Vatican

Pope to Consecrate Four Bishops, including a Maltese, on October 4

Pope Francis will consecrate four bishops on October 4, 2019, at a Mass at 5 pm in St. Peter’s Basilica: three apostolic nuncios – two Italians and a Maltese –…

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Pope feels ‘besieged’

Pope Francis told a group of Jesuits that he felt "besieged" during his recent trip to Africa, according to Father Antonio Spadaro, the editor of the Civiltà Cattolica magazine. "It…

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Safeguarding must be woven into Church life across the globe – Pope Francis

There is a continuing need for the culture and mission of Safeguarding to be systemically embedded into the life of the Church across the globe. In this regard, the Pontifical…

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President George Vella in private audience with Pope Francis (Updated)

Today, Monday 16 September 2019, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of Malta, His Excellency Mr. George Vella, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis during the audience at the Penitentiary Police

Pope Francis during an audience at the Penitentiary Police, Vatican City, 14 September 2019. Pope Francis talked about the problem of overcrowded prisons in a hearing with the prison police.…

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Pope Francis to visit Thailand and Japan in November

The Holy See Press Office announced Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan from 19 to 26 November. He will be the second Pope to visit these two Asian…

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Pope Francis “not afraid” of the Catholic Church splitting, accuses critics of stabbing him in the back

Pope Francis has accused his critics of stabbing him in the back, and said he is "not afraid" of the Catholic Church splitting but added “I pray that they do…

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Photo Story: Over a million attend mass by Pope Francis in Madagascar

Pope Francis (R) during the visit the City of Friendship, Akamasoa, Madagascar, 08 September 2019. Pope Francis will visit Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius on his three-nation trip to Africa, from 04…

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Pope Francis visits Madagascar

Pope Francis at a vigil with the youth on the diocesan grounds of Soamandrakizay in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on the 07 September 2019. Hundreds of thousands are expected to flock to…

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Pope ends Mozambique visit, denounces corrupt leaders

Pope Francis, ending his visit to Mozambique, on Friday scolded political and business leaders in the resource-rich but poor East African country who allow themselves to be corrupted by outsiders.…

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Photo Story: Mother Teresa’s death is remembered in Kolkata

Sister Prema (R), superior-general of the Mother House, speaks during a mass to mark the 22nd anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, at The Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity…

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French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray dies aged 96

French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a frequent collaborator of Pope St. John Paul II, has died at 96. Etchagaray, from the French Basque region, was born in Espelette on September 25,…

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Pope Francis welcomed in Mozambique

Pope Francis was met by thousands of excited Mozambicans on Wednesday evening, including President Filipe Nyusi, as he began his first papal visit to the southern African country. The pontiff…

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Man arrested on the main altar of St Peter’s in the Vatican

A man was arrested by Vatican gendarmes for throwing down a candelabra on the main altar of St Peter's basilica. The man climbed onto the altar under Bernini's famed canopy…

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Pope Francis begins Apostolic journey to Africa

Pope Francis on Wednesday departed to Maputo, Mozambique for an Apostolic Journey will see him visiting Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius from 04 to 10 September 2019. He’s going to deliver…

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Poverty, Environment, Corruption and Exploitation to dominate Pope’s Africa visit’s agenda

Pope Francis leaves on Wednesday for Africa, where poverty, the environment, foreign exploitation of resources and corruption are expected to be high on his agenda as he visits the continent…

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Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Vatican’s point-person on helping refugees

Pope Francis named thirteen new Catholic cardinals Sept. 1, tasking bishops from two African nations, Indonesia, and a rural town in Guatemala to be part of the church's most elite…

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Pope arrives late for his traditional weekly address after getting stuck in Vatican elevator

Pope Francis said he was stuck for 25 minutes in a Vatican elevator and had to be rescued by firefighters. Francis apologized to the faithful in St. Peter's Square Sunday…

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Photo Story: Mother Teresa remembered on the anniversary of her birth

A series of photos of nuns and visitors taking part in a mass prayer during a service celebrating Mother Teresa's 109th birth anniversary at the Mother House of the Missionaries…

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Polemic between exorcists and Jesuit head over existence of the Devil

The Devil really exists, the International Association of Exorcists (AIE) insisted after the head of the Jesuit order said Satan was just a symbol. Jesuit Superior General Arturo Sosa Abascal…

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World must stamp out persecution of religious groups, Guterres declares on new UN Day

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the persecution of religious groups on Thursday, the first ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on…

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Photo Story: The Janmashtami Festival in Mumbai

Indian college girls dressed as Lord Krishna pose for photograph during Janamashtami festival celebrations at Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) college in Mumbai, India. Janamashtmi is celebrated as the birth…

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Pope leaves sick girl run free on general audience stage

Pope Francis allowed a girl suffering from an undisclosed illness to move around undisturbed clapping and dancing on the stage for most of his general audience on Wednesday, delighting the…

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Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against sexual abuse convictions

Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of sexual abuse, has failed in a legal bid to quash his convictions in Australia. Pell, the former Vatican…

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Photo Story: The Parsi New Year in Mumbai

An Indian Zoroastrian family takes selfies near the knights reliefs in a fire temple on 'Nowruz', the Parsi New Year Day, in Mumbai, India, 17 August 2019. Nowruz is the…

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Photo Story: The procession of the feast of the Assumption in Paris

Clergymen carry the statue of Mary with Child during a procession near Notre-Dame cathedral for the Assumption in Paris, France. The procession route has been modified this year, further…

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Photo Story: Preparations for Virgin of La Paloma festivities in Madrid

Local policemen and faithful move a float for the Virgin of Paloma's procession before the mass and procession to mark the Virgin of Paloma day in Madrid, Spain, 15 August…

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Pope Francis writes to the people of Genoa on Morandi bridge disaster anniversary

Pope Francis wrote to the citizens of Genoa, Italy, affected by the August 14 2018 collapse of the northern Italian city's Morandi Bridge which killed 43 people. In the letter,…

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Msgr. Joseph Grech assigned to the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the International Organisations in Vienna

His Holiness Pope Francis has promoted Councillor of Apostolic Nunciature the Rev. Msgr. Joseph Grech and has assigned him to the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the International…

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Clashes break out on Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Clashes broke out between Muslim protesters and Israeli police forces on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount holy site, known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif and the Al Aqsa Compound, on Sunday,…

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Photo Story: The Eid al-Adha celebrations

Indonesian Muslims look at balloons during an Eid al-Adha prayer service in Depok, Indonesia, 11 August 2019. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year,…

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Von Der Leyen’s appointment ‘blessed’ by the Pope

After narrowly winning political approval last month, Ursula von der Leyen has now received a spiritual vote of confidence — from the pope. POLITICO highlights that when asked in an interview with…

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Pope Francis warns against nationalism, calls for Europe to be saved

Europe's historic and cultural unity must be saved, Pope Francis told Turin daily La Stampa in an interview published on Friday. In the interview, the pontiff spoke about the dangers…

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1.8 million pilgrims arrive for Hajj Pilgrimage

More than 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia amid final preparations for the most sacred week in the Islamic calendar. Saudi Passport officials said that this year…

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Photo Story: Eid al-Adha 2019 preparations in Yemen

A Yemeni boy displays toys for sale at a bazaar ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, in Sana'a, Yemen. Millions of Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Adha,…

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Pope Francis expresses encouragement and closeness to priests from around the world

Pope Francis has written to priests recalling the 160th anniversary of the death of the Curé of Ars, Patron Saint of parish priests around the world. It is a letter…

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Pope Francis urges scouts to give themselves to give, build, serve and care for others

Pope Francis on Saturday urged scouts to give of themselves to others by building, serving and caring for others, saying it will free them from within and enrich the world.…

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Photo Story: The Pope greets the Euromoot

Pope Francis during the audience to the Euromoot with about 5000 between Scouts, Rangers and Rovers of the European Scouts FSE at the Vatican, 03 August 2019. The Euromoot…

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First day of Hajj confirmed as Aug. 9

The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed Thursday that the crescent moon of Dhu Al-Hijjah had been sighted. Hajj will therefore begin on Friday August 9, pilgrims will spend the day on…

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Arabic, Muslim symbols ordered to be taken down in Beijing

Authorities in the Chinese capital have ordered halal restaurants and food stalls to remove Arabic script and symbols associated with Islam from their signs, part of an expanding national effort…

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Photo Story: Facial coverings banned in the Netherlands

A niqab veiled woman pulls her shopping bag along a street in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Facial coverings will be banned in the Netherlands, from public transport, schools, hospitals and government buildings…

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Photo Story: India criminalizes Muslim instant divorce

Indian Muslim women show victory sign as they pose for a photograph during a gathering organized by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to celebrate passing a law outlawing instant divorce practice…

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The bones found in the Vatican’s cemetery are “too old” to belong to the missing teenager Emanuela Orlandi

The Vatican has said human remains discovered during an excavation earlier in July do not belong to missing teenager Emanuela Orlandi, again dashing hopes that the decades-long mystery of her…

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Pope Francis confirms Archbishop Scicluna Vatican College’s presidency role

Pope Francis has confirmed Archbishop Charles Scicluna as President of the College for the examination of appeal. Archbishop Scicluna will be serving in this role for his second term which…

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“Father, Why?” – Pope Francis appeals for decisive and speedy action to address migration

Pope Francis has once again called on the international community “to act with speed and decisiveness” to address the issue of migration. His appeal came during the Sunday Angelus, when…

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German daycares under police protection after plans to stop serving pork

Plans to no longer serve children pork or gelatin-containing products like gummy bears at two daycare centers in the eastern German city of Leipzig prompted a wave of criticism online…

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Thousands of bones discovered in search for Emanuela Orlandi

The Catholic News Agency (CNA) reports that the search for the remains of missing 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi took another twist as Vatican officials discovered “thousands” of human bones in a…

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Pope Francis writes to Syrian President Assad

Protection of civilian life, an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib Province, concrete initiatives for a safe return of displaced persons, the release of detainees and access for families…

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Man’s first step on the moon should spark desire for greater goals – dignity for the weak, more justice among peoples, and more future for our common home – Pope Francis

“Fifty years ago, yesterday”, Pope Francis said on Sunday, “Man set foot on the moon, achieving an extraordinary dream.” Addressing the crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Angelus…

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