Weekly religion news roundup (April 18-24, 2025)
Photograph by Utsav Srestha via Unsplash
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela
Pope Francis, charismatic reformer and disruptor, dies at 88. Francis leaves behind him a church still divided, but radically transformed. (RNS)
Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in wartime Ukraine, overshadowed by historic Vatican-Moscow ties. Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at 88, leaves behind a legacy as vast and varied as his global influence. Yet in Ukraine, his track record is far from positive. (Kyiv Independent)
Gaza's Christians 'heartbroken' for pope who phoned them nightly. Members of Gaza's tiny Christian community said they were "heartbroken" on Monday at the death of Pope Francis, who campaigned for peace for the devastated enclave and spoke to them on the phone every evening throughout the war. (Reuters)
Criticism and celebration in Israel after death of Pope Francis. Many Israelis slammed the pontiff for his vocal support for Palestinians and took to social media to celebrate his death (Middle East Eye)
135 cardinals will elect the next pope. Francis picked 108 of them. Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, stands to have an outsize impact on the vote for his successor. (RNS)
Each Friday in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.
AP PHOTOS: Cardinals seen as contenders to be the next pope. Even though cardinals don’t campaign for the job, there are always front-runners going into a conclave to choose the next pope. These candidates, known as “papabile,” have what are regarded to be the qualities to be pope. (Associated Press)
Trump blasts enemies in Easter morning message before hitting golf course. President Donald Trump — hailed by his supporters for “bringing faith back to the White House” — spent Easter Sunday on the golf course and blasting his enemies on social media. (Baptist News Global)
Earth Day: Trump’s EPA promotes evangelical myth that environmentalism is a false religion. Today’s Earth Day commemoration is the first since the United States officially adopted the falsehood that conservative evangelicals have embraced for decades: That people concerned about the environment and climate change are motivated by anti-Christian religion. (Baptist News Global)
Most U.S. adults give to charity. Here’s where they donated. U.S. adults were likeliest to say they donated to religious organizations or groups that help with bare necessities in the past year. (Associated Press)
Supreme Court takes up religious rights dispute over LGBTQ books in Maryland schools. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments Tuesday over the religious rights of parents in Maryland to remove their children from elementary school classes using storybooks with LGBTQ characters. (Associated Press)
No sex, no booze, we’re off to church: Gen Z have found God. A YouGov study has revealed that young adults, particularly men, are going to church in increasing numbers. So what’s behind this resurgence of faith? Hannah Evans meets the new twentysomething Christians. (The Times)
Rev. Dr. Anna Piela is senior writer at American Baptist Home Mission Societies and assistant editor of The Christian Citizen.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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