Clerical abuse survivor Marie Collins, resigned from the Pope’s panel on clerical sex abuse a fortnight ago. She cited “shameful” resistance within the Vatican to the group’s efforts to protect children. Collins has now written an open letter about her resignation to Cardinal Gerhard Müller. In it she responded to an interview he gave an Read more
The date 13 March 2013, marks the day on which Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first South American in history to become Pope. Four years later, “La Croix” asks four individuals to give their perspectives on what changes the Pope has brought about in their particular domains. “A real encouragement of our activities” Sylvie Read more
It is hard to believe but Pope Francis is coming up on the fourth anniversary of his election as pope on March 13. In four years, the pope has had a profound impact on the church. True, he has not changed the church’s position on birth control, celibacy, women priests and gay marriage, but he Read more
So many aspects of Pope Francis’s personality either delight or consternate people, depending on their perspective, that it seems almost reductive to single out one element. If you were going to put all those things on a list, however, pride of place almost certainly would have to go to his endless capacity for soundbites. Time Read more
An abusive “safe” home’s deadly fire has killed at least 35 girls and injured numerous others. The 8 March fire at the state-run Virgin of the Assumption Safe Home in Guatamala has attracted widespread charges of abusive conditions and mistreatment. The fire is said to have started when a group of girls and teenagers rioted Read more
The Pop Pope Francis is the face of Rolling Stone mag’s Italian edition this month. “The Pope says sensible things, such sensible things,” the magazine’s editorial said, explaining why the issue was dedicated to Francis. The cover photo shows Francis giving a thumbs-up. Written in pink letters, the photo is entitled ‘Francis: the Pop Pope’ Read more
A Papal trip to Egypt is under consideration. Although Italy’s state-run RAI reported Pope Francis would visit Cairo’s Al-Azhar, the leading center of learning of Sunni Islam, on May 20-21, this has not been confirmed by the Vatican. Instead, the Vaticvan says the trip is “under consideration but that no dates or itinerary have been finalized”. Read more
Married men’s ordination could be considered as a solution to the lack of vocations, Pope Francis says. In his first ever interview with a German newspaper yesterday, Francis discussed his attitude to the consecration of married men. He said the shortage of priests around the world is an “enormous problem” that must be resolved. At Read more
Prince Charles and Camilla will meet Pope Francis in a private audience when they visit the Holy See at about the end of March. It will be their first meeting with Francis. The Royals will be touring Romania, Italy, the Vatican and Austria during the end of March and beginning of April. Read more
One emerged from a crisis conclave, the other was elected after the strangest campaign in recent American history. Both have upended traditions and reached outside the usual channels to speak to the concerns of ordinary people. Donald J. Trump and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the president and the pope, are the world’s most famous populists. But Read more