The most important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican.     

Four New Ambulances for Ukraine 

Pope Francis has donated four ambulances that will be deployed in war torn areas in Ukraine. The Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, will be responsible for delivering the ambulances, which bear the Vatican’s coat of arms. They will be also filled with medical equipment. It is not the first time that the Vatican is sending an ambulance to the region nor is Cardinal Krajewski new to the undertaking. He has visited the war zone more than a dozen times on behalf of Pope Francis.

Good Friday Collection  

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, invited Catholics to contribute to the annual Good Friday Collection. The official collection provides essential resources and helps maintain the Church’s structures in the Holy Land. Together with the Custody of the Holy Land, he keeps reminding the faithful worldwide that the few remaining Christians in the region need concrete and immediate help. 

The Veil of Veronica

“Veronica’s Veil” is the cloth that, according to tradition, was used to wipe the face of Jesus on his way to Calvary. On the fifth Sunday of Lent, St. Peter’s Basilica exposed the revered  fabric for a short minute. The relic, also known as the Holy Face, is brought to the so-called Veronica loggia during an extraordinary liturgy.  Afterward, the archpriest of the Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, celebrated Mass with the many faithful who came to see the real face of Jesus.

Vatican: Phone Call with Russia  

Working towards peace: Archbishop Paul Gallagher and Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s minister of foreign affairs, held a phone call together. The Archbishop is the Vatican secretary for relations with states and international organizations. He and Lavrov discussed “the overall picture of world politics” with “particular attention to the situation of the war in Ukraine”, as the Vatican stated.   

Council of Nicaea: Vatican Releases Document 

The Vatican released a historical document to recognize the opening of the Council of Nicaea. The International Theological Commission published the in-depth document “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior” celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council and to highlight its significance. The commission sees the Nicene Creed to be “at the heart of the Church’s faith.” 

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Adapted by Jacob Stein