Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Easter vigil, calls for harmony and peace in a world torn by war

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIV, carrying a tall, lit candle through a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica, ushered in Christianity's most joyous celebration with his first Easter vigil service as pontiff Saturday night,urging that Easterwould bring harmony and peace to a world torn by wars.

Vatican Pope Easter Vigil

Easter for Christians commemorates Christ's triumph over death with his resurrection following his crucifixion. Lighting the candle before he entered the basilica, the pope intoned: "The light of Christ who rises in glory."

Candle bearers stopped to light candles of the congregants as they walked down the central aisle, spreading flickers of light through the dark basilica before the lights went up as the pope arrived at the baroque main altar, followed by cardinals dressed in white.

In his homily, Leo called sin "a heavy barrier that closes us off and separates us from God, seeking to kill his words of hope within us,'' and likened it to the stone that had covered Jesus' tomb — but which was found overturned, revealing Jesus' resurrection.

Leo said that there are stones representing sins to be overturned today, some "so heavy and so closely guarded that they seem to be immovable."

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"Some weigh heavily on the human heart, such as mistrust, fear, selfishness and resentment; others stemming from these inner struggles, sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.

"Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by them!" the pope said, calling on the faithful to make a commitment "so that the Easter gifts of harmony and peace may grow and flourish everywhere and always throughout the world.''

With theU.S.-Israeli waron Iran in its second month and Russia's ongoingcampaign in Ukraine, Leo has repeatedly called for a halt in hostilities. On Palm Sunday,he said that Goddoesn't listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence,

As is tradition, Leo baptized 10 adults from all over the world during the Mass.

During Leo's first Holy Week, which is notoriously demanding, thepontiff carried the crossfor the entire 14 stations during the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, the first time a pope has done so for decades. On Holy Thursday, he washed thefeet of 12 priestsin the traditional Holy Thursday ritual, restoring a traditionhis predecessorPope Francis had broken by including laypeople and non-Christians.

On Sunday morning, Leo will celebrate an open-air Mass in St. Peter's Square before delivering his Easter message and offer the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" message "to the city (of Rome) and the world," which acts as a summary of the world's woes.

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April 04, 2026

Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Easter vigil, calls for harmony and peace in a world torn by war

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIV, carrying a tall, lit candle through a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica, ushe...

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Multiday Severe Storm Threat To End March And Start April (Recap)

Fitting for an active March, the final day of the month brought severe weather. This trend continued into the first week of April, leading to rounds of severe storms every day from March 31 to April 4.

(MORE:March Had Everything But The Kitchen Sink)

Severe Recap

Tuesday, March 31, severe thunderstorms with wind gusts up to 75 mph rumbled across the southern Great Lakes from northern Indiana to western Pennsylvania and New York. Trees were downed in several areas, some on homes.

Three weak tornadoes were confirmed, including EF1s in Cattaraugus County, New York and near Hicksville, Ohio. A brief EF0 was also confirmed near Apple Creek, Ohio.

In total, there were over 90 wind reports and over 40 large hail reports March 31.

Flash flooding was reported in parts of the Cleveland metro area, and basements were flooded in Austintown and Lowellville, Ohio.

To start the month of April, severe thunderstorms were scattered from Delaware to eastern New Mexico. Hail up to the size of tennis balls was seen in Blaine County, Oklahoma. Roof damage was reported in Snyder, Texas, and wind gusts from 70 to 75 mph were clocked in a few areas between Lubbock and Wichita Falls. Flash flooding was reported overnight in parts of western Missouri south of Kansas City. There were around 60 damaging wind reports and over 20 large hail reports.

It was more of the same April 2 as severe thunderstorms erupted across parts of the Midwest.

One long-livedsupercell thunderstormapparently spawned severaltornadoesacross parts of eastern Iowa, south and east of Iowa City, to near the Mississippi River north of Davenport.

Significant damage, also from an apparent tornado, was reported near Dixon, Illinois. Trees were downed on homes in Parke County, Indiana, and hail larger than baseballs was reported near Martinsburg, Iowa, and Thomson, Illinois.

On April 3, there were two tornado reports, one in Tazewell County, Illinois, and one in Seminole County, Oklahoma. Of the over 20 hail reports, the most impressive was baseball-sized hail - 2.75 inches in diameter- reported in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. Surveyors are being sent out and more information will be revealed throughout the weekend.

Nearly 20 high wind reports have come in, primarily across Texas and Oklahoma. Gusts between 60-70 mph were more widespread, with Hardeman County, Texas, seeing a gust of 86 mph.

In total, there have been nearly 30 flood reports from around 6 pm on April 3 to about noon on April 4, including some water rescues from cars stuck in flooded streets in Texas and Ohio.

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April 4 saw a tornado strick Lindale, Texas, bringing damage to three homes.

Storm Fatigue

It was yet another active March for severe weather in the U.S., including parts of the Midwest.

On March 6, four tornadoes struck southern Michigan, including an EF3 in Branch County, killing three, an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF1 tornado that claimed a life in Cass County.

Four days later, a lone supercell spawned 12 tornadoes across northeast Illinois into northwest Indiana, including the EF3 Kankakee, Illinois, tornado, which killed three.

Then on March 15, another 17 tornadoes were confirmed across central and southern Illinois.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has received 196 reports of and confirmed tornadoes in March, almost double the 20-year average of March twisters (104).

Be Prepared

There are steps you can take to stay safe in severe weather:

1. Know where to seek safe shelter when severe weather strikesbeforethe storm. If you live in a manufactured home, the safest place is probably either a designated community shelter or the closest building, such as a church, industrial building or any building with reinforced concrete.

2. Have multiple ways of receiving official National Weather Service watches and warnings, including from yourphoneandNOAA weather radio. Make sure your devices are fully charged in case you lose power and alerts are turned on to wake you up at night.

3. Seek safe shelterimmediatelywhen you receive a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning for your area.

4.Never drive into floodwaters. You could be carried away and the road underneath could have been washed away.

(MORE:14 Severe Weather Tips That Can Save Your Life)

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byNeo

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April 04, 2026

Multiday Severe Storm Threat To End March And Start April (Recap)

Fitting for an active March, the final day of the month brought severe weather. This trend continued into the first we...

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Small plane makes emergency landing on interstate in Pennsylvania

A small airplane made an emergency landing on Interstate 78 in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Saturday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Rockwell Commander landed at around 9:20 a.m. after reporting engine issues, the FAA said.

The two people onboard were not injured, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Dashcam video of the incident circulating on social media shows the plane flying low overhead before landing on the interstate and slowing down.

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Emily Rivera, who posted the video, was traveling from Harrisburg to Lehigh Valley when she saw the plane make the landing.

"Honestly I was in disbelief because I never expected a plane to land in front of me!" Rivera said, adding that she was impressed with how the pilot landed.

Police said to expect delays in the area and that all traffic eastbound is being detoured onto exit 40. More information will be released later, police said.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

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April 04, 2026

Small plane makes emergency landing on interstate in Pennsylvania

A small airplane made an emergency landing on Interstate 78 in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Saturday morning, according to ...

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“Ferris Bueller” Book Reveals Other ‘80s Teen Heartthrob Almost Landed Titular Role Instead of Matthew Broderick

Jon Cryer was considered to play Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, according to a new book about the 1986 teen comedy

NEED TO KNOW

• Director John Hughes and studio execs thought of casting Cryer in the role, per Jason Klamm's upcoming book Ferris Bueller…You're My Hero: The Story of the World's Most Famous Day Off

• Cryer admits in the book to being "a little jealous" of Matthew Broderick, who got the role, and says he only ever knew he was up for Alan Ruck's character

Matthew Broderick's career-defining role as Ferris Bueller almost went to a fellow '80s heartthrob.

John Hughes, who wrote and directed the beloved 1986 teen comedyFerris Bueller's Day Off, originally pitched a different actor to play the titular role before Broderick got the iconic part, according to the upcoming bookFerris Bueller…You're My Hero: The Story of the World's Most Famous Day Off.

In an excerpt of the book shared byEntertainment Weekly, author Jason Klamm explains that while Hughes was pitching the film, he and Paramount executives considered someone else to play the high schooler who fakes sick to skip school in the Chicago-set flick:Jon Cryer, a.k.a. Duckie fromPretty in Pink, another beloved classic from the Hughes catalog.

But Cryer, 60, told Klamm that he was never aware that he was considered for the titular role — only Cameron Frye, Bueller's friend, who was ultimately played byAlan Ruck. On the filmmaker and execs' consideration for the iconic lead role, he said it was "news to me."

Asked if his team ever informed him of the consideration forFerris Bueller, theTwo and a Half Menstar told the author, "Yes, for the Alan Ruck character."

"I mean, I'm just too similar to Matthew," he said of why he likely wasn't cast as Cameron — a sentiment he has stated before, reflecting on how he and Broderick, 64,were often compared to each other at the height of their Brat Pack days.

Klamm also writes in the book, which hits shelves June 16, that Cryer "did feel like he was missing out," since Hughes often came to set onPretty in PinkwhileFerris Buellerwas also in production.

"Ferris Buellersounded a little more antically comedic thanPretty in Pinkwas," Cryer said, per the excerpt shared byEW. "It sounded like he was going to have a great time, and I was like, 'Oh, that would have been a fun project to do with him.' "

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"I recall being a little jealous at the time," Cryer added.

Hughes museAnthony Michael Hallis also long-rumored to have been considered for the lead role inFerris Bueller, which also starredMia Sara,Jennifer GreyandCharlie Sheen.

Hall, 57, later wrote that the filmmaker "actually had written Ferris Bueller for me," but they "both determined that I should move on to other things," perEW. (Hughes never publicly confirmed Hall's claim.)

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the premiere ofAndrew McCarthy's documentaryBRATSin 2024, Cryer said that he and Broderick are no longer mistaken for each other — a frequent occurrence in the '80s.

"No, Matthew and I have since parted ways," he said at the time, joking that theGloryactor "still has hair," unlike him.

"He still has a magnificent head of hair, God bless him," Cryer continued. "He should have it. He should work it as much as possible. You should enjoy it. But I have gone the other direction."

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

April 04, 2026

“Ferris Bueller” Book Reveals Other ‘80s Teen Heartthrob Almost Landed Titular Role Instead of Matthew Broderick

Jon Cryer was considered to play Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off , according to a new book about the 1986 ...

Read More