Holy Week Archives

Silence over Easter police raids captures ‘through the looking glass’ moment

Apr 16, 2020

Up and down Italy over the Easter weekend, police entered churches and broke up services, issuing citations and fines to those taking part, in several instances including the parish priest. Yet not only has there been no howl of protest from the country’s Catholic leadership, almost uniformly bishops have sided with the authorities.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Vatican registers huge growth, engagement online for Holy Week, Easter

Apr 14, 2020

Holy Week and Easter events broadcast and shared by Vatican media reached millions of people around the world, attracting new viewers, followers and fans inspired by Pope Francis’ words and gestures.

By Carol Glatz

Pope leads ‘Way of the Cross’ service in deserted St. Peter’s Square

Apr 10, 2020

Shortly after assuring of his closeness amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak on an Italian television program, Pope Francis on Good Friday yet again appeared in a nearly empty St. Peter’s Square to lead a livestreamed Via Crucis with meditations written by prisoners.

By Elise Ann Allen

Papal preacher says human, not economic, ‘recession’ biggest virus threat

Apr 10, 2020

On Good Friday Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, said the COVID-19 coronavirus ought to be a turning point to end wars and fuel solidarity, and that the biggest thing people should fear is not an economic recession, but the further loss of humanity.

By Elise Ann Allen

Pope highlights prisoners’ unique ‘Way of the Cross’ on Good Friday

Apr 10, 2020

Meditations for Pope Francis’s “Via Crucis” ceremony on Good Friday were written by prisoners and their families, as well as crime victims and their families.

By Elise Ann Allen

New York’s religious leaders finding God at virus’s American epicenter

Apr 10, 2020

With Passover and Easter just around the corner, leaders from New York City’s Catholic and Jewish communities expressed their mutual conviction that God is present in their people’s suffering and warned about complacency in Catholic-Jewish relations.

By Nick Mayrand