Vatican
Italy and Vatican on guard after threat from Islamic State
By Eric J. Lyman — February 22, 2015
(ROME) The video threat, released with images of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt who were beheaded this month, warned that Islamic State forces were "south of Rome," in Libya. At its closest point, Libya is little more than 100 miles from the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
German archdiocese of Cologne worth more than the Vatican
By Reuters — February 20, 2015
PARIS (Reuters) The landmark Cologne Cathedral along the Rhine is listed as being worth only 27 euros - one euro for each of the 26 land parcels beneath it and one euro for the priceless building.
Cardinal O’Malley: The Catholic sex abuse scandal is far from over
By Reuters — February 17, 2015
ROME (Reuters) "It would be perilous for us, as leaders of the Church, to consider that the scandal of clergy sexual abuse is for the most part a matter of history and not a pressing concern here and now," said Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley.
Gay Catholics find a new tone under Pope Francis, and from their own bishops
By David Gibson — February 16, 2015
ROME (RNS) New Ways Ministry and a similar Catholic LGBT organization in Britain are finding support from the Catholic hierarchy in their efforts to meet the pontiff.
Pope Francis condemns Islamic State’s executions of Christians in Libya
By David Gibson — February 16, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "Be they Catholic, Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, it doesn't matter: They're Christian! The blood is the same: It is the blood which confesses Christ," Francis said.
Pope Francis to church: Don’t be a closed caste or afraid of outcasts
By David Gibson — February 15, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s family," the pope said. "And this is scandalous to some people!”
Pope Francis tells new cardinals to be models of love, not brooding schemers
By David Gibson — February 14, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Avoid “that smoldering anger which makes us brood over wrongs we have received," Francis told the new princes of the church. “No! This is unacceptable in a man of the church."
Pope Francis diversifies his cardinals. But will they have clout where it counts?
By David Gibson — February 13, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “You see the function of cardinal, the position of a cardinal, is changing,” Cardinal-designate Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Ethiopia said. “It's no more a big honorific task.”
Pope Francis wants ‘absolute transparency’ as he pushes Vatican reform
By David Gibson — February 12, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The overhaul is taking longer than expected and is still encountering resistance. But Francis is gathering 150 cardinals in Rome for two days to press ahead.
Pope Francis: Opting not to have children a ‘selfish choice’
By David Gibson — February 11, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Less than a month after saying Catholics don’t have to multiply “like rabbits,” Pope Francis praised big families, telling a gathering in St. Peter’s Square that having more children is not “an irresponsible choice."
Ousted “Bling Bishop” makes soft landing in Vatican
By David Gibson — February 10, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The German churchman christened the “Bishop of Bling” by the media for lavish expenditures he made on his residence and church offices has quietly been given a low-level post at the Vatican.
Pope Francis: A Christian who does not protect creation ‘does not care about the work of God’
By David Gibson — February 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pope -- who took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment -- has made care for the environment a hallmark of his papacy.
Pope Francis faces a big week in his effort to reform the Vatican
By David Gibson — February 9, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Even more important, and perhaps more difficult, than changing the Vatican’s structure is changing the culture of the place.
Papal commission on sex abuse targets bishops, seeks to convince skeptics
By David Gibson — February 7, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Members will give Pope Francis recommendations on how to punish bishops who shield priests suspected of misconduct, one of several moves that are encouraging the two victims on the panel. But they also chided Francis for endorsing spanking.
Can women have it all? Pope Francis says they need “freedom to choose”
By David Gibson — February 7, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The pontiff reiterated his belief that women deserve a greater role and more responsibility in the church -- at a time when some are criticizing the "feminization" of Catholicism.
