Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, has died at the age of 88 following a period of worsening health, the Vatican confirmed Monday. The pontiff, who had been hospitalized in recent weeks for respiratory complications, leaves behind a complex and contested legacy that reshaped the modern papacy—while raising significant theological and political controversy.
Among many other things, Easter is an opportunity to reflect on Jesus' relationship to political power. Modern readers of the Gospels and Epistles too easily miss the political significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Far from leaning into and leveraging political and imperial power, Jesus and his followers are called to righteously and justly subvert it for God's glory alone.
Eastern Europe has a rich tradition of celebrating the Easter season and passing meaningful Christian customs on to successive generations. Christians in non-Christian contexts and those in newer Westernized nations can learn much from older expressions of Christian faith and hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We are being tempted afresh to give our allegiance to men who wield great power and wealth in the hope that we will benefit from their rule over us. This is a temptation as old as humanity. The true follower of Christ should give no allegiance to anyone but Jesus.
It is undeniable that zero gravity space travel takes its toll on the human body. It reminds us that we are embodied beings and that our bodies are an important part of who we are. They must not be neglected nor become an object of obsession because they will eventually fail. Yet, followers of Jesus have hope in the resurrection, and the certainty of receiving eternal bodies is cause for great joy as we approach Easter.
A Christian nurse in England who had been punished for saying “Mister” to a transgender prisoner has been suspended without explanation on a vague allegation of potential “gross misconduct,” according to a Christian rights group.
At least 17 evangelical churches in Barcelona face the threat of closure because of the urban development plans of the local government. Some have already been notified by the local authorities of the need to relocate in the face of imminent closure. Others were informed at a meeting recently held by the Consell Evangèlic de Catalunya (Evangelical Council of Catalonia, CEC), which has expressed its concern about a decision that “could leave thousands of believers without a place of worship”.
A court in England on Friday (April 4) convicted a retired Christian woman of breaching an abortion clinic “buffer zone” by offering consensual conversation.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, has confessed that the scale of abuse cases reported to him was "absolutely overwhelming", influencing his lack of action related to serial sex abuser, the late John Smyth.
After several nights of inspiring performances and heartfelt messages, the evangelistic event Life on Stage concluded on Sunday in the Bernese Oberland, drawing around 10,000 attendees. The campaign featured true stories presented through musical theater and a clear gospel message shared by evangelist Gabriel Häsler.
Mel Gibson is set to return to the director’s chair for The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ. The film will begin shooting this August at Rome’s renowned Cinecittà Studios, according to Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of the studio.
A group of Muslims disrupted the Maundy Thursday Mass of a church in Indonesia last week, the latest in a series of protests at the site, sources reported.
