King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid a private visit to Pope Francis in the Vatican on the afternoon of April 9, the 18th day of his convalescence.

The Vatican bank and other Vatican offices with financial dealings are getting more adept at identifying and stopping suspicious financial activity, according to the Vatican’s Supervisory and Financial Information Authority.

Amid funding uncertainty, CRS submitted testimony to congressional lawmakers about how Catholic teaching can help form a new path forward on U.S. aid.

President Trump’s nominee for ambassador to the Vatican has defended many of the administration’s foreign aid cuts at a Senate hearing, even while saying Catholic charitable groups are well-equipped to deliver such aid efficiently.

When asked if we could expect other such surprises in the coming days, Dr. Sergio Alfieri responded: “I do not rule out that the Holy Father will give us other surprises. We know him.”

I'm hoping that a softer approach to these 40 days will help prepare me for the more difficult ones I know are coming.