Pope Francis

UPDATED: Pope Francis lands in Luxembourg, first leg of rare European trip

Pope Francis arrived in Luxembourg on Thursday for a brief visit to one of Europe's smallest countries ahead of a weekend trip to Belgium, where he will highlight the needs…

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Pope Francis, back from flu, calls airstrikes on Lebanon ‘unacceptable’

Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a "terrible escalation" of the Middle East conflict on Wednesday at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went…

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Pope Francis’ Upcoming Trip to Luxembourg and Belgium to go ahead as planned

Pope Francis will press ahead with plans to travel to Luxembourg and Belgium later this week, despite cancelling his meetings for Monday due to a mild flu, the Vatican said.…

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Pope Francis leaves for Rome after 12-day Asia trip

Pope Francis left Singapore for Rome on Friday, after a demanding trip across Southeast Asia and Oceania in which he urged action on climate change, pressed for interfaith dialogue, and…

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Pope Francis, in Singapore, urges fair wages for migrant workers

Pope Francis on Thursday urged political leaders in Singapore, a leading global financial hub, to seek fair wages for the country's million-plus lower-paid foreign workers. In likely the last major…

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Pope Francis departs Indonesia for Papua New Guinea, stop two of 12-day trip

Pope Francis left Indonesia on Friday morning for Papua New Guinea, where the 87-year-old leader of the global Catholic Church will continue an ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and…

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Pope Francis, in Muslim-majority Indonesia, warns against religious extremism

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political leaders in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, to guard against religious extremism, which he said distorted people's religious beliefs through "deception and…

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Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia to begin ambitious Asia-Pacific tour

Pope Francis arrived on Tuesday in Indonesia, the first leg of an ambitious four-country Asia-Pacific tour in which he is expected to urge global action on climate change. The 87-year-old…

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Pope Francis says refusing aid to migrants a ‘grave sin’

Pope Francis on Wednesday strongly decried the treatment of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to enter Europe, saying it was a "grave sin" not to offer aid to migrant vessels.…

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Pope appeals for good politics, says enough scandals, corruption

Pope Francis prayed for political leaders to be at the service of their own people in his monthly prayer intentions for August in a video released on Tuesday by the…

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Pope warns democracy is in bad health

Pope Francis denounced populist politics and what he called "the dross of ideology" on Sunday, warning that democracy was not in good shape in many parts of the world. The…

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Pope Francis warns against legalising drugs, denounces drug traffickers

Pope Francis spoke out on Wednesday against the legalisation of drugs and denounced drug traffickers as "assassins", while also calling for help and support for addicts. "A reduction in drug…

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Pope tells priests to keep it snappy or people will nod off

Priests should keep their homilies short and speak for a maximum of eight minutes to prevent members of the congregation from nodding off, Pope Francis said on Wednesday. The homily,…

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Pope warns fading memory of World War Two raises conflict fears

The horrors of World War Two are being forgotten, thereby raising the risk of a new global conflict, Pope Francis said in comments marking the 80th anniversary of the 1944…

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Pope apologizes after alleged use of homophobic slur

Pope Francis, widely quoted as having used a highly derogatory word to describe the LGBT community, did not intend to use homophobic language and apologises to anyone offended by it,…

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Pope Francis’s Remarks Towards The LGBT Community Spark Outrage

Pope Francis used a highly derogatory term towards the LGBT community as he reiterated in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops that gay people should not be allowed to become…

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Roberto Benigni Advocates Dreaming and Embracing Doubt

The Italian actor and comedian Roberto Benigni is best known in the English-speaking world for his 1997 film Life is Beautiful, which won three Oscars. But, in his native country, he’s just…

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Pope attributes second miracle to Catholic teenager Carlo Acutis, clearing the way for sainthood

Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to an Italian teenager who in his short life used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith, clearing the way for him…

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Pope in Luxembourg, Belgium 26 to 29 Sep

Pope Francis will travel to Luxembourg and Belgium from 26 to 29 September, the Vatican said Monday."Accepting the invitation of the respective Heads of State and ecclesiastical authorities" Pope Francis…

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Benigni to join Pope for Children’s Day

Life Is Beautiful Oscar winner Roberto Benigni will read a monologue alongside Pope Francis at a ceremony in St Peter's Square marking World Children's Day on Sunday May 26, the…

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Vatican urges caution over weeping Madonnas and other supposed apparitions

The Vatican issued new guidelines on Friday recommending a cautious approach to supposed supernatural events such as weeping Madonnas and blood-dripping crucifixes that have for centuries whipped up the Catholic…

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Pope Francis to visit Turkey next year

Pope Francis is planning to visit Turkey next year to mark the anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians said.The early centuries…

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A mother must never to choose between job, kids – Pope Francis

Pope Francis said Friday that mothers must not be put in a position in which they have to choose between their jobs or their children at the 'States General' conference…

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Pope puts Rome in panic mode by declaring 2025 Holy Year

Pope Francis used the Feast of Ascension on Thursday to preside over the reading of a papal bull at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, declaring 2025 a Holy Year for…

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Pope makes first visit out of Rome for seven months after health scares

Pope Francis made his first trip out of Rome for seven months on Sunday with a packed visit to Venice that took in an art exhibition, a prison and a…

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Pope appears in better health ahead of busy Easter schedule

By Alvise Armellini Pope Francis, whose frail health has been a growing source of concern in recent weeks, appeared in better shape on Wednesday ahead of a busy Easter week…

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‘No concerning situations’ regarding Pope’s health

Pope Francis is an 87-year-old man whose periodic bouts of poor health and fatigue that have forced him to give up recent readings are only to be expected for a…

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Pope Francis reflects on his life and mortality in memoir

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, March 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, at 87 increasingly weak and wobbly, takes a trip down memory lane and speaks of his hopes for the Roman Catholic…

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Pope says option of resigning is only ‘a distant hypothesis’

VATICAN CITY, March 14 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has no intention of resigning as he feels that his health is good enough to allow him to carry on, he says…

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UPDATED: Pope not asking Ukraine to surrender – Vatican press office

Pope Francis is not asking Ukraine to surrender in an interview to a Swiss TV station that is to be broadcast later this month but a portion of which was…

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Pope, still nursing a cold, again limits public speaking

VATICAN CITY, March 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday said he was still suffering from a cold as he again limited his speaking at a weekly audience in St…

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Pope Francis, recovering from bronchitis, calls for end of Gaza conflict

VATICAN CITY, March 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the conflict in Gaza, as he showed signs of recovery after suffering from bronchitis. On…

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Pope Francis had CT scan during hospital check-up

By Alvise Armellini VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who has been suffering from influenza, made a brief trip to a Roman hospital for medical checks on Wednesday but was…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis has hospital check-up, returns to Vatican

By Alvise Armellini VATICAN CITY, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who has been suffering from influenza, made a brief trip to a Roman hospital for medical checks on Wednesday…

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Pope Francis cancels appointments twice in three days as mild flu persists

VATICAN CITY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Pope Francis canceled his appointments on Monday for the second time in three days because he has mild flu, the Vatican said. The 87-year-old…

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Pope cancels Saturday meetings because of mild flu – Vatican

VATICAN CITY, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Pope Francis cancelled his meetings on Saturday because of mild flu, the Vatican said in a statement. The 87-year-old pontiff holds regular audiences with…

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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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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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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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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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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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Pope remembers Pelé one year on

Pope Francis on Saturday remembered Pelè on the first anniversary of the death at 82 of the Brazilian ace many rate the greatest footballer ever.Francis cited St Paul's First letter…

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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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After same-sex blessing ruling, pope decries inflexible ideologies

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Thursday warned against inflexible ideological positions that can hinder the Church from seeing reality and moving forward, speaking…

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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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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 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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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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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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