Pope Francis, in a historic move that could lead to more inclusiveness in decision-making in the Roman Catholic Church, will allow women to vote for the first time at a global meeting of bishops in October. In the past, women were allowed to attend the synods, a papal advisory body, …
Read More »Pope Francis to remain in hospital after suffering from respiratory illness
The Vatican said that the 86-year-old Roman Catholic pontiff would have to stay for “a few days” at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for “appropriate” medical treatment. Pope Francis spent a calm night in hospital after being admitted for a respiratory infection and is expected to remain there for a few days …
Read More »Iraq mourns death of former Pope: his values remain
Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani, mourned the death of former Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday, hailing his essential role in spreading peace. In a statement, Al-Sudani said, “The world sadly says goodbye to his Holiness, the former Pope Benedict XVI. The late Pontiff dedicated his efforts to promote peace, …
Read More »Modi meets Pope Francis, invites him to visit India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked Pope Francis to visit India, a significant opening towards the head of the Catholic Church who has long sought an official invitation to the Hindu-majority country. Modi, who is in Italy for the G20 summit, invited Francis during a meeting at the Vatican, …
Read More »Pope says he was greatly pained by killing of French priest
Pope Francis said on Wednesday that he was greatly pained by the killing of a French priest, allegedly by a Rwandan immigrant already under investigation for setting the Nantes cathedral on fire last year. Father Olivier Maire, 60, head of the Montfortain Missionary Order at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, was found dead in …
Read More »Italian postal workers intercept package containing bullets addressed to Pope Francis
Law enforcement in Milan is investigating the source of an envelope containing three bullets addressed to the pope, Italian paramilitary police said Monday. The suspicious envelope was intercepted by postal employees overnight at a mail sorting facility in a Milan suburb, according to the carabinieri provincial command in Milan. It …
Read More »Cardinal, 9 others go on trial at Vatican in over $400 mln fraud case
A trial opened in Vatican City on Tuesday for 10 defendants, including a once-powerful cardinal, in a case based on a sprawling investigation of the allegedly criminal management of the Holy See’s portfolio of assets, including donations by countless Catholics. Among the defendants is Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a longtime …
Read More »Get ready for biggest criminal trial in Vatican’s modern history
A cardinal and nine other people are accused of bleeding the Holy See of tens of millions of dollars in donations through bad investments, deals with shady money managers, and apparent favours to friends and family. A cardinal who allegedly induced an underling to lie to prosecutors. Brokers and lawyers …
Read More »Pope greets faithful for prayer from Rome clinic balcony
Pope Francis greeted supporters for prayers on Sunday from the 10th-floor balcony of his hospital where he is recovering from colon surgery. “I am glad to be able to keep the Sunday Angelus appointment, even here” at the hospital, he said. “I have deeply felt your closeness and the support …
Read More »Seoul working for pope visit to North Korea, Vatican agency says
South Korea’s intelligence chief has said he is working on a possible visit by Pope Francis to North Korea, a Catholic news agency associated with the Vatican says.
Read More »Pope Francis in hospital for intestinal surgery
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday for scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said, the first time he has been in hospital since his election in 2013. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 84, was due to undergo the surgery later on Sunday for an intestinal condition …
Read More »Vatican indicts 10, including Cardinal, on embezzlement, extortion, fraud charges
Influential cardinal and nine others to face trial in connection with 350m euro investment in London property venture. A Vatican judge has indicted 10 people, including a once-powerful cardinal, on charges including embezzlement, abuse of office, extortion, and fraud in connection with a 350 million-euro ($415m) investment in a London …
Read More »Pope Francis condemns death of George Floyd, calls US unrest ‘disturbing’
Pope Francis has called the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police officers “tragic” and said he is praying for him and “all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism.” After the eighth night of protests across the United …
Read More »Vatican: The annexation of the West Bank endangers peace in the region
The Vatican expressed its concern for peace in the Middle East; Because of the intention of the Zionist entity to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. A statement issued by the Vatican emphasized that with the “solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, through a solution based on a PE, two …
Read More »Pope celebrates joy of Easter amid sorrow of virus pandemic
Pope Francis and Christians around the world marked a solitary Easter Sunday, forced to celebrate the most joyful day in the liturgical calendar amid the sorrowful reminders of the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Families who normally would attend morning Mass in their Easter best and later join friends …
Read More »Ex-Vatican treasurer Cardinal Pell acquitted of sex offenses, leaves prison
Australia’s highest court acquitted former Vatican treasurer George Pell on Tuesday of sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys in the 1990s, freeing the 78-year-old cardinal after 404 days in jail. The Vatican welcomed the decision and praised Pell for having “waited for the truth to be ascertained”. In a statement, it …
Read More »Australia to rule on cardinal’s sex offences appeal next week
Australia’s top court says it will hand down its judgment next week on the appeal made by Cardinal George Pell, who is convicted of child sex abuse. On Thursday, the country’s High Court said in a statement that it would rule on the ex-Vatican treasurer’s appeal “at 10 a.m. local …
Read More »Vatican urges visiting Iraqi president to promote peace and security.
The Vatican on Saturday urged Iraqi President Barham Saleh to guarantee the safety of Christians and ensure they have a future place in the war-battered country. Saleh met with Pope Francis, the Vatican secretary of state and foreign minister during back-to-back audiences Saturday, his second visit to the Vatican. The …
Read More »Video: Pope Francis slaps a woman’s hand, then denounces violence against women.
Pope Francis has used his New Year message to denounce violence against women, hours after slapping a woman’s hand to free himself from her grip. “Women are sources of life. Yet they are continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the …
Read More »Vatican’s Swiss Guards wear new 3D-printed helmets
For more than 500 years, Swiss Guards have protected the Pope at the Vatican wearing metal helmets which scorched their skin in the hot Roman sun — but those days are over for the 120 members of the Holy See’s private army. The old metal helmet has been replaced by …
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