ROME – Pope Leo XIV led the Regina Caeli prayer with pilgrims and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Monday – a national holiday called Pasquetta or “Little Easter” in Italy – and prayed for his predecessor Francis, who died on Easter Monday of last year after a long battle with respiratory illness.
“With particular affection, in the light of the risen Lord, we remember today Pope F...
The strongest version of this narrative presents Pope Leo XIV as a bridge between tradition and contemporary challenges, using the resurrection story to critique modern disinformation while reinforcing the Catholic Church’s moral authority. The address skillfully weaves theological reflection with urgent social concerns—war, persecution, and education—positioning the Church as a beacon of truth in a fragmented world. The contrast between the Sanhedrin’s deception and Mary Magdalene’s witness ser...