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

Italian senators debate same-sex union bill under Vatican’s watchful eye

By Rosie Scammell — February 2, 2016
ROME (RNS) Discussion of the bill has underscored the Vatican’s declining influence in Italian politics.

France bulldozes refugees’ church, mosque

By Rosie Scammell — February 1, 2016
(RNS) "There was just time for a last minute prayer before the machinery tore in," a British charity reported. "The pastor stood by in dignified silence, clutching the remaining cross from the Church roof."

Gay rights campaigner reverses course in gay cake dispute

By Rosie Scammell — February 1, 2016
ROME (RNS) The change of heart by Peter Tatchell, a leading voice on LGBT issues, over a case in Northern Ireland was a surprising turnabout.

Pope Francis warns against easy slide into corruption

By Rosie Scammell — January 29, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Corruption is a very easy sin for all of us who have some power, whether it be ecclesiastical, religious, economic, political," said the pope.

DiCaprio gets a papal audience ahead of Oscars

By Rosie Scammell — January 28, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The actor kissed the pontiff's hand and gave him a book of paintings by a Dutch painter whose works meld fantastic imagery with reality.

Covering nude statues in Rome for Iran head draws Catholic leader’s scorn

By Rosie Scammell — January 28, 2016
ROME (RNS) “This is our culture. If you don’t want to see it, close your eyes!” Syrian Patriarch Youssef III Younan said as controversy continued over Italy's move to shield nudes from the view of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Pope Francis meets Iran’s president to boost nuke deal, Mideast peace

By Rosie Scammell — January 26, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The meeting on Tuesday morning, the first between a pope and an Iranian leader since 1999, had been set for November, but Hassan Rouhani's European trip was postponed after the Paris terror attacks.

Pope will visit Sweden for Reformation anniversary

By Rosie Scammell — January 25, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis' Oct. 31 visit will launch commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Also Monday, the pontiff asked forgiveness for the sins Catholics committed against other Christians.

Activists contest Vatican over gay rights before key Italian vote

By Rosie Scammell — January 23, 2016
ROME (RNS) Gay rights activists demonstrated for civil marriage across 100 city squares, ahead of Thursday's (Jan. 28) parliamentary vote, which would grant same-sex couples legal rights.

Pope Francis meets Apple CEO

By Rosie Scammell — January 22, 2016
(RNS) The pope has been meeting with Silicon Valley chiefs and wants to mobilize Catholic youth through technology.

Homeless baby, born on the street, embraced by pope’s charity

By Rosie Scammell — January 21, 2016
(RNS) Pope Francis' outreach to the homeless is an ongoing theme of his papacy.

Still fighting the death penalty, Sister Prejean gets pope’s blessing

By Rosie Scammell — January 21, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Prejean said Francis’ influence and support are never far away. “The pope’s like a little lighthouse, and he keeps sending out that beam -- this is what it’s about.”

Francis may become first pope to visit Rome mosque

By Rosie Scammell — January 20, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis is studying an invitation received several days after his first visit to the city’s Great Synagogue.

Pope Francis at Rome synagogue: God’s covenant with Jews ‘irrevocable’

By Rosie Scammell — January 17, 2016
ROME (RNS) On his first visit to Rome's main synagogue, Francis stressed the "transformation" in Catholic-Jewish relations and said they must work against Middle Ease violence.

Pope Francis meets Google chief — but where’s the Doodle?

By Rosie Scammell — January 15, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis, a professed technology "dinosaur," met with Eric Schmidt. But the pair may have discussed more than getting the pope up to speed with the digital age.
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