Pope Leo honors Pope Francis at Regina Caeli, stresses importance of truth v ‘fake news’

Pope Leo XIV led the Regina Caeli prayer with pilgrims and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Monday – a national holiday called Pasquetta or “Little Easter” in Italy – and prayed for his predecessor, Francis. “With particular affection, in the light of the risen Lord, we remember today Pope Francis, who, on Easter Monday of last year, returned to the Lord.” Leo also lamented that the proclamation of the truth is often “obscured by what we today call ‘fake news’ – lies, insinuations, and unfounded accusations.”