Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“The failure to recognize Easter as an official holiday in the country leaves in place conditions that force Egyptian Christians to choose between participating in Easter worship or facing serious civil, professional, and academic penalties,” stated ADF International, which is offering legal support to plaintiffs in the case.

The North African nation of 112.9 million (map) is 90% Muslim and 9% Christian (primarily Coptic Orthodox); Islam is the state religion.

The General Secretariat of the Synod, led by Cardinal Mario Grech, released the sixth of 15 final reports of the study groups established by Pope Francis during the synod on synodality—as well as a portion of another report.

Renewing his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump charged that the Pope “thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”—leading Pope Leo to respond, “If someone criticizes me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

Resuming his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV devoted this morning’s audience to “the Church, pilgrim in history towards the heavenly homeland.”

In the most prominent front-page article in its May 5 edition, L’Osservatore Romano drew attention to the plight of the people of Gaza, where corpses beneath the rubble are fostering massive infestations of rodents and other pests.