Pope Francis gave away tens of thousands of free pocket-sized copies of the gospels to crowds filling St Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus on April 6 It was given as an encouragement to read the Word of God, reported the Catholic News Agency. They were handed out among the crowd by volunteers. “Last Sunday Read more
As it’s come to be understood in the 21st century, the papacy is really an impossible job. A pope is expected to be the CEO of a global religious organization, a political heavyweight, an intellectual giant, and a media rock star, not to mention a living saint. Any one of those things is a life’s Read more
Harley-Davidson bikers who flocked to the Vatican to see Pope Francis came away struck by his friendliness and closeness to the people. “To be here and see the Pope is absolutely amazing. He’s so friendly, he’s just so friendly,” Bob from the Lakeside, England, chapter told the Catholic News Agency. His fellow Lakeside member Harry Read more
This weekend marks the Holy Father’s two-month anniversary (!). Vatican Insider sums it up so far: What has Bergoglio done in the two months since he was elected Pope and what kind of a Pope has he been? Fondness and confessions The wave of affection for the new Pope is undeniable, with requests to attend papal audiences Read more
The Vatican is selling stamps to raise funds for an ambitious restoration of the 17th-century St Peter’s Square colonnade, estimated to cost $NZ22 million. The Vatican’s Philatelic and Numismatic Office, which sells commemorative coins and stamps featuring popes, saints and the like, is offering a special 20-euro ($NZ31.50) stamp and certificate package to help offset Read more
The Vatican has begun a massive restoration project on St Peter’s Square that will take it back in time to the 1600’s. The project will encompass all of the square’s 376 columns and pillars, 140 statues and 1,200 metres in terraces and cornices, as well as the Clementina and Gregoriana fountains and the Egyptian obelisk Read more