Vatican

Pope says to be shocked by gay blessings is hypocritical

To be shocked by the recent decision by the Catholic Church to authorize the blessing of gay couples is "hypocritical", Pope Francis said in an interview published Wednesday."No one is…

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Stop human trafficking says pope

Pope Francis on Sunday urged the world community to stop human trafficking saying at his weekly Angelus prayer that "too many people are being exploited".Francis also said that tolerance and…

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Pope condemns anti-Judaism, anti-Semitism amid new wave of attacks against Jews

Pope Francis condemned all forms of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, labelling them as a "sin against God", after noticing an increase in attacks against Jews around the world. "(The Church) rejects…

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Pope says Africans are ‘special case’ when it comes to LGBT blessings

VATICAN CITY, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday that Africans were a "special case" in the opposition of bishops and many other people…

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Bless the person, not the gay union says pope

The Vatican's recent decision to authorise the blessing of gay couples means that the Catholic Church is blessing the individual persons and not the union, Pope Francis said Friday having…

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Thou shall be a whistleblower but not an anonymous one, new Vatican rules say

By Philip Pullella The Vatican, which over the centuries has codified all aspects of faith, morals, doctrine and dissent, announced a new entry - the rights and responsibilities of a…

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Pope issues new anti-war plea as he evokes Nazi Holocaust

Pope Francis has issued a new plea against all wars as he evoked the horror of the mass killing of Jews and other victims of the Nazis ahead of Saturday's…

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Look beyond profit to heal ‘lacerated world’, pope tells Davos leaders

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political, economic and business leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to look beyond…

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Pope defends same-sex blessings declaration, says it is misunderstood

By Philip Pullella ROME, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday defended a landmark decision approving blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting that those in the Catholic Church who have…

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Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech leading European favourite to succeed Pope Francis

Cardinal Mario Grech is being named as the “European” who stands the biggest chance to become pope, according to an article in the Irish Times. “A European more likely to…

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Pope halts speech saying he has ‘a touch of bronchitis’

VATICAN CITY, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Pope Francis was unable to complete a speech on Friday, complaining of "a touch of bronchitis" during an address to a group of French…

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Vatican says it won’t stop investigating Emanuela Orlandi case till it is solved

The Vatican will continue to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old who disappeared while returning home to the Vatican from a flute lesson in Rome on 22…

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Pope calls for global ban on surrogacy

Pope Francis on Monday called for the practice of surrogate motherhood to be banned worldwide. "The path to peace demands respect for life, for every human life, starting with that…

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Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

By Philip Pullella The Vatican this week moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have balked over last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that…

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War is an evil, let us pray for those who suffer – Pope

Pope Francis on Wednesday renewed his invitation to pray for the victims of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. "Please, let us not forget to pray for those…

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Pope decries Gaza’s ‘appalling harvest’ of civilian deaths

Pope Francis said in his Christmas message on Monday that children dying in wars, including in Gaza, are the "little Jesuses of today" and that Israeli strikes there were reaping…

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“Work with Us”: Website launched to apply for a job at the Vatican

"Work with Us" is a title that says it all. Up to now, lay staff to be hired at various levels of the Holy See were selected based on available…

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Pope backs Italian migrant rescue group targeted by prosecutors

VATICAN CITY, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke out in favour of an Italian migrant sea rescue charity whose members are facing charges of abetting illegal immigration.…

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Don’t prevent Communion for single mothers says Vatican

Priests should not prevent single mothers from taking Communion, the Vatican said this week. "The fact of being a girl mother does not prevent access to the Eucharist" and "one…

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Cardinal, nine other defendants, await verdicts at Vatican trial

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Dec 16 (Reuters) - A two-and-a-half year corruption trial that exposed infighting and intrigue in the highest echelons of the Vatican closes on Saturday with…

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Pope wants to simplify papal funeral rites, be buried outside Vatican

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who has shunned much of the Vatican's pomp and privilege, has decided to vastly simplify the elaborate funeral rites…

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Vatican eases rules on the ashes of the dead

A small part of a dead person's cremated ashes may be stored in a place that was dear to them rather than in a church or cemetery, the Vatican said…

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Pope Francis says feeling “much better”, voice still weak

VATICAN CITY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who has been suffering from a lung inflammation, said on Wednesday that he is feeling a lot better, although he still has…

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Pope’s condition improving but will stay indoors to be on safe side, Vatican says

The health of Pope Francis, who is suffering from a lung inflammation, is improving but he will read his Sunday message indoors from his residence to be on the safe…

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Pope says he has acute, infectious bronchitis

VATICAN CITY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Thursday said he was suffering from a highly infectious and acute form of bronchitis that has prevented him from making the…

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Pope strips conservative US cardinal of Vatican privileges

VATICAN CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has removed some of the Vatican privileges of conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke, including a large subsidized apartment and his salary, a…

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Pope says he is ‘still not well’ in first appearance since cancelling Dubai trip

VATICAN CITY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Pope Francis sounded wheezy and limited his speaking at a public event on Wednesday, a day after he cancelled a trip to the COP28…

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Pope in ‘good, stable’ condition, on antibiotic IV for lung inflammation – Vatican

VATICAN CITY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who is suffering from lung inflammation, is in "good and stable" condition, receiving antibiotic therapy intravenously, and will limit his activities for…

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UPDATED: Pope says he has lung inflammation, aide reads message for him

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, suffering from a "lung inflammation", appeared seated in the chapel of his residence instead of in St. Peter's Square…

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Dispute erupts over whether Pope called Gaza situation a ‘genocide’

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A messy dispute broke out over whether Pope Francis used the word "genocide" to describe events in Gaza, with Palestinians who met with…

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Pope to meet relatives of hostages, Palestinians with family in Gaza

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis will meet separately next week with relatives of hostages held by Hamas militants and with a group of Palestinians with family…

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Pope to meet relatives of Israeli hostages next week

VATICAN CITY, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Pope Francis will meet next week with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza, a source said on Friday. The source…

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Vatican confirms ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an…

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In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative US bishop Strickland

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, a Vatican…

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Pope Francis: Too many women are victim of violence and abuse

Violence against women is a "poisonous weed" that must be eradicated from society, Pope Francis said on Thursday. "Violence against women is a poisonous weed that afflicts our society and…

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Transgender people can be baptized Catholic, serve as godparents, Vatican says

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Transgender people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said, responding…

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Pope talks and jokes with children at rally after brief health scare

Pope Francis talked and joked with crowds of children and appeared to be in good health on Monday afternoon, after a brief scare earlier in the day when he said…

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UPDATED: Pope skips reading speech because of a cold but continues schedule

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Monday skipped reading a prepared speech for a meeting with European rabbis, telling them he was not feeling…

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Pope says two-state solution needed for Israel-Palestine

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday a two-state solution was needed for Israel and Palestine in order to put an end to…

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Pope says he will attend COP28 climate summit in Dubai, a first by a pontiff

Pope Francis said on Wednesday that he will attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, the first time a pontiff will be at the U.N. environmental meeting…

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Pope calls for Israel-Hamas ceasefire, hostage release

VATICAN CITY, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and renewed an appeal for the release of hostages…

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Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women deacons, LGBT

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as…

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Pope orders reopening of case of prominent priest accused of abuse

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has ordered a review of the Church's handling of the case of an internationally known religious artist who was…

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Turkey’s Erdogan tells Pope: Silence of international community over Gaza ’embarrassing’

ANKARA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan told Pope Francis in a phone call on Thursday that Israel's attacks on Gaza amounted to a massacre, and that the…

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Pope urges release of hostages and humanitarian aid access in Gaza

VATICAN CITY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday renewed his calls for the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into…

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Biden and Pope Francis discuss Israel and Gaza in a call

By Kanishka Singh and Crispian Balmer WASHINGTON/VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Sunday and discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between…

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Pope Francis may attend global climate talks in Dubai

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Pope Francis may attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, Vatican sources say, to drive home his recent…

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Pope Francis deplores ‘desperate’ situation in Gaza

VATICAN CITY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis deplored the "desperate" situation in Gaza on Wednesday as he urged the faithful to take "only one side" in the Israel-Hamas conflict,…

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Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza

VATICAN CITY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza and again appealed for the release of hostages held…

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Vatican ready for ‘any necessary mediation’ to free hostages held by Hamas

VATICAN CITY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The Vatican's priority is securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and it stands ready for "any necessary mediation", one of its most…

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Pope urges release of all Hamas hostages, concerned by Gaza siege

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on militant Islamist group Hamas to release all hostages captured during its weekend attack on Israel, while expressing grave concerns about the "total" Israeli siege…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis leads opening Mass for Synod

Pope Francis leads a Holy Mass with the new Cardinals and opening of the Synod of Bishops in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, 4 October 2023. Pope Francis on Wednesday…

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Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Church future with new cardinals

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday further cemented his legacy, elevating 21 prelates to the high rank of cardinal and significantly raising the percentage of…

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China liked pope’s recent overture, Beijing bishop to visit Hong Kong

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - The overture Pope Francis made to China earlier this month while he was in Mongolia was "well received" by Beijing's communist government, which…

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Letter shows Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on

Newly discovered correspondence suggests that World War II-era Pope Pius XII had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit that up to 6,000 Jews and Poles were being gassed each…

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Pope’s visit to France stirs debate over immigration, secularism

PARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Pope Francis' scheduled visit to France next week has stirred debate in the French political class, with left-wing politicians criticising the president for attending Mass…

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Pope playfully spars with ‘Rocky’ actor Stallone at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis playfully pretended to box with Sylvester Stallone during a meeting with the "Rocky" star at the Vatican on Friday. Introduced to Stallone and his…

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