Vatican

EPA’s Eye in the Sky: The Vatican

Visitors wearing masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, walk down a staircase designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932, inspired by the original Bramante staircase designed by Renaissance architect Donato…

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Former Pope Benedict XVI ‘extremely frail’

Former pope Benedict XVI became seriously ill himself after visiting his sick brother in Germany in June and is "extremely frail", according to a report in the Monday edition of…

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Crucifix in Nicaragua cathedral torched in ‘hatred of the Church’

Vatican News reports witnesses saying that a hooded man entered the Chapel of the Blood of Chris, Managua on Friday and threw a Molotov cocktail. The petrol bomb started a fire…

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Don’t leave the ‘grandparents’ alone – Pope Francis

After reciting the Angelus in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis recalled the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann, Jesus's grandparents. The Pope invited them to reach out tenderly to…

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Pope Francis pays surprise visit to children at Vatican’s summer camp

Pope Francis on Monday paid a surprise visit to the Vatican children's summer camp. The pope met the kids while they were having breakfast in the atrium of he Paul…

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The virtue of patience and a renewed call for a global ceasefire characterises Pope Francis Angelus on Sunday

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for a global ceasefire to combat the coronavirus pandemic that continues to claim lives and wreak havoc on the economy. Speaking during the Angelus in…

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Vatican issues new manual on reporting sex abuse

The Vatican published guidelines for bishops and other senior officials on Thursday on how to deal with child sex claims within the clergy. The manual includes a form to…

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Holy See advocates for rights of Internally Displaced Persons with disabilities

The Holy See’s has called for the protection of the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with a particular focus on the vulnerabilities that people with disabilities face in the…

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Don’t leave elderly alone – Pope Francis

Pope Francis calls the parish priest of a community on the periphery of Rome that he visited in 2018 assuring the faithful there, of his prayers and urging them not…

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Vatican’s new financial regulator vows transparency

The Vatican's new financial regulator says he is confident that the days when the Holy See would "wash dirty laundry" in private are over and that Pope Francis' recent spending…

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The Pope says coronavirus pandemic showed media mission essential

The COVID crisis has shown how essential the media's mission is, Pope Francis said Tuesday. "The experience of these last months has shown how essential the media's mission to…

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Photo Story: Pope celebrates mass and blessing of the Pallia for the feast of Saint Peter and Paul

Pope Francis celebrates a Holy Mass for the imposition of the Pallium upon the new Metropolitan Archbishops, during the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul apostles, in St. Peter's Basilica…

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Photo story: Pope Francis meets Msgr Alfred Xuereb, Titular Archbishop of Amantea

Handout photos provided by the Vatican Media on 26 June 2020 shows Pope Francis (R) receives Msgr Alfred Xuereb (L), Titular Archbishop of Amantea, Apostolic Nuncio to Korea and Mongolia,…

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Pope writes to Zanardi saying he has given “lesson of humanity”

Pope Francis has written to former Formula One driver and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi, who is in intensive care after suffering severe head injuries in a handbike accident on Friday,…

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Pope Francis holds first audience after lockdown

Pope Francis yesterday held his first audience for a group of people since Italy lifted its coronavirus lockdown, granting it to health workers from the Italian region most affected by…

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Alex Zanardi in serious condition following a road accident during a Paralympic relay race stage

Alex Zanardi was seriously injured and in a reportedly grave condition following a road accident in the province of Siena, during one of the stages of the relay of Obiettivo…

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Vatican urges Catholics to drop investments in fossil fuels, arms

The Vatican urged Catholics on Thursday to disinvest from the armaments and fossil fuel industries and to closely monitor companies in sectors such as mining to check if they are…

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No one can consider him or herself dispensed from the exploitation, violence and cruelty in Libya – Pope Francis

After his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis turned his thoughts and prayers to “the dramatic situation in Libya”, which he said he is following “with great apprehension and sorrow”. The Pope…

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“Be careful, don’t sing victory too soon” – Pope Francis

In his greetings to the faithful following the recitation of the Marian Prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis noted that their presence in St Peter’s Square was a sign that “the…

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Vatican Museums free for doctors and nurses

The Governorate of the Vatican City said that the Vatican Museums will be free for all Italian public and private doctors and nurses for a week as a mark of…

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Pope Francis leads the Regina Coeli prayer, says people more important than the economy

Pope Francis said on Sunday that people are more important than the economy, as countries decide how quickly to reopen their countries from coronavirus lockdowns. Francis made his comments, departing…

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Pope Francis leads the Pentecost Mass at the Vatican

Pope Francis celebrated the Pentecost with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, with a limited number of the faithful in attendance, as health protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic are still…

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50 shrines connect with Pope throughout global Rosary prayer

Pope Francis united with thousands of people throughout the world sought the Blessed Mother's help to end the coronavirus pandemic. The Pope along with about 130 gathered at the Lourdes…

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When the Pope calls…

One can say that for anyone addressing an audience, the noise of the mobile phone disturbing the silence is very annoying. There are places, where it is very inappropriate.…

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Faithful return to Vatican

A group of faithful greeted Pope Francis as he appeared at the window of the Apostolic palace after delivering his message during the Regina Coeli prayer After praying the Regina…

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Muslims celebrate one of their biggest holidays under the shadow of the coronavirus

Muslims worldwide will celebrate one of their biggest holidays under the long shadow of the coronavirus, with millions confined to their homes and others gripped by economic concerns during what…

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Vatican, Italy start return to religious normal as public Masses resume

Pope Francis inaugurated the full reopening of St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday and Catholic churches held public Masses for the first time in two months in the latest easing of…

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Catholics commemorate the centenary of the birth of Saint Pope John Paul II

Speaking on Sunday after the Regina Caeli prayer, Pope Francis said “tomorrow (Monday) will be the centenary of the birth of Saint John Paul II, in Wadowice, Poland,” and he…

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Coronavirus pandemic hits hard on the Vatican coffers

Late last month, the Vatican announced the coronavirus pandemic had forced Pope Francis to postpone an annual fund raising campaign among Catholics worldwide to help him carry out his ministry.…

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Pope says Thursday will be day of prayer for all religions for end to pandemic

Thursday will be a day of prayer for all religions, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience on Wednesday. He said he had agreed to a request from the…

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UN head appeals to ‘common humanity’ across all faiths, in tackling the coronavirus

Our shared vulnerability to the coronavirus pandemic reveals “our common humanity”, the UN chief said on Tuesday during an online meeting with religious leaders on the important role they can…

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Photo Story: Fatima Sanctuary without pilgrims for the first time in its history

Fatima Sanctuary is seen without pilgrims for the first time in its history during the May International Anniversary Pilgrimage in Fatima, Portugal, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 13th May…

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European leaders invited by Pope Francis to remain inspired by Schuman Declaration

Pope Francis turned his thoughts to Europe “on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950", reports Vatican News. The Pope said that Declaration “inspired…

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Masses in Italy to resume on May 18th

Vatican News reports that masses in Italy will resume on May 18th. "After two months of live-streamed Masses and private prayer at home, the faithful in Italy will once again…

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12th Covid-19 case in Vatican

The Holy See Press Office released a statement by Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Press Office, announcing that a 12th person has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. This…

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Photo Story: Birth of Buddha commemorated

Buddhist monks wear protective face mask as they pray in front of a statue of Lord Buddha on the eve of his 2564th birth anniversary at a monastery in Bhopal,…

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Pope Francis appeals to respect the dignity of workers during Covid-19 pandemic

Pope Francis has urged employers to respect the dignity of workers, particularly migrants, in the face of economic difficulties brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking at the end…

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Pope prays for families and against domestic violence in daily mass

Pope Francis today prayed for peace within family homes amid widespread social distancing restrictions around the world, as countries try to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. In particular,…

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Pope Francis prays for prudence and obedience as world embarks on exit route from Covid-19 pandemic

“At this time, when indications have been given to exit out of quarantine, we pray the Lord will grant to His people, all of us, the grace of prudence and…

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10th Vatican employee tests positive for coronavirus

A 10th Vatican employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, the head of the Holy See press office Matteo Bruni said Tuesday. Bruni said the employee started showing symptoms in…

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South Korea’s big churches reopen

South Korea's large churches reopened on Sunday, requiring worshipers to keep their distance and wear masks, after the government relaxed restrictions on religious gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of…

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Muslims mark Ramadan with unprecedented virus lockdowns

Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries has sparked fears…

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Pope prays for European unity

Pope Francis said Wednesday that he was praying for European unity ahead of a big EU summit on the bloc's response to the economic earthquake caused by the coronavirus emergency.…

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Pope appeals to politicians to seek good of the country and not the good of their own parties

After celebrating the Mass yesterday, Divine Mercy Sunday, in the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Saxon District, Pope Francis resumed Masses at the Casa Santa Marta on Monday.…

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Cypriots celebrate Easter under lockdown

Cypriots had a different Easter experience this year, with restrictive measures preventing them from going to church or attending big family gatherings. “The inability to attend church should make people’s…

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Pope calls for an all-embracing vision of the world after the coronavirus pandemic

Pope Francis called on Sunday for an all-embracing vision of the world after the Covid-19 crisis, saying moving on without global solidarity or excluding sectors of society from the recovery…

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Orthodox Christians — 300 million worldwide — today are observing Easter, their biggest holiday

Officials in Eastern Europe and the Middle East urged people not to attend services, fearing this would lead to a spike in coronavirus infections. However, in Georgia, worshippers are still…

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Over 100 priests have died in Italy due to Coronavirus pandemic

Over 100 priests have died in Italy with the coronavirus, the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) said Friday. "They have offered up their lives, expressing once again the beautiful face of…

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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turns 93

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his 93rd birthday Thursday praying for those affected by the coronavirus, his personal secretary Father Georg Gaenswein told Vatican News. The former pope, who…

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Society has to stand behind women victims of domestic violence – Pope

Pope Francis said that society had to stand behind women victims of domestic violence, as abuse increased around the world during coronavirus lockdowns. After reciting the Regina Caeli in the library of…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis during Regina Coeli prayer

A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during Coeli prayer at the Vatican, 13 April 2020, in front of an empty St. Peter's Square due to…

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Faced with epochal challenges, this is not a time for indifference, because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united – Pope Francis

Faced with epochal challenges, this is not a time for indifference, because the whole world is suffering and needs to be united. Easter proclamation: “Christ, my hope, is risen!”. He…

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