Pope leads Easter Vigil after skipping Good Friday procession

This Day in History: Pope John Paul II Is Shot

This Day in History: , Pope John Paul II Is Shot. May 13, 1981. Mehmet Ali Agca shot Pope John Paul several times in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Agca was a Turkish terrorist and fugitive wanted for the murder of a journalist. The Pontiff was rushed to the hospital and survived the attack, asking for Catholics to pray for the would-be assassin. In a trial considered extraordinary because of its short length, Agca was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. In 1983, Pope John Paul visited Agca in prison and publicly forgave him for the shooting. In 2000, the Pope requested a pardon for Agca, which was granted. Agca was released from prison. 14 years later, Argca returned to Rome to lay white roses on John Paul's tomb

Pope tells Italians they need to have more babies amid record-low fertility rates

Italy’s birth rate, already one of the lowest in the world, has been falling steadily for about 15 years and reached a record low last year.

Holy Easter Saturday celebrated across Europe

Pope Francis presides over the Vatican's Easter Vigil, as Germany's Easter peace marches call for end of war in Ukraine and Gaza.

Vatican Denounces Gender Theory and Surrogacy

Vatican Denounces, Gender Theory and Surrogacy. On April 8, the Vatican released a statement declaring that gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy are violations of human dignity that reject God's plan for human life. Associated Press reports that the Vatican's doctrine office released the 20-page declaration titled 'Infinite Dignity.' . The document, approved on March 25 by Pope Francis, includes a rejection of "gender theory," or the idea that a person's gender can be changed. It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception, “Infinite Dignity” Vatican doctrine, via Associated Press. AP reports that the document has been criticized as outdated by LGBTQ+ Catholics who call its release harmful and contrary to recognizing the "infinite dignity" of all people. . While it lays out a wonderful rationale for why each human being, regardless of condition in life, must be respected, honored, and loved, it does not apply this principle to gender-diverse people, Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, via Associated Press. The Vatican document also denounces countries that criminalize homosexuality, echoing the pope's 2023 statement that "being homosexual is not a crime." . However, the document also lays out that surrogacy is also a violation of dignity of both the child and the surrogate mother. Previously, the Vatican has focused on the potential for the exploitation of poor women as surrogate mothers. . Considering this, the legitimate desire to have a child cannot be transformed into a ‘right to a child’ that fails to respect the dignity of that child as the recipient of the gift of life, “Infinite Dignity” Vatican doctrine, via Associated Press

Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire in Gaza during a blustery Easter Sunday Mass

Despite health concerns, the pontiff led the service in front of tens of thousands of people who had gathered in St Peter's Square in Vatican City.

Gaza War: Pope Francis calls for Gaza ceasefire as he leads Easter Mass | Oneindia

Pope Francis called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in his traditional Easter message delivered following renewed concerns over the health of the 87-year-old pontiff. In the message, delivered in front of tens of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Francis addressed the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, condemning war as an “absurdity.” #GazaCeasefire #PopeFrancis #PopeFrancisGazaCeasefire #EasterMass #IsraelHamas #RussiaUkraine #WarCrises #PeaceCall #InternationalAppeal #GlobalConflict #HolyWeek ~HT.97~PR.152~ED.103~

WATCH: Catholics in Ecuador, Venezuela and Chile take part in Good Friday processions

Catholics in Ecuador took part in the Good Friday procession in central Quito, some of them wearing the traditional purple hoods known locally as "cucuruchos."

Pope Francis skips Good Friday event to preserve health

Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession, but cancelled for the second year in a row over health concerns.