Pope Francis
Pope accepts resignation of Brazilian bishop in sex abuse case
By RNS staff — July 6, 2016
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Aldo di Cillo Pagotto of Paraiba, 66, citing a section of church law under which bishops are obliged to tender their resignation if they are ill or if there is "grave cause."
Pope Francis prays with parents of US student killed in Rome
By David Gibson — July 6, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff met with the grieving parents of Beau Solomon, 19, who apparently drowned after being pushed into the Tiber River during an early-morning altercation with a homeless man.
Catholic nursing home in Belgium fined for refusing euthanasia request
By David Gibson — July 5, 2016
(RNS) The judges unanimously ruled that “the nursing home had no right to refuse euthanasia on the basis of conscientious objection.”
South African cardinal calls US abortion rate ‘a genocide’ for blacks
By David Gibson — July 5, 2016
(RNS) Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, who rejected calls for the Catholic Church to apologize to gay people, tweeted about the number of abortions in the U.S. and added: “Isn't this something we should be apologizing for?”
Is Pope Francis a Lone Ranger on apologizing to gays?
By David Gibson — June 30, 2016
(RNS) The pontiff’s comments that the Catholic Church should ask forgiveness for bias against gay people were hailed in headlines. But not so much in the hierarchy. Why?
Overcoming estrangement: How Orthodox churches came together
By Charles C. Camosy — June 29, 2016
(RNS) There was no shortage of controversy leading up to the Pan-Orthodox Council. In the end, cooler and more charitable heads prevailed.
What Pope Francis can teach US bishops about reaching out to LGBT community
By Yonat Shimron — June 29, 2016
(RNS) An outstretched hand is usually received better than a wagging finger.
Two popes share a Vatican stage and show only one is in charge
By David Gibson — June 28, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis honored Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the 65th anniversary of the retired pope's ordination -- an appearance that tamped down the 'two popes' debate.
The ‘Splainer: What does the pope mean by ‘apologize’?
By Kimberly Winston — June 27, 2016
(RNS) What does it mean that Pope Francis thinks the Catholic Church should apologize to gays and other marginalized groups? Let us 'Splain . . .
Philippines’ president-elect takes on Catholic Church over contraception
By Yonat Shimron — June 27, 2016
(RNS) The Filipino president elect paid men to undergo vasectomies while mayor of Davao.
Pope says church should ask forgiveness from gays for past treatment
By RNS staff — June 26, 2016
(Reuters) Pope Francis also said the Roman Catholic Church should ask forgiveness for the way it has treated women, for turning a blind eye to child labor and for 'blessing so many weapons' in the past.
Vatican hits back at Turkey for calling pope ‘crusader’
By RNS staff — June 26, 2016
(Reuters) The Vatican hit back on Sunday (June 26) at Turkey's depiction of Pope Francis as having a 'crusader mentality' after he used the word genocide to describe the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians a century ago.
Turkey says Pope shows ‘crusader mentality’ by calling 1915 killings genocide
By RNS staff — June 25, 2016
(Reuters) A Turkish deputy prime minister said that it was 'unfortunate' that Pope Francis had labeled the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide, and that it reflected the papacy's 'Crusader mentality.'
Pope urges Armenia and Turkey to reconcile, shun vengeance
By RNS staff — June 25, 2016
(Reuters) Visibly moved, Pope Francis took part in a prayer service along with President Serzh Sarksyan and leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church while in Armenia.
Pope on visit to Armenia cites ‘genocide,’ likely to anger Turkey
By RNS staff — June 24, 2016
(Reuters) Pope Francis departed from his prepared text on Friday (June 24) to use the word "genocide" to describe the mass killings of Armenians in 1915.
