Pope’s funeral rites, a celebration of hope, to begin late April 21

Pope Francis’ funeral rites, like those for any pope or any Christian, are meant to “reinforce the hope and witness to the faith” that those who have been baptized in Christ “will rise with him to new life.”

Precise rules govern what happens in period between popes

Centuries of experience dealing with the death, or occasional resignation, of a pope has left the Catholic Church with thorough instructions detailing who has responsibility for planning the funeral, preparing for the election of a new pope and taking care of essential business in the meantime.

With pastor’s touch, Pope Francis preached mercy, embraced ‘peripheries’

Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88 gave new energy to millions of Catholics -- and caused concern for some -- as he transformed the image of the papacy into a pastoral ministry based on personal encounters and strong convictions about mission, poverty, immigration and dialogue.

Pope on Easter: Jesus' resurrection makes Christians pilgrims of hope

The hope Christians have is not a sign of avoiding reality but of trusting in the power of God to defeat sin and death as the resurrection of Jesus clearly shows, Pope Francis wrote in his Easter message.

'Why them and not me,' pope asks after Holy Thursday visit to prison

While he did not celebrate Mass or wash the feet of inmates, Pope Francis made his customary Holy Thursday visit to a detention facility, arriving at Rome's Regina Coeli jail at about 3 p.m. April 17.

Despite improved health, pope picks cardinals to lead Holy Week liturgies

Pope Francis is going without supplemental oxygen for longer periods and is continuing therapy to recover his voice and to recover his physical strength, the Vatican press office said, but he also is increasing the number of private meetings he is holding with the heads of Vatican offices.

Renewing the pro-life mission

Thirty years ago, this past March 25, St. Pope John Paul II blessed the church with his encyclical “Evangelium Vitae.” Marking that anniversary, the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life issued an important document “Life Is Always a Good: Initiating Processes for a Pastoral Care of Human Life.”

Stuff and nonsense

Every time I leave a place, I take a moment to look around. It’s a habit I first developed when my children were small. We’d go out to breakfast, and when we got up to leave the table, I’d let my husband go ahead with the kids and I’d look over the table, searching among the empty plates and crumpled napkins for stray sippy cups, left-behind coloring books, baby blankets, mittens and hats. You name it, it got left behind.

Britain’s royal couple meet Pope Francis at the Vatican

Although they postponed their official state visit to the Vatican because of Pope Francis’ health, Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla met privately with the pope April 9, the Vatican press office said.

Archbishop-designate McGovern to head Omaha archdiocese

On March 31, Pope Francis appointed Belleville Bishop Michael McGovern as the sixth archbishop of Omaha succeeding Archbishop George Lucas, who has served the archdiocese since 2009.
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