At 10 am today, Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of the Lord, the Holy Father Pope Francis presides in Saint Peter’s Square at the solemn celebration of the Mass of the day. At the celebration, which begins with the ritual of “Resurrexit,” faithful of Rome and pilgrims from all over the world particpate in this ...read more

Worshippers carry a statue of the risen Christ during an Easter procession in Escazu, Costa Rica, April 8, 2012. (CNS photo/Juan Carlos Ulate, Reuters) ...read more

“Peter ran to the tomb” (Lk 24:12). What thoughts crossed Peter’s mind and stirred his heart as he ran to the tomb? The Gospel tells us that the eleven, including Peter, had not believed the testimony of the women, their Easter proclamation. Quite the contrary, “these words seemed to them an idle tale” (v. 11). ...read more

Today I’d like to share a reflection with you on the one line from the Apostle’s Creed, which many struggle with: “He descended into hell.” Today is that day. This reflection is from an ancient homily on Holy Saturday, part of the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday. The Lord descends into hell Something strange ...read more

EASTER MESSAGE OF HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Venerable Brothers and Sisters, Dearly Beloved in Christ of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church Christ is Risen! The first-born male from the virginal womb – Christ, who, as a man, has been called Lamb and unblemished, not having the stain of sin. He is our ...read more

Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead? Easter message by Bishop Douglas Crosby, O.M.I. Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops As Syrian refugees begin to settle into their new reality of life in Canada, stories of their journeys to this new land all have similar themes. ...read more

Nuns hold candles during the Easter Vigil Mass in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher April 7, 2012. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill) ...read more

“BE RECONCILED TO GOD” God . . . through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. . . . We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ...read more

Good Friday – Passion of the Lord Way of the Cross led by His Holiness Pope Francis Colosseum Rome, 25 March 2016 “God is Mercy” Meditations by Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti INTRODUCTION Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation (2 Cor 1:3) In ...read more

This evening at 9:15 pm, Pope Francis presides at the pious devotion of the Via Crucis at the Coliseum.  The ceremony will be broadcast worldwide. The texts of the meditations and prayers of the Stations of the Cross this year were prepared by Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, Archbishop of Perugia – Città della Pieve (Italy) on ...read more