Eric J. Lyman
Eric J. Lyman is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Eric J. Lyman
Update: U.S. denies spying on Vatican cardinals ahead of conclave
By Eric J. Lyman — October 31, 2013
ROME (RNS) “Assertions that NSA has targeted the Vatican, published in Italy’s Panorama magazine, are not true,” NSA spokeswoman Vanee’ Vines told the Los Angeles Times.
Report says U.S. tapped cardinals’ phones ahead of conclave
By Eric J. Lyman — October 30, 2013
ROME (RNS) The news magazine Panorama said the NSA eavesdropping program also listened in on calls to and from the Vatican, including the phones in the Santa Marta guesthouse that housed Pope Francis and the rest of the College of Cardinals.
Vatican’s pop culture guru Gianfranco Ravasi backpedals his tribute to rocker Lou Reed
By Eric J. Lyman — October 29, 2013
ROME (RNS) Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who was considered a leading candidate to become pope in the March conclave that selected Pope Francis, is no stranger to pop music-related controversy.
Italians question merits of Catholicism elective in public schools
By Eric J. Lyman — October 29, 2013
ROME (RNS) For the first time in history, the entire class of one Italian high school opted out of an elective on Roman Catholicism earlier this month, reopening a long-standing debate over whether state money should be used to fund a class that focuses on a single faith.
Pope Francis ushers in a Latin American tourist boom
By Eric J. Lyman — October 28, 2013
ROME (RNS) Among the Latin Americans flocking to Rome, the pope's fellow Argentines are leading the way, with 66 percent more people traveling from the pope’s homeland compared to a year ago.
Record crowds expected for John Paul II, John XXIII canonizations
By Eric J. Lyman — October 22, 2013
ROME (RNS) Crowd estimates were made Tuesday for next year's canonization of the man who will be known as St. Pope John Paul II.
The Pope Francis effect: ‘Francesco’ now Italy’s most popular baby name
By Eric J. Lyman — October 18, 2013
ROME (RNS) After Pope Francis' election on March 13, "Francesco" lept into first among most popular names in Rome and has grown more popular since then.
Sistine Chapel pollution may lead to fewer visitors
By Eric J. Lyman — October 17, 2013
ROME (RNS) If a new air filter system can't control the levels of dust, humidity and carbon dioxide inside the Sistine Chapel, then Vatican officials would have to make the "painful decision" to limit visitors.
Nazi funeral flap overshadows Jewish ceremony
By Eric J. Lyman — October 16, 2013
(RNS) The ongoing controversy over the funeral of an unrepentant Nazi marred Wednesday’s ceremonies commemorating the 70th anniversary of the deportation of more than 1,000 of Rome’s Jews to concentration camps.
Nazi SS captain denied church funeral in Rome
By Eric J. Lyman — October 15, 2013
ROME (RNS) "It would be inappropriate to host a funeral for a man guilty of such atrocities and who never expressed regret even though he had many opportunities to do so," said the Rev. Alessandro Bianchi.
Vatican urges a slowdown in the rush to reform
By Eric J. Lyman — October 9, 2013
ROME (RNS) The Diocese of Freiburg in Germany recently broke ranks and said divorced and remarried Catholics could receive Communion if they were "trying to live according to their faith."
Pope Francis walks in the shadow of namesake saint in Assisi
By Eric J. Lyman — October 4, 2013
ROME (RNS) Then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio surprised Vatican watchers by becoming the first pope in 2,000 years to pick the name Francis, and he has since looked to emulate his namesake by keeping much of the luxuries of the papacy at arm's length.
Pope Francis holds ‘encouraging’ reform talks with cardinals
By Eric J. Lyman — October 2, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "This is a long task and there have been many suggestions and contributions," the Vatican's chief spokesman said. "One should not expect conclusions in the short term."
Pope to canonize John Paul II and John XXIII in April
By Eric J. Lyman — September 30, 2013
ROME (RNS) Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will be formally declared saints on April 27, 2014 -- a bit of ticket-balancing by Pope Francis, who may be hoping to heal splits in the church by pairing the canonization of a pope who is a hero to the left and one who is a hero to the right.
ANALYSIS: Are the media giving Pope Francis a pass?
By Eric J. Lyman — September 24, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis' honeymoon has the global media swooning after the media's abrupt breakup with his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
