Vatican
Pope says he will visit Lebanon after historic Iraq trip
Pope Francis said he is to visit crisis-hit Lebanon. He made the announcement only hours after taking off from Baghdad following a hugely successful trip to Iraq. The pontiff told reporters on a flight to Rome: "Lebanon is in crisis ... but it has the strength of people.” The visit of Pope
Pope urges prayer for success of Iraq visit
Pope Francis on Wednesday asked all Catholics to pray for the success of his visit to Iraq on March 5-8. “The day after tomorrow, with the help of God, I’ll go to Iraq for a three-day pilgrimage. For a long time I’ve wanted to meet the people of Iraq, who’ve suffered
Pope urges U.S. to shun violence, protect democracy after mob attack
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged Americans on Sunday to shun violence, seek reconciliation and “protect democratic values” following the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol building by supporters of President Trump that left five people dead. “I repeat that violence is self-de
Pope pushes through nerve pain to give New Year’s blessing
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis ushered in the New Year on Friday with a traditional Angelus blessing from the papal library, pushing through nerve pain that forced him to skip New Year’s ceremonies in St. Peter’s Basilica.The pope appeared relaxed as he stood at a lectern in the Apostolic
"Sciatica" prevents the Pope from presiding over the New Year mass
The Vatican said, today, Thursday, that Pope Francis will not preside over Mass on New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve due to his "sciatica" disease that causes pain in one of his legs. It is the first time in years that the Pope, who turned 84 this month, has been forced to miss a papal event for
Ethiopian police arrest Reuters cameraman
Pope Francis has issued a new decree making charity funds more transparent and tightening controls on Vatican finances after a scandal over a luxury London property deal. The main target is the Secretariat of State, the most important part of the Vatican administration, which must relinquish mana
In Christmas message curbed by COVID-19, pope calls on nations to share vaccines
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning nationalism and “the virus of radical individualism.”In a sign of t
Pope snubs Vatican's sci-fi Nativity scene, directs visitors to others
Pope Francis on Sunday appeared to add his own thumbs-down to widespread criticism of an unorthodox nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, telling visitors to instead visit a nearby exhibition of traditional crèches. At his last Sunday blessing and address before Christmas, Francis al
Rome homeless send sunflowers to pope on 84th birthday
Rome’s homeless sent sunflowers to Pope Francis for his 84th birthday on Thursday and the pontiff marked the day by sending four ventilators to hospitals in Venezuela, the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the flowers would be used to adorn the altar in Francis’s resid
Pope Francis to make historic Iraq visit in March
Pope Francis will make a historic visit to Iraq in March, the Vatican said Monday, the first ever by a pontiff and which will include a trip to Mosul.The 83-year-old has long spoken of his desire to visit the Middle Eastern country, where conflict has caused the number of Christians to fall dramat
Pope returns to private library for audience as virus surges
Pope Francis urged people follow recommendations from governments and health authorities to prevent coronavirus infections as he returned to his private library for his Wednesday general audience amid a surge of infections in Europe.The Vatican announced last week that Francis, 83, was suspending
Pope expresses support for detained 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 country’s two rival leaders, Reuters reports. “I want to say a word of encouragement and suppor
Powerful cardinal resigns amid Vatican investments scandal
The powerful head of the Vatican's saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resigned from the post suddenly on Thursday and renounced his rights as a cardinal amid a financial scandal that has reportedly implicated him indirectly. The Vatican provided no details on why Pope Francis accepted t
Pope Says ‘Lebanon Cannot be Abandoned’
Pope Francis warned Wednesday that Lebanon faced "extreme danger that threatens the very existence of the country" following the massive Aug. 4 Beirut Port explosion. The leader of the Catholic Church focused on the disaster-hit country after the blast ripped through the capital Beirut, killing m
Rich can’t get priority for vaccine, poor need help, Pope says
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Wednesday warned against any prospect that rich people would get priority for a coronavirus vaccine.“The pandemic is a crisis. You don’t come out of it the same — either better or worse,” Francis said, adding improvised remarks to his planned s
Pope calls for dialogue between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over Nile dam
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis called for dialogue between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Saturday, urging them not to let a dispute over a dam on the Nile lead to conflict.The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is being built some 15 km (9 miles) from Ethiopia’s border with Sudan, has become
Pope urges international solidarity for Lebanon
Pope Francis urged international solidarity with Lebanon Sunday, in the wake of the explosion that devastated the capital Beirut and as France hosts an international donors conference to aid reconstruction efforts.He also called on church leaders in Lebanon to lead by example.“Last Tuesday&rsq
Former Pope Benedict is seriously ill – newspaper
Former Pope Benedict XVI is seriously ill after returning to the Vatican from a visit to Germany, German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse reported on Monday, citing his biographer.Benedict, aged 93, has become very frail and his voice is barely audible, author Peter Seewald told the daily.But at
