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A Catholic priest is among five people kidnapped on Monday in the West African nation of Mali. The group of Catholics were reportedly traveling to a funeral when the abduction took place. Mali is a predominantly Muslim country, and it has experienced a surge in violence involving both civilians and the military since 2012. Kidnappings have become common, with militants seeking either to obtain ransom money or exert political pressure.
The cardinal in charge of Saint Peter’s Basilica, has clarified details of a recent ban on the celebration of private Masses in the upper part of the basilica. The cardinal said requests to celebrate - instead of concelebrate - early morning Masses at Saint Peter’s may be allowed, depending on the group’s particular and legitimate needs. The new protocols were released in March, to the criticism of several cardinals including Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah, and Raymond Burke.
At his general audience today, Pope Francis warned against preachers who sow division and mistrust online. The pope said such preachers present themselves, not primarily to announce the Gospel of God, who loves man in Jesus Crucified and Risen, but to insist as true ‘keepers of the truth,’ ... what is the best way to be Christian. He said that these “new preachers” can be recognized by their “rigidity,” which contrasts with preaching the Gospel that makes us free and joyful.
The pope had an unusual guest at his general audience in Rome today: Spider-Man. The man inside the costume is a young Catholic Italian, who dresses up as the comic-book character to visit sick children in hospitals across the country. He gave Pope Francis a Spider-Man mask of his own. The man briefly met the pope, and he said the pope already knew who he was, and about his mission.
Today, the Church remembers Blessed Basil Hopko. He is considered one of the many priests and religious martyred by Communism. He died in 1976 of poor health, after he was imprisoned and tortured for a time for subversive activity.