Pope Francis (1936–2025), who led the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, emphasized God’s infinite mercy throughout his pontificate. / Credit: EWTN News
Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Pope Francis’ death today marks the end of a h… […]
EWTN Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw meets with Pope Francis during an audience with participants in the plenary meetings of the Dicastery for Communication, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. / Credit: Vatican Media
CNA Staff, Apr 21, 2025 / 08:40 am… […]
Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 06:20 am Pope Francis has died at 88. Indian Prime Minister Modi: Pope Francis was ‘beacon of compassion’ April 21, 2025 at 05:47 am ET Indian Prime Minister Narendra […]
Pope Francis’ shadow is seen at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 06:20 am (CNA).
Pope Francis has died at 88. Follow here for the latest live updates:
[…]
Pope Francis dies at 88: The Holy See has confirmed the passing of the first Latin American pontiff. / Credit: EWTN News
Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 05:48 am (CNA).
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday, April 21, a… […]
Pope Francis wishes the crowd a “Happy Easter” from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 07:12 am (CNA).
Pope Francis decried the numerous conflicts plaguing the planet and appealed to world leaders “not to yield to the logic of fear” in his Easter message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and to the world) on Sunday.
The pope’s traditional blessing, “urbi et orbi,” was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, as the 88-year-old pontiff, still convalescing, was present but physically limited.
Francis, who arrived at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in a wheelchair, greeted the faithful with a brief “Brothers and Sisters, Happy Easter” before asking Archbishop Ravelli to read the message on his behalf.
“I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development,” the message stated.
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis from the balcony of the Loggia of Blessings at St. Peter’s Basilica greeted the world with a simple “Happy Easter.” The Master of Ceremonies read the traditional Urbi et Orbi message, before imparting his blessing with a plenary indulgence. pic.twitter.com/CmZsyinK1g
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) April 20, 2025
Earlier in the morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Casa Santa Marta, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, provided an opportunity for the two to exchange Easter greetings.
Vice President Vance met Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday regarding international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.
The pope’s Easter address — delivered amid a confluence of global conflicts — focused particularly on war-torn regions, including Ukraine, the Holy Land, Myanmar, and various parts of Africa.
Regarding Gaza, where “the terrible conflict continues to generate death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation,” Francis called for concrete action: “I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!”
The Holy Father also lamented the “growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world” while expressing closeness to “the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people.”
The pope’s message emphasized that “there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.” He added that peace is also impossible without “true disarmament,” warning against the “race to rearmament” that threatens global stability.
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of Easter, Francis reminded the faithful that Christ’s resurrection represents “the basis of our hope” and that “hope does not disappoint!” He characterized this hope not as “an evasion, but a challenge” that “does not delude, but empowers us.”
The message “urbi et orbi” concluded with the pontiff’s customary invocation for a peaceful world: “Let us entrust ourselves to him, for he alone can make all things new.”
This year’s Easter celebration held particular significance as it coincided with this year’s 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and was celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar.
After the blessing, Pope Francis greeted jubilant pilgrims from the popemobile, to shouts of joy from the crowd. It was the first time the pontiff used the popemobile to visit the square since his hospitalization.
Last updated on April 20, 2025, with further details.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance meets Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 at the Vatican / Screenshot / Vatican Media
CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 07:26 am (CNA).
Pope Francis met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sun… […]
Iman Hijaze and her mother, Hadidza, at St. Joseph’s House. / Credit: Alexey Gotovskiy/EWTN Vatican Bureau
Rome Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
In 2017, while working at the World Food Program office in the Azarieh building in downtown… […]
Rows of daffodils decorate St. Peter’s Square during Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican on April 20, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 06:10 am (CNA).
Under clear spring skies and surrounded by thousands of faithful gathered in a St. Peter’s Square adorned with vibrant yellow daffodils, Pope Francis’s Easter Sunday homily called Christians to actively seek the risen Jesus in their daily lives, urging believers to “run” just as the disciples did after discovering the empty tomb.
“We must look for him without ceasing,” emphasized the pope’s text, which was delivered by Cardinal Angelo Comastri on April 20. “Because if he has risen from the dead, then he is present everywhere, he dwells among us, he hides himself and reveals himself even today in the sisters and brothers we meet along the way.”
Earlier in the morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Casa Santa Marta. The meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, provided an opportunity for the two to exchange Easter greetings.
Vice President Vance previously met Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday to international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.
The homily described how the Gospel account of Easter features the disciples “running” to discover Christ’s resurrection. This physical movement, the text explained, symbolizes the spiritual dynamism required of Christians.
“The protagonists of the Easter narratives all ran!” the homily stated. “This ‘running’ expresses, on the one hand, the concern that the Lord’s body had been taken away; but, on the other hand, the running of Mary Magdalene, Peter and John expresses the desire, the yearning of the heart, the inner attitude of those who set out to search for Jesus.”
The prepared text emphasized that followers of Christ “cannot remain stationary” but must “take action” to seek Jesus “in life,” “in the faces of our brothers and sisters,” and “in everyday business” — “everywhere except in the tomb.”
Pope Francis warned against confining Christ “to a fairy tale” or thinking of him “as a statue in a museum,” insisting instead on the living presence of Jesus in the world today.
The homily highlighted the radical nature of the Easter faith, describing it as “anything but a complacent settling into some sort of ‘religious reassurance.’” Rather, “Easter spurs us to action” and “invites us to have eyes that can ‘see beyond.’”
The homily concluded with a prayer asking for renewal: “Lord, on this feast day we ask you for this gift: that we too may be made new, so as to experience this eternal newness. Cleanse us, O God, from the sad dust of habit, tiredness and indifference.”
This year’s Easter celebration took on special significance as it coincided with the current Jubilee Year, with the homily specifically noting how “the Jubilee invites us to renew the gift of hope within us.”
Incense is dispensed at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 19, 2025 / Credit: Zosia Czubak
Vatican City, Apr 19, 2025 / 20:25 pm (CNA).
Catholics celebrated Easter Vigil in the Holy Night at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday, marking what Pope Francis in his homily said was the moment when “the divine light of the Resurrection begins to shine” and “the Lord’s Passover from death to life takes place as the sun is about to rise.”
Still recovering from his bout with pneumonia, the Holy Father delegated the liturgy to be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who read the pope’s homily during the Mass.
Hundreds of clergy were in attendance, including nearly three dozen cardinals.
© Catholic World Report