Vatican

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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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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Pope calls for lowering of tensions in eastern Ukraine

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, delivering his Sunday address to a live audience for the first time in more than a month, called for a lowering of tensions in…

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Police seek arrest of Italian middleman in Vatican property deal

ROME (Reuters) - Italian magistrates have issued an arrest warrant for Gianluigi Torzi, a financial broker caught up in a scandal involving the Vatican's purchase of a building in an upscale…

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Arab countries are adapting Ramadan traditions to pandemic

The month of Ramadan begins on Monday for some countries in the Americas and on Tuesday for most of the rest of the world. The exact starting time depends on…

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UPDATED: Cut the debt of poor countries, Pope tells IMF, World Bank

Pope Francis has told world financial chiefs that poor countries hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus need to have their debt burden reduced and be given a greater…

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Pope, in Easter message, slams weapons spending in time of pandemic

Pope Francis urged countries in his Easter message on Sunday to quicken distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the world's poor, and called armed conflict and military spending during a…

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Pope Francis leads Easter Mass at the Vatican

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Easter Sunday morning at the Vatican Basilica with a small number of the faithful present. Yet the Pope was joined by countless Catholics around the…

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Christ alive today, always helps begin anew – Pope Francis

Reflecting on the Easter episode of the women at the tomb, the Pope drew attention to what the angel told them. “Wonder at hearing the words: ‘Do not be afraid!”…

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Children’s hope and pains at the centre of Pope’s Via Crucis

The solitude and isolation of men and women across the world, cut off from their families and friends, deprived of their work and livelihoods, living in fear of an uncertain…

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The Cross is the Christological foundation of fraternity – Cantalamessa

Pope Francis lies down in prayer prior to celebrating Good Friday Mass for the Passion of the Lord at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic…

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Pope makes surprise visit to homeless getting COVID-19 vaccine in Vatican

Pope Francis paid a surprise visit on Friday to homeless and poor people from Rome getting free COVID-19 vaccinations in the Vatican. Pictures released by the Vatican showed the 84-year-old…

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Be humble, pope tells priests as he begins services leading to Easter

Pope Francis urged priests to be humble like Jesus as he began three busy days leading to Easter - all scaled down because of the coronavius pandemic - with a…

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Pope meets cardinal he fired, in apparent reconciliation

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, according to the cardinal who was fired by the pontiff last September on accusations of embezzlement and nepotism. Becciu told…

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Photo Story: Chrism Mass at the Vatican

Pope Francis holds up the book of Gospels during a Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, 01 April 2021. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token…

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Pope, on Palm Sunday, says devil taking advantage of pandemic

Pope Francis led Palm Sunday services in an almost empty St. Peter's Basilica because of coronavirus restrictions for the second consecutive year and said the devil is taking advantage of the pandemic. In pre-coronavirus times, Palm Sunday, which marks the start of…

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