Vatican
‘In the name of the Mother, Daughter and Holy Spirit’: Catholic women advocate change
By Claire Giangravé — March 7, 2024
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Women meeting in Rome this week to promote female leadership in the Catholic Church are challenging the hierarchy’s resistance to change and its theological emphasis on ‘natural’ gender divisions.
Pope asks an aide to read a speech aloud for him, raising further concerns over his health
By Associated Press — March 4, 2024
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The 87-year-old Pontiff, who was taken to a Roman hospital on Wednesday for diagnostic testing after having to cancel some public audiences, handed his speech to his aide, Mons. Filippo Ciampanelli.
Spanish bishop rebukes priests who joked about wishing pope goes to heaven soon
By Associated Press — February 29, 2024
MADRID (AP) — Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo posted a statement on the archdiocese website Wednesday saying it rejected the comments and warned that it may take “corrective measures,” without elaborating.
Catholic women working to change the church take inspiration from female saints
By Claire Giangravé — February 28, 2024
(RNS) — A network of leading female scholars and experts looking for ways to promote women’s standing in the church says the key is to embrace femininity.
Woman who says she was abused spiritually and sexually by a once-famous Jesuit demands transparency
By Nicole Winfield — February 22, 2024
ROME (AP) — The Jesuits kicked Marko Rupnik out of the order last year after he refused to respond to allegations of spiritual, psychological and sexual abuses by about 20 women.
Nuns alleging abuse by former Jesuit Marko Rupnik plead with Francis for investigation
By Claire Giangravé — February 21, 2024
(RNS) — Disgraced Jesuit and famed artist Marko Rupnik is accused of abusing 20 of the 41 women in the religious community he founded.
The Vatican’s problematic process to address clergy sex abuse cases, explained
By Nicole Winfield — February 20, 2024
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Five years ago this week, Francis convened an unprecedented summit of bishops from around the world to impress on them that clergy abuse was a global problem and they needed to address it.
Israel complains after Vatican denounces ‘carnage’ and disproportionate response in Gaza
By Associated Press — February 15, 2024
ROME (AP) — The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See called the comments by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, “regrettable.”
First Argentine saint brings Pope Francis and Milei together
By Claire Giangravé — February 8, 2024
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The right-wing President Javier Milei, who has called Pope Francis an ‘imbecile’ in the past, will meet the pope on Monday.
The Synod on Synodality called for better liturgy. Will anyone listen?
By Thomas Reese — February 6, 2024
(RNS) — If the church is to have a Eucharistic revival, its liturgical texts should promote active participation by all people.
Street artist of ‘Super Pope’ fame gets new stamp of Vatican approval
By Nicole Winfield — February 1, 2024
ROME (AP) — Street artist Maupal, whose cartoon-like depictions of Pope Francis as a “Super Pope” have graced buildings around the Vatican for a decade, got an official stamp of approval on Thursday when he appeared at a Vatican news conference.
Pope’s comments on surrogacy land ‘like a ton of bricks’ after allowing same-sex blessings
By Claire Giangravé — January 22, 2024
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis said surrogacy is deplorable, but some claim he is missing the context.
The Vatican’s top expert on AI ethics is a friar from a medieval Franciscan order
By Frances D'emilio — January 18, 2024
ROME (AP) — Benanti is the Vatican's go-to person on the technology and he has the ear of Pope Francis as well as some of Silicon Valley's top engineers and executives.
Vatican’s doctrine czar faces opposition for past and present decisions
By Claire Giangravé — January 16, 2024
(RNS) — Taking point position on Pope Francis' insistence on opening the church to those who transgress traditional sexual morality, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández has been bushwhacked by critics who point to his own writings on sexuality.
Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 priests arrive in Rome from prison, guests of Vatican
By Associated Press — January 16, 2024
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition and Catholic church by Ortega.
