end of Mass.

Just five days ago, he visited Rome’s Regina Coeli prison on the afternoon of Holy Thursday to meet with 70 inmates. He also reappeared at the Vatican basilica on Holy Saturday to be close to the faithful who were about to celebrate the Easter Vigil.

In addition, on April 16, he received at the Vatican 70 members of the medical teams of Gemelli Hospital to thank them for their care during his hospitalization.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Manila, Philippines. / Credit: Kagejuni001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rome Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 14:37 pm (CNA).

Cardinal José Advíncula, OP, and Cardinal Pablo David — two of three cardinal electors appointed by Pope Francis — on Tuesday presided over requiem Masses in the Philippines and praised the late Holy Father for his humble service and love for the poor and wounded.

Speaking to Catholic faithful gathered inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (also known as “Manila Cathedral”) in the country’s capital, Advíncula, who was made a cardinal in 2020, said Filipinos should be “filled with gratitude” for the gift of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

“From the very beginning of his Petrine ministry, the Holy Father has reminded us that the Church must be close to the poor, merciful to all, and a welcoming home for the forgotten,” the prelate said on Tuesday morning.

Referring to the pope as “Lolo [Grandpa] Kiko,” the cardinal archbishop of Manila said Francis had a “special love for Filipinos all over the world” and “embraced” the joy and faith of Asia’s largest Christian nation. The Philippines has a Catholic population of approximately 85 million people, according to the country’s latest census.

“We will always remember his visit to our country in 2015 — a moment of grace forever etched in our national memory,” he said. “Under the rain in Tacloban, standing with the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, Pope Francis showed us what it means to suffer with others and find hope in the midst of pain.” 

“His presence, prayers, and preaching have confirmed us in faith, enlivened our hope, and animated us to charity,” he added.

David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines who was created a cardinal in the pope’s last consistory in December 2024, presided over the Tuesday afternoon requiem Mass at the San Roque Cathedral Parish in the Diocese of Kalookan. 

Describing the pope as a “bridge builder,” David said the Argentine pontiff wanted an inclusive Church that builds “bridges over troubled waters” and not walls to divide people in society.  

“Today we weep and mourn the passing of our beloved Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who, in spite of his advanced age, was able to serve as successor of Peter, bishop of Rome and supreme pontiff,” the cardinal said in homily.

“Pope Francis taught us how to treat not just fellow Catholics, not just fellow Christians, not just fellow believers, but all human beings — and even every fellow creature in our common home — as a fellow traveler in a common journey as fellow pilgrims of hope,” he said.

“[Jesus] never meant the Church to be an exclusive company of the righteous,” he added, saying: “He always meant the Church to be a field hospital for the wounded and the sick.”

Advíncula and David are expected to travel to Rome to participate — alongside fellow Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization — in the upcoming conclave to elect the next leader of the universal Church. It will be the first time in the Church’s history that three Filipino cardinals will participate in a papal conclave.

A memorial for Pope Francis is set up at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of the Coptic Catholics in Qusiya, Egypt. / Credit: Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of the Coptic Catholics in Qusiya

ACI MENA, Apr 22, 2025 / 13:56 pm (CNA).

On Monday morning, April 21, the Christian world was shaken by the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. His death marked the end of a life of faith and service that spanned decades, culminating in 12 years of humble service as the Roman pontiff.

In the midst of the Easter season — a time Francis long proclaimed as a message of hope — churches across the Middle East are bidding the pope farewell with liturgies and prayer, while Arab leaders are paying tribute to him with messages of respect and appreciation. 

Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church offered prayers on behalf of the synod, clergy, and faithful for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul, asking the Lord to reward him with the inheritance of the kingdom for his pastoral service and profound acts of charity. The patriarch presided over a special Easter Monday Mass for his repose and invited bishops and priests to commemorate the pope in the Eucharistic celebrations.

The Chaldean Patriarchate Louis Raphaël I Sako also expressed deep sorrow at the loss of a pope described as “great” in humanity, openness, love, and spirituality. The patriarchate recalled his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021, affirming the belief that Francis had entered the kingdom of heaven during the glorious Easter feast.

Catholicos-Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian of the Armenian Catholic Church quoted St. Paul in his tribute: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Tm 4:7-8). He affirmed that Pope Francis lived as a true shepherd, full of mercy and a tireless proclaimer of peace in a world thirsting for hope.

In Egypt, the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops, headed by Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac of Alexandria for Coptic Catholics, mourned the Roman pontiff, describing him as a symbol of humility and mercy who dedicated his life to serving humanity and advocating for the poor and marginalized, radiating a message of peace and reconciliation among peoples.

In Jerusalem, Latin patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, announced a holy Mass to be held on Wednesday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for the repose of the pope’s soul, expressing heartfelt gratitude for his service to the universal Church.

The Coptic Orthodox Church, led by Pope Tawadros II, also expressed its condolences to the Catholic Church, praising Pope Francis’ love, humility, and authentic Christian witness — calling him a living testimony of faithful service.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch described Pope Francis as a bearer of a lofty Christian mission, noting that his departure is a loss for all humanity, especially given his repeated calls for peace and an end to wars across the globe.

The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon praised the pope’s ministry, marked by profound compassion for every suffering soul. The council urged priests to offer Masses and the faithful to pray the rosary for his repose. It also called on Catholic churches and monasteries to ring bells at noon on the day of his funeral, Saturday.

Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem expressed deep sorrow, calling the pope’s life “a living witness to the Gospel and a model of true Christian discipleship.” He recalled Pope Francis’ request for a simple funeral as a final act of humility.

Patriarch Mar Awa III of the Assyrian Church of the East remembered the pope as a man of genuine and sincere Christian spirit. He noted the symbolic timing of his death on Easter Monday, saying it reflected his closeness to Christ. The patriarch highlighted Pope Francis’ remarkable legacy, especially in advancing ecumenical dialogue and promoting unity among the churches.

From the Islamic world, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar, paid a heartfelt tribute, referring to Pope Francis as a “brother in humanity” and a noble figure of compassion. He commended the pope’s tireless efforts to foster interfaith dialogue, including the historic 2019 signing of the Document on Human Fraternity. Al-Tayeb emphasized Pope Francis’ firm stand against Islamophobia and his support for justice in Gaza.

Several Arab leaders also mourned Pope Francis, including the presidents of Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq, and Egypt.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote on X: “My sincere condolences to Catholics around the world. Pope Francis was a global symbol of tolerance, love, and solidarity. He worked with the UAE for years to promote these values for the benefit of all humanity.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.