Latest news with #Easter-time
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to make Peeps the official state candy
A Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to make a classic Easter-time treat the official state candy. Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) says she will soon introduce legislation to designate Peeps as the official state candy. Peeps — the iconic, colorful marshmallow treat often shaped as chicks or bunnies — have been manufactured in Bethlehem, Pa., since 1953. Boscola argues that Peeps have become a culturally important American icon and, locally, manufacturing the treat creates hundreds of jobs and supports charitable initiatives. 'Given Pennsylvania's rich confectionery history, it is fitting that we finally honor one of our own with this unique designation,' Boscola said. 'Peeps are not only a symbol of Pennsylvania's well-earned reputation for satisfying candy cravings, but of our imagination and enduring spirit.' But, there is competition for state candy designation. A bill passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last March would make Hershey's Kisses the official state candy. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
The Hill
18-04-2025
- Health
- The Hill
A recovering Pope Francis visits Rome prison to keep annual Holy Week appointment
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis visited Rome's central prison Thursday and met with dozens of inmates as he kept an Easter season appointment to spend Holy Thursday among the least fortunate, even as he continues recovering from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia. Francis met for nearly a half-hour with some 70 inmates at the Regina Caeli prison in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood. It's a prison Francis has visited before to perform the annual Holy Thursday ritual of washing the feet of 12 people to re-enact Christ's gesture of humble service of washing the feet of 12 apostles before his crucifixion. Francis told the inmates he couldn't do it this year, given his health, but wanted to nevertheless be with them and 'do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday.' The fact that the 88-year-old pope kept the appointment, when he is under doctors' orders to take it easy and avoid crowds, was a clear sign of the importance he places on prison ministry and the need for priests to serve those most on the margins. That is all the more true during the 2025 Holy Year, which both opened and will close with special papal events for prison inmates. 'Every time I enter one of these places, I ask myself: 'Why them and not me?'' Francis told reporters outside the prison in his first off-the-cuff comments since he got sick. Francis is expected to make at least some other Easter-time appearances over the coming days, even as cardinals will preside in his place during Holy Week's busy events. He made a surprise cameo at the end of Palm Sunday Mass last weekend and in recent days has made some unannounced visits — including one in which he wasn't dressed in his papal white cassock — to pray in St. Peter's Basilica and St. Mary Major basilica across town. By all indications he is continuing to improve after his five-week hospital stay and is slowly resuming some of his normal activities. In recent outings, including on Thursday, he has been seen without the nasal tubes that provide supplemental oxygen and Vatican officials say he is increasingly less reliant on the therapy. Asked Thursday how he was doing and marking this year's Easter season, Francis said in a weak voice: 'I am living it as I can.' Francis received medical workers who treated him On Wednesday, Francis held his first formal group audience since returning to the Vatican on March 23, meeting with the medical staff of the Gemelli hospital who cared for him during his 38-day stay. Gathered in a Vatican audience hall, Francis thanked the 70-plus doctors, nurses and administrators and asked them for their continued prayers. 'Thank you for everything you did,' Francis said, his voice still labored but seemingly stronger as he continues respiratory and physical therapy. Francis has delegated the demanding Holy Week liturgical celebrations to hand-picked cardinals, but the Vatican says the pope himself composed the meditations that will be read aloud by others during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession on Friday night at Rome's Colosseum. Easter Sunday Mass has been assigned to the retired administrator of St. Peter's, Cardinal Angelo Comastri. It remains to be seen how Francis will handle Easter Sunday's traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' (Latin for 'to the city and the world') speech and blessing after Mass. Normally the pope delivers a sometimes lengthy discourse on the state of the world from the loggia of St. Peter's, and then imparts a special blessing to the faithful in the piazza below. In theory someone else could read the speech while Francis could impart the blessing. Francis was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 with bronchitis that quickly developed into a life-threatening case of double pneumonia. Upon his release March 23, doctors prescribed two months of convalescence at the Vatican with daily respiratory and physical therapy to improve his breathing and vocal function. With time, they have predicted he will be able to resume his normal activities. ___
Fox News
17-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Pope Francis visits Rome prison during Holy Week
Pope Francis spent Holy Thursday visiting those serving time in a Rome prison. Despite recovering from a bout of pneumonia, Francis met with dozens of inmates at Regina Coeli prison as he kept an Easter season appointment among the less fortunate. Francis offered words of encouragement and gifted inmates with a Rosary and pocket-sized Gospel, according to Vatican News. "I have always liked coming to prison on Holy Thursday to do the washing of the feet like Jesus," the pontiff said. "This year, I cannot do it, but I want to be close to you. I pray for you and your families." Francis' visit lasted about half an hour. "Every time I enter a place like this, I ask myself: Why them and not me?" Francis said to journalists outside the prison. The fact that the 88-year-old pope kept the appointment, while under doctors' orders to take it easy and avoid crowds, was a clear sign of the importance he places on prison ministry and the need for priests to serve those who are most on the margins. That is all the more true during the 2025 Holy Year, which both opened and will close with special papal events for prison inmates. Francis is expected to make at least some other Easter-time appearances over the coming days, even as cardinals will preside in his place during Holy Week's busy events. On Sunday, Francis wished a "Happy Palm Sunday and Happy Holy Week" to the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square following the conclusion of a mass presided over by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri on his behalf. It was his first public appearance since being discharged from a hospital, where he was not receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose.
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
A recovering Pope Francis visits Rome prison to keep annual Holy Week appointment
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis visited Rome's central prison Thursday and met with dozens of inmates as he kept an Easter season appointment to spend Holy Thursday among the least fortunate, even as he continues recovering from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia. Francis met for nearly a half-hour with some 70 inmates at the Regina Coeli prison in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood. It's a prison Francis has visited before to perform the annual Holy Thursday ritual of washing the feet of 12 people to re-enact Christ's gesture of humble service of washing the feet of 12 apostles before his crucifixion. Francis told the inmates he couldn't do it this year, given his health, but wanted to nevertheless be with them and 'do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday.' The fact that the 88-year-old pope kept the appointment, when he is under doctors' orders to take it easy and avoid crowds, was a clear sign of the importance he places on prison ministry and the need for priests to serve those most on the margins. That is all the more true during the 2025 Holy Year, which both opened and will close with special papal events for prison inmates. 'Every time I enter one of these places, I ask myself: 'Why them and not me?'' Francis told reporters outside the prison in his first off-the-cuff comments since he got sick. Francis is expected to make at least some other Easter-time appearances over the coming days, even as cardinals will preside in his place during Holy Week's busy events. He made a surprise cameo at the end of Palm Sunday Mass last weekend and in recent days has made some unannounced visits — including one in which he wasn't dressed in his papal white cassock — to pray in St. Peter's Basilica and St. Mary Major basilica across town. By all indications he is continuing to improve after his five-week hospital stay and is slowly resuming some of his normal activities. In recent outings, including on Thursday, he has been seen without the nasal tubes that provide supplemental oxygen and Vatican officials say he is increasingly less reliant on the therapy. Asked Thursday how he was doing and marking this year's Easter season, Francis said in a weak voice: 'I am living it as I can.' On Wednesday, Francis held his first formal group audience since returning to the Vatican on March 23, meeting with the medical staff of the Gemelli hospital who cared for him during his 38-day stay. Gathered in a Vatican audience hall, Francis thanked the 70-plus doctors, nurses and administrators and asked them for their continued prayers. 'Thank you for everything you did,' Francis said, his voice still labored but seemingly stronger as he continues respiratory and physical therapy. Francis has delegated the demanding Holy Week liturgical celebrations to hand-picked cardinals, but the Vatican says the pope himself composed the meditations that will be read aloud by others during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession on Friday night at Rome's Colosseum. Easter Sunday Mass has been assigned to the retired administrator of St. Peter's, Cardinal Angelo Comastri. It remains to be seen how Francis will handle Easter Sunday's traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' (Latin for 'to the city and the world') speech and blessing after Mass. Normally the pope delivers a sometimes lengthy discourse on the state of the world from the loggia of St. Peter's, and then imparts a special blessing to the faithful in the piazza below. In theory someone else could read the speech while Francis could impart the blessing. Francis was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 with bronchitis that quickly developed into a life-threatening case of double pneumonia. Upon his release March 23, doctors prescribed two months of convalescence at the Vatican with daily respiratory and physical therapy to improve his breathing and vocal function. With time, they have predicted he will be able to resume his normal activities. Winfield writes for the Associated Press.
The Guardian
11-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Can you pair wine with chocolate? Should you? And, if so, which ones go together?
I spend quite a lot of Easter-time licking chocolate out of my molars, and using every reflective surface to check that my teeth haven't dissolved. When chocolate is necessary, so is a wine that cleanses the palate, to drink alongside and to complement its flavours. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Chocolate is one of those foodstuffs that really coats the palate, which can make it difficult to enjoy anything much else; its sweetness can also ramp up the perceived bitterness, alcohol and acidity in a wine, and make it taste disagreeable. And it's those factors that make people think chocolate is rather limited in terms of wine-pairing options. 'The myth of chocolate being a hard pairing is crazy,' says Penny Vine, assistant head sommelier at the Clove Club in London, a restaurant known for its imaginative pairings. 'It works well with about half a dozen things, but not much more than that, and, because you're limited on choice, it's actually really easy to pair.' We are, of course, talking mostly sweet wines here: sauternes, madeira, muscat, tokaji, sweeter rieslings – pick your poison. For dark, bitter chocolate, a deep, rich red is often recommended, because those fresh vegetal notes work with the coolness of the chocolate. Vine also has an unexpected failsafe in her sommelier arsenal: a blanc de noirs champagne (meaning white from black), made with the black champagne grapes pinot noir and pinot meunier. 'Not all of them work, though,' she warns. 'You need the really vinous, ripe-fruit styles that have the richness of red fruit character and enough creaminess and weight. It's a failsafe, because it's not just delicious on its own, it helps a chocolate dish to be delicious as well.' For creamy, milky white chocolate, meanwhile, a demi-sec champagne would also work well, something low acid but with a breadth of flavour (Sainsbury's has a good own-label one). And, of course, there's port, which can be paired well with chocolate in pretty much all of its forms. It's a classic for a reason. Styles will obviously differ from house to house, but the darker a chocolate, the more intense the port needs to be. Think ruby with milk and LBV with something darker. Or, if you want to leave out the guesswork completely (or are of the opinion that it shouldn't just be the kids who get chocolate crucifixion gifts), I recently came across Taylor's nifty little gift set at a Mentzendorff tasting, featuring four ports and four chocolates: Fonseca Bin 27 with 70% dark chocolate, 2019 LBV with 58%, 10-year-old tawny with milk chocolate, and dry white port with white chocolate. I don't have kids, but consuming this in its entirety while a particularly fiendish egg hunt ensues is definitely something I see in my future. Samos Vin Doux Greece 75cl £10 Waitrose, 15%. Greek sweet muscat with hazelnut brittle, chocolate and freshness. Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Sparkling Shiraz £12.76 The Wine Society, 13.5%, Deep, dark fruits in this off-dry Australian sparkling red. Taylor's Miniature Port & Vinte Vinte Chocolate Gift Pack £22 (4 x 50cl) Tanners Wine Merchants. Four miniature Taylor's ports paired with single-estate chocolate. Utopia Ice Cider Patience 2022 £28.50 (375ml) Basket Press Wines, 9.5%. Tarte tatin in a glass: I really enjoy this with any caramel-based desserts and chocolates.
