On Sunday, April 21, in addition to celebrating the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Catholic Church in Spain also celebrates what it calls “Native Vocations Day,” to support and provide formation for those who feel called to the priesthood and consecrated life in other countries so that no one is prevented from pursuing a vocation due to lack of resources. The Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle is in charge of this effort, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies that in different ways provides the resources to maintain 725 seminaries around the world.
In Asia, these seminaries (152 minor, 13 pre-paratory, and 62 major) serve more than 15,000 candidates for the priesthood. In Africa, more than 67,000 seminarians attend the 225 minor, 116 preparatory, and 142 major seminaries. In Asia, thanks to the Pontifical Mission Societies, 112 future priests are undergoing formation in five major seminaries, while in the mission lands of the Americas, 157 seminarians are in formation, distributed across one minor seminary, two pre-paratory, and seven major seminaries, according to data from the Pontifical Mission Societies.
To support these seminaries, in 2023 the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle allocated more than 16 million euros (about $17 million), which helped support more than 83,000 seminarians and 2,000 formators.
The aid is intended to cover an annual subsidy for living and enrollment expenses, which represents the largest item (78% of the total). The rest is used for the construction and maintenance of the buildings, with means to self-finance, support for formators, scholarships, and to support the first year of formation for the novitiates of religious congregations originating in mission territories.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has expressed deep concern over the increasing burden of taxation on Kenyans. Addressing the media, just before the weekend, the Bishops who were meeting for the Plenary Assembly held at Roussel House, Karen Nairobi, raised the issue of taxation, among other pressing matters affecting the nation.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Kenya Confe-rence of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu, Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the Bishops emphasised the biblical principle of administering true justice and showing mercy and compassion to one another, as stated in Ze-chariah 7:9-10, adding that over-taxation not only burdens the citizens but also hinders the growth and development of the country.
The Bishops pointed out that the high cost of living coupled with over-taxation has made it challenging for ordinary Kenyans to meet their basic needs. Many are struggling to put food on the table, pay school fees, and cover medical expenses. The Bishops noted with concern that, unem-ployment rates have soared, exa-cerbating the financial strain on families.
“While Kenyans are doing everything possible to adapt to the high cost of living, the Church stands with those who cannot afford to get food on the table, to take children to school, and to pay medical bills. Unemployment also is at its highest. Moreover, we continue to be “heavily taxed” by corruption in our services systems! The issue of over-taxation should therefore be understood within this context,” the statement read.
The KCCB called upon the government to improve public participation in assessing its tax regime.
They emphasised the need for transparency in the use of collected taxes, both at the national and county levels. The Bishops stressed that the benefits of taxation should be evident in the welfare of the citizens and urged the government to avoid raising billions in a short span at the expense of ordinary Kenyans.

Pope Francis once again turned his prayers to peace in the world. Following the Regina Coeli in Saint Peter’s Square on April 21, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Pope Francis once again expressed his hope that dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy might prevail in the Middle East. He urged against succumbing to “the logic of assertion.”
“I continue to watch with concern and sorrow the situation in the Middle East. I reiterate the plea not to yield to the claims of war but rather to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy, which can achieve much. Every day, I pray for peace in Palestine and Israel, hoping these two peoples can soon end their suffering.” Pope Francis then recalled, as usual, the on-going war in Ukraine. He invited the world not to forget the conflict-ridden land “which suffers so much.”

Vatican diplomacy is a voca-tion with a spiritual mandate, Abp Gallagher said in the opening speech at an international confe-rence on “Vatican Diplomacy and the Shaping of the West during the Pontificate of Pius XII,” held at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.
Throughout Western history, “in which spirituality acts as a leaven, the evangelisation activity of the Church’s diplomatic work played an important role,” the former nuncio to Australia said.
Nonetheless, Archbishop Gallagher said, “papal diplomacy, which like any other diplomacy makes use of secular means in order to achieve a political aim abroad, cannot be limited to the propagation of the faith and its success should not be measured in terms of the propagation of the faith.”
In fact, he said, the Vatican’s diplomatic efforts also “must pay the normal costs of all diplomatic negotiations” but without neglecting theological truths which are necessary to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the Catholic Church in relation to the state. No matter the nationality or background of a papal diplomat, the archbishop said, he is there to represent the international position of the Pope, that is, the vicar of Christ, “who came to serve and not to be served”.
Whether it was a temporary envoy, an apostolic legate or a papal nuncio, that is, a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a nation or an inter-national organisation, he said they all were driven by “the constant prerogative of the Roman Pontiff to express the right of both active and passive legation in order to obey the words of Jesus Christ: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.’”

“The path of contemplation is inherently a path of love,” that “makes us witnesses of the love we have received,” Pope Francis observed when welcoming superiors and delegates of Discalced Car-melites in the Vatican on 18 April.
Serving “as a ladder that raises us up to God,” contempla-tion, the Pope said, is not about separating one from the world, but grounding us more deeply in it.
Recognizing that the religious are in the process of revising their Constitutions, the Holy Father acknowledged this ”is a signifi-cant undertaking.” Not only does it respond “to a natural human need and the contingencies of community life,” he said, it also marks “an occasion” to devote themselves to prayer and discern-ment.
By “remaining inwardly open to the working of the Holy Spi-rit,” the Pope continued, “you are challenged to discover new lan-guage, new ways, and new means to give greater impetus to the contemplative life that the Lord has called you to embrace.” In this way, the Holy Father said, they enable the charism of Carmel “to attract many hearts, for the glory of God and the good of the Church.”
As the Pope called their his-tory and past “a source of rich-ness,” he likewise encouraged the nuns to “remain open to the pro-mptings of the Spirit,” “to the perennial newness of the Gospel,” and “to the signs that the Lord shows us through the experiences of life and the challenges of history.”
As cloistered women, the Holy Father acknowledged they live a certain “tension” between separation from the world and immersion in it, clarifying that their reality is “far from seeking refuge in interior spiritual conso-lations or a prayer [that is] divo-rced from reality.”
Rather, Pope Francis marvelled, the Carmeli-tes allow themselves “to be caught up by the love of Christ and union with Him, so that His love can pervade your entire existence and find expression in all that you say and do.”
The Pope said that the light they need to revise their Constitutions and address the many concrete problems of monasteries and of community life is “none other than the hope offered by the Gospel,” which, he said, differs from illusions based on human calculations. This, the Pope said, “entails surrendering ourselves to God, learning to read the signs He gives us to discern the future.”
“May your complete immersion in His presence,” the Holy Father said, “always fill you with the joy of sisterhood and mutual love.”

Answering the question, “What will happen with the reforms undertaken by Pope Francis?” Cardinal Pietro Parolin insisted on the need for prayer and patience, and said that discernment will indicate, at its own pace, “how to continue and what to make institutional.” Although some people might worry – or hope for – reversals, the Holy See’s Secretary of State said, “Precisely because it is the action of the Spirit, there can be no U-turn.”
Cardinal Parolin was speaking at the presentation of a new book by vaticanista Ignazio Ingrao, entitled Five Questions Agitating the Church. The multifaceted and wide-ranging volume covers a wide variety of news and current events, including a discussion of the Magisterium of Pope Francis and various documents promulgated during his pontificate.
In his introduction, Ingrao speaks of “irreversible processes” that must be matched by a necessary “pastoral response” as well as “an ethical and moral response.”
Echoing that sentiment, Cardinal Parolin highlighted the Latin expression Ecclesia semper reformanda, “the Church is always in need of reform”. He explained this means that “the Church must always be brought back to its proper form”, recalling the teaching of Lumen gentium that the Church, “which includes sinners in its bosom” is “in need of purification, advancing on the path of penance and renewal”.
Cardinal Parolin went on to reflect on the book’s title, and specifically the choice of the verb “agitates” (in Italian: “agitano”), which “seems to invite the reader to peruse the text with that awareness and prudence with which we approach” the account of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, found in the Gospel of Matthew.
The disciples’ journey across the lake shows that every crossing involves challenges, which can be seen not only as difficulties and dangers, but also as opportunities; and these, the Cardinal said, are “a part of God’s wise pedagogy by which he educates us, and makes us mature and progress.”

The Assyrian bishop who was attacked at an Australian church said that he was “doing fine” and told his attacker: “You’re my son, and you’ll always be in my prayers.”
In what Australian police called a terrorist attack, a 16-year-old entered Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the Sydney suburb of Wakeley during a liturgy on the evening of 15 April and stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, a leader in the Assyrian Church of the East. New South Wales police have the suspect in custody, but his identity has not been released due to laws protecting minor offenders.
Fr Isaac Royel and other church members were also injured during the attack in their attempts to protect the bishop. In a video announcement from Christ the Good Shepherd Church, Fr Daniel Kochou confirmed that Bishop Emmanuel endured “non-life-threatening injuries” and is “stable.”
Bishop Emmanuel said in the parish announcement, posted to YouTube, that “we need to be always thankful to Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of Nazareth for whatever trials and tribulations we go through.” “We are carrying the cross,” he said. “Let us not forget that at all.” Speaking from his hospital bed, Emmanuel confirmed that he is “recovering very quickly” and said that “there is no need to be worried or concerned.” “For this young man, I say to you, you’re my son, and you’ll always be in my prayers,” he said, speaking to his attacker. “May the Lord Jesus forgive you, may the Lord Jesus bless you and show you the way, my dear son.”
He continued: “I forgive whoever has done this act, and I say to him you are my son, I love you, and I will always pray for you. And whoever sent you to do this, I forgive them as well.” Bishop Emmanuel emphasised that he has “nothing in my heart but love for everyone”, noting that Jesus taught that Christians should love their neighbours as themselves.

Expressing solidarity with Ethiopia, Archbishop Ettore Ba-lestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organi-sations in Geneva, highlighted the plight of over 4.4 million interna-lly displaced people and over one million refugees.
At the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situa-tion in Ethiopia, taking place in Geneva on 16 April, Archbishop Balestrero spoke on behalf of the Holy See when he said that the meeting was an expression of solidarity with “a Country endur-ing a profound humanitarian cri-sis.” The Archbishop emphasised the urgency and scale of the mission, which he said “compels us to act with solidarity and support.”
He explained that Ethiopia is grappling with the consequences of conflict, disease outbreaks, and the fifth consecutive failed rainy season, resulting in the most se-vere drought conditions in deca-des. “These catastrophic events,” he explained, “have led to increas-ed malnutrition rates, affecting in particular one million children and numerous women.”
Exacerbating the situation in the country are the severe econo-mic difficulties, such as inflation and disrupted trade. In light of these difficulties, the Archbishop noted that “the Ethiopian authori-ties and various international partners have responded with remarkable resolve and commi-tment.” However, he continued, there is still a significant funding shortfall.
Pope Francis has emphasised the severity of the humanitarian crisis and the pressing need for solidarity with the affected popu-lations. Reflecting his deep con-cern, Archbishop Balestrero noted that “the Holy See supports the appeals of the Ethiopian Episcopal Conference for immediate action and humanitarian aid and highly appreciates the convening of this High-level Pledging Event.”
The Catholic Church in Ethio-pia, although a minority, plays a pivotal role in providing and distributing aid to populations affected by food insecurity and victims of other emergencies. Archbishop Balestrero recalled that in 2023, the activities of the local Catholic Churches benefitted nearly 6 million people in nine of the country’s twelve regions, re-gardless of their religious affi-liation. The projects focused mainly on humanitarian aid and food security. “These figures do not include the significant amount of financial support provided by other international Catholic agen-cies.”
Concluding his discourse, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero reiterated that “today, the Holy See is renewing its commitment”. This is not out of obligation, he added, “but rather a profound sense of shared humanity, religious duty and moral obligation”.
“Let us act quickly and provide unwavering support to ensure that we make every effort to bring security, stability, and peace through our collective response to the humanitarian needs of Ethiopia”, he said.

Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli as Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Chur-ches, who until now served as Counsellor of the Nunciature in the Section for Gen-eral Affairs of the Secretariat of State. Monsignor Ciampanelli is one of the individuals who drafted speeches for the Pope and became known worldwide during the last period of the Pope’s illness as he was one of the two persons responsible for reading the speeches on behalf of Francis.
Monsignor Ciampanelli was born on July 30, 1978, in Novara, Italy. He was ordained a priest on June 21, 2003, incardinated in the Diocese of Novara. He obtained a doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. On July 1, 2009, after attending courses at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has served in the Pontifical Representations in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. Since 2015, he has worked in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.