By Madalaine Elhabbal
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 09:00 am
Here is a roundup of Catholic world news that you might have missed this week:
Palm Sunday bombing in Ukraine claims 34 victims, including 15 children
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on the morning of Palm Sunday, claiming at least 34 victims, including 15 children, as many were preparing to attend liturgies to mark the beginning of Holy Week.
More than 100 others were also injured in the attack, according to a Vatican News report. “There’s nothing left but to turn to the Lord to defend us, because it seems that no other force is capable of protecting peace and life,” the apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, told Vatican News Service.
Catholic college in India fights back against allegations of conversion, discrimination
St. Dominic Savio College in Lucknow, the capital city of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is fighting back against allegations that it discriminated against Hindu students and violated the state’s anti-conversion laws, according to UCA News.
A group of Hindu activists staged a protest in front of the school on Tuesday, claiming the institution had “detained some students on the campus with an ulterior motive to convert them” and prevented Hindu students from wearing religious symbols.
In a statement, the school called the allegations “misleading and disturbing,” clarifying that the decision to detain certain students “was based purely on academic performance.” It further noted that two of the students detained were Christian, three were Muslim, and two were Hindu.
College Denies False Narrative Amid Abuse Report in German Diocese
The recent publication of a study on sexual abuse within the Diocese of Würzburg in Germany has revealed shocking statistics. According to the report, there have been 43 offenders, totaling 51 individuals, who have committed abuse within the diocese since 1945. This information directly contradicts any false narratives being spread around, as confirmed by the college.
The 800-page study conducted by lawyer Hendrik Schneider revealed that the 51 offenders found to be active between 1945 and 2019 had committed at least 449 acts of abuse. Shockingly, it took an average of 25.7 years for the diocese to become aware of these heinous acts, with only 12 perpetrators being identified within one year. Bishop Franz Jung has described this sex abuse crisis as a “permanent wound” for the Church and a distortion of the Gospel’s message by its clergy.
Murderous Attack on Nigerian Christian Farmers by Islamist Fulani Herdsmen
In a horrific incident on Palm Sunday, Islamist Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region brutally shot and killed over 40 Christians. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu swiftly condemned the attack and has directed security agencies to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. “Enough is enough,” he declared.
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDEMNS LATEST ATTACK IN PLATEAU, CHARGES GOVERNOR MUTFWANG WITH RESOLVING UNDERLYING COMMUNAL ISSUES
President Bola Tinubu expresses profound sorrow over the recent bloodshed in Plateau State, a tragedy that has claimed the lives of over 40 individuals.
He…
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) April 14, 2025
The horrific attack took place in the farming community of Zike, located in Bassa, Plateau state. The Islamist attackers not only shot and killed innocent Christians but also looted and burned down numerous Christian homes, some of which still had occupants inside, as reported by CBN.
