Alessandro Speciale
Alessandro Speciale has been covering the Vatican since 2007 and wrote for Religion News Service from 2011-2013. Born in Rome, he studied literature at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and journalism at City University, London. He has appeared as an expert on Vatican affairs on CNN, BBC World and Al Jazeera English.
All Stories by Alessandro Speciale
Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury to meet for the first time
By Alessandro Speciale — June 11, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Both Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby stand in stark contrast to their bookish predecessors, and they may find they have much to agree on when they have their first get-to-know-you meeting.
Pope Francis downplays threat of Vatican scrutiny of religious orders
By Alessandro Speciale — June 11, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Weeks after authorizing a continued investigation of American nuns, Pope Francis told a group of nuns and priests from Latin America not to worry if they found themselves under similar scrutiny.
Pope forgoes summer holidays
By Alessandro Speciale — June 6, 2013
(RNS) Pope Francis will remain in Rome this summer, unlike his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who used to spend three months at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat.
Pope Francis: Wasting food is like stealing from the poor
By Alessandro Speciale — June 5, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry,” Pope Francis said during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square.
Vatican Bank downplays scandals but promises reform
By Alessandro Speciale — May 31, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The head of the scandal-plagued Vatican Bank admitted that it must address its tarnished reputation, even among Catholics, even as he defended the institute’s recent efforts towards financial transparency.
Oldest known Torah scroll discovered in Italy
By Alessandro Speciale — May 29, 2013
ROME (RNS) The scroll had been stored for centuries in the archives of the University of Bologna, but had been mislabeled in 1889 as dating from the 17th century.
Vatican revives its ancient patronage of the arts
By Alessandro Speciale — May 14, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) For centuries, popes sponsored the work of artists such as Michelangelo, Raffaello or Bernini, but the marriage between art and faith became estranged in modern times. With a new exhibit at the prestigious Venice Biennial art festival, the Vatican hopes to revive church patronage of the arts.
Catholic population surges across the Global South
By Alessandro Speciale — May 13, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) While the number of Catholic priests in the Americas and in Europe is declining compared to the overall Catholic population, those losses were offset by increasing ranks of permanent deacons.
Three popes at Vatican as Francis welcomes head of Egypt’s Copts
By Alessandro Speciale — May 10, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Friday (May 10) met with Pope Tawadros II, head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, an encounter that brought the number of popes residing within the Vatican walls to three this week. It also put a spotlight on the suffering of Christians in Egypt.
Pope tells nuns to be spiritual mothers, not ‘spinsters’
By Alessandro Speciale — May 8, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With one of the more colorful unscripted expressions that have become a hallmark of his young pontificate, Pope Francis reminded nuns that they should be "fertile" spiritual mothers, not "'spinsters.”
US anti-abortion leaders join Rome’s March for Life
By Alessandro Speciale — May 8, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) American anti-abortion leaders will be in Rome on Sunday (May 12) to participate in Italy's third March for Life and lend their expertise to the nation's small anti-abortion movement as it tries to learn from its American counterpart.
Vatican signs financial transparency accord with U.S. officials
By Alessandro Speciale — May 7, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In a bid to improve its checkered record on financial transparency, the Vatican on Tuesday (May 7) signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. agency that fights against financial crimes. The Vatican Bank has a long history of secrecy and scandals, and it has reportedly been involved in several shady operations during the course of its history.
Vatican cardinal says he was sidelined in crackdown of US nuns
By Alessandro Speciale — May 6, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) When the Vatican's doctrinal office informed the office that oversees religious orders about a probe of American nuns, the cardinal who heads the office was told the investigation was already completed.
Pope Francis welcomes Benedict XVI back to the Vatican
By Alessandro Speciale — May 2, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) While some church observers worry that Benedict XVI could overshadow Pope Francis and his course of reforms, one veteran commentator said the side-by-side popes shouldn't cause a “crisis in the church.”
Vatican uncovers first known depiction of Native Americans
By Alessandro Speciale — May 2, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A recently discovered 1494 depiction of Native Americans is consistent with Christopher Columbus' account of being greeted by naked men who painted themselves black or red and danced for the European explorers.
