Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Pope Francis prays at the “Garden of Angels” section of the Laurentino Cemetery in Rome on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 13:26 pm (CNA).

The Vatican on Tuesday released a previously unpublished text by Pope Francis following his passing on Monday containing the late pontiff’s reflections on aging and death. 

“We must not be afraid of old age; we must not fear embracing becoming old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things,” wrote Francis in the preface to a book in Italian by Cardinal Angelo Scola, “Awaiting a New Beginning: Reflections on Old Age,” which will be available on Thursday. 

In the late Holy Father’s introduction to Scola’s book, he expressed gratitude to the former archbishop of Milan for seeking to restore pride in aging, which he said is “too often considered unhealthy.”

The problem, Francis asserted, is not that we grow old but how we grow old. For old age to become a time “truly fruitful and capable of radiating goodness,” Francis stressed that it must be lived “as a grace, and not with resentment,” and accepted “with a sense of gratitude and thankfulness” in spite of suffering. 

“Because to say ‘old’ does not mean ‘to be discarded,’ as a degraded culture of waste sometimes leads us to think,” Francis wrote. “Saying ‘old’ instead means saying experience, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, thoughtfulness, listening, slowness… Values of which we are in great need!”

On this note, Francis pointed to the role of grandparents in society, emphasizing their role in promoting the “balanced development of the young” and a culture of peace. 

“Amid the frenzy of our societies, often devoted to the ephemeral and the unhealthy taste for appearances, the wisdom of grandparents becomes a shining beacon, shedding light on uncertainty and providing direction to grandchildren, who can draw from their experience something ‘extra’ for their daily lives,” he wrote. 

Scola’s writing, he said, “born from thought and affection,” bring the prospect of aging and death to bear in the context of Christianity, which he said “is not so much an intellectual or a moral choice but rather the affection for a person — that Christ who came to meet us and decided to call us friends.”

Ultimately, Francis wrote, “it is precisely the conclusion of these pages by Angelo Scola, a heartfelt confession of how he is preparing himself for the final encounter with Jesus, that gives us a consoling certainty: Death is not the end of everything but the beginning of something.” 

“It is a new beginning, as the [book’s] title wisely highlights, because eternal life, which those who love already begin to experience on earth within the daily tasks of life — is beginning something that will never end.”

“And it is precisely for this reason that it is a ‘new’ beginning, because we will live something we have never fully lived before: eternity,” the pope wrote.

Attendees at the National Catholic Educational Association 2024 Convention in Pittsburgh. / Credit: Photo courtesy of NCEA

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 10:42 am (CNA).

This month in Florida, a national Catholic education group is bringing together teachers and school administrators for one of the largest private education gatherings in the nation.

More than 3,200 are set to attend the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) 2025 Convention at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando this week, April 22–24. A major focus at the conference is developing a faith-based response to artificial intelligence in education.

The event will continue as scheduled following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday as the Church mourns and prays for the late Holy Father.

“As we pray for his eternal rest, we also pray in this Jubilee of Hope that Catholic school educators will embrace Pope Francis’ call to be pilgrims of hope, bringing Christ’s joy and peace to the world,” the association president and CEO, Steven Cheeseman, said on Monday.  

Cheeseman said the pope’s witness of humility and joy inspires Catholic educators.

“For the last 12 years, Pope Francis faithfully shepherded the Church with his signature joy and humility — two virtues that every Catholic school educator is called to emulate in their vocation,” Cheesman said.

“His unwavering focus on the Lord’s mercy and our responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us are hallmarks of this inspiring servant leader,” he continued.

The convention will feature breakout sessions for professional learning as well as Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and time for fellowship.

Cheeseman shared his hope that the event will “engage, empower, and inspire everyone who serves in Catholic education.”

Featured breakout session topics include promoting student success, addressing mental health, and integrating students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Various sessions also highlight developing a Catholic culture, addressing teacher burnout, and even a workshop on transitioning to a classical curriculum — a growing trend in Catholic education. 

Given the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI), conference speakers will highlight how to build faith-based policies around artificial intelligence.

NCEA spokesperson BeeJae Visitacion said the conference will address AI from a faith-based perspective to help Catholic school educators “to lead with both innovation and integrity.”

AI is “transforming the field of education,” said Visitacion, who is the director of communications for the association.

But what’s the Catholic response?

Keynotes and breakout sessions on AI will address “its ethical considerations in a faith-based context,” Visitacion said. 

The conference will examine “how AI tools can be integrated to support — not replace — the vocation of education,” Visitacion added. 

Author and educator Dan Fitzpatrick and Holy Cross priest and educator Father Nate Wills will both give keynote addresses on AI on April 22 and April 24, respectively. 

“These conversations will ensure that participants walk away with a clear, mission-centered framework for navigating this fast-moving field,” Visitacion said.

As school choice programs throughout the country are increasing access to private education, the convention will address the impact of school choice. 

Breakout sessions will help leaders develop their response to the growth of school choice, which, as Visitacion said, “has profoundly impacted Catholic schools.” 

“Dedicated sessions will explore how school choice is shaping enrollment trends, funding models, and family engagement,” Visitacion said.

“Experts from dioceses with robust school choice programs will share insights, best practices, and real-world data on how these policies are helping Catholic schools grow and thrive.”

The convention is “one of the largest private-education association gatherings in the nation,” according to the association’s webpage.

Cheeseman shared his excitement to welcome attendees to the conference “for this national expression of hope and purpose as we carry out our shared mission to form students in faith, knowledge, and service.” 

The upcoming event, he told CNA, “is more than our annual convention.” 

“It’s a celebration of the mission and ministry of Catholic schools,” Cheeseman said.

Future NCEA conventions are set for April 7–9, 2026, in Minneapolis and March 30–April 1, 2027, in Indianapolis. For more information visit here.

Pope Francis meets with the United States bishops at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, 2015. / Credit: L’Osservatore Romano

CNA Staff, Apr 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, visited the United States just once, nearly 10 years ago, in September 2015. 

Despite the brevity of the visit, he accomplished a lot: Attracting hundreds of thousands of participants, he canonized a new saint (St. Junípero Serra), became the first pope to ever address a joint session of Congress, and galvanized the U.S. Catholic community with his presence and his speeches on the East Coast.

Washington, D.C.

Pope Francis began his tour of North America with several days in Cuba. Landing in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 22, 2015, Pope Francis met with President Barack Obama first thing the next morning. The meeting came amid a time of concerns for many American Catholics regarding politics, including the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate and the recent legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, via the June 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

During the presidential meeting, Francis praised Obama’s commitment to inclusivity and noted that American Catholics have contributed greatly to building a tolerant and inclusive society while also stressing that religious liberty “remains one of America’s most precious possessions.” He also encouraged commitment to addressing the “urgent” issue of climate change, building on his expansive 2015 encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’. 

While in D.C., that same day, the pope addressed bishops and priests at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and later celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. At the latter Mass, he celebrated the first canonization on American soil by declaring Junípero Serra, who founded missions along present-day California, a saint.

“He was the embodiment of ‘a Church which goes forth,’ a Church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God,” the pope said.

On the same day, Francis made an unscheduled stop to visit with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C., to support the sisters as they awaited word on whether or not the Supreme Court will hear their case against the federal contraception mandate. (The sisters are still fighting aspects of the mandate, even after more than 14 years in court.)

Francis addressed a joint session of Congress the next day, Sept. 24, making him the first pope to ever to do so. During his lengthy speech, he condemned the arms trade and the death penalty — statements that reportedly made some lawmakers in the room squirm. 

Francis went on to assert that the family was being threatened like never before and praised American figures, including Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., for their tireless efforts to defend freedom and moral values. He also touched on respect for human life and the environment in the well-received speech.

The pope also visited St. Patrick Parish and met with people experiencing homelessness at Catholic Charities, addressing people who minister to the poor. He offered St. Joseph as their patron and model, because, he said, St. Joseph grappled with injustice and suffering in his care for Mary and Jesus.

“The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person,” the pope said. “The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head.”

“We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing. There are many unjust situations, but we know that God is suffering with us, experiencing them at our side. He does not abandon us.”

Controversially, while in D.C. Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who had become a cultural lightning rod for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. The pope reportedly told her to “stay strong,” offering rosaries to Davis and her husband. The Vatican later clarified that Francis met with Davis and her husband as part of a large group invited by the nunciature, with the Vatican spokesperson adding that the pope “did not enter into the details” of her situation.

New York City

After flying to New York City the evening of Sept. 24 and praying vespers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly the next day, Sept. 25, the fifth time a pope had addressed the body.

The pontiff issued a call to the countries of the world to reject what he called “ideological colonization” — the “imposition of anomalous models and lifestyles which are alien to people’s identity and, in the end, irresponsible.”

Like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis made a solemn visit with other religious leaders to Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks, later on Sept. 25. He met with families of first responders, saying at the site museum that acts of destruction always have “a face, a concrete story, names.” He offered a “prayer of remembrance” for all those killed that day, along with a prayer for the survivors and those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Later that day, after visiting Our Lady, Queen of the Angels School in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Francis celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden. He encouraged people to remember those in the city who are often forgotten, including “foreigners, the children who go without schooling, those deprived of medical insurance, the homeless, the forgotten elderly.”

“Knowing that Jesus still walks our streets, that he is part of the lives of his people, that he is involved with us in one vast history of salvation, fills us with hope. A hope which liberates us from the forces pushing us to isolation and lack of concern for the lives of others, for the life of our city,” the pope said.

“A hope which frees us from empty ‘connections,’ from abstract analyses, or sensationalist routines. A hope which is unafraid of involvement, which acts as a leaven wherever we happen to live and work. A hope which makes us see, even in the midst of smog, the presence of God as he continues to walk the streets of our city.”

Philadelphia

Pope Francis’ visit included an appearance at the 2015 World Meeting of Families (WMF) in Philadelphia, an event that focuses on celebrating the gift of the family. 

After flying to the “City of Brotherly Love” the morning of Sept. 26, Pope Francis took part in a Mass for clergy and religious at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. In his homily address, the pope challenged the clergy and religious to inspire new vocations. 

He called for women to take on a greater role in the Church, highlighting the example of St. Katharine Drexel — a Philadelphia native — and he reminded the priests and religious present of their role in ministering to families, couples preparing for marriage, and young people.

He later addressed a crowd of some 50,000 people at Independence Mall, the site of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, for a religious freedom rally with Hispanic and other immigrants. 

Speaking to thousands of families gathered on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia that night, a visibly moved Pope Francis ditched his prepared remarks and instead gave an impromptu reflection on the beauty and dire importance of family life. He voiced his thanks at “the presence of all of you — who are a real witness that it’s worth being a family!” A society “is strong, solid, and edified on beauty, goodness, and truth,” he added.

On Sept. 27, the next day, Francis had an unscripted meeting with five abuse survivors — three women and two men — all of whom had been abused in childhood either by members of the clergy, family members, or educators. He promised accountability for perpetrators and expressed sorrow for the victims’ suffering. 

In the face of such heinous acts as sexual abuse, “God cries,” he said, adding that “the criminal sins of the abuse of minors can’t be kept in silence any longer … I promise, with the vigilance of the Church, to protect minors and I promise [that] all of those responsible will be held accountable.”

He told a gathering of international bishops afterward that the survivors’ stories of suffering “have aggravated my heart” and said that crimes of abuse must never be kept in silence.

Later that morning, Francis visited a Philadelphia correctional facility, saying at the meeting with a group of 100 inmates and their families that every person is marked and bruised by life, but Jesus washes away our sins and invites us to live a full life. 

Finally, the close of Sept. 27 — after Francis celebrated Mass for the WMF — marked the end of the pope’s trip to the United States. He thanked Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia as well as the civil authorities, donors, volunteers, and organizers that made the gathering possible. It was thought to have been the largest gathering ever held in Philadelphia. 

Reflecting on the trip, the Holy Father said it was “particularly moving for me to canonize St. Junípero Serra, who reminds us all of our call to be missionary disciples.”

He added that he was touched “to stand with my brothers and sisters of other religions at Ground Zero, that place which speaks so powerfully of the mystery of evil. Yet we know with certainty that evil never has the last word, and that, in God’s merciful plan, love and peace triumph over all.”

Furthermore, he promised his prayers for the U.S. people, saying: “This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you.”

“I thank the Lord that I was able to witness the faith of God’s people in this country, as manifested in our moments of prayer together and evidenced in so many works of charity.”

Concluding, he asked those present: “Do not let your enthusiasm for Jesus, his Church, our families, and the broader family of society run dry.”

“May our days together bear fruit that will last, generosity and care for others that will endure!” he said. “Just as we have received so much from God — gifts freely given us, and not of our own making — so let us freely give to others in return.”

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, April 21, 2025. President Trump signed a proclamation at the event ordering flags to be flown at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis,” who died Monday. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset. / Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 21, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, the president said on Monday.

“[First Lady] Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” the president wrote on Truth Social on Monday afternoon.

Trump had earlier in the day ordered all federal and state flags to be flown at half-staff to show respect for Francis and honor his memory following the Monday morning death of the 88-year-old pontiff.

“Rest in peace Pope Francis!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “May God bless him and all who loved him!”

The April 21 proclamation signed by Trump stated that the order is meant “as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis.” Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset tonight.

Trump’s order applies to the White House and all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, on all naval vessels, and at all embassies.

“He was a good man, worked hard,” Trump said at the White House Easter Egg Roll event when announcing the proclamation.

“He loved the world and it’s an honor to do that,” the president added.

Speaking to EWTN at the same event, Trump said his message to Catholics at this time is: “We love you all, we’re with you.” 

“They were with me during the election as you know very strongly and it’s just an honor to have the support of the Catholics and I feel very badly for them because they loved the pope,” Trump added.

When asked what he expects the United States’ relationship to be with the incoming pope who will be selected in a papal conclave, Trump said he thinks it will be “very good.”

Trump is a nondenominational Christian, but his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, is Catholic. The two met Pope Francis in May 2017 during Trump’s first term. They discussed collaborations on international affairs, peacekeeping efforts, and the protection of Christian communities in the Middle East.

Former President Joe Biden: ‘He was the people’s pope’

The 46th president, Joe Biden, issued a statement honoring Francis’ death, referring to the pontiff as “a pope for everyone,” “the people’s pope,” and “a light of faith, hope, and love.”

“He was unlike any who came before him,” Biden, who was the country’s second Catholic president, said in a post on X. “Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time, and I am better for having known him.” 

“For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his mission of serving the poor never ceased,” the former president continued. “As pope, he was a loving pastor and challenging teacher who reached out to different faiths. He commanded us to fight for peace and protect our planet from a climate crisis. He advocated for the voiceless and powerless. He made all feel welcome and seen by the Church. He promoted equity and an end to poverty and suffering across the globe.”

Biden met with the pope twice while serving as president, first in October 2021 and second in June 2024.

JD Vance honors pope’s life shortly after meeting him

Vice President JD Vance, who is a convert to Catholicism, briefly met with Francis on Easter Sunday morning, the day before the Holy Father’s death. Vance told the pope that he prays for him every day and it was good to see him “in better health” following the Holy Father’s long-term stay at the hospital.

“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis,” Vance said in a post on X Monday morning. “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. “

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill,” the vice president said. “But I’ll always remember him for the … homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul.”

Vance also attended a Good Friday service at the Vatican and had a meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Holy Saturday.

Secretary of State Rubio: ‘We unite in prayer’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Catholic, and his wife also issued a statement through the Department of State mourning the death of Pope Francis.

“On Easter Monday, Jeanette and I are saddened to [hear] the news of Pope Francis’ passing,”
Rubio said. “We unite in prayer with Catholics worldwide for the repose of the pontiff’s soul and for this period of transition for the Catholic Church. May he rest in peace.”

Numerous other world leaders and American lawmakers issued statements honoring the life of Pope Francis on Monday.

This article was updated on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 4:15 p.m. with news that President Donald Trump would attend Pope Francis' funeral in Rome.

Dutch flowers decorate St. Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday Mass 2019. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Rome Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Dutch flowers adorn St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. Here’s how the 37-year tradition was saved in 2022.

According to Stephen de Silva, St. Albans Cathedral’s longest-serving guide of more than 45 years, religious brothers who lived in the cathedral’s abbey in the 14th century invented the original hot cross bun for both charitable and catechetical reasons. / Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Alban's Cathedral

Rome Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The origins of the hot cross bun traditionally made with currants, spices, flour, and eggs are closely linked to a cathedral dedicated to St. Alban.

The Mystery of the Brotherhood of San Benito processes through the surroundings of the cathedral of Seville on Holy Tuesday, April 15, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Joaquín Carmona

Seville, Spain, Apr 17, 2025 / 13:01 pm (CNA).

The Holy Week processions in the Andalusian capital are one of Spain’s most iconic traditions, and this year was no exception.

Susan Smith (left) and Marion Calder, co-directors of For Women Scotland, with campaigners celebrate outside the U.K. Supreme Court in London on Wednesday April 16, 2025, after the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act were ruled to refer to a biological woman and biological sex. / Credit: Press Association via AP Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 16, 2025 / 16:05 pm (CNA).

The U.K. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that only biological women are protected under Britain’s Equality Act, contradicting prior guidance by the Scottish government.

Father Paul Murphy exits the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday, April 10, 2025, after giving a victim impact statement in a sentencing hearing for a boy who stabbed him. / Credit: Press Association via AP Images

Dublin, Ireland, Apr 16, 2025 / 12:26 pm (CNA).

The attack occurred on Aug. 15, 2024, as the priest returned to his barracks in Renvyle in Ireland after an evening swim.

The Catholic Church in France will welcome a record number of adults into the faith in 2025, with particularly strong growth in the numbers of young adults and teenagers, according to newly released statistics from the country’s Conference of Bishops (CEF). / Credit: French Bishops’ Conference

Paris, France, Apr 16, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Catholic Church in France will welcome a record number of adults into the faith this weekend with strong growth in the numbers of young adults and teenagers.