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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7, the Vatican announced.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis was "a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone," said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, as he presided over the funeral of the pope, who died April 21 at the age of 88.

Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88 gave new energy to millions of Catholics -- and caused concern for some -- as he transformed the image of the papacy into a pastoral ministry based on personal encounters and strong convictions about mission, poverty, immigration and dialogue.

Easter, the glorious celebration of Christ's resurrection, is a time of profound joy and renewal. Beyond the church filled with blooming lilies, family gatherings, Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, Easter calls us to reflect on the meaning of stewardship in light of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and victory over death.

We are in the midst of Holy Week—the highest feast days of the year. We were made by God to be with Him forever. Reading the first few chapters of Genesis tells us that the man and the woman walked with God in the cool time of the day.

MOBILE — Staff, faculty and supporters of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School gathered April 11-12 to help set the school’s strategic mission over the next five years.

The Holy Spirit greatly blesses the Archdiocese of Mobile. Allow me to give two examples of God working powerfully in our midst.

Lent can certainly seem like a drudgery for much of the time. Some of us possibly fell a bit short on some of our Lenten disciplines and offerings—at least I did.

Spring Hill College and Rockhurst University announce a strategic alliance that will open new academic and professional pathways for their students.

Catholic Social Services is excited to introduce Steely Crutchfield, MSW, as the new program manager for Pregnancy and Adoption Services.

Spring is here, thank God we live in Alabama! Spring brings many familiar events or recollections of past celebrations. I would like to talk about one event dear to my heart, the Rite of Election.

How is giving up sweets, fast food or alcohol for 40 days supposed to draw us closer to Christ? I truly believe there are no coincidences. Our Lord is intentional in all that He does. Therefore, 40 days of Lent is the ideal amount of time to make a sacrifice that will help us grow closer to Him.

MOBILE — McGill-Toolen Catholic High School has announced that Abby Woodard has been appointed as assistant principal for academics beginning with the 2025-26 school year. She will succeed Lisa Robertson, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

More and more people within the Archdiocese of Mobile continue to enter the Catholic Church. For the second consecutive year, the archdiocese will have its largest group entering the Church since at least 2014. Numbers are not finalized, but 447 catechumens and candidates are expected to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil on April 19.

On March 17, 1945, in the midst of World War II, a new ministry opened its doors in Mobile at the corner of Conti and South Claiborne streets.

Recently, the diary of a young North Korean soldier killed in Ukraine came to light. What attracted most commentary was the revelation that he and his unfortunate colleagues were being used, essentially, as bait for the deadly drones that hover over the battlefields of that beleaguered country. What I found even more desperately sad, however, was a more personal truth that was laid bare in the pages of that diary.

We all know that we have a new president and with that comes an entirely new approach to many issues. I would like to discuss one of the hot-button issues our nation is experiencing—immigration. I encourage everyone to read Archbishop Rodi’s column in this issue of The Catholic Week. I find it exceptional.

The first chief of police for the Mobile City Police now has proper memorialization at Catholic Cemetery of Mobile.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. As we begin the season of Lent, please allow me to share some thoughts with you.

"I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 14:34). Love is the foundation of all acts of stewardship. Jesus showed us how to be good stewards by His actions. He fed the poor, visited the imprisoned, healed the sick and so much more. Jesus taught us how to love by living the seven Corporal Works of Mercy. We are called to imitate these charitable actions in our lives.