VATICAN CITY – Jesus is the risen shepherd who takes upon his shoulders "our brothers and sisters crushed by evil in all its varied forms," Pope Francis said before giving his solemn Easter blessing.

WASHINGTON – Catholics and other Christians have grown up believing in the Resurrection, but the Apostles themselves were among the first who were skeptical that Jesus arose from the dead.

The following is the Easter message released by Bishop Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He is risen! Truly, He is risen! We have just begun our celebration of the most incredible miracle of all time — the miracle of Easter.

MINYA, Egypt – After two bomb attacks on worshippers at Coptic Orthodox churches on Sunday, the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of Minya has announced it will celebrate Easter without the typical festive accoutrements.

Second Sunday of Easter, April 23 (Year A) Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

God’s power was revealed in the early Christian communities in dramatic ways. Why then and not now? How did they make it happen?

Believers and non-believers alike have been arguing about the Resurrection since the day Jesus rose.

There is something about the language of music that transcends words.

OTTAWA – Vera Shroff has been fascinated by Catholicism since she was a little girl in India, despite being raised in one of the world’s most ancient religions.

We may be powerless to save Egyptian Christians from terrorist bombings, Syrian civilians from poison-gas attacks or to silence the guns in Africa’s many war zones, but Easter reminds us to never despair from walking as disciples of hope and peace.

Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square. Below is the full text of his prepared remarks.

When St. Francis of Assisi pastor Fr. Jimmy Zammit looks at Vincenzo Pietropaolo’s photographs he sees the faith of his community.

Resurrection of the Lord, April 16 (Year A) Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18

The first Christian creeds were simple, direct and unadorned. The apostles proclaimed who Jesus was, what He did, what happened to Him, and His role in the universal judgment of humankind.

Good Friday was bad long before it was good, at least from outward appearances.

Heading into church last month for the noon-hour service on Ash Wednesday, I walked along the sidewalk behind two middle-aged couples decked out in office-type apparel. I overheard that one of the couples was heading out for a bite of lunch and the other was skipping lunch to attend the service that marks the beginning of Lenten fasting, penance and prayer that is now entering its final days before we reach the glory of Easter Sunday.