Israeli police block cardinal, custos from entering Church of the Holy Sepulchre
In an incident described as unprecedented, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, along with Father Francesco lelpo, Custos of the Holy Land and the official responsible for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from entering the church as they made their way to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.
According to a joint statement issued March 29 by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land, police stopped the two church leaders on their way as they were proceeding privately “without any ceremonial or liturgical manifestations,” and forced them to turn back.
The statement noted that, for the first time in centuries, this action prevented church leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It described the incident as a “serious and dangerous precedent,” adding that it “disregards the sentiments of millions of believers around the world whose eyes turn to Jerusalem during this week."
Isaac Herzog, president of Israel, said in a statement on social media that he called Pizzaballa and lelpo to express sorrow over the incident.
“I clarified that the incident stemmed from security concerns due to the continuous threat of missile attacks from the Iranian terror regime against the civilian population in Israel, following previous incidents in which Iranian missiles fell in the area of the Old City of Jerusalem in recent days,” Herzog wrote. “I reaffirmed the State of Israelʼs unwavering commitment to freedom of religion for all faiths and to upholding the status quo at the holy sites of Jerusalem.”
Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Israel, expressed gratitude for Herzogʼs “conciliatory” and “gracious” statement in a post on social media.
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The March 29 statement by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land emphasized that church leaders had acted with full responsibility, noting that since the beginning of the war they had complied with all imposed restrictions, including canceling public gatherings and limiting attendance, while relying instead on broadcast celebrations reaching hundreds of millions of faithful worldwide during the Easter season. It further stressed that preventing the patriarch and the custos of the Holy Land—who represent the highest ecclesiastical authorities responsible for the Catholic Church and the holy sites—from entering the church constitutes a measure that is “clearly unreasonable and disproportionate.”
The decision, the statement added, was “hasty and based on flawed grounds,” “tainted by inappropriate considerations,” and represents “a serious departure from the fundamental principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo.” In conclusion, the two church leaders expressed their “deep regret” to Christians in the Holy Land and around the world after “prayer on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar was prevented in this manner.”
Celebrations under restrictions
On the security front, Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land continue to experience heightened tensions amid the ongoing regional conflict, which has directly affected daily life and the practice of religious rites. According to media reports, preparations for religious celebrations such as Easter and Holy Saturday have been accompanied by strict security measures, with some traditional events canceled due to security threats and reports of rockets landing near religious sites in the Holy City. Authorities have imposed limits on gatherings and restricted access to certain holy places.
On Palm Sunday, Pizzaballa said Mass at the Basilica of All Nations in Gethsemane. He recalled Jesus weeping as mentioned in Luke 19:41: “As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it.”
Pizzaballa has repeatedly highlighted the deep suffering of Christians in the region amid the ongoing conflict, calling for prayer and support for Christian communities facing increasing challenges due to war and insecurity. In previous statements, he emphasized the importance of providing spiritual and moral support to Christians in the Holy Land, underscoring the need for them to remain in their homeland and affirming that the Church continues its mission and services despite ongoing risks.
Reports from religious and community sources have also pointed to a rise in attacks against Christians and Christian properties in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including acts of violence by settlers. These developments, according to various reports, reflect the deteriorating security conditions for Palestinian Christian communities amid ongoing settlement expansion, increasing the risk of displacement and further diminishing their historic presence in the Holy Land.
This story was updated at 1 p.m. ET on March 29, 2026, to include comments from Isaac Herzog, president of Israel, and Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Israel. It was further updated at 1:50 p.m. ET March 29, 2026 to include information about Pizzaballaʼs celebration of Palm Sunday Mass.
Pope Leo XIV says God ‘does not listen’ to prayers of those who wage war
Pope Leo XIV on Palm Sunday sharply condemned war and the use of religion to justify violence, saying during Mass in St. Peter’s Square that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”
At the start of Holy Week, the pope tied the Church’s contemplation of Christ’s Passion to the suffering of people caught in today’s conflicts, especially Christians in the Middle East.
In his Palm Sunday homily, Leo repeatedly presented Christ as the “King of Peace,” contrasting Jesus’ meekness with the violence surrounding him as he entered into his Passion.
“We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms abounds him,” the pope said. “He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence.”
Leo said Christ “did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war” but instead “revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence.”
“Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history,” the pope said.
The pope then issued one of the strongest lines of his homily, rejecting any attempt to invoke God in support of armed conflict.
“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Leo said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’”
The Palm Sunday liturgy, which opened Holy Week, began with the traditional procession in St. Peter’s Square with cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and thousands of faithful carrying palms and olive branches.
In his homily, Leo reflected on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a war horse, saying the moment fulfilled the prophecy of a king who would “command peace to the nations.”
Recalling the Gospel account of Peter drawing a sword to defend Jesus, Leo cited Christ’s rebuke: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”
The pope said that in the crucified Christ “we can see a crucified humanity.”
“In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today,” he said. “Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”
“Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!”
Following the Mass, Leo returned to the theme of war during the Angelus, praying in particular for Christians in the Middle East who have been prevented in some places from fully taking part in Holy Week rites.
“At the beginning of Holy Week, our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days,” he said.
“Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s Passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering. Their ordeal challenges all our consciences.”
The pope added: “Let us raise our prayer to the Prince of Peace that he may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace.”
Leo also remembered “the maritime workers who have fallen victim to the conflict,” adding: “I pray for the deceased, the wounded and their families. Land, sky and sea were all created for life and peace!”
He further called attention to migrants who died in the Mediterranean, saying: “Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who lost their lives in recent days off the coast of Crete.”
Near the end of his homily, the pope entrusted his plea for peace to the intercession of Mary, quoting the Servant of God Bishop Tonino Bello and praying that “the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up.”
He concluded the Angelus by asking the Virgin Mary to accompany the faithful through the days ahead.
“May she guide us during these holy days, so that we may follow Jesus, our Savior, with faith and love,” he said.
This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, EWTN News’ Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Ahead of Angola papal visit, journalists urged to ‘deepen knowledge’ of Catholic Church
LUANDA, Angola — The coordinator of the communications commission of the preparatory committee for the planned apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Angola has urged journalists to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Church to ensure accurate and responsible reporting on the upcoming papal trip.
Speaking on March 21 during the Jubilee of Angolan Journalists and Communication Professionals at the Journalists’ Training Center in Luanda, Bishop António Francisco Jaca emphasized that credible coverage of the papal events requires familiarity with the Church’s structure, mission, and foundational texts.
The event, which gathered about 120 journalists, forms part of the preparations for the apostolic visit scheduled for April 18–21.
Jaca encouraged media to consult key ecclesial documents such as the Code of Canon Law, the social doctrine of the Church, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church when covering Church-related matters.
“These documents are not necessarily for continuous reading like a novel but for consultation whenever necessary, enabling journalists to deepen their knowledge and speak more precisely on religious matters,” said Jaca, who leads Angola’s Benguela Diocese and doubles as the president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe. He is also a member of the Society of the Divine Word.
Jaca said the availability of Church resources on digital platforms has made it easier for journalists to access authoritative information while also increasing their responsibility to verify facts and avoid superficial interpretations.
He warned that insufficient knowledge of ecclesial realities can undermine the quality and credibility of media reporting.
“Understanding the Church is also understanding an important dimension of the lives of many Angolan citizens,” he said.
Reflecting on the ethical responsibilities of journalists, he stressed that communication should promote truth, justice, and social cohesion. Misuse of media, he cautioned, can foster division and even trigger conflict, particularly in a digital environment shaped by social media and artificial intelligence.
“To communicate means to create harmony and promote the common good,” Jaca said, urging journalists to resist misinformation, sensationalism, and hate speech as they cover Church events and public affairs.
The 62-year-old bishop also noted that journalists play a significant role in shaping public perception and must respect human dignity in their work.
“Truth must always be the guiding criterion of journalistic work,” he said, noting that responsible reporting contributes to a more just and balanced society.
The training program at the Journalists’ Training Center is part of the jubilee celebration that began on March 20 with reflections on its spiritual significance and concluded on March 22 with a closing Mass.
Explaining the meaning of the jubilee, Jaca described it as a biblical time of renewal, reconciliation, and restoration, symbolizing a return to justice, freedom, and equality.
He encouraged journalists to use the moment for self-examination and professional growth.
Also addressing participants was the apostolic nuncio in Angola and São Tomé, Archbishop Kryspin Witold Dubiel, who described preparations for the papal visit as a “school of humility,” requiring reflection, adaptability, and continuous learning.
Dubiel noted that organizing such a major event involves complex challenges that demand both professional rigor and civic responsibility, contributing to both personal and collective growth.
Encouraging constructive reporting, the nuncio urged journalists to adopt positive and value-driven language, noting that “to bless Angola essentially means to speak well.”
“Words have power and can either build up or destroy,” he said, calling on media professionals to highlight messages that promote unity, hope, and social development.
Dubiel also emphasized that the way the papal visit is reported will shape collective memory, underscoring the need for responsible, balanced, and mission-oriented coverage.
The Vatican diplomat further encouraged Angolans to use the occasion to strengthen patriotism and commitment to national development, fostering a renewed sense of collective responsibility for the common good.
“The fruits of the visit should be both intellectual and spiritual,” the native of Poland’s Diocese of Przemyśl said, urging a balance between critical thinking and faith, and sustained reflection beyond the event.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
‘The Christ’: First-of-its-kind audio drama retells Jesus’ life this Holy Week
A new audio podcast is bringing the Gospels to life through a new kind of experience. “The Christ,” a four-part audio dramatization of Jesus’ life — from his birth in the manger to his triumphant resurrection — is the first-ever full-scale dramatization of Jesus’ life and ministry produced in this format.
With over 100 distinct characters and the use of cinematic production technology, the podcast features actors Tom Pelphrey as Jesus, David Oyelowo as Pontius Pilate; Paul Walter Hauser as John the Baptist; Courtney Hope as Mary, the mother of Jesus; Patricia Heaton as host; and John Rhys-Davies as the series narrator.
The four episodes will be released during Holy Week — starting on March 30 and ending on April 2.
Mark Ramsey, co-director and producer of the podcast, told EWTN News that he was inspired to create it because “it had yet to be done” and they “wanted to create something that was encouraging, that was thoughtful, that was familiar, that was exciting and fresh, something that supported everything you were hearing in church.”
He added that he was also interested in it because his background is in creating projects that “are as cinematic as possible.”
“I’ve always argued that the ears are underappreciated in terms of their contribution to our overall sensory experience,” he said. “I wanted to make audio projects that leverage the power of sound, the power of the ear, that created pictures that didn’t require video just like back in the day, except better and more modern.”
Ramsey highlighted their commitment to be “as faithful as possible” to Scripture when writing the script.
He added that they “wanted to be very faithful to the Gospels because we realize we’re literally dealing with sacred material. And people’s response to it — they will have an expectation that we will be faithful to that material. So, we were committed to that faithfulness.”
“The scenes were all from the Bible, all from the Gospels. How we chose those scenes and how we wove them together was really an artistic process, and it was a function of how well does this translate to audio,” he explained. “There were certain miracles that wouldn’t translate as well as certain other miracles. The miracle of enabling the deaf man to hear is perfect for this kind of vehicle. Enabling blind people to see not nearly so much.”
While the podcast remains faithful to the Gospel stories, they took creative liberties in the sequence in which they are told. Ramsey said the first episode of the podcast actually culminates in the crucifixion of Jesus and then goes back to tell the story of his years in ministry.
For the producer, the most impactful part is the ending — in which Jesus tells his disciples to follow him.
“That gave a lasting message to not only the disciples but anyone listening. And that was ultimately the climax of the story that lives with us today. It is the message today — follow me. And the whole two hours is the why, but that message at the end is the ask. That’s the question. That’s the challenge,” he shared.
Ramsey said he hopes the podcast “creates more hope in Holy Week.”
“We hope it enhances the experience of Holy Week. We hope it brings a new dimension to a familiar story so that people can experience it in a new way and also in a way that’s convenient to them wherever they are,” he said.
“We wanted something that introduced people to the story who had never read the Bible and gave it to them in a convenient way. We wanted something that gave a deeper experience to those who knew the story inside out, had seen or read it many times, but maybe had never heard it unless they were hearing the words of the Bible.”
“The Christ” can be heard wherever listeners get their podcast or directly on the podcast’s website.
Here is Pope Leo XIV’s schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2026 at the Vatican
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum for the first time as pope this week.
Palm Sunday marks the start of the one of the busiest and fullest liturgical periods of the year for the Catholic Church and the Vatican, where Leo will celebrate five Masses and preside over several other liturgies and devotions between March 29 and April 6.
Here is the Vatican’s full schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2026:
Palm Sunday
On Sunday morning, March 29, the pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday or the Commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.
The 10 a.m. Mass will begin with a grand procession of the pope with deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypeople carrying large palms.
The procession, which will wind around the square and its central obelisk, includes olive tree branches, palm fronds, and the large, weaved palms called “palmureli.” The Vatican expects to distribute 120,000 olive branches at the Mass.
Afterward, Leo will lead the Angelus prayer, as he does every Sunday.
Holy Thursday
Pope Leo will begin Holy Thursday, April 2, with the celebration of the chrism Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Many of the cardinals, bishops, and priests living in Rome typically concelebrate this Mass, in which the pope, as bishop of Rome, blesses the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the chrism oil to be used in the diocese during the coming year.
At 5:30 p.m., Leo will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Celebrating the Mass at the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome restores a long-standing practice that Pope Francis set aside in favor of demonstrating closeness to prisoners by offering the Mass at some of the city’s prisons.
Good Friday
Continuing the liturgies of the Triduum, Leo is scheduled to preside over a service for the passion of the Lord on Good Friday at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.
During this liturgy, which is not a Mass, it is the custom for the papal preacher — currently Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap — to give a sermon on Christ’s crucifixion.
In the evening, the pope will lead the Stations of the Cross devotion at the Colosseum starting at 9:15 p.m.
Holy Saturday
Leo will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday night, “is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities,” according to the Roman Missal.
The liturgy begins in darkness with the blessing of the new fire and the preparation of the paschal candle. At the Vatican, cardinals, bishops, and priests process through the dark basilica carrying lit candles to signify the light of Christ coming to dispel the darkness.
The pope also typically baptizes new Catholics at this Mass.
Easter Sunday
The morning of Easter Sunday, Leo will preside over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at 10:15 a.m. on a flower-decked parvise.
After Mass, he will give the annual Easter “urbi et orbi blessing” from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Urbi et orbi” means “to the city [of Rome] and to the world” and is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.
For Easter Sunday, the square will be decorated with thousands of flowers from the Netherlands, a custom spanning 40 years.
This year, the arrangements will include 65,000 tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, and mini daffodil bulbs; 220 white and orange violets; 7,800 roses, delphiniums, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and matthiolas; 600 branches of plumosa; 80 azaleas; and 600 long branches of willow catkins, long branches of eucalyptus, and various types of foliage.
Easter Monday
Pope Leo will mark Easter Monday, also called “Monday of the Angel,” by praying the Regina Caeli, a Marian prayer recited during the Easter season, at noon from a window of the Apostolic Palace.
PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV's one-day trip to Monaco
Pope Leo XIV concluded his one-day trip to Monaco on March 28, wrapping up a whirlwind visit that included meeting with the countryʼs royalty and holding Mass in Louis II Stadium.
The Holy Father became the first pope to visit the European micro-state in nearly 500 years. He appealed to the wealthy nation to spread the Gospel and become vessels of Godʼs love and generosity.
Pope Leo XIV at Monaco stadium Mass: Wars are 'the result of the idolatry of power and money'
Pope Leo XIV on March 28 condemned all military conflicts, which he argued are the result of the “idolatry of power and money” and which “bloody” Godʼs gift of grace to men.
Godʼs grace “illuminates our present, because the wars that bloody it are the result of the idolatry of power and money,” said Leo in the homily he delivered during the Mass at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco.
Four months after his first apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon, the pontiff ended his lightning visit to the Principality of Monaco with the Mass in the stadium dedicated to Prince Louis II, who reigned between 1922 and 1949.
The stadium has a capacity for more than 18,000 spectators, which makes it a prominent place for sporting and entertainment events, in addition to being an ideal place for the papal Mass.
Upon his arrival, Leo toured the venue in a golf cart, from which he greeted and blessed the cheering faithful who were waiting for him while waving flags of the Vatican City and of Monaco.
The logic of power versus innocence
In his homily, the pope highlighted the biblical account in which the members of the Sanhedrin decide to kill Jesus.
From this passage, he explained that the face of God is revealed alongside those who, moved by power interests, are willing to eliminate the innocent.
As he pointed out, Caiphas' verdict is born from a political calculation based on fear: “Forgetting Godʼs promise to his people, they want to kill the innocent, because behind their fear is the attachment to power.”
“Isnʼt that what happens today?” the pope asked. “Even today, how many calculations are made in the world to kill innocent people; how many false reasons are used to get them out of the way!”
Not getting used to war
The pontiff called for the purification of the “idolatry” that feeds wars and turns men into slaves of other men, while urging the faithful to not get used to violence.
“Every truncated life is a wound to the body of Christ. Letʼs not get used to the rumble of weapons or the images of war!” he exclaimed.
In this sense, he stressed that peace cannot be reduced to a balance of power: “It is not a mere balance of forces, but the work of purified hearts, of those who see in the other a brother to take care of, not an enemy to bring down.”
Mercy, response to evil
Faced with the persistence of evil, the pope recalled that Godʼs justice acts as a source of hope and renewal: “The Lord frees from pain by infusing hope, he converts the hardness of the heart by transforming power into service, precisely while manifesting the true name of his omnipotence: mercy.”
In this way, he assured that it is “mercy that saves the world” because it takes charge of all human existence, “in each of its weaknesses, from the moment it is conceived in the womb until it ages,” he added.
A message on the eve of Easter
The popeʼs visit to Monaco, just eight hours long, was made at the invitation of Albert II of Monaco.
It took place on the eve of Holy Week, a context to which the pope referred during his homily. “The Lord changes the history of the world by calling us from idolatry to true faith, from death to life,” he said.
In this context, he also evoked the prophet Jeremiah: “In the face of the numerous injustices that destroy the peoples and the war that plagues the nations, the voice of the prophet Jeremiah is constantly raised: I will change their mourning into joy, I will make them happy and I will console them with their affliction” (Jer 31,13).
The joy that is born of charity
Finally, the pontiff called the faithful to be witnesses of hope, making “many happy with their faith” and sharing a joy that is not acquired as a prize, but is born of charity.
“The source of this joy is the love of God: love for the nascent and fragile life, which must always be welcomed and cared for; love for young and old life, which must be encouraged in the trials of each stage; love for healthy and sick life, sometimes alone, always in need of being accompanied with care,” he concluded.
At the end of the celebration, the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, thanked Pope Leo XIV for his visit, emphasizing that God is “the source of all good” and that the pontiff, as the successor of Peter, has come to remind the local Church of this.
In this sense, he stressed that the pope has encouraged the faithful to face “fearlessly” the current challenges, aware that they have “a treasure capable of sustaining hope, ours and that of the world.”
On the eve of Holy Week, David said that the popeʼs visit has served to “confirm the faith of his brothers,” reinforcing the commitment of the Christian community.
Pope Leo XIV gave the Archdiocese of Monaco a contemporary sculpture by St. Francis of Assisi. The work represents the Italian saint, one of the most beloved figures of the Christian tradition and universally recognized as a messenger of peace, fraternity and reconciliation.
Francis in the sculpture appears dressed in the simple Franciscan habit, a symbol of evangelical poverty and inner freedom, girded by the characteristic cord with three knots.
In the sculpture the saint holds a white dove in his left hand, while the right hand opens in a gesture of welcome and donation.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Pope Leo XIV warns of a faith reduced to 'custom', asks for Church to reflect the love of God
During his meeting with Catholics in Monaco, the second appointment of his whirlwind trip to the small country, Pope Leo XIV warned about the risks of reducing faith “to custom” and called on the faithful to be like Christ, defending the poor and marginalized against individualistic secularism.
The pontiff supported his reflections in the document Quo vadis, humanitas? of the International Theological Commission, published on March 4, 2026. The Latin phrase means “Where are you going, humanity?”
The pope met Catholics at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Monaco, built between 1875 and 1903 in the neo-Romanesque style.
The temple houses the tomb of some sovereigns of the principality, including Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Kelly, an iconic American actress who became royalty after marrying Rainier III in 1956.
The Principality of Monaco is one of the last European countries to maintain Catholicism as a state religion, though its 1962 constitution guarantees freedom of worship and expression. In practice it means that Catholicism is taught in schools and that state ceremonies include a Mass.
In November of 2025 Prince Albert II vetoed a law passed by the National Council that sought to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks. He justified his decision by citing the Catholic identity of the principality and the need to maintain the current legal framework, which decriminalizes the termination of pregnancy only in exceptional cases
Based on the episode of the Gospel in which the Apostle John describes Jesus Christ as the righteous (cf. 1 Jn 2,1-2), the pope explained that the Church is called to be “lawyer”, that is, to defend man in his integrity and all human beings, promoting a comprehensive development that respects the dignity and ultimate goal of the person.
He asked the faithful to contemplate Christ as a “lawyer” and urged Christians to provide “passionate and generous” service in evangelization.
“Announce the gospel of life, hope and love; bring to all the light of the Gospel so that the life of every man and woman is defended and promoted from their conception to their natural end,” he said.
The pope arrived at the cathedral after his visit to the Princeʼs Palace, where the Monegasque sovereign family resides.
A living and prophetic faith
It is important, the pope pointed out, that the proclamation of the Gospel and the forms of faith “are preserved from the risk of being reduced to habit, even if it is good.”
“A living faith is always prophetic, capable of raising questions and offering provocations: Are we really defending the human being? Are we protecting the dignity of the person in the protection of life in all its phases? Is the current economic and social model really fair and inspired by solidarity?” he said.
Leo cited Pope Benedict XVIʼs encyclical Caritas in veritate published in 2009: “Is this model inhabited by the ethics of responsibility, which helps us to go beyond the ‘logic of the exchange of equivalent things and profit as an end in itself?’” he said.
Alert against secularism
The pontiff also warned about the “impulses of secularism,” which can reduce man to individualism and orient social life only towards the production of wealth.
The Holy Father asked for a new orientation based on the Gospel and to adopt the compassionate and merciful love of Christ.
Christ, he said, became a “lawyer” to defend the poor and sinners, freeing them from oppression and making them children of God and brothers among themselves.
“He does not come to condemn, but to offer mercy that purifies, heals, transforms and makes us part of the only family of God,” he stressed.
The Church, reflection of Godʼs love
The Pope praised the hospitality of Monaco, a small cosmopolitan state with cultural and socioeconomic diversity.
He recalled that in the Church there are no social classes: “Everyone is welcomed as people and children of God, and all are recipients of a gift of grace that drives communion, fraternity and reciprocal love.”
According to the pontiff, the first service that the Gospel must provide is “to enlighten the person and society, so that they discover their identity, the meaning of human life, the value of relationships and solidarity, as well as the ultimate end of existence and the destiny of history.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Pope Leo XIV to youth of Monaco: 'Do not be afraid to give everything to God'
Pope Leo XIV met with young people and catechumens of Monaco at the Church of Saint Devota, the third public engagement of his one-day trip to the micro-state on March 28.
After listening to the testimonies of several young people, Leo XIV spoke of the figure of Saint Devota, the patroness of Monaco, describing her as “a courageous young woman who knew how to bear witness to her faith in the face of the violence of her persecutors, even unto martyrdom.”
“Good is stronger than evil, even when, at times, it may seem — in the immediate moment — to be getting the worst of it,” the pope said. “Moreover, [Devota] reminds us that the witness of faith is a seed capable of reaching and bearing fruit in distant hearts and places, far beyond our own expectations and capabilities.”
“In this very church, quite recently,” the pope said, “the memory of the Holy Martyr Devota has been joined by that of Saint Carlo Acutis — another young person deeply in love with Jesus, faithful to his friendship with Christ until the very end, albeit in a completely different era and in completely different ways.”
“These two saints encourage us and urge us to imitate them,” the Holy Father said.
In the modern world, “faith encounters challenges and obstacles,” the pope said, “yet nothing can dim its beauty or obscure its truth.”
Responding to the testimonies of the youth, the pope highlighted “a fundamental aspect of the Christian life: the vitality of one’s relationship with Christ and, within that relationship, the sense of unity that is forged both within ourselves and with others."
“The modern and post-modern eras have enriched us with many good things; yet, they also confront us with significant challenges — challenges we cannot ignore and which we must face with clarity and awareness,” he said.
“What gives solidity to life is love: first and foremost, the fundamental experience of God’s love, and then — as a reflection of that — the illuminating and sacred experience of mutual love.”
“And loving one another — while on the one hand requiring an openness to growth, and thus to change — on the other demands fidelity, constancy, and a readiness to make sacrifices in the daily rhythm of life,” the pope added.
“Only in this way does restlessness find peace, and the inner void become filled — not with material and fleeting things, nor with the virtual validation of thousands of ‘likes,’ nor with restrictive, artificial, or at times even violent forms of belonging.”
“We must clear these things away from the threshold of the heart, so that the healthy, oxygenating air of grace may once again return to refresh and revitalize its chambers, and so that the strong wind of the Holy Spirit may resume filling the sails of our existence, propelling it toward true happiness,” he said.
Earlier in the day the pope met with Monacoʼs royal family before meeting with Catholics at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Leo XIV is the first pope to visit the costal European nation-state in nearly 500 years.
Bangladesh bishops say ‘no’ to government financial support
Bangladesh bishops say ‘no’ to government financial support
After the government of recently elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh announced on March 14 that it would offer a monthly allowance for priests, the Bangladesh Catholic Bishops’ Conference has officially decided to decline it, according to Crux.
“We humbly decline to accept the proposed allowance for priests,” said Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Dhaka, president of the conference.
The allowance is meant for all clergy, no matter the religion or denomination, and is the first in the country of 180 million inhabitants — only about 600,000 of whom are Christian.
The bishops said they were grateful for the government’s effort but that they prefer to rely on the generosity of the faithful to continue their spiritual and pastoral work.
Seoul archbishop delivers Easter message urging Christians to ‘defend life amid war’
In an Easter message, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, who leads the Archdiocese of Seoul in South Korea, urged Christians to “defend life amid war, suffering, and moral uncertainty,” calling the faithful to make concrete, life-giving choices rooted in the hope of the Resurrection.
LiCAS news reported that Chung quoted from the Gospel of Luke as well as from Pope Leo XIV and urged the faithful “‘to remember all who suffer, pray for them, and stand in solidarity,’ especially those facing threats to life amid war and violence.”
Chung called for “the faithful to become witnesses of the Resurrection” and highlighted the upcoming World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027, saying it “will be a time of grace for us to newly experience the joy of the Resurrection.”
Young Catholics in Central Java trained in Laudato Si’
Young Catholics recently gathered in Yogyakarta, Central Java, from various cities, including Surabaya, Jakarta, Cilacap, Surakarta, Semarang, Malang, and Yogyakarta for a three-day training aimed at “forming a new generation of ecological advocates grounded in faith,” according to LiCAS news.
The training was provided by the Laudato Si’ Movement Indonesia in collaboration with the Catholic Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta as part of a broader effort to teach young people how to be ecologically aware and responsible while also deeply grounded in their Catholic faith.
Indonesian becomes 57th language of Holy See’s official news platform
Vatican News has announced that Indonesian will become the 57th language by which news will be available on Vatican News, the news portal of the Holy See. The decision, made on March 25 with a Memorandum of Understanding agreement between representatives of Indonesia and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, will mean “more people will be able to receive the pope’s message in their own language.”
Angola opens registration for 2027 World Youth Day in South Korea
Angola, where Pope Leo will visit April 18–21, has officially launched the registration process for participation in World Youth Day (WYD) 2027 scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, with Church leaders urging young people to approach the international gathering as a profound spiritual experience rather than a simple opportunity for travel, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday.
Speaking during the unveiling of the official registration website on Tuesday, March 24, Francisco Bernardo, a member of the national organizing committee, underscored that participation in WYD is fundamentally an experience of faith.
Second church built in Mosul after ISIS
In Iraq’s Christian heartland of Qaraqosh, the recent consecration of St. Ephrem Syriac Catholic Church and its altar has become more than a liturgical milestone, according to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.
Syriac Catholic Archbishop Benedictus Younan Hano of Mosul said opening the church in a time of war is itself an answer to destruction, a declaration that Christians remain committed to building rather than tearing down.
Celebrated on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, the dedication of the second church to be built after ISIS occupation also carried a message of perseverance for Iraq’s Christians, who continue to affirm their roots and presence in their historic homeland. Pope Leo XIV sent his blessing for the occasion, encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast in faith and hope as they rebuild their churches, their country, and their future.
Freedom restrictions in Christian area in Syria
In Damascus, Syria, a sit-in at Bab Touma drew Syrians from different religious and social backgrounds who said they were pushing back against measures they see as an assault on public freedoms and the country’s plural character.
ACI MENA reported that protesters insisted their action was not about alcohol, despite public speculation, but about what they described as an expanding pattern of interference in personal life and an overreach of authority during Syria’s transitional period.
Their slogans rejected sectarian sorting of neighborhoods and warned against imposing a single social model on a historically diverse society. Church leaders were largely absent from the protest, though the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Bosra, Hauran, and Jabal al-Arab issued a statement cautioning that such decisions risk undermining citizenship, social cohesion, and the long-standing unity of Damascus.