Vatican

UPDATED: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has died, funeral will be held on 5 January

The Vatican has just announced that The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery The Holy…

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Pope Francis in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis revealed in a interview published earlier in December that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation to be used if…

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FACTBOX-Key facts about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, who died on Saturday, was the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the post rather than rule for life.…

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Vatican in uncharted territory for former Pope Benedict’s funeral

The funeral of Benedict XVI will be held on Thursday 5 January and will be presided over by Pope Francis, the Vatican has said. The Vatican has confirmed Pope Benedict…

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EU Commission President von der Leyen and EP President Metsola pay tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to Benedict. Von der Leyen said “he had set a strong signal through his resignation” in 2013. “He saw himself first…

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Archbishop of Canterbury hails Pope Benedict as ‘one of the greatest theologians of his age’

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has hailed Pope Benedict XVI as "one of the greatest theologians of his age". In a statement, he said the former pontiff "saw many profound…

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OBITUARY: Former Pope Benedict was first pontiff to resign in 600 years

VATICAN CITY, Dec 31 - Former Pope Benedict, who died on Saturday aged 95, was the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, leaving behind a Catholic Church battered by…

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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – his papacy and retirement

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, who died on Saturday 31 December, resigned in 2013, the first pontiff in 600 years to take such a step rather than rule…

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Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s condition is ‘unchanged’

In a response to questions from journalists, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, on Friday confirmed that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's health condition remains stable at…

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Rituals for Benedict’s passing could be template for future ex popes

VATICAN CITY, Dec 30 (Reuters) - When Pope Gregory XII, the last pope to resign before Benedict, died in 1417, the world was not watching. Gregory had stepped down two years earlier…

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Former Pope Benedict’s condition remains grave but stable – Vatican

VATICAN CITY, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Former Pope Benedict's condition remains "grave" but stable, the Vatican said on Thursday, adding in a statement that he had rested well during the night and…

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Alarm among Catholics over ‘very sick’ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pope Francis has visited his predecessor Benedict XVI as the Vatican said that the 95-year-old former pope's health worsened on Wednesday morning. Francis described Benedict as being "very sick" during…

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FACTBOX: Former Pope Benedict, his papacy and resignation

VATICAN CITY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, who Pope Francis said on Wednesday was "very sick", resigned in 2013, the first pontiff in 600 years to take such…

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UPDATED: Former pope Benedict is ‘very sick’, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, 95, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, is "very sick," his successor Pope Francis…

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Pope Francis renews wish for peace in war-torn world

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square after praying the Angelus on Monday, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in the world, especially those suffering from war in…

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World is starving for peace, Pope Francis says in Christmas message

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for an end to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts in his Christmas message on Sunday, saying the world was suffering from…

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Remember the war weary and the poor, pope urges on Christmas Eve

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday led the world's Catholics into Christmas, saying in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts that the level…

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Pope thanks Poles for helping Ukrainians

During a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis said: “I would like to wish all Poles a blessed Christmas. According to your tradition, during Christmas Eve, you leave…

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Remember Ukraine’s smileless children this Christmas, pope says

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday called on people to remember Ukrainian children suffering in the cold this Christmas. "Let us think of the many children in Ukraine…

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Jesuit abuse case widens as victim speaks, order seeks witnesses

A case of sexual abuse rattling the Jesuits has widened with a former nun describing how her complaints against a prominent priest were ignored and as the religious order urged…

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Pope Francis orders Parthenon marbles held by Vatican be returned to Greece

Pope Francis has decided to return to Greece three 2,500-year-old pieces of the Parthenon that have been in the papal collections of the Vatican Museums for two centuries. The Vatican…

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Pope in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health

ROME (Reuters) -Pope Francis revealed in a new interview published on Sunday that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation to be used if someday…

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Pope Francis celebrates 86th birthday by honouring 3 charitable persons

On Saturday, the day of his 86th birthday, Pope Francis will present an expression of his gratitude to three people who offer their lives for the poorest of the poor.…

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Vatican in crowdfunding campaign to send thermal underwear to Ukraine

VATICAN CITY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Thursday launched a crowdfunding campaign to send thermal underwear to Ukraine to help residents survive the winter as they face power…

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Photo Story: The Pope’s weekly general audience

Pope Francis grabs the pacifier of a baby during the weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, on Wednesday 14 December 2022. Via EPA-EFE/RICCARDO ANTIMIAN

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Pope asks heads of state for ‘mercy’ for prisoners at Christmas

Pope Francis has asked for a "gesture of clemency" for prison inmates in the run-up to Christmas. In a letter addressed to all Heads of State, he invites them to…

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WATCH: Pope Francis breaks down and cries while mentioning Ukraine at public prayer

By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis broke down and cried on Thursday as he mentioned the suffering of Ukrainians during a traditional prayer in central Rome. The pope's…

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Jovial moment in the Vatican as Oscar-winning comic Roberto Benigni meets Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Oscar-winning Italian comic and actor Roberto Benigni brought a bit of his trademark whacky levity to the Vatican on Wednesday, hamming it up for Pope Francis.…

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Prominent Jesuit priest and artist disciplined after abuse allegations

The Roman Catholic Jesuit order said it disciplined a prominent priest and artist who reportedly sexually and psychologically abused nuns in his native Slovenia three decades ago. The Jesuits issued…

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Photo story: Pope Francis receives the donors of the Christmas tree and the crib in St. Peter’s square

Pope Francis meets with the donors of the Christmas tree and Nativity scene at the Vatican, Vatican City, 03 December 2022. Pope Francis on Saturday morning received delegations from Sutrio,…

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Pope: migrant deaths in the Mediterranean ‘unacceptable and almost always avoidable’

ROME (Reuters) - Migrant deaths in the Mediterranean are "unacceptable and almost always avoidable," Pope Francis said on Friday, renewing a call for policymakers across the region to address the…

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Vatican website targeted in possible hacking activity

The Vatican said its website experienced a host of continued "anomalous" access attempts and strange activity between Wednesday and Thursday. Vatican.va, the official portal of the Vatican, was "temporarily inaccessible"…

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Russia protests Vatican’s criticism of ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine

Russia's envoy has expressed Moscow's strong dissatisfaction to the Vatican following Pope Francis' latest condemnation of the "cruelty" of Russia's actions in Ukraine, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Tuesday. Francis…

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Top Spanish football medic to treat Pope Francis

The head of Atlético Madrid's medical team has been summoned to the Vatican to help treat Pope Francis, who is suffering from an arthritic knee. The 85-year-old Pope has cancelled…

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Young people can change the world – Pope Francis

Pope Francis told youths that they can change the world, realising 'dreams of peace'. The Pope was speaking while Ending the celebration of Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the…

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Pope Francis goes back to his roots in visit to northern Italy town

PORTACOMARO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis went back to his roots on Saturday, visiting the northern area of Italy his ancestors left for Argentina and dropping in on an older…

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New Christmas tree found for Vatican

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - It could have been a not so merry Christmas for the Vatican this year. In a sign of seasonal good will, the town of Agnone in…

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Pope condemns latest missile attacks on Ukraine, urges averting escalation

VATICAN CITY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the latest wave of missile attacks on Ukraine and called for a ceasefire to avert the risk of an…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis marks VI World Day of the Poor

Pope Francis during a lunch with the poor on the occasion of the World Day of the Poor inside of the Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, 13 November 2022. Photo:…

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Vatican to investigate French cardinal who abused 14-year-old girl

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican will open an investigation into French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, who earlier this week admitted to abusing a 14-year-old girl decades ago. Vatican spokesman Matteo…

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Ousted Vatican auditor and deputy sue Holy See for $9.25 million

VATICAN CITY, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The Vatican's first auditor general and his deputy, who were appointed in 2015 and fired two years later, are suing the Holy See for…

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Pope Francis leaves on Thursday for Bahrain

VATICAN CITY, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis leaves on Thursday for Bahrain, a trip aimed at improving ties with the Islamic world but which could thrust him into a…

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UPDATED: Book gifted by Macron to pope was never Nazi plunder

PARIS, Oct 26 (Reuters) - A rare book gifted by French President Emmanuel Macron to Pope Francis was never plundered by the Nazis, its seller and authorities in Warsaw said…

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UPDATED: Pope appeals to politicians to avert threat of nuclear war over Ukraine

May God lead us onto a lasting peace path in Ukraine, Pope Francis told his weekly general audience on Wednesday. "Let's not forget to pray, to continue with prayer for…

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As Macron meets Pope Francis, abuse victims urge swifter reparations

PARIS (Reuters) - A group of victims of sexual abuse says the Catholic church is reacting too slowly to a report revealing assaults by French clergy on more than 200,000…

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Pope appeals for peace in Ethiopia, prays for unity in Italy

Pope Francis on Sunday (October 24) offered his prayers for Ethiopia ahead of peace talks to be held in South Africa. "Once again, I heartily reiterate that violence does not…

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Vatican confirms renewal of contested accord with China on bishops’ appointments

VATICAN CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday said that it and China had renewed a secret and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in…

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Pope urges UN reform

Pope Francis said the need to reform the United Nations was "more than obvious" after the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war exposed its limits, in an extract of his…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis condemns ‘relentless bombings’ of Ukrainian cities

VATICAN CITY, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned Russia's "relentless bombings" of Ukrainian cities, saying the attacks had unleashed a "hurricane of violence" on residents. Speaking to…

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Pope begs Putin to end ‘spiral of violence and death’, cites nuclear threat

VATICAN CITY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Pope Francis made an impassioned appeal on Sunday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop "this spiral of violence and death" in Ukraine, saying…

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Vatican says Pope to visit Bahrain for conference in November

VATICAN CITY, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis will visit predominantly Muslim Bahrain Nov. 3-6 to attend an international conference, the Vatican announced on Wednesday. The Vatican said the pope…

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The Pope visits Assisi

Pope Francis is visting the Italian town of Assisi for an Economy of Francesco event on Saturday, and city of Matera for the conclusion of the 27th National Eucharistic Congress…

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Pope says Ukraine subjected to savageness, monstrosities, torture

VATICAN CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that Ukrainians were being subjected to savageness, monstrosities and torture, calling them a "noble" people being martyred. Speaking at…

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Vatican sought Xi-Pope meeting in Kazakhstan, China declined – source

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, (Reuters) - The Vatican told China that Pope Francis was willing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping while both leaders where in the Kazakh capital but…

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Pope says supplying weapons to Ukraine is morally acceptable for self defence

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis said it was morally legitimate for nations to supply weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself from Russian aggression. Speaking…

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God does not back war, pope says in apparent criticism of Russian patriarch

NUR-SULTAN , Sept 14 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that God does not guide religions towards war, an implicit criticism of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who backs the…

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Pope arrives in Kazakhstan, says ‘always ready’ for China visit

Pope Francis said on Tuesday he was willing to go to China at any time but had "no news" to offer over speculation he might meet Chinese President Xi Jinping while…

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