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☆ Transcript of Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur shows memory lapses — but also detailed exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Mike Memoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

But the transcript of Biden's interview, which was reviewed by NBC News, paints a more nuanced picture on both sides. At one point, Hur acknowledged that some of the questions he would ask would "relate to events that happened years ago." According to the review of the transcript, Biden at times expanded beyond the narrow subject areas of particular questions. In his opening statement, Hur planned to defend his investigation, the final report and his treatment of Biden's age. He also noted that some of the issues he was dealing with as vice president continue today.

Persons: Robert K Hur, Jabin, Robert Hur's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Hur, Beau Biden's, Beau's, Biden Biden, Israel, it's, Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Jim Jordan, James Comer, Hur's, Bob Bauer, Bauer, Richard Sauber, Joseph R, Beau, Tom Brenner, Beau Biden, I'm, hadn't, Trump, Mandel Ngan, They're, Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama's, Obama, Pope Francis, Francis Organizations: White, Washington , D.C, Washington Post, Getty Images WASHINGTON, NBC, NBC News, Trump, Hamas, Pullman, Reuters, Republican, Capitol, White House, Justice Department, Biden III National Guard / Reserve, New, Penn Biden Center, Chamber, AFP, Getty Locations: Brady, Washington ,, Mongolia, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Ohio, Ky, New Castle, New Castle , Delaware, Penn, Virginia, Delaware, State, Israel, Afghanistan, Iran

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Monday unveiled its groundbreaking project for the upcoming Venice Biennale of Art: A multimedia installation located inside Venice’s women’s prison, created with the active participation of inmates and artists and open to the public under strict security conditions. But at the unveiling Monday, officials stressed the absolute novelty of this year’s Vatican pavilion, given the unprecedented permission from Italian judicial authorities to allow Vatican curators to mount the exhibit in the Giudecca prison and involve the inmates in the works. Half a dozen artists will work alongside them, reflecting Francis’ belief in the value of dialogue, solidarity and fraternity. Most notably, Maurizio Cattelan is producing what curators described as a “large outdoor artwork” on the façade of the prison chapel. The Vatican’s culture minister, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça concurred that the decision to house the Holy See pavilion in the prison was “unexpected."

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis ’, Maurizio Cattelan, Cattelan's, Nona Ora, Pope John Paul II, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Francis, Corita Kent, Marco Perego, Zoe Saldana, Chiara Parisi, Claire Tabouret, Simone Fattal, Giovanni Russo, ’, ” Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Venice Biennale, Catholic, Italian Justice Ministry Locations: Venice, American

☆ Kate Middleton picture fiasco shows we're at the point of no return with trusting anything online
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A family photo of the Princess of Wales has added fuel to the fire of a wild online conspiracy. The fiasco proves that trusting anything online has become a total nightmare in the AI age. AdvertisementHowever, concerns over the family image have had the opposite effect for an entirely understandable reason. AdvertisementOpenAI has attempted to introduce some form of digital watermarking for images generated by its AI tools, but studies indicate that most forms of marking out AI content are still rife with weaknesses. But in the age of AI, users also need to seek their own verification before trusting online content — something that's still easier said than done.

Persons: Princess, —, Kate Middleton, Wales, Kate, Prince William, Princess Charlotte's, Prince, Princess of Wales, Queen Consort, Henry Ajder, Adjer, Ajder, OpenAI, Pope Francis Organizations: Service, Getty, Associated Press, Reuters, AFP, BI, Vatican Media Locations: Wales, Kensington

☆ Pope Francis' 'white flag' call for Ukraine faces backlash; India wants its 'duped' citizens back from Russian army
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A screen grab from a video shows artillerymen of the West group of troops, moving along the Kupyansk direction as military mobility of Russian soldiers of MLRS 'Tornado-G' of the group of forces 'West' in the direction of Kupiansk continue in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on March 08, 2024. Pope Francis is facing backlash from Ukrainian and other European leaders over comments he made in an interview advocating for putting up a "white flag" and negotiating with Russia, saying that the "strongest" party in the war is "the one who has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates." Shelling continues in eastern Ukraine, where local authorities say three people were killed and a dozen injured by Russian fire. Kyiv on Sunday said that Moscow launched missiles at the northeastern region of Kharkiv and drone attacks on Ukraine's center and south, while Russian authorities said that a Russian woman in the border region of Kursk was killed by Ukrainian shelling. Elsewhere, India is seeking the release of its citizens who have been "duped" into serving in the Russian army, Indian government officials have said, demonstrating a rare critique of Moscow.

Persons: Pope Francis Organizations: Sunday Locations: Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Moscow, Kharkiv, Russian, Kursk, India

☆ Responding to Pope, NATO Boss Says Ukraine Needs Weapons, Not White Flags
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg made clear on Monday that he disagreed with Pope Francis’s comments that Ukraine should have the "courage of the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war triggered by Russia’s invasion. Asked about the pope’s remarks, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization told Reuters: "If we want a negotiated peaceful lasting solution, the way to get there is to provide military support to Ukraine." In an interview at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Stoltenberg said "what happens around a negotiating table is inextricably linked to the strength on the battlefield". Asked if his reaction meant now was not the time to talk about a white flag, Stoltenberg said: "It's not the time to talk about surrender by the Ukrainians. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 96 Images(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by GV De Clercq)Photos You Should See View All 60 Images

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Pope Francis’s, Stoltenberg, Andrew Gray Organizations: NATO, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Reuters, GV De Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Brussels

☆ Pope sparks anger after saying Ukraine should have the ‘courage of the white flag’ and negotiate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pope Francis has sparked anger after saying Ukraine should have the “courage of the white flag” and negotiate to end the war with Russia. In an interview with Swiss broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) published on Saturday, Francis was asked whether he thinks negotiations would “legitimize the stronger party.”“That is one interpretation,” he replied. We shall never raise any other flags,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a post on social media Sunday. People wave Ukrainian flags at St.Peter's square as Pope Francis addresses the crowd on Sunday. “How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine,” Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Sunday in a post on X.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, ”, Dmytro Kuleba, “, Alberto Pizzoli, Sviatoslav, unconquered, ” Father Sviatoslav, Matteo Bruni, Pope, Francis’s, Putin, Radosław Sikorski, Edgars Rinkēvičs, Alexandra Valkenburg Organizations: CNN, Radio Télévision Suisse, Getty, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church, Press, Vatican News, EU Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Swiss, Kyiv, “, AFP, New York, Ukrainian, “ Ukraine

☆ Pope Francis' 'white flag' comment is met by criticism from Ukraine and allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI and partially released on Saturday, Francis used the phrase "the courage of the white flag" as he argued that Ukraine, facing a possible defeat, should be open to peace talks brokered by international powers. "How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine? Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations," Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski responded with a post on X, formerly Twitter. His post on X appeared to compare the pope's comments to calls for "talking with Hitler" while raising "a white flag to satisfy him." Matteo Bruni said that the journalist interviewing Francis used the term "white flag" in the question that prompted the controversial remarks.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Putin, Radek Sikorski, Sikorski, Adolf Hitler, Andrii, Hitler, Matteo Bruni, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Shevchuk Organizations: RSI, Vatican, NATO, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Vatican, Swiss, Kyiv, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, New York City, Russian, Bucha, St

☆ The pope raises eyebrows after saying Ukraine should have the 'courage of the white flag' and negotiate with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Pope Francis said Ukraine should have the 'courage of the white flag' and negotiate with Russia. AdvertisementPope Francis has sparked controversy after saying Ukraine should have the "courage of the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. "You are the heirs of the great Russia. The great Russia of the saints, of the kings, of the great Russia of Peter the Great, of Catherine II, that great imperial Russia, cultivated, with so much culture and humanity," he said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Istanbul March 8, 2024 Ozan Guzelce/dia images via Getty ImagesBut Russia and Ukraine continue to speak at cross purposes.

Persons: Pope Francis, —, Edgers Rinkēvičs, Matteo Bruni, Bruni, Zelenskyy, Darya, Alexander Dugin, Dugina, Dmytro Kuleba, Francis, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peter the Great, Catherine II, Oleh, " Bruni, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ozan Organizations: Service, RSI, Catholic Church, Ukrainian Foreign, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Kremlin, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Swiss, Turkey, Visegrad, Latvian, Russian, Moscow, Ukrainian, Istanbul, Turkish, Crimea

“This is the United States of America, and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it,” Ms. Britt said. “President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace.”As a rhetorical device, it would be hard conjure up a more powerful and resonant example. In a video released shortly after that trip, Ms. Britt discussed Ms. Jacinto’s experiences. “I thought it was very strange.”She said she preferred to keep politics out of the question of human trafficking. “The work I do is not a game.”A spokesman for Ms. Britt, Sean Ross, stood behind her speech.

Persons: Katie Britt, Donald J, Britt, Ms, George W, Bush, Biden, Biden didn’t, ”, “, Karla Jacinto Romero, Jacinto, Jonathan Katz, Sean Ross, Mr, Ross, Andrew Bates, Britt’s, Marsha Blackburn, Rosi Orozco, Blackburn, Karla, ” Andy McCullough, that’s, Pope Francis, Chris Smith of, McCullough Organizations: Republican, White, Times, Biden, U.S, Vatican Locations: Alabama, Montgomery , Ala, Biden’s, United States of America, Mexican, United States, Texas, Mexico, TikTok, U.S, Latin America, Eagle Pass , Texas, Tennessee, Chris Smith of New Jersey

☆ Pope Francis Undergoes ‘Diagnostic Tests’ in Rome Hospital
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | More About Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis, who has had a mild flu in recent days, was taken to a hospital in downtown Rome on Wednesday, reviving concerns about the 87-year old pontiff’s health. The Vatican said in a statement that he had gone for “some diagnostic tests,” but did not offer details about a visit that lasted less than an hour. Traffic police officers at the Gemelli Hospital on Tiber Island said that Francis arrived around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday and left about 40 minutes later. The pope has been under the weather for several days. On Saturday, Francis’s public audiences were canceled “as a result of a slight flu,” according to the Vatican.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis Organizations: Vatican, Traffic, Gemelli Locations: Rome, Tiber, St

☆ Opinion: Cecilia Gentili’s life can’t be diminished by one Catholic archdiocese
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Opinion Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The day after Valentine’s Day, a massive, fabulous funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to honor the late, great Cecila Gentili. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is perhaps the most famous Catholic church outside of the Vatican. Enrique Salvo, pastor of St. Patrick’s, did not mince words in a statement he issued from the Archdiocese of New York’s office only days later. Cecilia Gentili's casket is brought into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, on February 15. The Archdiocese of New York revealed its true colors with this statement, and along with them, the persistence of anti-LGBTQ judgment within the Catholic Church.

Persons: Allison Hope, Read, Billy Porter, Gentili’s, Gentili, Patrick’s, ” Allison Hope, Allison Hope “, Enrique Salvo, ’, Lent, Salvo, “, “ Saint Cecilia, Mother, Liaam Winslet, Mary Magdalene, ”, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cecilia Gentili's, Laura Oliverio, Webster, it’s, Pope Francis’s Organizations: New Yorker, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Slate, Patrick’s, Archdiocese, Gentili, Catholic, Patrick's, Merriam Locations: New, St, New York, Patrick’s, ‘ America’s Parish, “ Saint, New York City, Archdiocese

☆ Child abuse scandal rattles Orban’s image as defender of ‘family values’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Orban has long posed as a globetrotting defender of Christian values and an enemy of liberalism. But Orban’s critics say his carefully constructed image is a thin guise for a plutocratic mode of governance designed to enrich a small group of oligarchs. The scandal could also weaken Hungary’s bid to gain more influence in Brussels in the upcoming European elections. Since the scandal was revealed last weekend by Hungarian news site 444.hu, “Orban has not made an appearance or said anything. Critics argue that Orban’s proposed constitutional solution to the scandal is a symptom of his autocratic mode of governance.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Katalin Novak, Orban’s, ”, Judit Varga, Fidesz party’s, Varga, Orban, Hungary’s, “ Orban, Kim Lane Scheppele, Attila Kisbendek, Peter Magyar, “, ” Magyar, Magyar, Hungary ”, ” Orban, Critics, ” Scheppele, Hungary –, Bernadett Szabo, Scheppele, ‘, illiberal, ’ ”, Pope Francis, Eva Fodor, Fodor, Attila Kisbenedek, Zoltan Balog, Balog, hasn’t, Mark Rutte, Europe’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Fidesz, European Union, Princeton University, Partizan, State of, Reuters, Survey, Christian, Central European University, Getty Locations: Washington, Moscow, Brussels, Budapest, AFP, Varga’s, Hungary, State, Christian Europe, China, Venezuela, ”, Netherlands

☆ Israel Tones Down Criticism of Vatican's Gaza Remarks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israel on Thursday toned down its criticism of the Vatican, saying that remarks by Pope Francis' deputy on the killings in Gaza were "regrettable" rather than "deplorable". War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 ImagesBut on Thursday, the embassy said it should have used the word "regrettable", and that the mix-up was the result of an imprecise translation. But any comments involving Israel have particular historical and cultural sensitivities, built up over centuries. "A more precise" Italian translation would have been "sfortunata", the embassy said, a word which means something more like unfortunate. The air and ground offensive that Israel launched in response has so far killed 28,663 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pietro Parolin, Israel, Pope Francis of, Alvise Armellini, Andrew Heavens Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Hamas, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian

☆ Israeli Embassy Protests After Vatican Denounces Gaza 'Carnage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israel protested with the Vatican on Wednesday after Pope Francis' deputy defined what is happening in Gaza as "carnage" resulting from a disproportionate Israeli military response to Hamas. A day earlier, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin reiterated the "request that Israel's right to defence, which has been invoked to justify this operation, be proportional, and certainly with 30,000 deaths, it is not." Photos You Should See View All 22 Images"No one can define what is happening in the (Gaza) Strip as 'collateral damage' in the fight against terrorism. The right to defence, Israel's right to bring the perpetrators of the October massacre to justice, cannot justify this carnage," it said. At least 28,576 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli strikes, the health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pietro Parolin, Parolin, L'Osservatore Romano, Francis, Alvise, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestine

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Argentina’s faith and politics came together Sunday as Pope Francis canonized the country’s first female saint with Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei, sitting in the front row of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass to declare Mama Antula a saint marked the first meeting between the Argentine pope and Milei, who once called Francis an “imbecile” for defending social justice. Milei is to meet privately with Francis on Monday, before also having private talks with Italy’s far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni and the president. “It’s a gift of God that Pope Francis — an Argentine pope, a Jesuit pope — can canonize her,” he said. “But Mama Antula is a saint independent of Francis.”

Persons: Pope Francis, Javier Milei, Mama Antula, Milei, Francis, ”, Francis ’, —, Italy’s, Giorgia Meloni, ” Francis, Moses, “, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, Silvia Correale, Mama, Mama Antula's, ” Correale, Ignatius, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, Antula, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis — Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Argentine, Associated Press, St, Catholic Church Locations: Peter’s, Argentina, Rome, Israel, Argentine, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires, Uruguay

The fear of the ongoing crackdown by President Daniel Ortega – on the Catholic Church in particular but not sparing evangelicals – has become so pervasive that it is silencing criticism of the authoritarian government and even mentions of the repression from the pulpit. Her work recording hundreds of instances of church persecution recently won her an International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. State Department. “If it’s dangerous to pray the rosary in the street, it is exceedingly so to report attacks,” Molina said. Despite the growing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services – where they remain available. “The dictatorship, what it wants is to completely eliminate the Catholic faith, because they haven’t succeeded in making the church kneel before them,” Molina said.

Persons: Daniel Ortega –, –, ”, Martha Patricia Molina, ” Molina, ’, Ortega, Nicaragua’s, ” Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Alicia Quiñones, It’s, Molina, Mother Teresa’s, didn’t, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Silvio Báez, Pope Francis, Dolly Mora, “ It’s, they’re, “, haven’t, Nicole Winfield Organizations: MIAMI, Central American, Catholic Church, U.S . State Department, Associated Press, “, . government’s, PEN International, Ortega’s Sandinista, Liberation, University of Central America, Jesuit, Vatican, AP, Lilly Endowment Inc Locations: Nicaragua, Nicaraguan, United States, Americas, America, –, Rome, Managua’s, Miami, ”

☆ Hungary’s president resigns amid uproar over child sex abuse case pardon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Pierre Meilhan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hungarian President Katalin Novak has announced that she is resigning from office following mounting public criticism over her decision to pardon a man implicated in a child sexual abuse case. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the country’s capital Budapest on Friday, calling for Novak to step down. Protesters took to the streets in Hungary this week. Bernadett Szabo/ReutersNovak is a close ally of Hungary’s hardline nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán and was the former family minister. Saturday’s address was her final one as president, less than two years after she took office.

Persons: Katalin Novak, “, ” Novak, ”, Novak, Pope Francis –, Protesters, Bernadett Szabo, Viktor Orbán Organizations: CNN, Reuters Locations: Budapest, Doha, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ First Female Argentine Saint Brings Together Pope Francis and Milei
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Alvise ArmelliniVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday will elevate to sainthood the first female saint from his native Argentina, an event that will be attended at the Vatican by his former strong critic, Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei, a maverick right-wing libertarian, in the past called Francis an "imbecile", a "son-of-a-bitch preaching communism" and the devil's man on earth - but has softened his tone since taking office in December. Francis has said he hopes to be able make his first trip back to his homeland since being pope in 2013 in the second half of this year. Francis, himself a Jesuit, described her on Friday in a meeting with pilgrims from Argentina as a "gift to the Argentine people and also to the entire Church," praising her dedication to the poor. Quoting from his past writings, the pope condemned the "radical individualism" that permeates today's society as a "virus", in words that may jar with Milei's radical free-market instincts.

Persons: Alvise, Pope Francis, Javier Milei, Francis, Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, Mama Antula, Milei, Sergio Mattarella, Giorgia Meloni, Lucinda Alice Elliot, Clelia Oziel Organizations: CITY, Jesuit Locations: Argentina, Argentine, St Peter's, America, Israel, Italy, Buenos Aires

☆ Argentina's Milei Calls on Two Officials to Resign After Reform Setback
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday called for two government officials to resign, saying he needed greater commitment to his agenda after congress rejected his reform package earlier in the week. Milei, a self-defined anarcho-capitalist who took office in December, called for Mining Secretary Flavia Royon and Osvaldo Giordano, head of the country's ANSES social insurance agency, to step down. Congress' rejection of the omnibus bill on Tuesday marked a major setback for Milei, who has accused opposition lawmakers of "betrayal". "I wish the president a great administration and wherever I go I will continue to work for the good of Argentina," he said. On Friday he was in Rome, where he is scheduled to meet with his countryman Pope Francis.

Persons: Javier Milei, Flavia Royon, Osvaldo Giordano, Milei, Giordano, Royon, Pope Francis, Maximilian Heath, Sarah Morland, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: BUENOS AIRES, Reuters, Mining, Peronist Locations: BUENOS, Argentine, Argentina, Rome

☆ The Friar Who Became the Vatican’s Go-To Guy on A.I.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Before dawn, Paolo Benanti climbed to the bell tower of his 16th-century monastery, admired the sunrise over the ruins of the Roman forum and reflected on a world in flux. “It was a wonderful meditation on what is going on inside,” he said, stepping onto the street in his friar robe. “And outside too.”There is a lot is going on for Father Benanti, who, as both the Vatican’s and the Italian government’s go-to artificial intelligence ethicist, spends his days thinking about the Holy Ghost and the ghosts in the machines. In recent weeks, the ethics professor, ordained priest and self-proclaimed geek has joined Bill Gates at a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, presided over a commission seeking to save Italian media from ChatGPT bylines and general A.I. oblivion, and met with Vatican officials to further Pope Francis’s aim of protecting the vulnerable from the coming technological storm.

Persons: Paolo Benanti, ”, Father Benanti, Bill Gates, Giorgia Meloni, bylines, Pope Francis’s Organizations: Vatican Locations: Italian

☆ Pope Francis hits back at critics of blessings for same-sex couples
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pope Francis has hit back at those criticizing his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples, saying the critics are guilty of hypocrisy. The heart of the document is welcome.”Last year, the 87-year-old Pontiff authorized priests to offer informal blessings of couples in “irregular” unions in a landmark document issued on December 18, 2023. It is the first time the Vatican has allowed for such blessings, having previously forbidden any such move. The Vatican has insisted that the blessings for same-sex couples are not of the “union” but for the people who request them. Francis’ authorizing of blessings for same-sex couples is part of his broader efforts to shift the church’s tone and approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, although this has been met with resistance from some sections within Catholicism.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, ”, ’, Don Vincenzo Vitale, “, Francis ’, Francis Organizations: CNN, Credere Locations: Africa, United States, Europe

☆ Hungary's President Under Pressure to Quit Over Pardon in Sex Abuse Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian opposition parties have demanded the resignation of the president over her decision to pardon a man convicted as an accomplice in helping cover up a case in a children's home whose director sexually abused children. She added that the reasoning behind her decision was not public and all pardons were divisive by their nature. The former director was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing several under-age boys in 2004-2016. "I am baffled by Katalin Novak's decision as a human being and as a mother," Momentum chair Anna Donath said in a statement on Wednesday, adding she believed the decision was "morally incomprehensible". Some of the opposition and civilians called a protest in front of Novak's presidential office for Friday.

Persons: Katalin, Pope Francis, Novak, Viktor Orban, paedophiles, MTI, Anna Donath, Orban's, Judit Varga, Krisztina, Alison Williams Organizations: Democratic Coalition, Socialists Locations: BUDAPEST

NEW YORK (AP) — Even as Catholic dogma continues to repudiate same-sex marriage and gender transition, one of the most prominent religious orders in the United States — the Jesuits — is strengthening a unique outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics. James Martin, a Jesuit who is one of the country's most prominent advocates for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. On Tuesday, there was another milestone for Outreach — the appointment of journalist and author Michael O'Loughlin as its first executive director. The latest expansion of Outreach occurs amid a time of division within the global Catholic Church as it grapples with LGBTQ+ issues. “It’s a special grace for LGBTQ Catholics to know that the pope is praying for them," Martin said.

Persons: James Martin, Michael O'Loughlin, O'Loughlin, “, they’re, ” O'Loughlin, Pope Francis, Martin, ” Martin, “ Pope Francis, Brian Paulson, Jesus, ” Paulson, Martin's, ”, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Tania Tetlow, Archbishop John Wester Organizations: Jesuit, Catholic Church . Outreach, America, Associated Press, Vatican, Outreach, Jesuit Conference of Canada, Fordham University, Church, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: United States, New York City, America, U.S, Africa, Europe, Ireland, New York, Santa Fe , New Mexico

☆ Pope Condemns Anti-Judaism, Anti-Semitism Amid New Wave of Attacks Against Jews
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis condemned all forms of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, labelling them as a "sin against God", after noticing an increase in attacks against Jews around the world. "Together with you, we, Catholics, are very concerned about the terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world. The Pope noted that wars and divisions are increasing all over the world "in a sort of piecemeal world war", hitting the lives of many populations. He has also said on several occasions that a two-state solution was needed to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesIn his letter, the pope also called, once again, for the release of those hostages still being held by militants.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, Giulia Segreti, David Holmes Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza

With the 2024 presidential campaign shaping up as a likely rematch between Biden and Trump, immigration has moved to the forefront as one of the president's biggest potential liabilities. “If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly,” Biden said last weekend. That was due in part to a lack of cooperation from many cities and states whose leaders opposed Trump’s immigration policies. Wayne Bowens, a 72-year-old retired real estate agent in Scottsdale, Arizona, said he's disgusted by both Biden and Trump's recent border moves. Most Republicans, 55%, say the government needs to focus on immigration in 2024, while 22% of Democrats listed immigration as a priority.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, I’d, ” Biden, Katie Hobbs, ” Hobbs, Washington “, Trump, ”, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s, ” Trump, “, “ Nobody, it’s, Pope Francis, Barack Obama, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Biden’s, ” Fernandez Hernandez, Wayne Bowens, he's, ’ ”, Bowens, It’s, Mike Madrid, Jill Colvin, Erin Hooley, Anita Snow Organizations: Biden, Trump, Democratic, Arizona Gov, Democrat, National Guard, Nine, Republicans, U.S ., White, GOP, “, Border Patrol, Republican, Associated Press Locations: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, United States, New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington, States, Arizona , California , Colorado , Illinois, Maryland , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York, New Mexico, Mexico, Las Vegas, U.S, Scottsdale , Arizona, “ Ukraine, Israel, California, Madrid, ” Madrid, Manchester , New Hampshire, Phoenix

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