Catholic News

• Pope ordains 16 men to the priesthood (Vatican News)
  The Pope called upon the priests to be merciful as they minister to the faithful.
• Pope Francis: entrust yourselves to the Good Shepherd and be healed of spiritual infirmities (Zenit)
  The Pope reflected on Acts 4:8-12 and John 10:11-18 before the recitation of the Regina Coeli on April 22 (video).
• Pope calls for end to violence in Nicaragua (Vatican News)
  Pope Francis made his remarks following the recitation of the Regina Coeli in St. Peter’s Square on April 22.
• Bishop pleads for prayers for Alfie Evans as high court denies appeal (Vatican News)
  Bishop Francesco Cavina, who is coordinating relations between the Evans family and Bambino Gesù Hospital, said that “only the power of prayer is able to melt hearts and crumble walls that now appear insurmountable.”
• Love Jesus and love your nation, Pope tells Cuban faithful (Vatican Press Office)
  Without mentioning the leadership change, the Pontiff made his remarks as Raúl Castro stepped down from the presidency. Castro remains the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.
• Nicaragua's bishops denounce government repression (Fides)
  Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua’s president since 2007, also ruled the nation from 1979 to 1990 as head of the leftist Sandinista regime.
• Seek holiness, increase missionary zeal, Pope tells Italian pilgrims (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis made his remarks to pilgrims from two Italian dioceses that he visited in October 2017.
• 'Evangelization is the Spirit's work,' Pope preaches at weekday Mass (Vatican News)
  Pope Francis preached on Acts 8:26-40 as he celebrated Mass on April 19.
• Pope encourages seminarians to love God and neighbor (Vatican Press Office)
  The Pope encouraged seminarians of the Venerable English College to “nurture your interior life, learning to close the door of your inner cell from within,” so as to help “make a firm and life-long commitment to the Lord.”
• Pontifical abuse commission outlines priorities (Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors)
  The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’ priorities are “working with [abuse] survivors, education and formation, [and] safeguarding guidelines and norms,” members told Pope Francis during an April 21 audience.
• Pope Francis: the Church needs prophets, not critics (Vatican News)
  The Pope made his remarks as he preached at a recent weekday Mass on the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
• Turkey's Erdogan says US should look at its own actions if it wants jailed pastor freed (Reuters)
  Andrew Brunson, an American Protestant pastor, faces up to 35 years in prison after being accused of involvement in a failed 2016 coup attempt.
• Church attacked in Egypt (World Watch Monitor)
  
• Resignations and appointments (4/21) (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis appointed few new consultors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and named a special envoy to the celebrations of the 1050th anniversary of the first episcopal see on Polish soil.
• Papal audiences (4/21) (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis received, in separate audiences, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the community of the Venerable English College of Rome, and pilgrims from two Italian dioceses.
• German bishops' spokesman denies report that Vatican has rejected intercommunion policy (Servizio Informazione Religiosa)
  Referring to the “pastoral guide on inter-confessional marriage and common participation in the Eucharist,” Matthias Kopp said that “news that the document has been challenged by the Pope or by the Vatican departments is false.” The news site Kathnet had reported that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had rejected the policy. The president of the German bishops’ conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, will reportedly with Pope Francis to discuss the matter.
• Alfie Evans' dad emphasizes Vatican hospital is ready to care for his son (Liverpool Echo)
  Thomas Evans spoke with reporters in England following his audience with Pope Francis. The president of the Vatican’s Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital said that the hospital has been in contact since last year with the Liverpool hospital that is seeking to remove the child’s respirator.
• Papal visit to southern Italy, praise for late Bishop Bello (Vatican News)
  On April 20, Pope Francis traveled to two southern Italian towns, Alessano and Molfettato, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Bishop Tonino Bello (1935-1993). Bishop Bello—an advocate for the poor who served as president of Pax Christi—was a “true saint,” the Pontiff said.
• CDF rejects German bishops' policy on intercommunion (OnePeterFive)
  The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has rejected a policy approved by the German bishops’ conference, which would have allowed Protestant spouses of Catholics to receive Communion in some cases. The CDF decision, which was approved by Pope Francis, was originally reported on the German news site Kathnet.
• Pope renews appeal for Alfie Evans and Vincent Lambert, meets with Alfie's father (Vatican News)
  Click here for an interview with Thomas Evans and here for an interview with a bishop who present during the 20-minute audience.
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