Friday, April 11th 2025 Established 1905 27 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana Year 120, No. 14
Pope’s visit to St. Peter’s is sign of improved health, press office says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ surprise visit to St. Peter’s Basilica to pray and see ongoing restoration work is a clear sign that his condition is improving, the Vatican press office said. The 88-year-old pope, pushed in a wheelchair by his nurse and using a nasal cannula to deliver supplemental oxygen, entered the basilica just before 1 p.m. April 10. Vatican News said he went to the basilica to pray at the tomb of St. Pius X. The Vatican press office said April 11 that the pope had asked his assistants to take him to the basilica to pray, and they did so. “He was happy to pray in the basilica and to encounter people,” the press office said. Tourists, pilgrims and even priests who minister in the basilica were taken by surprise. “So much emotion,” Msgr. Valerio Di Palma, one of the canons of the basilica told Vatican News. “My vision blurred with tears, and I couldn’t even take a picture.” (Please turn to page 12) Pope Francis, who is continuing to recover from pneumonia and a long hospitalization, makes a surprise visit to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican to pray April 10, 2025. He surprised tourists and pilgrims, also because he was not wearing his white cassock or zucchetto. (OSV News photo/Luiz Gil, Handout via Reuters)
Britain’s royal couple meet Pope Francis at the Vatican - p2 New Church statistics reveal growing Catholic population, fewer pastoral workers - p3 A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4 Sunday Scripture - p5 Simple Holy Week customs transcend cultures, continents - p6 Pope’s April prayer intention - p6 Message for Palm Sunday from Sr. Antoinette Dickie, O’Carm - p7 Holy See warns global nuclear disarmament, AI regulation ‘imperative’ at UN - p8 Disgraced former cardinal dies at 94 - p8 Children’s Page - p9 Letters to the Editor - p10 Growing in Grace Week 57 - p10 Tourists, pilgrims, religious learn CPR during Jubilee of the Sick - p11 Baptism at Shiriri - p11 Pilgrims of Hope – A Guyanese Holy Week Journey - p14 Baptism at Churikadnau - p14 Saint of the Week - p14
Bishop’s Engagements HOLY WEEK PALM SUNDAY: Sunday, April 13th 07:00hrs – Blessing of the Palms at Cathedral Presbytery, a short procession followed by Mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Brickdam. 15:00hrs – Annual Diocesan Bible Quiz – Finals (continued on page 3)
The Chrism Mass was held last Wednesday, April 9th at 5pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown.
During the mass, the clergy renewed their priestly vows, and the sacred oils used for the sacraments throughout the year were blessed and distributed to parish representatives.
The photo above shows Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB and some of the priests of the diocese at the end of the Chrism Mass.❖ (Photo: Catholic Media Guyana)
Francis Alleyne OSB