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Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Tuesday, April 21st, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. Aboard the Papal Plane over Central Africa this morning, Pope Leo XIV paused to remember his predecessor, Pope Francis, on the first anniversary of his death. Speaking to journalists while traveling from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, Poplio reflected on a legacy shaped by mercy and closeness to what he called the Little Ones. He pointed to Francis's witness through his life, his testimony, his word, and his gestures, recalling a pontificate marked by care for the poor and a deeply pastoral approach to leadership. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, led the church from 2013 until his death on April 21st, 2025, just one day after delivering his final Easter blessing in St. Peter's Square. As Pope Leo continues his African journey, he also highlighted the growth of the church across the continent, calling it a sign of hope and a renewed invitation to evangelize through joy and witness rather than proselytism. His visit to Equatorial Guinea coincides with the 170th anniversary of evangelization in the roughly 75% Catholic nation. Earlier today in Rome, hundreds gathered at the Basilica of St. Mary Major to mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis' death with prayer and remembrance. In a message read during the Mass, Pope Leo XIV praised his predecessor's courageous witness, describing it as a lasting gift to the church. He reflected on how Francis died just after Easter, completing his life in the embrace of the risen Christ. Pope Leo highlighted the late Pope's identity as a missionary disciple and caring shepherd, pointing to themes that defined his pontificate mercy, peace, fraternity, and closeness to the faithful. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Rey encouraged those gathered to carry forward that spiritual legacy. At Francis's simple tomb, marked only with the Latin name Franciscus, a single white rose rested atop the marble slab, accompanied by a lit oil lamp. Tributes also came from Italian president Sergio Mattarella, who remembered Pope Francis as a global voice for dialogue, hope, and human dignity. Also in Rome, Pope Francis's longtime nurse is sharing a deeply personal look at the late pontiff's final days. In an interview marking the anniversary of his death, Massimiliano Strapetti described Francis as a second father, recalling moments of humor, humility, and trust. Even small details, like a bottle of cologne, now bring back vivid memories. Strapeti accompanied the Pope through his final illness and was present during his last visit to St. Peter's Square, when Francis insisted on greeting the faithful despite his frailty. Afterward, the Pope thanked him, saying, Thank you for bringing me back to the square. Pope Francis died April 21, 2025, following a stroke. Strapeti remained at his side even after death, helping care for his body as pilgrims came to pay their respects. Reflecting on his legacy, the nurse said Francis lived with quiet holiness and compassion. While he acknowledged reports of possible miracles, he added simply, For me, Francis is already a saint. Christian leaders in Pakistan are sounding the alarm after a court upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl to a 30-year-old Muslim man, a decision widely condemned as dangerous and unjust. The girl's family says she was abducted and forcibly converted in a case that has become known simply as Maria. Church leaders, human rights groups, and politicians warned the ruling could set a damaging precedent for religious minorities. In response, Pakistan's federal government has quietly formed a 37-member national committee, including Catholic and Protestant bishops, to review the case and propose safeguards against forced conversions and marriages. Catholic leaders have strongly condemned the ruling. Activists estimate nearly a thousand non-Muslim women and minors face forced conversions annually in the country. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Punjab have advanced legislation to set a minimum marriage age at 18, a sign of possible reform amid mounting pressure. Father Khalid Rashid Asi of the National Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Faisalabad welcomed those efforts, emphasizing that church leaders and theologians must be consulted throughout the process. With political tensions running high, the organization behind the upcoming National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is making one thing clear. Its message is spiritual, not political. The National Eucharistic Congress issued a statement today explaining its use of the phrase One Nation under God, which serves as the theme of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage is set to travel through most of the nation's 13 original colonies from May 24th through July 5th, as the United States marks its 250th anniversary. The statement comes amid what the organization itself called a moment of heightened tension in the country and the world, a period in which President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other officials have publicly challenged Pope Leo XIV's calls for peace while invoking Christian symbolism in support of the Iran conflict. The NEC was direct in drawing a line, saying, The One Nation under God pilgrimage is a united prayer of petition to God on behalf of our country and for peace in the world. It is not about political statements, but about spiritual renewal.com. Thanks so much for listening and God bless. This has been an OSV News production. 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