A story about a retired Italian couple has touched Pope Francis. When Giuseppe Chiodi, 77, came down with the flu in February, he didn’t think much of it. Winter in his hometown — the northern Italian hamlet of Montello — can be harsh. Fevers, at least for the elderly, are a seasonal nuisance. He and Read more
World
Mike Pompeo Attacks Pope Francis & The ‘Moral Authority’ Of The Vatican
Monday, September 21st, 2020Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hit out at Pope Francis following the news that diplomats from the Holy See are meeting later this month with members of the Chinese Communist Party to renew a two-year-old agreement between China and the Vatican. Though the Middle Kingdom nominally adheres to the principle of religious freedom, it Read more
Francis unmasked
Thursday, September 17th, 2020
The pope’s mask became the subject of media attention during his first major public audience since lockdown. After wearing a protective face mask in the car on the way to the 500-strong audience, Francis removed it, touching the mask’s front as he emerged from the vehicle. Maskless, he shook hands with prelates attending the audience. Read more
Pope gives green light to renewing Vatican-China deal
Thursday, September 17th, 2020
Pope Francis has given the green light to extending a two-year old deal with China about the appointment of bishops. Critics are condemning the deal’s extension as a sell-out to the communist government, a senior Vatican source says. China’s agreement to extend the deal is likely, given that China says its relationship with the Vatican Read more
Vatican clarifies new encyclical’s sexist title
Thursday, September 17th, 2020
The Pope’s new encyclical’s sexist title “Fratelli tutti,” is to be understood as including both men and women, the Vatican says. It is “an encyclical for all brothers and sisters,” the Vatican says in the daily newspaper in L’Osservatore Romano. The front-page editorial clarifies that the encyclical “addresses all his sisters and brothers, all men Read more
Priest killed: devoted to homeless and immigrants
Thursday, September 17th, 2020
Pope Francis has paid tribute to an Italian priest killed by an immigrant suffering from mental illness. Father Roberto Malgesini, 51, who cared for immigrants and other needy people in the northern city of Como, had been stabbed to death. A Tunisian immigrant, who police said was mentally ill, turned himself in to authorities. The Read more
Grand Imam says Christianity and Islam not at war
Thursday, September 17th, 2020
The Grand Imam of al Azhar says religious differences between Christianity and Islam have never been the basis of wars. Instead, the two religions had been exploited to make it appear so. “We believe with certainty that Islam and Christianity have never been the origin of wars and conflicts, but rather religious faiths represent the Read more
“We have defeated COVID-19 in Cameroon,” bishop says
Thursday, September 17th, 2020“We have defeated COVID-19 in Cameroon.” Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala made the announcement on September 10 during a press briefing in which he claimed that the herbal potion he concocted several months ago had saved several thousand people from the disease. The 61-year-old prelate, who has headed the Atlantic coastal archdiocese since 2009, has Read more
Philippines: Diocese plants 60000 trees in one day
Thursday, September 17th, 2020Thousands of priests and religious, families, young people and children, planted more than 60000 trees on Sunday, in parishes across the Diocese of Tagbilaran, in the central Philippine province of Bohol as part of their Season of Creation. Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran said they planted a variety of fruit-bearing and hardwood trees. The initiative Read more
Pope Teams up With Slow Food Founder for Environment Appeal
Thursday, September 17th, 2020Pope Francis has formed an unusual partnership with the agnostic Italian founder of the Slow Food movement while doubling down on calls to protect the environment from profit-driven development that he says harms the world’s poorest the most. Francis on Saturday welcomed Carlo Petrini to the Vatican and met with participants of an association the Read more