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Vatican’s declaration of gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as grave violations of human dignity denounced by critics
Pope Francis meets with volunteers of the Italian Red Cross in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
world
Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily but continues service
Pope Francis greets the crowd from the popemobile at the end of the Palm Sunday mass at St Peter's square in the Vatican on March 24, 2024. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
opinion
We must all refuse to be illiterate about AI
Michael Czerny
world
After approving blessings for same-sex couples, Pope Francis asks Vatican staff to avoid ‘rigid ideologies’
Pope Francis delivers the traditional greetings to the Roman Curia at the Vatican, December 21, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
canada
Pope’s ruling on same-sex blessings marks small step toward more inclusive church, advocates say
(FILES) Pope Francis (C) blesses the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on December 13, 2023. The Vatican on December 12, 2023 approved blessings for same-sex couples but insisted they must not be established as a Catholic rite nor given in contexts related to civil unions or weddings. In a document approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican backed "the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex" but "this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them". (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
world
Cardinal is convicted of embezzlement in big Vatican financial trial, sentenced to 5 1/2 years
Reporters watch a screen showing Vatican tribunal president Giuseppe Pignatone reading the verdict of a trial against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine other defendants, in the Vatican press room, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. A once-powerful cardinal and nine other people are to learn their fates when a Vatican tribunal hands down verdicts in a complicated financial trial that has aired the tiny city state's dirty laundry. Judge Giuseppe Pignatone will read out the verdicts of the three-judge panel in the converted courtroom in the Vatican Museums on Saturday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
world
Pope Francis dismisses conservative U.S. bishop Strickland in very rare move
FILE - Bishop Joseph Strickland walks in front of a reliquary bearing the bones of Saint Maria Goretti, dubbed "The Little Saint of Great Mercy," into the sanctuary at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, in Tyler, Texas. Pope Francis on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 forcibly removed from office the bishop of Tyler, Texas, a conservative active on social media who has been a fierce critic of the pontiff and some of his priorities. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP, File)
world
Pope Francis’s historic synod marks potential watershed as women’s equality, climate change take centre stage
Pope Francis speaks during the First General Congregation of the Synod at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, October 4, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
world
Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Church future with new cardinals
Newly elevated cardinals, archbishop from Cordoba Angel Sixto Rossi (L) and archbishop from Bogota in Colombia Luis Jose Rueda Aparicio (R) are congratulated by fellow cardinals at the end of a consistory to create 21 new cardinals at St. Peter's square in The Vatican on September 30, 2023. Pope Francis elevates 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal -- most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
world
Letter shows Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on
FILE - Undated file photo of Pope Pius XII. 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 day in German-occupied Poland, undercutting the Holy See’s argument that it couldn’t verify diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them. The documentation from the Vatican archives, published this weekend in Italian daily Corriere della Sera, is likely to further fuel the debate about Pius’ legacy and his now-stalled beatification campaign. (AP Photo, File)
world
Vatican holds unprecedented beatification of Polish family killed during Second World War for hiding Jews
Papal envoy Cardinal Marcello Semeraro leads a Mass in which the Vatican beatified the Polish Ulma family, including small children, who were killed by the Nazis in 1944 for having sheltered Jews, in the Ulmas' home village of Markowa, Poland, on Sunday, Sep.10, 2023. The Vatican beatified also the Ulmas' unborn child, saying it was born during the killings and was baptized in the martyred mother's blood. (AP Photo)
world
Biden to meet with Pope’s peace envoy, discuss plight of children displaced by war in Ukraine
FILE - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the CEI (Italian Conference of Bishops), welcomes parishioners after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Pope Francis’ peace envoy was travelling to Washington on Monday, July 17 in hopes of promoting peace initiatives for Ukraine and supporting humanitarian operations, especially concerning children, the Vatican said. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi’s visit, which lasts through Wednesday, follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)
world
Pope Francis puts stamp on Church future with new cardinals
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, July 9, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS
world
Hospitalized Pope Francis walks a bit, follows Mass on TV, lunches with medical personnel and aides
Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. During the period between the end of one pontificate and the election of a new pope the camerlengo, or chamberlain, runs the administration and finances of the Holy See, but under canon law Pope Francis was still pope, fully in charge of running the Vatican and the 1.3-billion-strong Catholic Church, even while unconscious and undergoing surgery Wednesday, June 7, 2023, to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
world
Pope Francis has scar tissue removed, hernia repaired during 3-hour abdominal surgery
FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, July 11, 2021, Pope Francis appears on a balcony of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had his colon removed 33 centimeters (13 inches) because of inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, FILE)
world
Vatican questions how priest moved $17 million meant for missionary work into investment fund
Pope Francis greets a child as he attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 31, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
world
Vatican singles out bishops in urging reflective not reactive social media use
Pope Francis presents the Paolo VI Prize of Brescia to Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Vatican, May 29, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
world
Pope Francis skips meeting because he is running a fever, the Vatican says
Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he attends the world's first meeting of the 'Educational Eco-Cities' promoted by the 'Scholas Occurrentes', at the Vatican, Thursday, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
world
Pope Francis tasks cardinal with mission aimed at paving ‘paths to peace’ in Ukraine, Vatican says
This handout picture taken and released by the Vatican press office, the Osservatore Romano on April 21, 2018, shows Pope Francis greeting the Archbishop of Bologna, Bishop Matteo Zuppi, as believers from the Bologna and Cesena dioceses gather on April 21, 2018 in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. / AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA / HO / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / OSSERVATORE ROMANO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS HO/AFP/Getty Images
world
Man who rushed Vatican City gate sent for psychiatric care at nearby hospital
Reporters film the Santa Anna gate at the Vatican, late Thursday, May 18, 2023. A car driven by someone with apparent psychiatric problems rushed through Santa Anna gate Thursday evening and sped past Swiss Guards into a palace courtyard before the driver was apprehended by police. Vatican gendarmes fired a shot at the speeding car's front tires after it rushed the gate, but the vehicle managed to continue on its way, the Vatican press office said in a statement late Thursday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
world
Zelensky holds talks with pope at the Vatican as Italy pledges support to Ukraine
This photo taken and issued as a handout on May 13, 2023 by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis greeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival for a private audience in The Vatican. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Rome on May 13 for meetings with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Francis in his first visit to Italy since Russia's invasion. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Images)
canada
Pope’s willingness to return sacred items means they will come home: national chief
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald speaks during her closing address at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Archibald says the Pope's willingness to return Indigenous artifacts stored at the Vatican Museum suggests the items will make their way home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
world
Pope voices willingness to return Indigenous loot, artifacts
Pope Francis holds a news conference as he returns to the Vatican following his apostolic journey to Hungary, aboard the plane, April 30, 2023. Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
world
Pope says Vatican involved in Ukraine peace mission
Pope Francis holds a news conference as he returns to the Vatican following his apostolic journey to Hungary, aboard the plane, April 30, 2023. Vincenzo Pinto/Pool via REUTERS
world
Pope Francis calls ‘insinuations’ against John Paul II unfounded
Pope Francis leads Regina Caeli prayer from his window at the Vatican, April 16, 2023. Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS
world
Pope Francis skips Good Friday procession due to cold weather after bronchitis hospitalization
opinion
The Vatican is distorting history around the doctrine of discovery
Kent McNeil
world
Pope Francis leaves hospital to return to Vatican, will preside over the Palm Sunday service
Pope Francis talks with journalists as he leaves the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, Saturday, April 1, 2023 after receiving treatment for a bronchitis, The Vatican said. Francis was hospitalized on Wednesday after his public general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
world
Pope Francis to leave hospital on Saturday, is scheduled to attend Palm Sunday Mass, Vatican says
Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 29, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
world
Vatican formally rejects Doctrine of Discovery that allowed colonial-era seizure of Indigenous lands
Indigenous people hold a banner that reads ""Rescind the Doctrine"" as Pope Francis presides over a mass at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, in Quebec on July 28, 2022.
world
Pope Francis expands sex abuse law, reaffirms adults can be victims
Pope Francis arrives for an audience with pilgrims from Rho diocese, in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
world
Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican
Altar servers lead the opening processional at the Immaculate Conception of Maria, La Carpio, Catholic church where the majority of the congregation is made up of Nicaraguan exiles and refugees, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. Dozens of priests, nuns, seminarians and church workers have fled Nicaragua in recent years, or been exiled by President Daniel Ortega’s government, which considers them a threat. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)
world
Pope Francis pushes for transparency with reopening of Emanuela Orlandi case
People hold a banner during a sit in, in the memory of Emanuela Orlandi, a teenager who disappeared in 1983 in one of Italy's darkest mysteries, behind St Peter's Square in the Vatican in Rome on January 14, 2023. - The Vatican announced on January 10, 2022 the opening of an investigation into the 1983 disappearance of a teenage girl living in the Vatican, a case that has never been solved and was the subject of a documentary on Netflix. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP) (Photo by VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)
world
French priest restricted, not defrocked, after abuse claims
A photo shows the dome of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, as seen from Rome, during the lying in state of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on January 4, 2023. - Benedict, a conservative intellectual who in 2013 became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign, died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95. Thousands of Catholics began paying their respects on January 2, 2023 to former pope Benedict XVI at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state before his funeral. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)