The gift of the Holy Spirit renews the earth, Pope Francis has said in a statement made during Mass for Pentecost Sunday last weekend at St Peter’s Basilica.

The two new Palestinian saints were instrumental in the promotion of women in the Arab world and in efforts for interreligious dialogue toward peace, said Jordanian Father Rifat Bader.

The second major earthquake in less than three weeks spread renewed fears and dented the confidence of people, said church and charity workers.

Time is running out for victims of Nepal’s earthquake, who are suffering because aid cannot reach them, said Bishop Paul Simick of Nepal.

The Holy Year of Mercy will be an opportunity to encourage Christians to meet people’s “real needs” with concrete assistance, to experience a “true pilgrimage” on foot, and to send “missionaries of mercy” throughout the world to forgive even the most serious of sins, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella.

Caritas Australia, the international aid and development agency of the Catholic Church, has this week confirmed it has three staff members who are working with the people of Nepal in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

With so many women and men being killed because of their faith in Christ, the Church today is a church of martyrs, Pope Francis said in a morning homily this week.

Pope Francis has last weekend quoted St John Paul II’s reference to the Armenian slaughter as ‘genocide’.

To enter Christ’s empty tomb like the disciples and see that He has risen, Christians today also must “bend down”, Pope Francis said in his Easter message.

The example St John Paul II gave the world is still alive and many people continue to be inspired by his faith, passion and joy, Pope Francis said.