United Methodists were vocal in their praise of Pope Francis, who died Easter Monday at age 88. Church leaders noted that Roman Catholics and Methodists have been in continual dialogue since the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s.
Christian leaders in the Holy Land are calling for an end to all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The violence began Oct. 7 when the militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel. Israel has now declared war on Hamas.