The Afterglow

Now that the Holy Father has returned to Rome, we return to our regular coverage of the news. But we return transformed, we hope.

In many ways, we’re still basking in the glow of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit. He said and did so much while he was here that we will need time to take it all in and begin applying it.

Pope2008.com can continue to help do that — even as our site, like this newspaper, begins gearing up for World Youth Day.

I want to thank all of the readers who went the extra step of donating to our apostolate. It’s your contributions that made it possible. Our business staff estimates that all the papal coverage will cost the Register an extra $19,840 in the weeks to come.

If you’d like to help us meet these expenses, go to NCRegister.com and click “Donate” or call Michael Lambert at (800) 356-9916.

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne attends a German Synodal Way assembly on March 9, 2023.

Four German Bishops Resist Push to Install Permanent ‘Synodal Council’

Given the Vatican’s repeated interventions against the German process, the bishops said they would instead look to the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Meanwhile, on Monday, German diocesan bishops approved the statutes for a synodal committee; and there are reports that the synodal committee will meet again in June.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis