Good Shepherd Catholic Church - Miami, FL

On the first day of the Jubilee of Persons with Disabilities, Archbishop Rino Fisichella presides at Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and prays that the late Pope Francis’ legacy will give us courage “not to remain silent.”

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At Mass on the third day of the Novemdiales in suffrage for Pope Francis, the Cardinal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome reminds the faithful, as they mourn the late Pope, that death is not the end because ‘The grain must die to bear fruit.’

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7, the Vatican announced. 

The cardinals will first celebrate the "Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff" in St. Peter's Basilica that morning before processing into the Sistine Chapel that evening.

The Vatican Museums announced that the Sistine Chapel would be closed to visitors beginning April 28 to allow preparations for the conclave to begin. The preparations include the installation of a stove to burn the cardinals' ballots and a chimney on the roof to signal the election results to the world.

The date for the conclave was set during the fifth general congregation meeting of cardinals April 28, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told reporters at a briefing later that day. The general congregation meeting was the first after a two-day pause to allow cardinals to participate in the funeral rites for Pope Francis.

More than 180 cardinals attended the April 28 meeting, including over 100 cardinal electors. During the session, about 20 cardinals offered reflections on the state of the church, its mission in the world, the challenges it faces and the qualities needed in the next pope, Bruni said.

Topics addressed included evangelization, interfaith relations and the ongoing need to address clerical sexual abuse, he added.

The cardinals also discussed whether Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who relinquished the rights associated with being a cardinal after he was forced to resign in 2020, would be permitted to participate in the conclave. Bruni said no decision had yet been made, and Cardinal Becciu has been attending the general congregation meetings.

Looking ahead to the next session, Bruni said the general congregation meeting April 29 would open with a reflection by Benedictine Father Donato Ogliari, abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome and a member of the Dicastery for Bishops.

As cardinals entered the Vatican for the morning's session, Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm was asked by reporters if he expected a long conclave. "I think it will be," he said, "because up to now we don't know each other."

Meanwhile, Cardinal Walter Kasper, former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity who is past the age limit to vote in the conclave, told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that he hopes the cardinal-electors "come to a consensus on the next pope very soon, in the footsteps of Francis."

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Reporting by CNS Rome is made possible by the Catholic Communication Campaign. Give to the CCC special collection in your diocese May 10-11 or any time at: https://bit.ly/CCC-give

The Catholic Diocese of Katsina has concluded its General Pastoral Assembly, which was aimed at developing a pastoral plan that caters to the needs of the relatively new diocese. The Diocese of Katsina was carved from the Diocese of Sokoto on 16 October 2023. During the assembly, the Bishop urged participants to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

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As Canadians cast their ballots in pivotal elections overshadowed by tariffs and annexation threats from the United States, the Canadian Bishops urge Catholic voters to reflect deeply on the nation’s challenges with hope and a vision for a better future.

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Among the tributes to Pope Francis, Vatican News spoke to Monsignor Robert Vitillo, who celebrates Pope Francis' leadership in advocating and building relationships in favor of the worlds poorest and marginalized by helping others see that every single human person is a child of God meriting utmost care and respect.

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Br Michael Schöpf SJ, International Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy as a global advocate for refugees and peace.

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The conclave to elect the 267th Pope will begin on May 7th, following the conclusion of the Novemdiales Masses to pray for the eternal repose of the late Pope Francis.

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Homilía del Arzobispo Wenski en la instalación del Padre Salvador Diaz-Guerra como párroco de San Lázaro

Archbishop rededicates updated memorial garden after beautification