Rosie Scammell
Rosie Scammell is a British journalist with extensive experience reporting for leading international news organizations. She has been based in Italy since 2012 and covers the Vatican for RNS.
All Stories by Rosie Scammell
Pope Francis challenges humanity to fight global warming in historic encyclical
By Rosie Scammell — June 18, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) By stating the problem so clearly, and in a church document of such gravity, Francis immediately pushes global warming and the environment to the top of the church's social agenda.
Pope Francis: Seek forgiveness for shutting out refugees
By Rosie Scammell — June 17, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Drawing attention to the U.N.’s World Refugee Day this Saturday, Pope Francis said people who shut out refugees should seek forgiveness.
Children need heterosexual parents, says pope after gay pride march
By Rosie Scammell — June 15, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Sunday stressed the importance of children having heterosexual parents, just a day after Rome’s Gay Pride march demonstrated the changing attitudes about same-sex couples outside the Vatican walls.
Vatican orders former Dominican Republic archbishop to stand trial on child abuse charges
By Rosie Scammell — June 15, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Wesolowski, who had the title archbishop during his five-year post in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic capital, was recalled to the Vatican in 2013. He was later the first person to be arrested inside the Vatican on child abuse charges.
Pope Francis will meet with a married gay activist on trip to Paraguay
By Rosie Scammell — June 12, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff is due to meet Simon Cazal, co-founder and executive director of SOMOSGAY, on July 11 at the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference in Asuncion, the country’s capital.
Pope Francis: ‘Let us modify our relationship with natural resources’
By Rosie Scammell — June 11, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “We must begin with our daily lives if we want to change lifestyles, aware that our small gestures can guarantee sustainability and the future of the human family,” said Francis.
Pope Francis to open 30-bed homeless shelter a few steps from Vatican walls
By Rosie Scammell — June 11, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis has consistently called on Catholics to create a “poor church,” elevating the theme of poverty among his signal initiatives.
Pope Francis meets Putin for a diplomatically difficult talk
By Rosie Scammell — June 10, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived more than an hour late at the Vatican on Wednesday (June 10) to meet Pope Francis, with pressure mounting on the pontiff to take a hard line on Moscow’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Vatican, US sign historic agreement to go after tax evaders
By Rosie Scammell — June 10, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The United States on Wednesday (June 10) signed an agreement with the Vatican to trace American taxpayers hiding assets within the walls of the city-state, the latest step in the Holy See’s push for greater financial transparency.
Pope Francis should take a tough tone with Vladimir Putin, says US diplomat
By Rosie Scammell — June 10, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) On Vladimir Putin's actions in the Ukraine conflict, Kenneth F. Hackett, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said: “Maybe this is an opportunity where the Holy Father privately can raise those concerns."
New Arabic-language Vatican guidebook aims to explain Catholic culture
By Rosie Scammell — June 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican has released an Arabic-language guidebook, the first of its kind, which aims to bring the culture of the Catholic Church to a new audience. Titled “The Vatican, its Significance and its Monuments,” the book hit bookstores around the Holy See late last month.
Pope warns against being ‘too attached to the computer’
By Rosie Scammell — June 8, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis has decried the “filth” of online pornography and warned people against wasting time on their computers.
Pope says ruling on Medjugorje Virgin Mary ‘apparitions’ near
By Rosie Scammell — June 8, 2015
(RNS) The upcoming decision comes 34 years since a group of six young people in Medjugorje claimed the Virgin Mary had appeared to them.
Pope Francis meets Chilean president amid debate over easing tough abortion law
By Rosie Scammell — June 5, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Friday met Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, while outside in St. Peter’s Square anti-abortion protesters drew attention to one of the most controversial topics up for discussion between the two leaders.
Russia’s Putin to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican on June 10 amid global tensions
By Rosie Scammell — June 4, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Pope Francis on Wednesday (June 10), with pressure on the pontiff to speak up about the Kremlin’s role in the Ukraine conflict.
