Nicole Winfield
Nicole Winfield is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Nicole Winfield
Vatican seeks to defuse scandal, says pope meets victims
By Nicole Winfield — February 15, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Spokesman Greg Burke said Francis meets in private with victims individually or in groups several times a month to "listen to them and try to help them to heal their serious wounds."
Chile sex abuse victim’s credibility praised, challenged
By Nicole Winfield — February 14, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Juan Carlos Cruz's allegations of a cover-up raise questions about Pope Francis' already shaky track record on preventing clergy sex abuse and concealment.
Pope Francis received sex abuse victim’s letter, contradicting denial
By Nicole Winfield — February 5, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The fact that Francis received the eight-page letter, obtained by the AP, challenges his insistence that he has 'zero tolerance' for sex abuse and cover-ups.
Vatican nixes former Irish president from Women’s Day event
By Nicole Winfield — February 2, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Mary McAleese, who has a gay son and has criticized the church's position on LGBT issues, was invited by the Voices of Faith advocacy group to participate in a March 8 panel discussion at the Vatican on women in church governance.
Pope’s briefing system under scrutiny after Chile gaffe
By Nicole Winfield — February 1, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Some Vatican observers now wonder whether Francis is getting enough of the high-quality briefings befitting a world leader, or whether he is relying more on instinct and his own network of informants who slip him information on the side.
Pope sends sex crimes expert to Chile to investigate bishop
By Nicole Winfield — January 30, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The controversy over the case of Bishop Juan Barros dominated Francis' just-ended trip to Chile and exposed his blind spot as far as clerical sex abuse is concerned.
Cardinal critic reveals drama in Vatican’s overture to China
By Nicole Winfield — January 29, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A retired cardinal reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of the Vatican's efforts to improve relations with China, including its request for a legitimate bishop to retire in favor of an excommunicated one who is recognized by Beijing.
Pope apologizes to abuse victims but defends Chilean bishop
By Nicole Winfield — January 22, 2018
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis apologized for insisting that victims of pedophile priests show 'proof' to be believed, saying he realized it was a 'slap in the face' to victims that he never intended.
Droves fill pope’s final Mass in restive Latin America trip
By Nicole Winfield — January 22, 2018
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pope Francis was greeted by cheering crowds at nearly every stop of his Peru trip, but the cloud of sex abuse scandal trailed him.
Vatican issues new rules for relics in saint-making process
By Nicole Winfield — December 16, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The instructions explicitly rule out selling the hair strands, hands, teeth and other body parts of saints that often fetch high prices in online auctions.
Pope urges status quo, ‘wisdom and prudence’ for Jerusalem
By Nicole Winfield — December 6, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis said he was 'profoundly concerned' about recent developments concerning Jerusalem and declared the city a unique and sacred place for Christians, Jews and Muslims that has a 'special vocation for peace.'
Pope says ‘Rohingya’ in emotional encounter with refugees
By Nicole Winfield — December 1, 2017
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Francis apologized for the 'indifference of the world' to their plight and then pronounced the name of their ethnic group to a gathering of Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian leaders — a name he had been warned not to utter.
Pope demands rights for all in Myanmar, omits ‘Rohingya’
By Nicole Winfield — November 28, 2017
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Francis didn't cite the crackdown on the Muslim minority or even utter the contested word 'Rohingya' in his speech to Myanmar's civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other authorities and diplomats in the capital.
Pope dives into Rohingya crisis upon arrival in Myanmar
By Nicole Winfield — November 27, 2017
(AP) — Rohingya Muslims have faced state-supported discrimination in the predominantly Buddhist country for decades.
Pope reaffirms conscience as heresy debate divides church
By Nicole Winfield — November 11, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis reaffirmed the 'primacy' of using one's conscience to navigate tough moral questions in his first comments since he was publicly accused of spreading heresy by emphasizing conscience over hard and fast Catholic rules.
