Holy Week got off to a rough start last Sunday, after Catholic officials said Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. Officials later described the incident as a mistake flowing from concern for safety, but one that nonetheless reverberated far beyond the city’s walls.
Worshippers in the United Arab Emirates were also affected by the ongoing war and violence, with many churches reportedly canceling Easter services or moving them online. Reports of extremist threats against places of worship added to the sense of unease.
What a pall over the most holy week in the Christian calendar.
On its face, this has felt like an Easter season more in keeping with the downcast mood of Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, followed by the betrayal and arrest of Christ, or Good Friday, a somber day of reflection marking Jesus’ death on the cross.
For some, the prospect of summoning the will for jubilation on Easter morning may have felt difficult. For those in the Middle East, nearly impossible.
But it came, just the same. In fact, there may be no better backdrop against which to observe Christ’s resurrection from the dead. In a time when the news changes by the hour and chaos abounds, the message of Easter does not.
He is risen, after all. It’s a story that hasn’t changed for millennia. For Christians, this ultimate sacrifice and defeat of death form the entire basis of the faith — a cleansing of iniquity and sin. Forgiveness. Life. It’s a message that echoes in sanctuaries around the world, year after year.
This Easter season carries another distinction for Chicagoans. If you live here, you may feel particular pride knowing that one of our own, Pope Leo XIV, is presiding over the Vatican and the entire Catholic Church for his first Easter as pontiff.
The Chicago native kicked off Holy Week last Sunday by delivering a homily
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that struck a chord globally, and specifically here at home among top U.S. leaders. Emphasizing Jesus Christ as the King of Peace, the pope included some serious words about war and those who wage it.“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” he said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’”
Leo’s words landed differently depending on the listener. Some heard a necessary moral clarity. Others heard an implicit rebuke of political leaders they support. In a polarized country, even a papal homily can feel like a political statement.
As pontiff, Leo wields incredible power and influence — but in truth, the message isn’t new. It reflects a set of principles the church has articulated for centuries.
That unchanging nature is part of the appeal. After years of declining attendance, some churches are seeing renewed interest, particularly among young adults searching for meaning and stability. That search isn’t abstract — it’s showing up in pews. For example, Andrew Hansen, a spokesperson for the Springfield Diocese, told us that in 2024, just 115 became baptized. Last year, that number leapt to 189. That’s just one downstate diocese, but growth after years of decline is a telling signal.
“People are searching for meaning in life, longing to be part of something larger than themselves,” Cardinal Blase Cupich said. “In the Church, they are finding both meaning and a place to belong.”
Cupich said the church in Chicago has seen a considerable increase in newcomers, especially young people. The demographic most present in this uptick are those post-college to age 35, he said. Overall, diocesan officials said 1,059 people are expected to enter the Catholic Church in the Chicago diocese this year, up from 696 in 2025, a 52% increase.
Holy Week begins with a triumphal procession, descends into betrayal and death, and ends with resurrection. It is a story that does not change, even when the world does. In a time of war, uncertainty and shifting truths, that may be exactly why it still resonates now.
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