FREE access to the digital edition and archives until September 2. Click here. →
Browse › 2025 › April
Culture à la Carte
Sr. Helena Burns · April 20, 2025
Polarization. You say that like it’s a bad thing. But is it? And if it’s bad, why?
Justin McLellan · April 20, 2025
As the lights of St. Peter's Basilica were extinguished and silence settled through the sprawling interior, a single flame -- the paschal candle -- pierced through the gloom, representing the light of the risen Christ which "quietly shines forth, even though we are in darkness," Pope Francis said.
Cindy Wooden · April 20, 2025
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.
Church communities adept at fostering community — why?
Quinton Amundson · April 21, 2025
Cardus is on a quest to comprehensively uncover why Canadian Christian communities are naturally equipped and adept at addressing social isolation and loneliness.
Luke Mandato · April 21, 2025
Fear, anxiety and disillusionment can be better understood and subsequently combated with the help of the Gospel message, believes Fr. Kevin Belgrave.
Carol Glatz · April 21, 2025
U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, the "camerlengo" or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced to the world that Pope Francis had died April 21 at the age of 88.
Cindy Wooden · April 21, 2025
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.
Elected in 2013 with a clear mandate to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis completed the project with his apostolic constitution, "Preach the Gospel," nine years after taking office.
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."
Catholic Register Staff · April 21, 2025
Our Catholic family worldwide is in mourning following the death of our spiritual father, Pope Francis.
With the death of Pope Francis, the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was scheduled for April 27, has been postponed.
The Canadian Catholic community is lamenting the loss and heralding the legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday at 7:35 a.m.
Obituary
Glen Argan · April 21, 2025
The 12-year papacy of Pope Francis has been like a freight train. It began slowly with more smoke than movement. However, as time passed, the Pope built a full head of steam and rumbled through the Catholic Church in ways that will not be easily halted.
It is with profound sadness that I join my brother Bishops, as well as the Catholic faithful in Canada and those around the world, to mourn the loss of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Asserting that the Catholic Church needed the gifts and experiences of women, Pope Francis appointed several women to top positions in the Roman Curia, including the first female prefect of a major dicastery.
Justin McLellan · April 21, 2025
With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it.
Pope Francis died April 21 after suffering a stroke and heart failure, said the director of Vatican City State's department of health services. The pope had also gone into a coma.
Just as hundreds of people had gathered at the Vatican each night to recite the rosary when Pope Francis was hospitalized, throngs returned to recite the Marian prayer for the repose of his soul after his death.
In his brief final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major and said he had offered his suffering for peace in the world.
Cindy Wooden · April 22, 2025
The funeral Mass of Pope Francis will be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter's Square, the Vatican announced.