Pope Francis To Vladimir Putin: A Negotiated Peace Is Better Than An Endless War

Ukraine braces for heavy battles as Putin says Russia carving out 'buffer zone''

Putin claims he isn't seeking to gain control over city of Kharkiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he has no plans to recapture the city of Kharkiv, during a visit to China on Friday. Putin clarified that Moscow's military action in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region is aimed at establishing a buffer zone.

Putin's Final Blow on Kharkiv with Renewed Russia’s Drone blitz; Ukraine’s Belgorod Retaliation

In a critical escalation on Ukraine's northeastern front, Russian troops have made significant advances in the Kharkiv region, expanding the combat zone by approximately 70 kilometers. Ukrainian Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi warned of imminent "heavy battles" as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the establishment of a "buffer zone" to protect Russia's border regions. The offensive, which began last Friday, has strained Ukrainian defences, already stretched thin over a sprawling front. During a visit to China, Putin linked the offensive to ongoing Ukrainian shelling of Russian border areas, justifying the creation of the buffer zone. A recent Russian missile strike in Kharkiv killed two and injured 25, highlighting the conflict's toll. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian forces have stabilized the front despite losing control of 12 villages. #Putin #Kharkiv #UkraineWar #DroneBlitz #Belgorod #UkraineRetaliation #RussiaUkraineConflict #BufferZone #MilitaryOffensive #KharkivAttack #WarUpdates #EasternFront #UkrainianDefense #RussiaInvasion #ConflictZone ~HT.99~PR.152~ED.194~

China-Russia relations: 'Vladimir Putin needs Xi Jinping's support'

Putin in trade push on final day of China trip

Pope Francis encourages forgiveness and love in visit to Verona

The pope also spoke of the ''genius of Shakespeare'' the playwright who set his famous Romeo and Juliet play in Verona.

Pope Francis speaks about struggles facing people of Haiti during Venice mass

The pontiff also voiced concerns about the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and expressed concerns about the welfare of Rohingya, thousands of whom have fled a bloody military crackdown in Myanmar.

Pope Francis holds mass in St Mark's Square on first trip in months

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.

‘Nonsense Situation’: Zelensky Says Russian Offensive on Kharkiv Could be 'First Wave' of Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticised Western countries for imposing restrictions on the use of donated arms, accusing them of being "afraid" of both a Russian and Ukrainian defeat. In a candid interview with AFP on Friday, Zelensky expressed his frustration over the conditions placed on the use of long-range weapons supplied to Kiev. “They can fire any weapons from their territory at ours. This is the biggest advantage that Russia has. We can’t do anything to their systems, which are located on the territory of Russia, with Western weapons,” Zelensky stated in the interview aired on Saturday. This restriction significantly hampers Ukraine's ability to retaliate against Russian forces effectively. #ZelenskySpeaks #KharkivOffensive #FirstWaveAttacks #UkraineUnderFire #RussianAggression #DefendUkraine #WesternSupport #MilitaryConflict #UkraineCrisis #StandWithUkraine #EasternEuropeWar #GlobalSecurity #KharkivBattles #UkraineResistance #PeaceForUkraine ~HT.178~PR.152~ED.194~GR.125~

Ukraine: New mobilisation law comes into force

'Today's Ukraine could be tomorrow's East Asia': Japan and France agree to bolster cooperation

Tokyo and Paris have agreed to enhance security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. Euronews discussed the significance of these talks for Tokyo with Maki Kobayashi, spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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

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~

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.

Poland's parliament votes to progress toward easing abortion restrictions

Ewa Schaedler from the Third Way party called the vote ''symbolic'' and ''a breakthrough'' for Polish women. However the subject remains divisive in the mostly Catholic country.

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."