Pope, at Easter vigil, hopes for post-pandemic rebirth
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis, leading an Easter vigil service scaled down due to COVID-19, said on Saturday he hoped the dark times of the pandemic would end and that people could rediscover “the grace of everyday life”. This year has been the second consecutive Easter that all papal services are being attended by only about […]
Celebrating the hope of Easter Sunday!
It’s been a tough year as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact many around the world. Yet the hope of resurrection Sunday remains undimmed. See ANN WOJCZUK’s image…
Notre Dame’s rector: “15 or 20 years” needed for restoration
Paris, FranceAP The rector of Notre Dame said on Friday that the burned-out Paris cathedral and its esplanade could remain a building site for another “15 or 20 years”. Rector Patrick Chauvet spoke to The Associated Press following Good Friday ceremonies, including venerating the “Crown of Thorns” at Notre Dame’s temporary liturgical base, the nearby […]
Czechs hold noisy Easter procession amid pandemic
Ceske Budejovice, Czech RepublicAP A revival of an old Easter tradition has gone ahead in southern Czech Republic amid tight coronavirus restrictions. After the pandemic prevented it from happening a year ago, a procession of participants in black suits with white masks returned to the city of Ceske Budejovice, beating drums and pushing small noise-making […]
Hungarian chocolatier’s vaccine bunnies offer hope for Easter
Lajosmizse, HungaryReuters With spring and COVID-19 vaccines within sight, Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi is sending a message of hope for Easter by creating chocolate bunnies holding vaccine syringes. Rimoczi said the vaccines, made of fine Italian chocolate and sprinkled with silver food colouring powder, signalled there was a way out of the coronavirus pandemic. Hungarian confectioner […]
Taiwan prosecutors seek arrest warrant for suspect in deadly train crash
Hualien, TaiwanReuters Taiwanese prosecutors have sought an arrest warrant for a construction site manager whose truck is believed to have caused a train accident in which at least 50 people died. The crash, Taiwan’s worst rail accident in seven decades, occurred after an express train hit a truck that had slid down a bank next […]
G7 countries urge independent probe into alleged rights abuses in Ethiopia’s Tigray
Brussels, BelgiumReuters The United States, Germany, France and other G7 countries called on Friday for an independent and transparent investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. Ethiopia’s federal army ousted the former regional ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, from the capital Mekelle in November. Mibrak Esayus, […]
Changing practices: At second Easter under pandemic rules, US Christians glimpse church’s future
ADELLE M BANKS, EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER, ALEJANDRA MOLINA, BOB SMIETANA and YONAT SHIMRON, of Religion News Service, reports on how churches are adapting Easter services and celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic – and how those changes form part of a wider trend…
Brazil pastor brings prayers to COVID-19 patients
Rio de Janeiro, BrazilAP Rev Celio Ricardo has spent nearly two decades helping drug addicts get off crack cocaine. Now he’s trying to bring spiritual support to victims of another scourge afflicting Rio de Janeiro: COVID-19. “The church can’t sit idly by or stay silent,” Ricardo said as he joined in singing hymns and prayers […]