Catholic Nutshell News: Monday 4/21/25
Topics include: POPE FRANCIS' DEATH - coverage by Catholic press, Pope Francis’s ‘roller coaster’ legacy, What happens now?, & Carlo Acutis canonization postponed
“Journey together, gather in assembly” - Pope Francis - 1936-2025 - died April 21
Today's sources are Catholic News Agency, Crux, Graphs about Religion, OSV, Aleteia, Fides, National Catholic Register, & First Things. (Catholic Nutshell is a subscription service for faithful, hopeful, & curious Catholics willing to exercise the Catholic News Muscle)
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CRUX
Electrifying, maverick Pope Francis’s ‘roller coaster’ legacy
By John L. Allen Jr., April 21, 2025
When Pope Francis was elected to the Throne of Peter on March 13, 2013, he was largely unknown to the wider world. Even many of his fellow Argentines felt they had only a vague, indistinct impression of a man who, in their experience, had tended to shun the spotlight. Within days, however, the new pontiff had established a narrative about himself which utterly electrified public opinion, and which would endure to the very end: A humble, simple man of the people, “the world’s parish priest,” who spurned luxury and privilege in favor of proximity to the underdogs and the excluded. He took the name “Francis” in homage to Catholicism’s most iconic and beloved saint, the “little poor man” of Assisi.
POPE FRANCIS COVERAGE - April 21, 2025:
National Catholic Register:
Pope Francis Dies at 88, Ending Historic Pontificate Marked by Mercy and Reform - Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for nearly 13 years as its first Latin American pontiff, has died at age 88 - CNA Staff Vatican
Catholic News Agency:
World reacts to death of Pope Francis - By CNA Staff, Vatican City - “At 7:35 this morning, the bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced.
Aleteia:
Pope Francis dies at 88, on Easter Monday - By Daniel Esparza - Funeral arrangements and the date for the conclave that will elect Francis’s successor are expected to be announced in the coming days.
National Catholic Reporter:
Pope Francis, pastor-pontiff, revitalized global Catholic Church - By Joshua J. McElwee, News Editor - Pope Francis, a transformative figure who revitalized the hopes of millions of Catholics after decades of scandal, stagnation and increasing social irrelevancy for the global church
The Pillar:
World reacts after Vatican announces pope’s death - By The Pillar, The Holy See press office announced Cardinal Farrell would “preside over the rite of the certification of death and the laying of the body in the coffin” at 8 p.m. local time April 21.
The Pillar:
Sede vacante: What happens now, and who is in charge?
By The Pillar, April 21, 2025
Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the See of Rome is vacant. The College of Cardinals is now making its way to Rome from around the world, where it will, in due course, meet in conclave to elect the next successor of St. Peter. There are a lot of things that will happen first, and even without a pope, the life of the Church continues. In line with the norms of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, the announcement of the pope’s death is made separately to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and to the heads of their respective nations by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The camerlengo has the job of sealing the papal apartment in the Domus Sanctae Marta Guest house, where Francis chose to live after his election, along with the pope’s private study, and securing his personal papers.
National Catholic Register
Vatican postpones Carlo Acutis canonization upon Pope’s death
By Courtney Mares/CNA, April 21, 2025
The Vatican announced Monday that the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis. “Following the death of Supreme Pontiff Francis, notice is hereby given that the Eucharistic celebration and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, scheduled for April 27, 2025, II Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Adolescents, is suspended,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on April 21. More than 80,000 teenagers were expected to gather in Rome for the April 27 canonization amid the Vatican’s Jubilee of Teenagers, according to the Dicastery for Evangelization, with young people registered from the United States, Brazil, India, Spain, Portugal, France, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Germany, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Argentina and Nigeria.
Catholic Exchange
‘Myrrhbearers’ – The women at the tomb
By F. Andrew Wolf Jr., April 21, 2025
As the Catholic Church (East and West) celebrates the Sabbath of the Resurrection, readers will not be surprised to encounter a work celebrating one of the foundational mysteries of the Christian Faith. The Lenten season imbues the faithful with a sense of devotion, reverence, and awe for what was done on that day and three days before. In Western Christianity, there were Three Marys or “women at the tomb.” Mark recounts how Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Mary Salome go at dawn to Christ’s tomb with spices to anoint His body. His burial on Friday had been rushed ahead of the Sabbath; the women now had come to complete their task. The Eastern Orthodox have a somewhat more elaborate tradition of the women and the Resurrection, referring to them as the “Myrrhbearing Women” with their Feast Day (this year) on May 4th.
Catholic News Agency
Pope Francis meets Vice President Vance, exchanges Easter gifts
By AC Wimmer, April 20, 2025
Pope Francis, who died that night, met briefly with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday morning at the Casa Santa Marta. According to the Holy See Press Office, the private audience occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. and lasted only a few minutes. The pope and the vice president exchanged Easter greetings and spoke briefly in English. Vance thanked the Holy Father for receiving him and noted, “It’s good to see you in better health.” Pope Francis responded warmly. Both wished each other ‘’Happy Easter.” During the encounter, the pope presented Vance with several gifts: a Vatican tie, a red rosary for him, white rosaries for his children, and a set of three large chocolate Easter eggs. A separate white rosary was designated for his wife.
Graphs about Religion
Belief in an ‘Afterlife’ steadily increasing in the United States
By Ryan Burge, April 17, 2025
It’s easy to label someone who never goes to church as non-religious, but when you go one layer deeper you can see that there’s still a whole lot of people with some level of religious belief. From a timeline view, belief in an afterlife is incredibly robust, seemingly unchanged from 1973 to today. However, in the first data collection in 1973, 76% of folks believed in something beyond this life. But by 1990, that figure had crept to 80% and it continued to rise very slowly. From 2000 through 2022, the estimates are the same, slowly climbing. Today, the share of Americans who believe in life after death is 82%. When people ask me, “Is the United States a religious country?” That is the stat that I’m going to trot out.
Aleteia
Pope Francis to be buried at his beloved St. Mary Major basilica
By Kathleen N. Hattrup, April 21, 2025
Seven other popes have been buried in St. Mary Major, the last being Clement IX, who reigned from 1667 to 1669. "The place is already prepared," revealed Pope Francis on the subject of his future tomb in St. Mary Major, in an interview with the Mexican reporter Valentina Alazraki, broadcast on the Noticieros Televisa channel on December 12, 2023, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Pontiff spoke extensively about his bond with the Virgin Mary, and it was the icon of her at Mary Major that drew him over and over again. Before and after his trips, he would stop to see her. He brought her the flowers that he had spotted from the Gemelli balcony the day he finally got out of the hospital after his 38-day stay battling double pneumonia. He was back again last week.
CatholicVote
Celebrating Easter Monday, ‘Day of the Angel’
By Elizabeth Weiss, April 20, 2025
On the second day of the Octave of Easter, the Catholic Church observes Easter Monday, also known as the “Day of the Angel,” in continued celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Octave of Easter is an eight-day celebration of Christ’s victory over death, beginning on Easter Sunday and ending the following Sunday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains. Easter Monday is also regarded as the “Day of the Angel,” as the Italian publication the Daily Compass states. St. John Paul II said in his April 1, 1991, Regina Coeli that delivering the good news of the Lord’s resurrection required a “superior being … because for the human being this truth and the words that communicate the truth, ‘He is risen’,
Agenzia Fides
London conference on Sudan ends without a final declaration
By Agenzia Fides, April 16, 2025
The London conference, organized exactly two years after the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war on 15 April 2023, was formed to end the conflict, but closed without a final declaration. The conference was convened by the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France and Germany. It was attended by foreign ministers and high-level representatives of Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and the United States of America, together with high-level representatives of the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN). The absence of the two opposing forces—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo—severely limited prospects for progress.
From CNA to Agenzia, plus Satire for 4/21/25
Catholic News Agency
CNA’s top headlines — April 21, 2025
Catholic News Agency provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, emphasizing the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See to anyone with access to the internet.
Pope calls for peace, warns against ‘logic of fear’ in Easter message ‘urbi et orbi’ - Apr 20, 2025 - By AC Wimmer -The pope’s traditional blessing, “urbi et orbi,” was read by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, but Pope Francis later toured St. Peter's basilica.
How a stolen rosary led one young woman to the Catholic Church - Apr 20, 2025 - By Alexey Gotovskiy - Iman Hijaze was raised in a culturally Shiite Muslim household and considered herself an atheist until she picked up a rosary.
‘Run’ to seek Christ in everyday life, Pope Francis says in Easter Sunday homily - Apr 20, 2025 - By AC Wimmer - “We must look for him without ceasing,” the pope’s prepared text emphasized. “Because if he has risen from the dead, then he is present everywhere, he dwells among us …
Agenzia Fides
News of the Pontifical Mission Societies for 4/21/25
Fides has become an excellent center for collecting and producing material information on the missionary world through current news, photographs, mission studies, and missionary work.
AMERICA/HAITI - "The State is collapsing, opening the door to criminal gangs" - Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) - "The Haitian people are a martyred people (...) and the Church that is in communion with this people lives this suffering in its flesh", said Father Marc-Henry Siméon.
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Easter in the Jubilee Year: a celebration of faith and hope - Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “The spirit of the Resurrection shines brightly despite the shadows of discrimination and marginalization affecting Christians in Pakistan.
ASIA/LEBANON - The mission of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles and the new hopes of the Lebanese people - Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - After five consecutive years of crises, many Lebanese are beginning to harbor hope for a new era for the Land of the Cedars, prompted by the election last January of a new President.
Babylon Bee’s SATIRE News
Family Arriving For Easter Service Surprised How Different Church Looks Without The Christmas Decorations
By Church Staff, April 9, 2023
As the Glennon family walked into church for Easter service today, they were caught off guard by how different the church looked without Christmas decorations. "I remember it having more of a red and green vibe," said Mrs. Glennon, surveying the sanctuary. "And wasn't there a tree? I was sure I saw a tree." Without the presence of poinsettias, holly, and a nativity scene, the Glennons briefly wondered if they had gone to the wrong church. "I don't remember any of this," said Mr. Glennon. "Were there always so many crosses in here? Did we wander into a Lutheran church by accident? Oh boy." After the sight of old friends reassured the Glennons they were in the right place, the children began asking questions as well. "Daddy, how did the baby in a manger end up on the cross so fast?" asked Caitlyn.
Nutshell reflections for 4/21/25:
USCCB Daily Reflection AUDIO & VIDEO - April 21, 2025
Monday in the Octave of Easter
First Things
The Church After Francis
By Charles J. Chaput, April 21, 2025
I have personal memories of Pope Francis that I greatly value: a friendly and generous working relationship at the 1997 Synod on America when we were both newly appointed archbishops; his personal welcome and warmth at Rome’s 2014 Humanum conference; and the extraordinary success of his 2015 visit to Philadelphia for the Eighth World Meeting of Families. He devoted himself to serving the Church and her people in ways that he felt the times demanded. As a brother in the faith, and a successor of Peter, he deserves our ongoing prayers for his eternal life in the presence of the God he loved. What the Church needs going forward is a leader who can marry personal simplicity with a passion for converting the world to Jesus Christ, a leader who has a heart of courage and a keen intellect to match it. Anything less won’t work.
The Pillar
Days of fear and trembling
By Stephen White, April 17, 2025
The world is uneasy, though it does not know why. All creation is groaning. Things seem to draw toward some great consummation. But what? These are days of fear and trembling, and strange fruit ripens on Calvary’s tree. How little does the world understand the sacrifice offered on that Thursday evening; how little does the world regard the folly of that Friday afternoon. How deaf are we to the silent stillness of Saturday; how inexplicably unprepared for the blinding brilliance of Sunday morning. Even we, who approach the moment knowing what is to come, still catch our breath in wonder at what God has done. And how often do we, who commemorate the victory of this week, need to be reminded of what that victory has gained.
Bishop Barron Reflections
The shocking novelty of the Resurrection
By Bishop Robert Barron, April 21, 2025
Far too many contemporary scholars attempt to explain away the Resurrection, turning it into a myth, a legend, a symbol, or a sign that the cause of Jesus goes on. But this kind of speculation is born in faculty lounges, and few in the first century would have found that talk to be the least convincing. Can you imagine Paul tearing into Corinth or Athens with the message that there was an inspiring dead man who symbolized the presence of God? No one would have taken him seriously. Instead, Paul declared anastasis (resurrection) in all those cities. What sent him and his colleagues all over the Mediterranean world (and their energy can be sensed on every page of the New Testament) was the shocking novelty of the Resurrection of a dead man through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Abbey of Misrule
Everything rises today
By Paul Kingsnorth, April 20, 2025
Today is Easter Sunday, the day of the Great Rising. What is the story that Christians are telling about today? That a man rose from a grave? Yes, of course — but more than that, much more than that. Other people have risen from graves, at least if you want to believe the Christians — and not just the Christians. People restored to life: it’s hardly common, but neither is it unique, it seems. No, it is not simply the rising, it is who - or what - is risen. The April weather in the Irish west was astonishing this year, for a while. Two whole weeks of unseasonal heat brought the land out from the finalities of winter. Is it time, merely? Encroaching death? But then, what force spawned life so that death could end it, what force calls the flowers from the warming earth each spring? Everything rises today.
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