Rome
Pope Francis asks forgiveness for scandals at the Vatican, Rome
By Rosie Scammell — October 14, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis did not specify the scandalous events to which he was referring, although the departure of a gay cleric earlier this month may well have been on the pontiff’s mind.
Pope Francis’ unused summer palace adds a museum
By Reuters — September 12, 2015
The Vatican has turned part of lavish Castelgondolfo - which the frugal Pope Francis has avoided - into a museum and linked it to Rome via a train.
Vatican backs plan to name Rome square for Martin Luther
By Rosie Scammell — August 26, 2015
ROME (RNS) The German priest and theologian was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation; he was excommunicated in 1521.
Pope Francis shuns summer palace again; locals say town losing tourism
By Rosie Scammell — July 31, 2015
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (RNS) The silence that hangs over Castel Gandolfo is, according to the locals, principally the result of Pope Francis’ absence.
Elton John slams Dolce & Gabbana over ‘synthetic baby’ comments
By Reuters — March 16, 2015
ROME (Reuters) "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic.' And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF ... I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again."
If Rome wins 2024 Summer Olympics, Vatican could host competitions
By Josephine McKenna — December 17, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "The church has always defended sport because its values are not only Christian but universal," said Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins. "It teaches you how to put human values such as compromise and collaboration in practice overcoming division."
Meriam Ibrahim leaves Italy for new life in New Hampshire
By Josephine McKenna — July 31, 2014
ROME (RNS) The 26-year-old and her family are expected to join Wani’s brother, Gabriel, and his wife and three children in Manchester, N.H., where they run the nonprofit organization South Sudan Community of New Hampshire.
A married man is ordained a Maronite Catholic priest
By Lilly Fowler — February 28, 2014
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (RNS) The pews were packed Thursday (Feb. 27) as the first married man in the Maronite Catholic Church was ordained into the priesthood in the United States with the blessing of the pope.
Meet the priests of Italy’s ‘Roman beefcake’ calendar
By Eric J. Lyman — December 12, 2013
ROME (RNS) "It's about marketing," said Piero Pazzi, the photographer behind the annual calendar featuring attractive priests of Italy. "It's a souvenir, not a statement of any kind."
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.
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.
Pope washes feet of two girls, two Muslims at youth prison
By Alessandro Speciale — March 28, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Thursday (March 28) washed the feet of 12 young inmates, including two girls and two Muslims, during a Maundy Thursday Mass at a youth detention center in Rome.
New pope means new business for recession-weary Rome
By Alessandro Speciale — March 18, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Just minutes after Pope Francis finished introducing himself to the crowd in St. Peter's Square on March 13, a woman perusing the shelves of a tourist shop just outside the squared asked the storekeeper, ``When will you have souvenirs of the new pope?''
