Catholic News 2
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Far-right supporters planned rallies Thursday to denounce what they called an attempt to silence their conservative views after Ann Coulter said she was forced to cancel a speaking event at the University of California, Berkeley amid concerns violence could break out....
LONDON (AP) -- Armed police carrying out a counterterrorism operation Thursday swooped in on a man they said was carrying knives in a bag near Britain's Parliament and arrested him on suspicion of planning terrorist acts....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said Thursday that the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he's ever seen, but he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban missile crisis decades ago....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump said he has told the leaders of Mexico and Canada that he will not pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement at this time, but could still withdraw if he concludes a renegotiated pact is not "a fair deal for all."...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was warned by authorities when he retired from the military in 2014 not to take foreign government-sourced money without "advance approval" from the Pentagon, according to documents released Thursday by the ranking Democrat on a House oversight committee....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday unleashed a tweetstorm of criticism of Democrats involved in tense negotiations on a spending bill to keep the government open, accusing them of trying to close national parks and jeopardize the safety of U.S. troops over demands to provide Americans with health care....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received members of the Papal Foundation on Thursday who are on their annual visit to the Vatican. The Holy Father thanked them for supporting many religious and charitable causes and encouraged them, as a vital part of their "commitment to the work of the Papal Foundation, to pray for the needs of the poor, the conversion of hearts, the spread of the Gospel, and the Church’s growth in holiness and missionary zeal."Below please find the English translation of the Pope's address to members of the Papal Foundation.I am pleased to greet the members of The Papal Foundation on this, your annual visit to Rome. Our meeting today is pervaded by the joy of the Easter season, as the Church celebrates the Lord’s victory over death and his gift of new life in the Holy Spirit. It is my hope that your pilgrimage to the Eternal City will strengthen you in faith and hope, and in your commitment to promote the Church&rsqu...

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received members of the Papal Foundation on Thursday who are on their annual visit to the Vatican. The Holy Father thanked them for supporting many religious and charitable causes and encouraged them, as a vital part of their "commitment to the work of the Papal Foundation, to pray for the needs of the poor, the conversion of hearts, the spread of the Gospel, and the Church’s growth in holiness and missionary zeal."
Below please find the English translation of the Pope's address to members of the Papal Foundation.
I am pleased to greet the members of The Papal Foundation on this, your annual visit to Rome. Our meeting today is pervaded by the joy of the Easter season, as the Church celebrates the Lord’s victory over death and his gift of new life in the Holy Spirit. It is my hope that your pilgrimage to the Eternal City will strengthen you in faith and hope, and in your commitment to promote the Church’s mission by supporting so many religious and charitable causes close to the heart of the Pope.
Today’s world, so often torn by violence, greed and indifference, greatly needs our witness to the Gospel message of hope in the redemptive and reconciling power of God’s love. I am grateful for your desire to assist the Church’s efforts to proclaim that message of hope to the ends of the earth and to work for the spiritual and material advancement of our brothers and sisters throughout the world, especially in developing countries. Each of us, as a living member of Christ’s body, is called to foster the unity and peace that is the Father’s will, in Christ, for our human family and all its members. I ask you, as a vital part of your commitment to the work of the Papal Foundation, to pray for the needs of the poor, the conversion of hearts, the spread of the Gospel, and the Church’s growth in holiness and missionary zeal. And I ask you, please, not to forget to pray for me!
Dear friends, with these words of encouragement, and with great affection, I commend you and your families to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church. To all of you I impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of abiding joy and peace in the Lord.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegramme to Italian Archbishop Michele Pennisi of Monreale in Sicily for the 750th anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of Monreale.Signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the telegramme was read out during the Eucharistic celebration, which took place in the Basilica on Wednesday to mark the event, by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI).In the telegramme, Pope Francis greeted those present and expressed his hopes that the anniversary “elicit ever more conscious adhesion to Christ and generous participation in the life of the Christian community”.The Pope also invoked the intercession of the “Mother of the Redeemer for copious divine graces” upon those celebrating the anniversary of three-quarter millennia.

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegramme to Italian Archbishop Michele Pennisi of Monreale in Sicily for the 750th anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of Monreale.
Signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the telegramme was read out during the Eucharistic celebration, which took place in the Basilica on Wednesday to mark the event, by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI).
In the telegramme, Pope Francis greeted those present and expressed his hopes that the anniversary “elicit ever more conscious adhesion to Christ and generous participation in the life of the Christian community”.
The Pope also invoked the intercession of the “Mother of the Redeemer for copious divine graces” upon those celebrating the anniversary of three-quarter millennia.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass on the morning of 7 May 2017, the 4th Sunday of Easter, during which he will ordain several transitional deacons to the priesthood.The Vatican’s Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff made the announcement on Thursday.The Rite for the Ordination to the Priesthood will take place at 9:15 AM in St. Peter’s Basilica.Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, will concelebrate with the Holy Father, along with the Vicegerente of Rome, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, and the Auxiliary Bishops of Rome.

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass on the morning of 7 May 2017, the 4th Sunday of Easter, during which he will ordain several transitional deacons to the priesthood.
The Vatican’s Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff made the announcement on Thursday.
The Rite for the Ordination to the Priesthood will take place at 9:15 AM in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, will concelebrate with the Holy Father, along with the Vicegerente of Rome, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, and the Auxiliary Bishops of Rome.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis travels to Cairo on Friday for his 18th visit abroad. The two-day journey to Egypt will include a meeting with the Coptic Orthodox leader, Pope Tawadros II, and will show solidarity with the Christian minority just weeks after the Palm Sunday Coptic church attacks.Vatican Radio’s Stefano Leszcynski spoke with Missionary Comboni Sister Samiha about the predicted reaction of the Pope’s presence in Egypt.Sister Samiha, the principal at St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Cairo, hopes the Pope’s visit will foster tolerance and act as an example of acceptance and love despite religious differences in the nation.Listen to the report by Colleen Knudsen: “Egypt is the land of peace and Egypt is considered the holy land because the holy family take place in Egypt. Also, this visit of Pope Francis to Egypt, I think, to increase the respect between all people in different religions, and to increase also tolerance and to be merciful to on...

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis travels to Cairo on Friday for his 18th visit abroad. The two-day journey to Egypt will include a meeting with the Coptic Orthodox leader, Pope Tawadros II, and will show solidarity with the Christian minority just weeks after the Palm Sunday Coptic church attacks.
Vatican Radio’s Stefano Leszcynski spoke with Missionary Comboni Sister Samiha about the predicted reaction of the Pope’s presence in Egypt.
Sister Samiha, the principal at St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Cairo, hopes the Pope’s visit will foster tolerance and act as an example of acceptance and love despite religious differences in the nation.
Listen to the report by Colleen Knudsen:
“Egypt is the land of peace and Egypt is considered the holy land because the holy family take place in Egypt. Also, this visit of Pope Francis to Egypt, I think, to increase the respect between all people in different religions, and to increase also tolerance and to be merciful to one another, the values of love and peace, and the culture of peace. And I think a visit would stimulate how to live together in peace with much respect and acceptance.”
The Pope is going to be meeting a group of students at the nunciature on Friday evening, and amongst those with be students from Sister Samiha’s school, whom she says are clearly excited to meet Pope Francis and looking forward to his message.
“We have many Muslims, so Muslims and Christians live together easily, and they accept each other.”