Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Secretariat for the Economy, speaks Wednesday in Rome during an interview with EWTN News Nightly’s Colm Flynn.
Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Secretariat for the Economy, speaks Wednesday in Rome during an interview with EWTN News Nightly’s Colm Flynn. (photo: Daniel Ibáñez / CNA/EWTN News)

Cardinal Pell, Advent and the Gospel of Mark (Dec. 5)

Cardinal George Pell, falsely imprisoned for some 400 days, emerged from his ordeal ready to remind the world that “the key to life is found in Christ’s words.” This week on Register Radio we talk to Register Rome correspondent Edward Pentin about his interview with Cardinal Pell, the first since his acquittal and release from prison. And then, a new liturgical year has begun, and with it a new cycle of readings. We talk with John Bergsma about Advent, Christmas and the Gospel of Mark.

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