Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, has died at the age of 88 following a period of worsening health, the Vatican confirmed Monday. The pontiff, who had been hospitalized in recent weeks for respiratory complications, leaves behind a complex and contested legacy that reshaped the modern papacy—while raising significant theological and political controversy.
Air is our silent companion from the moment we are born until our final breath. It connects us to every living thing around us. Yet it is the most taken-for-granted of all life’s necessities. Across cultures, air carries profound symbolic meaning. This is an opportunity to thank God for the breath of life!
Water is a true wonder we easily take for granted. It is so essential for life on planet Earth, and so rare in the known universe that it deserves the utmost respect from us all. The characteristics of water provide us with a great example of grace. As we contemplate the wonder of water, let us give praise for God's glorious grace.
An election takes place. A new leader emerges. Promises are made. Expectations rise. Supporters celebrate. Critics complain. Commentators speculate. And for a brief moment, it appears that a new chapter has begun. Then reality arrives.
As the USA continues beyond its 250th anniversary, it is important to be reminded that the idea of freedom of religion and belief, one of its most significant values, did not develop from Enlightenment philosophy but with the theological conviction of an English Baptist who ultimately died for that conviction.
A Christian nurse in England who had been punished for saying “Mister” to a transgender prisoner has been suspended without explanation on a vague allegation of potential “gross misconduct,” according to a Christian rights group.
At least 17 evangelical churches in Barcelona face the threat of closure because of the urban development plans of the local government. Some have already been notified by the local authorities of the need to relocate in the face of imminent closure. Others were informed at a meeting recently held by the Consell Evangèlic de Catalunya (Evangelical Council of Catalonia, CEC), which has expressed its concern about a decision that “could leave thousands of believers without a place of worship”.
A court in England on Friday (April 4) convicted a retired Christian woman of breaching an abortion clinic “buffer zone” by offering consensual conversation.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, has confessed that the scale of abuse cases reported to him was "absolutely overwhelming", influencing his lack of action related to serial sex abuser, the late John Smyth.
After several nights of inspiring performances and heartfelt messages, the evangelistic event Life on Stage concluded on Sunday in the Bernese Oberland, drawing around 10,000 attendees. The campaign featured true stories presented through musical theater and a clear gospel message shared by evangelist Gabriel Häsler.
Mel Gibson is set to return to the director’s chair for The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-awaited sequel to The Passion of the Christ. The film will begin shooting this August at Rome’s renowned Cinecittà Studios, according to Manuela Cacciamani, CEO of the studio.
Auschwitz stands as a permanent memorial to horrors against humanity. However, memory can be manipulated and newly published research from a leading Jewish scholar has confirmed that there is much cause for concern. While antisemitism should absolutely be met with moral outrage, it should not eclipse compassion for other suffering groups, especially not for our fellow followers of Jesus within those groups. We need to be led by a biblical understanding of remembrance.
