Catholic bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have expressed their “spiritual closeness and solidarity” with victims of the recent floods and landslides that struck the capital city of Kinshasa and surrounding areas, leaving scores dead and causing widespread destruction. At least 33 people were reported dead and thousands displaced following the April 5-6 flooding that cut access to over half of the capital. The floods reportedly occurred when the N’Djili River, which runs through the city of an estimated popu-lation of 17.8 million, burst its banks and submerged major roads.
In a statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, on April 9, members of the National Episcopal Confe-rence of Congo (CENCO) con-veyed their compassion and assured their prayers for those affected by the devastating natural disaster, which followed torrential rains during the night of April 4-5. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events caused by the torrential rains … resulting in the loss of human lives and significant material damage,” CENCO members said in their statement.
They expressed their “spi-ritual closeness and solidarity” with Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa, and Bishop Jean-Crispin Kimbeni of Kisantu. “With them, we share in the suffering of all those in the heavily affected areas,” they said. “As shepherds of the people, we welcome the measures taken by the Congolese government and the arrangements put in place to assist and shelter those living in the flooded zones,” the statement said. They also appealed to “humanitarian organizations and to the solidarity of all people of goodwill to support the victims of these disasters.”

France’s Catholic Church will welcome more than 10,384 adult catechumens at Easter this year, marking a 45% increase from 2024 figures, according to data released by the French Bishops’ Conference. The French report reveals the highest numbers ever recorded since the survey began over twenty years ago. Even more striking is the demographic shift – young adults now constitute the largest segment of converts. “The great challenge that presents itself to us now is to make disciples,” wrote Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon in his assessment of the findings. ”We must not simply imagine some procedures for ‘after’ baptism, but our entire parish communities must become aware of their collective mission.”
The 18-25 age group, composed of students and young professionals, now represents 42% of adult catechumens, surpassing the 26-40 demographic that had historically dominated conversion statistics. This youth-driven spiritual awakening represents a significant shift in the Church’s evangelization landscape. Addi-tionally, adolescent baptisms have surged, with more than 7,400 teenagers between 11 and 17 years old preparing to receive the sa-crament. Dioceses across France report a 33% increase in adole-scent catechumens compared to last year. The French Bishops’ Conference intentionally conne-cted this year’s data to the Jubilee of Young People in Rome, des-cribing the event as “a meeting place for young catechumens from around the world.”

In a Decree approved by Pope Francis on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, the Dicastery for the Clergy has promulgated revised norms governing the discipline of Mass intentions. The updated legislation, which enters into effect on Easter Sunday, April 20, seeks to safeguard both the spi-ritual integrity of the Eucharistic sacrifice and the faithful’s trust in the Church’s handling of their offerings.
Building upon the existing canon law and the 1991 de-cree Mos iugiter, the new norms emphasize that while the faithful may continue to offer stipends for Masses to be celebrated according to specific intentions, this sacred tradition must remain free of any semblance of commercial exchange. The decree reaffirms the value of such offerings as a form of spiritual participation and support for the Church’s mission.
The decree permits “colle-ctive intentions”–a practice where multiple offerings are united in a single Mass–only under strict conditions: the donors must be explicitly informed and must freely consent. The decree further restricts the frequency of such collective celebrations, aiming to preserve the normative link between each offering and a distinct Eucharistic celebration.
The norms also prohibit any substitution of promised Masses with simple mentions during liturgies, categorizing such pra-ctices as gravely illicit. Empha-sizing justice to the faithful and the avoidance of simony, the Dicastery calls for vigilance from bishops, who are instructed to catechize the faithful, monitor implementation, and ensure accurate record-keeping of int-entions and offerings.
Pastoral concern remains central to the decree. Priests are encouraged to celebrate Masses for the poor, even without offer-ings, and diocesan bishops may redirect surplus intentions to mission territories or parishes in need. The Holy See’s action seeks to renew fidelity to the Church’s long-standing tradition, protect the dignity of the Eucharist, and promote greater transparency and trust within the People of God.

Pope Francis wished a “Happy Palm Sunday and Happy Holy Week” to all those gathered for the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion celebration in Saint Peter’s Square. The Pope came out into the Square from the Basilica for around ten minutes, immediately following the final blessing of the Mass where he offered his good wishes and then visited in his wheelchair among the faithful. Pope Francis’ latest visit marked another public occasion among the people, following his presence last Sunday April 06 at the Jubilee of the Sick and the World of Healthcare and his visits to Saint Peter’s Basilica last week and visit to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on April 12 to pray before the Marian icon of the Salus Populi Romani.

The Holy Mass for the Jubilee of Priests instituted as Missionaries of Mercy was celebrated on March 30 at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome. Hundreds of “Missionaries of Mercy” – priests with the authority to “pardon sins reserved to the Holy See” (Misericordiae Vultus, 18) – gathered in Rome’s basilica dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle to concelebrate Mass with Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.
In his homily, Fisichella reminded missionaries of mercy priests that they are “special instruments of reconciliation” who offer God’s great love to those who come to the sacrament of confession in search of forgiveness for their sins. Fisichella encouraged the priests to be confessors who open their hearts and minds to “welcome those who approach us” but to also go out in search of those who are still far from the Church.

Maltese priest Fabio Attard was elected as the new rector major of the Salesian congregation during its general chapter in Turin, Italy, becoming the 11th successor of St. John Bosco. The new superior general of the order founded in 1859 succeeds Spanish Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who became prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in January.
According to the Salesians, the new rector major did not participate in the Salesian chapter meeting, so he was informed of his election by telephone, at which point he was asked for his required acceptance. “His words were heard in the hall and, moved to tears, he thanked the brothers for their trust and especially for their trust in God in taking on this new task,” the Salesians said in a statement.
This is the first time that the new rector major is not among the members of the general chapter, “so the profession of faith upon accepting the office and the greeting from the chapter members and the mother general of the Salesians Daughters of Mary Help of Christians will take place throughout the day, when the new rector major can make it to Turin.” Attard will now have six years to lead the Salesian family, which will begin with the work remaining at the general chapter, which will last until April 12.
The priest’s election came two days after his 66th birthday. Born in Gozo, Malta, he made his profession as a Salesian in September 1980 in Dublin, Ireland, where he completed his novitiate.
Both his diaconal and priestly ordinations took place in Rome in 1986 and 1987, respectively.
After leading several Salesian apostolates in Malta, he founded the Institute for Pastoral Formation of the Archdiocese of Malta in 2005.
With a licentiate in moral theology from the Alphonsianum in Rome, Attard participated in the general chapter held in 2008 as delegate for the Irish province and was entrusted with youth ministry until April 2020, when Artime asked him to create a continuing formation project for Salesians in Europe.

At 75, the customary age for resignation under canon law, Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch offered his resignation to Pope Francis. The Pope, however, declined the request–at least for now. In a recent interview with Vatican News, Koch revealed that Francis had responded with a standard phrase meaning that he would remain in office until further notice. “The Holy Father will decide in due time,” Koch said. Koch has served as the head of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity since 2010, overseeing the Vatican’s efforts to foster dialogue and collaboration among Christian denominations. His extended tenure suggests that Francis values continuity in the Church’s ecumenical work at a time when unity is both a theological and practical challenge. Koch’s office engages with diverse Christian communities, navi-gating theological and cultural differences that shape ecumenical dialogue. As he explains, discussions vary greatly depending on the group involved. “We share a deep theological heritage with the Eastern Churches but are shaped by different cultural traditions,” Koch observed.
“With Protestant communities, we have more cultural similarities but fewer theological commonalities.”
This contrast highlights the complex nature of Christian unity—sometimes bound by shared beliefs, sometimes by shared history, but often hindered by both. Despite these challenges, Koch remains hopeful that more believers will recognize the importance of unity, citing Jesus’ own prayer for his followers to be one. 
Observers speculate that Koch will continue in his role at least through May 2025, when Christian leaders will mark the anniversary of the First Council of Nicea in Iznik, Turkey. The historic council, convened in 325 AD, produced the Nicene Creed—a foundational statement of Christian belief still used by many denominations today. Koch sees the event as an opportunity for churches to commemorate their shared history. “It is a wonderful occasion for all Christian communities to reflect together on this ancient confession of faith,” he said. The symbolic significance of gathering in Nicea is undeniable, even if little remains of the original council site. Pope Francis has expressed interest in attending the event, but his participation remains uncertain due to health concerns. The Vatican has not confirmed any travel plans, and at a recent press conference, medical officials offered a cautious response: “The trip is not confirmed.” Koch, however, remains optimistic. “I hope it will be possible,” he said. “It would be a powerful gesture to celebrate together in Nicea.”

Italian prosecutors are in-vestigating the illegal online sale of alleged relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be declared the first millennial saint next month. The investigation by the Perugia Public Prosecutor’s Office was prompted by a complaint by the bishop of Assisi, the city where Acutis’ tomb is located for public veneration.
“On the internet, there is a marketplace for relics concerning various saints, such as our St. Francis, complete with a price list. Something impossible to accept,” Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino said in a statement on March 26. Sorrentino filed a formal complaint with Italian authorities after learning of an internet auction of an alleged first-class relic of Acutis’ hair, which sold online for 2,000 euros by an anonymous user.
“We do not know whether the relics are real or fake,” the bishop said. “But if it were also all fabricated, if there was deception, we would be not only in the midst of a fraud but also of an insult to religious belief.” According to canon law of the Catholic Church, the sale of first- and second-class relics is strictly forbidden. Relics can only be given away by their owners, and some very significant relics, such as a heart, arm, etc., cannot be given away without the permission of the Vatican. Acutis’ canonization Mass is scheduled to take place in St. Peter’s Square on April 27 during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers. 

The head of the medical team that treated Pope Francis during the 38 days he spent at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, revealed that one of the most critical moments of his hospitalization was when they had to choose between continuing the therapy or letting the pope die. “We had to choose whether to stop and let him go, or push it and try every drug and therapy possible, running the extremely high risk of damaging other organs,” he said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.
In the interview, Alfieri described in detail the doctors’ response to the respiratory crisis suffered by the pope on Feb. 28. According to the medical report published that day, Pope Francis suffered an isolated attack of bron-chospasm, a severe coughing fit that suddenly worsened his clinical condition, after days of moderate optimism at the Vatican.
Although the pope never lost consciousness and cooperated with the specialists’ therapeutic manoeuvres, the alarms went off, and doctors opted to place him on a non-invasive mechanical ventilation mask to help him breathe. “For the first time, I saw tears in the eyes of some people who were close to him. People who, I’ve come to understand during this period of hospitalization, truly love him, like a father.
We were all aware that the situation had worsened further and there was a risk that he might not make it,” Alfieri explained.
However, despite the risk of causing irreversible kidney and bone marrow damage due to the medical treatment he underwent, they decided to act. “We really thought we wouldn’t make it,” he said. It was a difficult decision, as Alfieri recounted, ultimately supported by the decision of the pope himself, who, through his personal health assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal nurse at the Vatican, gave a clear order: “‘Try everything, let’s not give up.’ And no one gave up.” In the end, Pope Francis responded to the treatment. However, after his recovery, there was another moment of intense concern.
While eating, the pope suffered an episode of vomiting, and the gastric juices ended up entering his lungs. “We were just coming out of the toughest period, and while eating, Pope Francis vomited and inhaled it. That was the second truly critical moment because, in these cases, if you don’t act quickly, there’s a risk of sudden death, in addition to complications in the lungs, which were already the most compromised organs,” Alfieri related.
The doctor explained that, despite the seriousness of the situation, Pope Francis was always fully aware, “even when his condition worsened.” “He was aware, like us, that he might not survive the night,” the doctor stated.
He added: “We saw the man who was suffering. However, from the first day he asked us to tell him the truth and wanted us to tell the truth about his condition.” In this regard, the director of the medical-surgical department at Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital expressed the desire for transparency that prompted the Vatican to report on Pope Francis’ health. “We communicated the medical information to the secretaries, and they added other information that the pope later approved. Nothing has ever been modified or omitted,” he noted.
In the interview, Alfieri also highlighted the pope’s incredible strength, both physical and mental: “In the past, when we spoke, I would ask him how he managed to keep up this pace, and he always replied, ‘I have a method and rules.’ Beyond a very strong heart, he has incredible resources.” In addition to the pope’s stamina, the Gemelli medical coordinator added that the prayers offered by faithful around the world in recent days also contributed to his recovery. “There is a scientific publication that says prayer strengthens the sick. In this case, the whole world began to pray. I can say that twice the situation was lost, and then it happened like a miracle. Of course, he was a very cooperative patient. He underwent all the therapies without ever complaining,” he stated.

As Holy Week approaches, the Vatican remains uncertain about Pope Francis’ ability to preside over key liturgical events, given his ongoing recovery from a serious respiratory infection. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin acknowledged that the pontiff might not be able to govern the Church as he once did, suggesting that alternative ways to fulfill his role will need to be considered. Speaking on March 27 at an event in Sacrofano, near Rome, Parolin shared that he continuously receives messages from people praying for the pope’s full recovery. “Perhaps he won’t be able to work as before, and in that case, we must find different ways for him to continue leading the Church,” he said.
Since his release from the hospital on March 23, Pope Francis has remained secluded in the Vatican, avoiding public engagements. “He is resting, he is not seeing anyone, and as far as I know, he has no scheduled audiences,” Parolin confirmed. The emphasis, he stressed, is on allowing the pope the necessary time to heal. “The only solution is to remain calm and refrain from any public activity for now.” Despite the pope’s health concerns, the Vatican has yet to clarify how the Holy Week liturgies will be conducted. The official schedule has been published, but no presiding clergy have been named, leaving open the possibility that Francis may not participate in person. Vatican insiders suggest that a contingency plan is being developed, possibly involving multiple cardinals leading different ceremonies in his place. Parolin acknowledged the uncertainty, stating, “We will see whether the pope can preside over the celebrations or if he will delegate certain cardinals to act on his behalf.”
Given medical recommendations for at least two months of convalescence, a more extended period of reduced activity for the pontiff seems likely. At 88, Pope Francis has faced increasing health struggles in recent years, including surgeries and hospitalizations. His latest bout with bilateral pneumonia has raised questions about his long-term ability to maintain the demanding responsibilities of the papacy. While he has dismissed past speculation about resignation, the evolving situation may require adjustments in how he exercises his leadership.