Diocesan News | Rhode Island Catholic

Msgr. Albert A. Kenney concelebrates a Mass for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Friday, April 25. In his homily, he said that Pope Francis was true to his Jesuit charism and “never wavered in his desire to do all things for the greater glory of God.”

Pope Francis 'never wavered in his desire to do all things for the greater glory of God'

PROVIDENCE — The day before a quarter million people gathered inside the confines of St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis, the Diocese of Providence celebrated a Mass for … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 5/1/25

Catholic journalists reflect on covering Pope Francis

By Rick Snizek, Executive Editor I had the honor of covering Pope Francis on two occasions, the first in September 2015 during his first visit to the United States as pontiff, and the second three … more

5/1/25

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Johnston, parishioner Christiana Gondreau, left, assisted by Augustino, a Vatican usher, holds her 8-year-old son Dominic as he is embraced by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square following his first Easter Mass on Sunday, March 31, 2013. Dominic, who has cerebral palsy, is also the son of Providence College faculty member Dr. Paul Gondreau.

Local faithful share experiences with the papacy of Pope Francis, from the beginning to the end

Pope Francis rose to the papacy 18 days before Easter, in 2013. He passed from this life one day after Easter twelve years later. The “shot seen around the world,” as Rhode Island … more

By Jennifer Barton, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 5/1/25

The Prominence of St. Peter

Trivia Question: What was Jesus’ last miracle? No, no, not his Resurrection; let’s leave that grand event to God the Father. Actually during his public lifetime Jesus worked 37 miracles, … more

5/1/25

Pope Francis prays in front of the Marian icon, “Salus Populi Romani” (health of the Roman people), during a prayer service in an empty St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 27, 2020. At the conclusion of the service the pope held the Eucharist as he gave an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world). The service was livestreamed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Marian devotion of Pope Francis

Pope Francis must be remembered for his deep Marian piety. In speaking to a group of young people in Rome on June 29, 2014 — the Solemnity of St. Peter and Paul — he famously said: … more

By Robert Fastiggi, OSV News | 5/1/25

A single white rose sits on the tomb of Pope Francis in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025.

Retrospect on a Pontificate

During the March 2013 interregnum following the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI, and in the conclave itself, proponents of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., as Benedict’s successor … more

5/1/25

Eastertide is Almost Here!

The best time of the year is almost here! As the weather begins to get warmer, the sunshine sticks around longer and Spring starts to blossom, Catholics get to celebrate 50 whole days of Easter! … more

4/29/25

Through sincere belief in the Son of God we have life in His name

For many years, actually many centuries, the Catholic Mass was concluded with the priest’s reading of the opening verses of the Gospel according to St. John which begins, “In the … more

4/24/25

Pope Francis appears on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at the Vatican April 20, 2025.

Pope on Easter: Jesus' resurrection makes Christians pilgrims of hope

VATICAN CITY — The hope Christians have is not a sign of avoiding reality but of trusting in the power of God to defeat sin and death as the resurrection of Jesus clearly shows, Pope Francis … more

4/24/25

Local faithful gather at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass presided over by Most Rev. Robert C. Evans.

Easter brings the faithful from darkness into the light of salvation

PROVIDENCE — In darkness, Catholics gathered in the mother church of the Diocese of Providence hear a deacon, illumined by a candle, recite the following words: “Exult, let them exult, … more

By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 4/24/25

Special Event Listing for 04.24.25

Pizza and Prayer PROVIDENCE — High school and college–aged men discerning the priesthood are invited to Pizza and Prayer on April 26 and May 24, from 6 – 7 p.m. at Our Lady of … more

4/24/25

Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., greets Pope Francis during a meeting with new bishops at the Vatican Sept. 8, 2022.

Appointments of Bishops Tobin and Lewandowski to Providence were among last American shepherds named by JPII, Francis

PROVIDENCE — The Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Bishop-Designate of Providence, spoke glowingly of Pope Francis on the day of his appointment, April 8, which when paired with the … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 4/24/25

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, since 2013 - Pope Francis, washes the feet of residents of a shelter for drug users during Holy Thursday Mass in 2008 at a church in a poor neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pope Francis died April 21, 2025, at age 88.

The Holy Father remembered as the pope of the poor

ROME — In the last years of his papacy, the world saw the more serious, concerned and suffering face of Pope Francis. But with one group he was always beaming, always smiling and always … more

By Paulina Guzik, OSV News | 4/24/25

An image of Pope Francis is placed beside a candle in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul hours after his death as former Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans celebrates noon Mass on Easter Monday with Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Albert A. Kenney, left, and Father Robert E. Lacombe, homilist.

The late Holy Father remembered as a 'shining and powerful example of the mercy of God'

PROVIDENCE — While most along the U.S. East Coast were still asleep at about 1:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, Pope Francis breathed his last, and the tectonic loss for the universal Catholic Church … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 4/24/25

Msgr. Kenney to celebrate Mass for Pope Francis Friday, April 25

PROVIDENCE — Msgr. Albert A. Kenney will celebrate Holy Mass on Friday, April 25, at noon at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence, to pray for the repose of the soul of the late … more

4/24/25

Father Lawrence E. Toole

CUMBERLAND —Father Lawrence E. Toole, 90, Pastor Emeritus of the former Saint Patrick Parish, Cumberland passed away peacefully with his family by his side, on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025. … more

4/24/25

Where Do You Draw The ‘Mercy Line’?

Where do you draw the line—the “mercy line?” The mercy line marks the point beyond which, in your view, mercy should NOT be offered to a person: If you do such-and-such a … more

4/24/25

This is the cover of the English edition of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home." "When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities -- to offer just a few examples -- it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself," the pope writes in the encyclical.

The best of Francis: Five unforgettable moments

As the world absorbs the news of the death of Pope Francis — and before the ever-busy oddsmakers and deep insiders begin the game of papabile speculation that accompanies every papal death and … more

By Elizabeth Scalia, OSV News | 4/24/25

Pope Francis dies at 88

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has died April 21 at the age of 88. The pope died at 7:35 a.m. Rome time, U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced. … more

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service | 4/21/25

The Via Dolorosa is a path of Christian pilgrimage through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem that is beleived to follow Jesus' Way of the Cross.

Reporter's Notebook: May visions of Holy Week in Jerusalem inspire your trip of a lifetime

Seeing images of the faithful on Palm Sunday walk down the Mount of Olives waving palms to signify Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, I became wistful for the moment, just one month … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 4/17/25