World News

Landmark Vatican fraud trial of 10 including a cardinal set to start

A landmark fraud trial of 10 people including a cardinal begins in the Vatican on Tuesday in what officials hope will be a turning point in its financial credibility and…

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Vatican reveals property holdings for first time in transparency drive

July 24 (Reuters) - The Vatican released information on its real estate holdings for the first time on Saturday, revealing it owns more than 5,000 properties as part of its…

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Pope to skip Sunday Mass but will make regular noon address – Vatican

Pope Francis will skip a Mass on Sunday that he had been scheduled to say before his recent surgery, but the Vatican said there was no cause for alarm and…

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Pope’s September trip schedule shows no post-surgery slowdown

Pope Francis will deliver more than 10 addresses and visit five cities in four days during a September trip to Hungary and Slovakia - his first since major intestinal surgery…

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Vatican criminal trial to shed light on failed Carige bank takeover

The thwarted takeover of a troubled Italian bank in 2018 will come into focus in a forthcoming Vatican trial that is tied to Pope Francis's efforts to clean up Holy…

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Pope Francis renews curbs on Latin Mass in rebuff to conservatives

Pope Francis overturned decisions by his two predecessors and re-imposed restrictions on the old-style Latin Mass preferred by traditionalist Roman Catholics, saying it was being exploited to divide the Church.…

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Pope Francis returns to Vatican for rest after intestinal surgery

Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Wednesday, 11 days after surgery to remove part of his colon, starting a period of near-total rest and rehabilitation expected to last at least…

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Pope Francis to leave hospital as soon as possible, says Vatican

Pope Francis is continuing his planned treatment and rehabilitation after intestinal surgery 10 days ago and will leave hospital as soon as possible, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The Vatican's daily medical bulletin on…

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Pope Francis to stay in hospital a few more days, Vatican says

Pope Francis has completed his post-surgery treatment but will remain in hospital a few more days to fine-tune his course of medication and rehabilitation, the Vatican said on Monday. When…

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Why did Pope Francis need surgery?

Pope Francis is currently in hospital, recovering after a planned surgery to remove one side of his intestine for a medical condition known as symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon.…

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Pope appears in public for first time since surgery

Pope Francis, seeming in good overall condition, appeared in public on Sunday for the first time since undergoing intestinal surgery a week ago and made a plea for free universal…

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Seoul working for Pope visit to N.Korea

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. Any visit…

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Pope gradually resuming work, walking, eating with aides, Vatican says

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis is continuing a normal recovery from intestinal surgery, gradually resuming work, walking and eating with aides, the Vatican said on Saturday, adding his blood tests…

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Pope’s recovery continuing well but Sunday prayer will be read from hospital -Vatican

Pope Francis' recovery from intestinal surgery is continuing normally and the pontiff is walking and working but he is not well enough to return to the Vatican in time for…

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Tests negative on recuperating pope after fever, Vatican says

Pope Francis, who is recovering from intestinal surgery in a Rome hospital, ran a fever on Wednesday night, but microbiological exams and scans of his chest and abdomen proved negative,…

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Vatican says Pope’s post-operative condition continues satisfactorily

Pope Francis’ recovery from colon surgery at a Rome hospital continues to be “regular and satisfactory”, the Vatican said on Wednesday. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the…

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UPDATED: Pope alert and in good condition after surgery to remove part of colon

Pope Francis is alert, breathing without assistance, and in a good overall condition following surgery to remove part of his colon, the Vatican said on Monday. The 84-year-old pope is…

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Pope Francis in hospital for ‘scheduled surgery’ on colon

VATICAN CITY, July 4 (Reuters) - Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital on Sunday afternoon for "scheduled surgery" on his colon later in the day, the Vatican said.…

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Pope announces trip to Slovakia and Budapest in September

VATICAN CITY, July 4 (Reuters) - Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will visit Slovakia on September 12-15 after a brief stop in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. It…

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Vatican judge indicts 10, including a cardinal, for alleged financial crimes

VATICAN CITY, July 3 (Reuters) - A Vatican judge on Saturday ordered 10 people, including an Italian cardinal, to stand trial for alleged financial crimes including embezzlement, money laundering, fraud,…

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Pope, Lebanon Christian heads begin summit on country’s crisis

Pope Francis and Lebanon's Christian leaders began a summit on Thursday to discuss how religion can help the country overcome its worst crisis since its civil war ended in 1990.…

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Blinken visit to pope will reset U.S-Vatican ties after Trump years

The last time a U.S. secretary of state visited the Vatican, the diplomatic sparks flew and Pope Francis declined to receive Mike Pompeo. When Antony Blinken meets the pope and…

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Vatican defends intervention over Italy anti-homophobia law

The Vatican defended a request for changes to a draft law in Italy aimed at combating homophobia, saying it was not an interference in another country’s domestic affairs and was…

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Pope Francis says a trip to Malta is on his agenda

Rome Reports quoted Pope Francis as saying that a trip to Malta in the near future is on the agenda. The comment was made during a brief meeting with Malta's…

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Italy’s Draghi puts Vatican on guard over anti-homophobia bill

Prime Minister Mario Draghi put the Vatican on notice on Wednesday not to interfere with a parliamentary debate over a draft law designed to combat homophobia, saying Italy was a…

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Vatican wants changes to Italy draft law against homophobia

The Vatican has protested to Italy over a draft law to combat homophobia, saying that in its present form it could restrict the religious freedom of the Catholic Church in…

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Pope Francis calls for compassion for refugees

Pope Francis on Sunday called for compassion for migrants and people forced to flee their homes. Anyone could find themselves in a difficult situation such as those faced by refugees…

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Pope puts Robert Schuman, a father of Europe, on sainthood path

Pope Francis on Saturday put 20th century statesman Robert Schuman, one of the founders of modern Europe, on the path to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. A Vatican statement…

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Vatican to host ‘Faith and Science’ talks to raise stakes ahead of U.N. climate summit

The Vatican will host a major gathering of world religious leaders and scientists ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November in Britain to take a common…

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The Mediterranean is the largest cemetery in Europe – Pope Francis

Pope Francis has described the Mediterranean Sea, which desperate refugees and migrants regularly attempt to traverse in the hope of a better life, the "largest cemetery in Europe." Francis, who…

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UPDATED: Pope rejects German cardinal’s resignation over abuse scandal

Pope Francis has rejected German Cardinal Reinhard Marx’s offer to resign as archbishop of Munich over the Church’s sexual abuse crisis, a letter released by the Vatican on Thursday showed.…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis’ general audience in the San Damaso Courtyard

Pope Francis touches a crucifix during his weekly General Audience in the San Damaso Courtyard, Vatican City, 09 June 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/FABIO FRUSTACI

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Pope calls for reconciliation, healing over Canada school discovery

Pope Francis said on Sunday that he was pained by the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former Catholic school for indigenous students in Canada and called…

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Pope meets Canadian cardinals after indigenous school scandal

Pope Francis met with both Vatican-based Canadian cardinals on Saturday as their country reels from the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former school for indigenous students…

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UPDATED: Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx offers resignation to Pope

The head of the Catholic Church in Germany, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has offered his resignation from his position as Archbishop to the Pope, saying he had to share responsibility for…

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Pope revises Church law, updates rules on sexual abuse

Pope Francis on Tuesday issued the most extensive revision to Catholic Church law in four decades, insisting that bishops take action against clerics who abuse minors and vulnerable adults, commit fraud or attempt…

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In defeat there can be victory – Pope Francis about sports and sportsmanship

As the Pope was approaching the end of an audience with the Italian Basketball Federation Pope Francis praised the gesture of Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, who kissed the medal…

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Pope to meet Christian representatives from Lebanon on July 1

Pope Francis said on Sunday he would hold a meeting on July 1 in Rome to discuss Lebanon's difficult situation with Christian representatives from the country. "I'll meet at the…

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Pope Francis sends inspectors to Cologne amid church sex scandal

Pope Francis on Friday ordered a review of the Catholic Church in Cologne in the wake of a scandal triggered by criticism of the church's handling of sex abuse by…

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Pope launches green initiative, decrying “predatory attitude” toward planet

Pope Francis launched an initiative on Tuesday to make Catholic institutions ranging from families to universities to businesses environmentally sustainable in seven years, saying a "predatory attitude" toward the planet must end. The…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis receives European Commission President von der Leyen

Pope Francis on Saturday received the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for a private audience at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Von der Leyen also…

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Pope Francis to get first electric popemobile from U.S. firm Fisker

Los Angeles-based Fisker Inc plans to supply the first pure electric vehicle for Pope Francis next year, it announced, with features such as a solar roof and carpets made of…

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Pope Francis opens synods to ‘all God’s people’, to begin in the local Churches

In what is being seen as another 'revolution' in Pope Francis's Church, the pontiff has decided to open up bishops' synods to "all the people of God", the Vatican said…

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Pope Francis calls for end to fighting in Israel and Gaza

Pope Francis called on Sunday for an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, saying the deaths of so many innocent people in recent days, including children, was unacceptable.…

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U.S. wants pope to attend climate conference, sway debate

Pope Francis has the moral authority to sway public opinion over global warming and might attend the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland, U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate…

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Child abuse is psychological murder – Pope Francis

Pope Francis on Saturday urged families, educational and public institutions to tackle with renewed determination the scourge of child abuse, paedophilia and child pornography, describing them as "psychological murder". “Continue…

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UPDATED: Pope warns against Italy’s “demographic winter”

Pope Francis said on Friday the cost of raising children was too high and that parents needed more help if countries such as Italy were to overcome the low birth…

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Full light not shed on assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II – Ali Agca

Full light has not been shed on the May 13 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, assailant Ali Agca told ANSA as the world remembers the 40th anniversary…

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Pope recalls 40th anniversary of attack on Saint Pope John Paul II

Greeting Polish pilgrims at the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis recalled the 40th anniversary on Thursday of the assassination attempt on Pope Saint John Paul II. “He was certain…

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Pope face-to-face with the faithful again as COVID declines in Italy

Pope Francis expressed his delight on Wednesday as he resumed his weekly general audience in public for the first time in six months, reflecting a decline in coronavirus cases in Italy. During…

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Italian judge killed by Mafia is put on road to sainthood

Italian judge Rosario Livatino, who was killed by the Mafia in Sicily in 1990, was beatified on Sunday, the last stage before possible sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Livatino…

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Divert weapons money to pandemic research, Pope says at prayer marathon

Pope Francis kicked off a month-long marathon of worldwide Roman Catholic prayer on Saturday to ask God for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, and said money spent on armaments…

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Pope removes legal privileges for Vatican cardinals, bishops

(Reuters) - Pope Francis ruled on Friday that bishops and cardinals who work in the Vatican will be judged by the same lay tribunal that hears other criminal cases and…

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Pope issues new anti-corruption decree for Vatican managers, including cardinals

Pope Francis, in his latest move to fight corruption in the Vatican, on Thursday issued a new decree mandating full economic disclosure and controls for managers, including cardinals. The decree says…

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Latest Mediterranean migrants tragedy a time for shame, Pope says

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Sunday that "now is the time for shame" after 130 migrants were feared dead in the Mediterranean and a U.N. organisation accused…

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In Earth Day message, pope warns that planet is “at the brink”

VATICAN CITY, April 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said in his Earth Day message on Thursday that the planet was "at the brink" and humanity had to avoid "the path of self destruction." The pope, who has issued many appeals…

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Lebanon’s Hariri: Pope to visit if government is formed

Pope Francis will visit crisis-hit Lebanon but only once its fractious politicians can agree on a new government, Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri said during a visit to the Vatican on…

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