Wisdom Wednesday | April 30th

Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday for April 30. The death of Pope Francis continues prominently in religious and secular news sources, as does the conclave and speculation about who will be the next pope. Even so, Jubilee 2025 continues, the Trump administration continues to have an impact on faith communities, and the world of believers stumbles on. As always, personal opinions are identified as such, and remain the property of their authors and publishers.

Death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ death right after Easter sounds miraculous – but patients and caregivers often work together to delay dying, according to a report from Religion News Service. Some patients with a terminal illness seem to be able to ‘hold on’ until after an anticipated holiday or event. This might be less about staying positive and more about being supported in your goals.

Remembering Pope Francis: Father James Martin Reflects on LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Environmentalism, and Compassionate Leadership. Religion News Service published Martin’s reflection in a podcast.

Pope Francis’ simple funeral choices set a moral standard also reflected in Judaism. Ranana Dine’s personal view is reported by Religion News Service. “As a Jew reading about Pope Francis’ funeral wishes, the precedent set by Rabban Gamliel immediately came to mind. These two religious leaders . . . serve as a model for their communities.”

In his column, Martini Judaism, published by Religion News Service, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin reflects on why Pope Francis mattered for the Jews. “He touched lives and transformed the world. What else could you ask for in a spiritual leader?”

What Pope Francis’ teachings on reconciliation signify for Indonesia. It isn’t just about halting violence; it’s about fostering a society where everyone is included and treated with respect, according to a report from UCAN, the Union of Catholic Asian News.

Pope Francis’ Passing Leaves International Soccer World in Mourning. A report by the Catholic News Agency, published by the National Catholic Register, notes that “Pope Francis was a lifelong soccer fan and his passing was felt perhaps most acutely among fans of the San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires.”

On Tuesday, May 6, the eve of the conclave, Georgetown University is hosting a special Dahlgren Dialogue on Remembering Pope Francis: Continuing His Mission. The presentation is co-sponsored by the Office of Mission & Ministry and the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.

The Conclave

The axiom “he who enters the conclave a pope, leaves a cardinal” is as wrong as it is ubiquitous, says Michael Sean Winters at National Catholic Reporter. “Commentators on TV who know nothing about the church repeat it ad nauseam. A quick review of the last century of conclaves illustrates why it is wrong — and much else!

Who will be the next pope? Christopher White, at National Catholic Reporter, goes inside the race to succeed Francis. His analysis points out that eight out of ten cardinals in the conclave were elevated to their rank by Pope Francis.

A “Top papal candidate” says Francis’s legacy must continue, as reported by Elise Ann Allen in Crux Now.

Meet the ‘papabile’ – a report from Religion News Service examines the likely contenders to become the next pope. The list includes conservative, transitional and progressive candidates to replace Francis.

The upcoming conclave will be directed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the next eligible most senior cardinal bishop and the Vatican’s secretary of state. More details are contained in a Catholic News Agency report from the National Catholic Register.

JUBILEE 2025

From Vatican News, Sister Veronica Donatello calls for a “culture of belonging” for persons with disabilities. She is the head of disability outreach for the Italian Bishops’ Conference, reporting on “We: Pilgrims of Hope,” the first event of the Jubilee of Persons with Disabilities.

At Jubilee of Teenagers, grief is mingled with joyful hope for church’s future. A Catholic News Service story published by the U.S. bishops notes that Pope Francis was the only pope tens of thousands of young people ever really knew, and the special Jubilee he set up for them ended up being their opportunity to say goodbye.

The Trump Administration

A poll published by the National Catholic Register finds “Trump Approval Rating Still High Among Christians“. The story from Catholic News agency says the approval rating for President Donald Trump among Christians is also 8 points higher than among U.S. adults overall.

In Dallas, interfaith clergy rally to decry deportations. Baptist News Global lists the demands of a coalition of Dallas-area faith leaders, that immigrants must be treated with the dignity and respect required by faith and the due process afforded under the law.

Prominent pastor and anti-poverty activist the Rev. William Barber and two others were arrested while praying in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday (April 28), an action he said would be part of a recurring series of demonstrations aimed at challenging the Republican-led budget bill. From Religion News Service.

Evangelicals say the president is “in step on core issues such as abortion and Israel – and they’re backing him all the way.” From the Guardian.

“Does Imprisoning Migrants in El Salvador Amount to Trafficking?” Christian legal experts debate whether Trump’s deportations to a foreign megaprison cross the line into exploitation. From Christianity Today.

550 US rabbis sign a letter condemning Trump’s antisemitism policy. Religion News Service reports the letter comes after a poll found that most American Jews oppose the way President Donald Trump is handling antisemitism.

“The Bible Warns About Rulers Who Put Themselves Above the Law,” says writer Harvest Prude for Christianity Today. Prude says the case of a wrongfully deported man puts the Trump administration’s approach to due process in the spotlight.

In Trump’s Trade War, Bibles Are Safe for Now. David Roach, writing for Christianity Today, reports the administration says Christian books printed in China remain exempt from tariffs.

Ukraine war

There are two untold stories of this war, and both revolve around Christianity, according to a commentary in the National Catholic Register. The first is how the Ukrainian diaspora — through Catholic and Orthodox Ukrainian churches in the United States, Canada and Europe — has gathered tens of millions of dollars and tons of food, medicine and supplies to support Ukraine’s war victims and army.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has denounced the religious persecution carried out by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories, accusing Moscow of killing dozens of clergy members and damaging or destroying hundreds of churches. From Yahoo News.

Justice Bulletin Board

For the Third Sunday of Easter, from Barbara Molinari Quinby.

At home and in the world

Canadian Pastors Struggle to Address Assisted Death. Most Canadian evangelicals have not heard their pastor speak about medical assistance in dying (MAID), even as the legal bar for euthanasia has been lowered and the number of deaths has rapidly risen to nearly 5 percent of all deaths annually. From Christianity Today.

Americans may be going to church less, but most are still open to religion and spirituality. A report from Religion News Service concludes that “Just because religious behavior and affiliation have taken a nosedive in the last 30 years does not mean America is suddenly a secular country.”

A small town in Kansas prepares for changes as a local hero is on the verge of sainthood. PILSEN, Kan. (RNS and NPR) — Earlier this year, Pope Francis named the Rev. Emil Kapaun ‘venerable,’ bringing him one step closer to canonization. The road ahead is long, but it could bring big changes to his small hometown.

Texas lawmakers are weighing whether parish parking lots, ballfields, and spare acreage could help ease the state’s housing crunch. House Bill 3172 — the so‑called Yes in God’s Backyard, or YIGBY, bill — would let churches and other faith institutions build mixed‑income housing on land they already own without running a gauntlet of rezoning hearings, provided at least half the units stay affordable.

Two documentaries of note

Documentary examines a student group that challenged book bans. Baptist News Global reports a new documentary distributed by Kanopy looks at a group of high school students from Beaufort County, S.C. The students formed a book club dedicated to reading diverse literature and stood up in school board meetings to oppose efforts to censor books in 2022.

Chris Tomlin’s new song resurrects the world’s oldest known hymn. Religion New Service says a new documentary details a project to revamp an 1,800-year-old hymn for a modern audience. The Oxyrhynchus Hymn is the oldest surviving Christian hymn with musical notation — and was rewritten by Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding just in time for Easter.

Where Are the 12 Apostles Now?

It’s especially exciting when archaeologists can throw new light on the actual resting place of an apostle, says Thomas Craughwell in the National Catholic Register.