Caesar or Pope

 Currently, you will hear talk of the pope and the patriarch of the Orthodox Church discussing making Easter, the same date for both rites.  We do have different calendars.  The calendar the Orthodox Church is using is the Julian Calendar, in use since 45 BC proposed by Julius Caesar.

We used it, too, until 1582, when Pope Gregory VIII designed the Gregorian Calendar.  It's supposed to be more accurate.  

It will be nice to celebrate Easter with our sisters and brothers.  

Pope Francis shakes hands with Catholicos Awa III, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, at the end of a meeting Nov. 19, 2022, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Julian v. Gregorian

 Julius Caesar had a calendar made called the Julian Calendar.  It followed the solar year, even including a leap year.  This calendar was changed by Pope GregoryVIII in 1562.

This calendar started the New Year on January 1, whereas the Julian Calendar started the New Year on March 25.  Since the angel Gabriel announced the birth of Christ on March 25, it was very fitting for the pope to give the old new year-date, the date of Jesus' Annunciation.  

Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine on March 25, let us pray that this date will be a new beginning, announcing PEACE and GOODWILL towards all.