RNS Morning Report - Inside Pope Leo XIV’s young papacy

Leo’s first Easter as pope As Pope Leo XIV approaches his first Easter as pontiff, his leadership style is coming into sharper focus — and it’s both familiar and distinct. While echoing Pope Francis in emphasizing peace and social justice, Leo is quietly reshaping Vatican governance through empowering clergy, elevating insiders and restoring certain papal traditions. From a shift in Holy Thursday rituals to a strengthened Secretariat of State and a renewed diplomatic voice on global conflicts, Leo’s papacy is balancing continuity with change — offering early clues about how he will lead the Catholic Church during a turbulent global moment. Read the full analysis by RNS Vatican Reporter Claire Giangravè below. Top Stories As first Easter of Leo’s papacy approaches, his priorities come into sharper focus VATICAN CITY (RNS) — While Leo’s first year has largely implied continuity with Francis, analysis of his leadership style highlights his willingness to empower clergy and delegate authority. Some churches don’t preach a literal resurrection. Here’s how they celebrate Easter. (RNS) — In some noncreedal faith communities, the holiday is about metaphorical transformation and resisting empire. ICE detains president of Islamic Society of Milwaukee (RNS) — Lawyers and advocates for Salah Sarsour say he was targeted for his Muslim faith and advocacy for Palestinians.  For the first time, Black women bishops in the UMC share Good Friday pulpit (RNS) — ‘Just as Christ’s work on the cross was countercultural, this service is a counternarrative,’ said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, who leads the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Episcopal Area. Opinion Conversion therapy is soul-crushing — and it doesn’t work (RNS) — None of the hundreds of people I met in conversion therapy received the miracle we’d been promised. In fact, it has been discredited by every major medical and mental health organization as ineffective and harmful. What next for Trump’s war on Iran? (RNS) — This war was unnecessary, stupid and immoral. It began without a plan and will end not with a bang, but a whimper. ICYMI LGBTQ faith leaders say Supreme Court’s conversion therapy ruling will harm youth (RNS) — The court sided with an evangelical Christian therapist who argued Colorado’s conversion therapy ban restricts her right to free speech. Israel’s new death penalty law sparks outcry from liberal Jewish groups (RNS) — Rabbinical groups said the law flies in the face of Jewish tradition and violates international principles of due process and equal protection under the law. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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