Pope Francis, Ash Wednesday, Murdered Nigerian Priest, Trump and Foreign Aid

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, which is Ash Wednesday for Roman Catholics. In this episode: Pope Francis releases the text of his Ash Wednesday homily while he remains hospitalized for severe respiratory illness. Maronite Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, head of the U.S. bishops' international justice and peace committee, issued an Ash Wednesday message calling on Catholics to -- in Pope Francis' words -- be "neighbors without borders" and support the work of Catholic Relief Services in caring for the poor worldwide, who struggle for basic necessities. The Diocese of Kafanchan, Nigeria, confirmed the murder of Father Sylvester Okechukwu, whose body was found today amid ongoing violence against Christians in that nation. Aid to the Church in Need is focusing a Lenten campaign on raising awareness of Christian persecution worldwide. The Supreme Court denied a Trump administration request to freeze foreign aid, reverting the challenge brought against the administration back to the lower courts. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

Pope Francis Ash Wednesday
https://www.osvnews.com/pope-marks-ash-wednesday-in-hospital-receiving-ashes-eucharist/

Bishop Zaidan on Lent for the Poor
https://www.osvnews.com/bishop-zaidan-lent-a-call-to-support-poor-vulnerable-as-neighbors-without-borders/

Murdered Nigerian Priest
https://www.osvnews.com/lenten-campaign-focuses-on-persecuted-christians-priests-murder-makes-message-more-urgent/

Trump Joint Session
https://www.osvnews.com/trump-touts-swift-and-unrelenting-action-on-immigration-gender-policy-in-speech-to-congress/

Supreme Court on Trump Foreign Aid Freeze
https://www.osvnews.com/supreme-court-rejects-trump-administrations-request-to-freeze-foreign-aid-payments/