Vatican

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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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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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 leads scaled-down Palm Sunday service

Pope Francis led Palm Sunday services in an almost empty St. Peter's Basilica because of coronavirus restrictions for the second consecutive year and he urged people to be close to…

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Pope orders salary cuts for cardinals, clerics, to save jobs of ordinary employees

Pope Francis has ordered cardinals to take a 10 percent pay cut and reduced the salaries of other clerics working in the Vatican in order to save jobs of ordinary…

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Habemus Papam – Eight years of Pope Francis

Vatican News / Rome Reports - On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope. It was at 7:06pm when the white smoke emerged from atop the Sistine Chapel,…

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“There is only one Pope”- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Vatican News / Corriere della Sera - Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s resignation from the papacy, which became effective eight years ago, [28 February 2013] was a “difficult choice,” but made…

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Pope’s risky trip to Iraq defies sceptics

Rockets have hit Iraqi cities and COVID-19 has flared,yet, barring last-minute changes, Pope Francis will embark on a whirlwind four-day trip starting on Friday to show solidarity with the country’s…

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Watch – Twenty years since Bergoglio became Cardinal

Vatican News Twenty years ago, on 21 February 2001, Pope Saint John Paul II created forty-four new Cardinals – including the then-Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Vatican News…

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No jab, no job: Vatican gets tough with COVID anti-vaxxers

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican has told employees that they may risk losing their jobs if they refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccination without legitimate health reasons. A decree…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis leads Catholics into Lent

Pope Francis led the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics into Lent on Ash Wednesday, as they scaled back a centuries-old ritual to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. Francis,…

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Photo Story – Papal Wind

Pope Francis leads his Sunday Angelus Prayer from his window overlooking Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, on a windy 14 February 2021 Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the…

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Former head of Vatican bank guilty of embezzlement, money laundering

A court in Italy on Thursday convicted Angelo Caloia, a former head of the Vatican bank, on charges of embezzlement and money laundering, making him the highest ranking Vatican official…

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Woman with links to deposed cardinal to go on trial, Vatican says

The embezzlement trial of a woman with links to deposed Cardinal Angelo Becciu will start soon, Vatican judicial officials said on Monday, but it was not yet clear if the cardinal will also be tried. Cecilia Marogna, 39, had worked for Becciu, a…

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Vatican starts COVID-19 vaccinations

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican, the world's smallest state, began its COVID-19 vaccination program on Wednesday but it was not clear when Pope Francis would get his shot. A…

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Pope Francis, condemns U.S. Capitol assault

Pope Francis said on Saturday people working against democracy must be condemned whoever they are, and lessons should be learned from this week's attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters…

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Pope Francis to take vaccine next week

MILAN (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Saturday he planned to have a COVID-19 vaccination as early as next week and urged everyone to get a shot, to protect not…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis celebrates the Epiphany

Pope Francis (L) celebrates Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, in the Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, 06 January 2021. “In our day,…

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Coronavirus forces cancellation of papal baptisms in Sistine Chapel

A traditional ceremony in which Pope Francis baptises newborn babies in the Sistine Chapel has been cancelled this year because of coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican announced. The ceremony, which involves…

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Pope accepts resignation of Belarus archbishop who angered Lukashenko

Pope Francis on Sunday accepted the resignation of the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who spent time in exile last year after angering President Alexander…

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Vatican denies knowledge of $1.8 billion transferred to Australia

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican and the Australian Catholic Church have both denied knowledge of transfers worth US$1.8 billion which Australia's financial watchdog says have been sent from Rome…

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Pope misses leading New Year services because of leg pain flare-up

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, suffering a flare-up of a sciatica condition that causes pain in his right leg, missed a New Year's Eve service on Thursday and will…

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Pope issues appeal for stricken Lebanon, reiterates wish to visit country

In a letter addressed to the head of the Church in Lebanon, Pope Francis makes an urgent appeal to political and religious leaders and to the international community to help…

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Belarus to allow exiled archbishop to return home

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has decided to allow Minsk’s exiled Catholic archbishop to return home after a personal appeal from Pope Francis, the Vatican’s embassy in Minsk said. Archbishop Tadeusz…

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Two Vatican cardinals, papal aides, test positive for coronavirus – source

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Two Vatican cardinals, including one who spends most of his time helping Rome's homeless, have tested positive for the coronavirus, a Vatican source said on Tuesday.…

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‘Education is an act of hope’ – Pope Francis

Vatican News - “Education is always an act of hope that, from the present, looks to the future,” said Pope Francis in the opening words of his video message to…

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Ex-Vatican envoy to France gets eight-month suspended sentence for sexual harassment

PARIS (Reuters) - A French court has found former Vatican ambassador to France Luigi Ventura guilty of sexual harassment against five men in 2018 and 2019 and given him an…

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Pope commits Vatican to net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Pope Francis urged countries to work towards net zero carbon emissions and committed Vatican City - the world's smallest state - to reaching the target by 2050. Francis, who has…

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Photo Story: Christmas tree from Slovenia goes up in St. Peter’s Square

The traditional Christmas tree is up in place in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square is from the southeastern region of Slovenia. It…

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Cardinal Mario Grech describes his experience in the latest consistory in interview

“I felt that Jesus’ eyes were set again on me, to recreate me again as a Christian” says Cardinal Mario Grech describing his experience at the consistory on 28 November.…

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Pope cancels traditional pre-Christmas ceremony due to COVID-19

Pope Francis has cancelled a ceremony that traditionally begins Rome's Christmas season on Dec. 8 at the Spanish Steps because of coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican said on Monday. The pope…

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Pope Francis and the new Cardinals concelebrate Mass on the First Sunday of Advent

Celebrating Holy Mass on the First Sunday of Advent together with 11 new Cardinals who received their red hats from him just hours earlier, Pope Francis invited the faithful to…

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One Photo – 13 Cardinals and 2 Popes

Handout pictures provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis (R) and cardinals visit the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI (L), in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, Vatican City,…

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The Church still has its roots in the heart of our nation – Cardinal Mario Grech

Message by Cardinal-Elect Mario Grech "I confess to you that I was a little overwhelmed by our nation's reaction to the announcement made by Pope Francis when he said that…

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Pope says his brush with death helps him relate to Covid victims

Pope Francis says in a new book that he can relate to people in intensive care units who fear dying from coronavirus because of his own experience when part of…

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EU Bishops call for solidarity and hope on path towards better future

The Bishops of Europe have addressed a message of hope and a call to solidarity to European Institutions and Member states amid the health crisis that has overwhelmed the world…

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God entrusts talent to each one according to his or her abilities. Use it for good – Pope Francis

On the penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year, Pope Francis reflected on the Parable of the Talents in St Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus shares this parable in His discourse on the…

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Pope Francis congratulates Biden, stepping into political fray

Pope Francis offered his “blessings and congratulations” to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden in a phone call on Thursday, seeking to rebuild rapport with Washington after four years of sometimes contentious…

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Contempt charges dropped against three editors in Pell conviction reporting trial

Charges against three News Corp online editors were dropped on day four of a trial on allegations that media firms broke an Australia-wide court suppression order on reporting ex-Vatican treasurer…

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Vatican investigating Polish archbishop over alleged cover-up of sexual abuses

The Vatican has ordered an investigation into the former archbishop of Gdansk on suspicion of negligence over sex abuse allegations, a month after the pope accepted the resignation of a…

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Papal audiences return to streaming after COVID case

Pope Francis’ weekly general audiences, which had resumed with the public participating, will be moved back indoors and held virtually after one participant tested positive for the coronavirus, the Vatican…

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Pope brings 9 people closer to sainthood

Pope Francis has authorized the promulgation of several decrees regarding nine people who are on the path toward canonization; Vatican News reported Wednesday. The news came Wednesday following a meeting…

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Pope Francis expresses dream of a Europe of solidarity and respect for all peoples

Pope Francis, in a letter to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, shares his visions of a Europe of the future, marked with solidarity, friendship and unity, and true…

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No public for Pope’s Christmas’ liturgies

Pope Francis' Christmas liturgies at the Vatican will be offered without public participation this year, as countries continue to react to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a letter seen by…

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Pope Francis announces the appointment of 13 new cardinals

The Church will have thirteen new Cardinals. Nine of them are younger than 80 and therefore, have the right to participate in a future conclave. Four others are older than…

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China extends deal with Vatican on bishops by two years

China and the Vatican have decided to extend a deal on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China by another two years, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.…

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Pope wears mask for first time at public event

Pope Francis wore a mask for the first time at a public function on Tuesday when he and other religious leaders attended a prayer service for peace around the world.…

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Pope expresses support for detained Italian fishermen in Libya

Pope Francis expressed support on Sunday for 18 fishermen held in Libya, weighing in on a standoff between Italy and the administration of Khalifa Haftar, one of the North African…

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Covid cases among Swiss Guards at the Vatican increase to 11

The number of COVID-19 cases among the Swiss Guards rose to 11 on Thursday.Another seven cases were added to the initial four reported earlier this week.The Vatican said all precautions…

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Pope Francis tells faithful to respect COVID-prevention rules

Pope Francis told the faithful to respect the authorities' COVID-19 prevention rules at the end of his weekly general audience in the Vatican on Wednesday. "I'd like to do what…

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Italian woman with links to Cardinal Angelo Becciu arrested

A 39-year-old Italian woman with links to a deposed Roman Catholic cardinal was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the Vatican’s latest financial scandal, Italian police and the Vatican said.…

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Mexico asks Pope for loan of ancient books held in Vatican library

The Mexican government has formally asked Pope Francis for the temporary return of several ancient indigenous manuscripts held in the Vatican library ahead of next year's 500-year anniversary of the…

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Photo Story: Swiss Guard swearing-in ceremony at Vatican

Papal Swiss Guards during the swearing-in ceremony at the San Damaso Courtyard in Vatican City, on Sunday 04 October 2020. The ceremony commemorates the 147 Swiss Guards who died defending…

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Pope says free market, ‘trickle-down’ policies fail society

Pope Francis said on Sunday that the COVID-19 pandemic was the latest crisis to prove that market forces alone and “trickle-down” economic policies had failed to produce the social benefits…

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Cardinal Pell back in the Vatican

Cardinal George Pell, who left the Vatican in 2017 to face child sexual abuse charges in Australia, returned to Rome on Wednesday to find a Holy See mired in the…

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Pope denies audience with Pompeo

The Vatican said on Wednesday it had denied a request from Mike Pompeo for an audience with Pope Francis, and accused the Secretary of State of trying to drag the…

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Reports Cardinal Pell returning to Vatican

Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ former finance minister, will soon return to the Vatican during an extraordinary economic scandal for the first time since he was cleared of child abuse…

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