A Pause

This issue of the Register is another case where we, as the producers of the newspaper, are at a distinct disadvantage compared to you, the readers of it. We send this issue to the printer on April 14 — the day before Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Andrews Airforce Base.

We have no knowledge of anything that was said or done during the Pope’s visit. But you who receive it already have seen coverage of the Pope. You may even have watched the visit live at Pope2008.com, courtesy of EWTN. So you have one up on us now.

We hope that this issue of the Register, with its excellent coverage of previous papal visits — and its exclusive interview with the Holy Father’s big brother — will help enrich the experience of the Pope’s visit for you.

This week, our reporters who have excellent access to papal events will begin filing stories from the road in Washington, D.C., and New York. Their reports, we hope, will give you an unequaled view from the side of the Holy Father.

Log on to NCRegister.com to read that coverage as soon as it’s available. Thanks!

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