Vatican

Photo Story – Papal Hug

Pope Francis is hugged by a child during the weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall, in Vatican City, 22 September 2021. EPA-EFE/ETTORE FERRARI

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Vatican says to require COVID-19 health pass for residents, visitors

A health certificate showing proof of immunity from COVID-19 immunity will be required to enter the Vatican as of Oct. 1, the city state said on Monday. Residents, workers and…

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Loyalty to God means willingness to serve – Pope

Vatican News - In God’s eyes, Pope Francis said on Sunday, “greatness and success” are not measured by social position, job title, or wealth, but by service; “not on what…

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Pope rejects German archbishop’s resignation after abuse scandal

Pope Francis has rejected the resignation of the Archbishop of Hamburg who had offered to step down after a report named him among several senior officials in Germany's Catholic Church…

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Pope Francis wraps up trip to Hungary and Slovakia

Pope Francis wrapped up on Wednesday his trip to Hungary and Slovakia, during which he urged the predominantly Catholic countries not to close up and to avoid using religion for…

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Limit Mass homilies to ten minutes, urges Pope Francis

Addressing the bishops and clergy of Slovakia in the Cathedral of St Martin, in Bratislava, Pope Francis urged priests not to exceed ten minutes during their Sunday homilies. He also…

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Pope laments Europe’s fractures between individual rights and common good

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Pope Francis warned against too much focus on individual rights and culture wars at the expense of the common good on Monday during a visit to Slovakia…

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In Hungary, pope says anti-Semitism ‘fuse’ must not be allowed to burn

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Pope Francis called on Sunday for vigilance against a rise in anti-Semitism, saying during a brief trip to Hungary this was a "fuse that must not be…

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Pope starts ‘spiritual’ pilgrimage to Hungary and Slovakia

Vatican News -Pope Francis' 34th journey abroad, which also marks 54 countries visited around the world, aims to be "a pilgrimage to the heart of Europe, during which the Pope…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis gives audience to the children of the Hospitality March

A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis receiving in audience the children participating in the 'Open' Hospitality March, on the occasion of the World Day of…

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Prisoners got 15,000 gelati from pope during Rome’s long, hot summer

They were not "Get out of jail free" cards but they were possibly one of the next best things. During one of Italy's hottest summers on record, Pope Francis sent…

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World’s top three Christian leaders in climate appeal ahead of U.N. summit

The world's three main Christian leaders issued an unprecedented joint appeal to members of their Churches to "listen to the cry of the earth" and back action to stem the…

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Pope responds to Israeli criticism over comments on Jewish law

Pope Francis has moved to allay Jewish concerns over comments he made about their books of sacred law, following a demand for clarification from Israel's top rabbis, Vatican and Jewish…

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Pope hopes many countries take Afghan refugees and young are educated

Pope Francis said on Sunday that he was praying that many countries take Afghan refugees and, in an apparent reference to the Taliban's past restrictions on schooling for women, said…

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Pope denies resignation report, says leads normal life after surgery

Pope Francis is not thinking of resigning and is living "a totally normal life" following intestinal surgery in July, he said in a radio interview broadcast on Wednesday. Speaking to…

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Pope Francis planning to visit Cyprus in December

Pope Francis will visit Cyprus in December, making him the second Roman Catholic pope to ever travel to the eastern Mediterranean island nation, a Cypriot official said. The official said…

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Pope names first woman head of dicastery

Pope Francis named the first woman head of a Vatican dicastery or administrative and religious department.The pope appointed a nun, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, as the interim Secretary of the…

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Vatican disciplines Polish archbishop after abuse cover-up investigation

WARSAW (Reuters) - The Vatican has disciplined the former archbishop of Wroclaw in Poland following an investigation into negligence over sex abuse allegations, banning him from taking part in any public ceremonies, both religious and secular. The move…

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Pope Francis urges everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines for the good of all

Pope Francis issued an appeal on Wednesday urging people to get inoculated against COVID-19, saying the vaccines could bring an end to the pandemic, but needed to be taken by…

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Pope urges dialogue in Afghanistan so people can live in peace, security

Pope Francis called on Sunday for dialogue to end the conflict in Afghanistan so that its people can live in peace, security and reciprocal respect. Francis made the appeal in…

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Pope, on anniversary of Beirut blast, promises Lebanon visit

Pope Francis, speaking at his first general audience since he underwent intestinal surgery a month ago and on the first anniversary of a fatal blast in Beirut, said he had…

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Ireland’s Catholic church, government clash over COVID-19 restrictions

Five Roman Catholic bishops from Ireland's 22 dioceses are set to defy COVID-19 restrictions after instructing local parishes to hold communion and confirmation services this month, drawing a sharp rebuke from the government,…

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Accused cardinal in court as Vatican fraud trial opens and is adjourned

VATICAN CITY, July 27 (Reuters) - Cardinal Angelo Becciu said on Tuesday he wanted to comply with the wishes of Pope Francis as he attended the opening of a trial…

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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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Learn to switch off, says Pope in first appearance at Vatican after hospital stay

VATICAN CITY, July 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis made his first public appearance since returning to the Vatican mid-week after an 11-day hospital stay, telling wellwishers they should take a…

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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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“We’re all pained” – Canada indigenous leaders dismiss Pope remarks

Indigenous leaders and school survivors on Sunday dismissed Pope Francis' expressions of pain at the discovery of 215 children's remains at a former Catholic residential school in Canada, saying the church needed to do much more.…

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