Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand director Julianne Hickey said, in the past, the Lent Appeal raised $1million. Read more in NZCAtholic

The three judges have been ­examining the law around how Pell was arraigned when no jury panel members were physically present in the court.

A video link was, however, in place when Pell was arraigned, which is normally the first time a criminal defendant appears in court. They hear the charges against them and normally submit a plea. Read more

The pontiff on Sunday announced that there will be special collections on April 24 in all European Catholic churches to "alleviate the material needs" of all who are suffering "the consequences of the violence" in Ukraine.

"I urge the faithful to support this papal initiative with generous contributions," said Pope Francis.

He said his thoughts were with "those who remain in areas hit by hostilities that have already caused several thousand deaths and those — over a million — who have been forced to leave."

The pope made the call on April 3 after celebrating the Mass on Divine Mercy at St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis said "thousands" have already been killed in Ukraine and "more than a million" have had to leave their homes.

As of mid-2015, there were some 1.4 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine.

The pontiff has also asked Catholic dioceses around the world to set up a permanent memorial of the Year of Mercy by establishing a hospital, home for the aged or school in an under-served area.

"As a reminder, a 'monument' let's say, to this Year of Mercy, how beautiful it would be if in every diocese there were a structural work of mercy: a hospital, a home for the aged or abandoned children, a school where there isn't one, a home for recovering drug addicts — so many things could be done," the pope said.

Reciting the "Regina Coeli" prayer at the end of Mass the next day, Pope Francis said the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration was "like the heart of the Year of Mercy."

God's mercy should drive people to love others, "recognizing the face of Jesus Christ above all in those who are most distant, weak, alone, confused and marginalized," he said.

"It pains the heart" when people talk about refugees and say, "Let's throw them out," or speak about the poor and say, "Let them sleep on the street," the pope said. "Is this of Jesus?"

Sources

Catholic News Service
NDTV
America Magazine
Vatican Radio
Image: AP/Vatican Radio

Fr Terrence Millard denies smacking a nine-year-old boy at St John Vianney church in Greenacre last year.

No conviction was recorded against the priest, but Fr Millard went on leave from the parish.

The appeal will be heard at Parramatta District Court on October 1.

A spokeswoman for Sydney archdiocese said it was in no way involved in Fr Millard's appeal.

"It is a private action and the archdiocese is not paying legal fees," she said.

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Sr Megan Rice and two men had their convictions for sabotage overturned.

But their convictions for damaging government property were upheld.

The court ordered they be resentenced on the latter convictions, based on time already served.

In 2012, the three cut through four layers of fences and entered the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

They spray-painted antiwar slogans, splashed blood and hammered on exterior walls of the facility as part of their protest against nuclear weapons.

"They did not cut [the fences] to allow Qaeda to slip in behind," the ruling stated.

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