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☆ Pope Issues Apology After Reports That He Used Offensive Slang Word
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Vatican said on Tuesday that Pope Francis “extends his apologies” after reports that he had used an offensive slang word referring to gay men at what was intended to be a private meeting with 250 Italian bishops last week. Francis had been taking questions from Italian bishops meeting for their annual assembly on a number of issues when the question of whether or not to admit openly gay men into seminaries, or priesthood colleges, came up. According to several people present at the meeting, who spoke anonymously to Italian media, Francis stated a firm no, saying that seminaries were already too full of “frociaggine,” an offensive slang term referring to gay men. “Pope Francis is aware of articles that recently came out about a conversation, behind closed doors,” said Matteo Bruni, the press office director for the Holy See, in response to questions from reporters. “The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term, reported by others.”

Persons: Pope Francis “, Francis, ”, “ Pope Francis, Matteo Bruni, “

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Pope to proceed with COP28 trip despite health issues, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who is recovering from a lung inflammation, will attend the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai as planned, the Vatican said on Tuesday. "The pope is doing well," Bruni said, adding that the Vatican will decide before the trip whether to take any extra precautions for the 86-year-old pope's health. The Vatican announced on Monday that the pope would limit his activities this week in order to conserve his strength. Also on Tuesday, the Vatican released a schedule of papal activities for the Christmas season.

Persons: Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Matteo Bruni, Francis, Bruni, Philip Pullella, Alison Williams, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Dubai, Argentina, Rome

☆ Pope Francis Cancels Trip to U.N. Climate Summit on Doctor’s Orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | More About Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Pope Francis, following his doctor’s orders, will not attend the United Nations climate summit in Dubai later this week, the Vatican said Tuesday. Although the pontiff’s general health was improving after a bout of flu and lung inflammation, his doctors had asked Francis to take it easy, the Vatican said in a statement. “Pope Francis regretfully accepted the doctors’ request, and the trip has been canceled,” said Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman. Francis had been scheduled to begin a three-day visit to Dubai on Friday to attend the climate summit, known by the acronym COP28. The Vatican said it would seek ways to ensure that the pope and the Holy See could be “part of the discussions taking place in the coming days,” without specifying how.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, “ Pope Francis regretfully, ”, Matteo Bruni Organizations: Vatican Locations: United Nations, Dubai

☆ Dispute erupts over whether pope called Gaza situation a 'genocide'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - A messy dispute broke out on Wednesday over whether Pope Francis used the word "genocide" to describe events in Gaza, with Palestinians who met with him insisting that he did and the Vatican saying he did not. The opposing versions emerged at an afternoon press conference with 10 Palestinians who met the pope on Wednesday morning at his Vatican residence. It came from His Holiness, Pope Francis," she said. Other participants at the Palestinian news conference concurred that they had heard the pope use the word genocide. The participants said the pope was very informed about the situation in Gaza and the lack of water, medicine and basic necessities.

Persons: Pope Francis, Shireen Awwad Hilal, Matteo Bruni, Hilal, Israel, Francis, Raphael Schutz, Schutz, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Janet Lawrence, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: CITY, Bethlehem Bible College, Vatican, Hamas, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, United Nations, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Israel's

☆ Pope to meet relatives of hostages, Palestinians with family in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis gestures as he leaves after the weekly general audience, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Pope Francis will meet separately next week with relatives of hostages held by Hamas militants and with a group of Palestinians with family members in Gaza, the Vatican said on Friday, confirming a Reuters report. One source said 12 relatives of Israeli hostages would meet the pope early on Wednesday morning before his weekly general audience. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Rome, Parolin said the Vatican was working on a meeting between the pope and relatives of the hostages but gave no time frame. About 240 hostages were taken by Hamas gunmen when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Matteo Bruni, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Parolin, Francis, Philip Pullella, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis, Toby Chopra Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Reuters, State, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Gaza, Israel, Rome

☆ Pope skips reading speech because of a cold but continues schedule
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Pope Francis meets Everton Vieira Vargas, ambassador of Brazil to the EU at the Vatican, November 6, 2023. I greet you all and I welcome you and thank you for this visit, which greatly pleases me," he told a delegation from the Conference of European Rabbis. "Pope Francis has a bit of a cold and a long day of audiences," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. "He wanted to greet the European rabbis individually and so he gave them his written speech. In the past, Francis has not read prepared speeches at the last minute in order to preserve his strength.

Persons: Pope Francis, Everton Vieira Vargas, Francis, Matteo Bruni, " Bruni, Philip Pullella, Keith Weir, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Conference, COP28, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Dubai, Nations

☆ Pope says countries should not "play games" with Ukraine on arms aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis holds a news conference as he returns to the Vatican following his apostolic journey to Hungary, aboard the plane, April 30, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis suggested on Saturday that some countries were "playing games" with Ukraine by first providing weapons and then considering backing out of their commitments. I see now that some countries are moving backwards, not wanting to give (Ukraine) arms. Asked for a clarification, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope was not taking a stand on whether countries should continue to send weapons to Ukraine or stop sending them. A number of countries, including the United States, face internal political pressure to stop or curtail spending on weapons sent to Ukraine.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Matteo Bruni, " Bruni, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Philip Pullella, Josie Kao, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Ukraine, Marseilles, Kyiv, Moscow, Washington, Beijing, Ukrainian, United States

CNN —Vatican investigators looking into sexual abuse allegations at a Roman Catholic society in Peru have completed the first stage of their audit and will issue a report in the coming months, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told CNN Friday. SCV said its members, who were summoned by the Vatican’s envoys, have “collaborated diligently” and reiterated its commitment to working with the Vatican. Peruvian prosecutors said in the case of sexual abuse, none of the alleged victims came forward and the crime fell under the statute of limitations. A criminal case against Figari and other SCV members, alleging kidnapping, serious psychological injuries, and illicit association to commit a crime, is still ongoing. SCV said in 2017 Figari had been removed from the community, banned from contacting members, and prohibited by Vatican authorities from returning to Peru.

Persons: Matteo Bruni, “, ” Bruni, Pope Francis said, Pope Francis’s, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Jordi Bertomeu, ”, Luis Fernando Figari, Figari, ” Figari, –, Peru’s, Miguel Cabrejos Organizations: CNN, Vatican, Catholic, de, Cristiana, Peru’s Episcopal Conference Locations: Peru, Peru’s, Lima, America, Rome

FATIMA, Portugal, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited the revered Catholic shrine of Fatima in Portugal on Saturday, praying the rosary with about 200,000 people at the site where the Church says the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. The 86-year-old pope skipped reading a key speech that was on the programme of his two-hour visit to the world-famous shrine north of Lisbon. The omission did not appear to indicate that the pope was experiencing any health issues. Francis flew in from Lisbon - the venue of a Catholic youth festival - to make his second visit as pope to the shrine that draws millions of pilgrims a year. [1/6]Pope Francis greets a child as he meets with people at the Chapel of Apparitions of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, during his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Fatima, Portugal, August 5, 2023.

Persons: FATIMA, Pope Francis, Virgin Mary, Matteo Bruni, Francis, Bruni, Fatima, FATIMA Fatima, Francisco, Jacinta Marto, Lucia Dos Santos, Madonna, Sister Lucia, Pope John Paul, Catarina Demony, Philip Pullella, Michael Gore, Pedro Nunes, Andrew Cawthorne, Frances Kerry Organizations: Catholic, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Fatima, Lisbon, Vatican, Castelo Branco, Russia

[1/5] Cookies with Pope Francis images are seen in a bakery ahead of his apostolic journey to Portugal on the occasion of the XXXVII World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro NunesLISBON, July 31 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world have descended on Portugal to welcome Pope Francis when he arrives on Wednesday to close a jamboree dubbed "the Catholic Woodstock". World Youth Day, an event devised by the late Pope John Paul to form young Catholics in their teens or early 20s, is held every two or three years in a different city. PROBABLE MEETING WITH ABUSE VICTIMSThe group is planning to put up big outdoor signs to raise awareness about clergy sexual abuse. Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Monday called it "the biggest international event" Portugal has ever hosted.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pedro Nunes LISBON, Pope John Paul, Francis, Lisbon's Martim Moniz, Manuel Clemente, Matteo Bruni, Antonio Costa, Madonna, Philip Pullella, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Woodstock, Vatican, Lisbon's Parque Tejo, Thomson Locations: Portugal, Lisbon, Lisbon's, Fatima, Rome

Rome, Italy CNN —Pope Francis was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital Friday where the 86-year-old was recovering from abdominal surgery. The Pontiff left hospital in a wheelchair and spoke with well-wishers and medical staff who had gathered outside the entrance to say goodbye, as seen on a CNN video. Pope Francis had remained in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery last Wednesday. He had resumed his work from the hospital and will be taken back to the Vatican following his release. On Thursday, the director of the Vatican Press Office Matteo Bruni said medical staff reported that the Pontiff had “rested well during the night.

Persons: Italy CNN — Pope Francis, Pontiff, Pope Francis, Matteo Bruni, “, ” Bruni, Pope, ” Organizations: Italy CNN, CNN, Vatican Press, Pediatric Oncology Locations: Rome, Italy, Gemelli, Rome’s Gemelli

CNN —Pope Francis has issued a message for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery, asking the faithful to “keep me in your prayers.”“I sincerely appreciate the prayers and numerous expressions of closeness and affection received in the past few days,” the Pontiff said in a tweet posted Friday. I ask you to keep me in your prayers,” he added. The pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery on Wednesday. On Friday afternoon, the pope “gathered in prayer and devoted himself to work” and in the evening he received the Eucharist, Bruni said. “Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages that he continues to receive in these hours; in particular he intends to address his thoughts and his thanks to the children currently hospitalized, for the affection and love received through their drawings and their messages,” Bruni said.

Persons: Pope Francis, ” “, “, ”, Matteo Bruni, ” Bruni, Bruni, “ Pope Francis Organizations: CNN Locations: Rome’s Gemelli

Rome CNN —Pope Francis was recovering well in a Rome hospital on Thursday, the day after the 86-year-old had abdominal surgery that renewed health fears. “This wasn’t an urgent surgery,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who operated on Pope Francis, said at a press conference. Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair, attended a weekly general audience at the Vatican on June 7. Pope’s fragile healthThis operation is the latest in a series of health scares surrounding Pope Francis. Medical sources say that the intervention was likely related to the surgery Francis underwent in 2021, which removed half of his colon.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, “, ”, Matteo Bruni, Francis, ” Dr, Sergio Alfieri, Pope Francis, ” Alfieri, Andreas Solaro, Alfieri, he’s “, –, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Bruni, Francis ’, Pope Francis now, Annatuli, Carina, State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Tarcisio Bertone, ’ ”, Pope Benedict XVI, Gregory XII, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Rome CNN, Vatican, Gemelli, Reuters, Catholic, Papal, Getty, CNN, Spanish, ABC, State, Catholic Church Locations: Rome, AFP, The Prefecture, Mexico, Myanmar, Iraq, Ukraine

☆ Pope Francis to have abdominal surgery, in latest health concern
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( John Allen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —Pope Francis will have surgery on his abdomen and remain in a Rome hospital for several days, the Vatican said Wednesday, sparking renewed fears over the 86-year-old’s fragile health. The pope was forced to cancel several work commitments in late May after he was debilitated by a fever. According to medical sources, the intervention is likely related to the surgery Francis experienced in 2021 to remove half of his colon. Should Francis be incapacitated for any length of time, the Vatican could find itself facing something of a constitutional crisis. Francis said he wrote the letter several years ago and gave it to then-Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who resigned in 2013.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, Francis, he’s “, Vatican, Matteo Bruni, ” Francis, Pius XI, ”, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Tarcisio Bertone, ’ ”, Francis ’, Pope Benedict XVI, “, Gregory XII Organizations: Rome CNN, Vatican, Rome’s Clinic, Catholic, Spanish, ABC, State Locations: Rome, St

☆ Pope to visit Mongolia, home to just 1,300 Catholics
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last August, Francis named Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, an Italian, the first cardinal to be based in Mongolia, where he is the Catholic Church's administrator. According to Fides, the news agency of the Vatican's missionary activities, there are about 1,300 baptized Catholics in Mongolia among a population of about 3.3 million people. Although the number of Catholics in Mongolia is smaller that most individual parish churches in many countries, the country is significant for the Vatican. Mongolia, once known as Outer Mongolia, was part of China until 1921, when it achieved independence with the help of the then Soviet Union. Francis is due to visit Portugal from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day in Lisbon and visit the Shrine of Fatima.

Persons: Pope Francis, Matteo Bruni, Francis, Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, Marengo, Fides, Keith Weir, Toby Chopra, Mark Potter Organizations: CITY, Roman Catholic Church, Vatican, Catholic, U.S . State Department, Fatima, Thomson Locations: Mongolia, China, Rome, Africa, Soviet Union, Inner Mongolia, Western Europe, Portugal, Lisbon, India

☆ Pope hopes to send peace envoys to Kyiv, Moscow - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, May 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis hopes to send personal peace envoys to the Ukrainian and Russian presidents to try to broker a ceasefire in the war, a Catholic website reported on Thursday. Il Sismografo, which specialises in Vatican news and has a good track record, said this is the "mission" Francis spoke of cryptically when he was returning from Hungary last month. It said both presidents had agreed to meet with the papal envoys, without citing sources or giving details. Zelenskiy met Pope Francis at the Vatican last Saturday but in comments afterwards he appeared to downplay the possibility of a papal mediation. "With all due respect for His Holiness, we do not need mediators, we need a just peace ... Putin only kills.

☆ Pope Francis getting better, hospital treatment continues - Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis on the way to address his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 29, 2023. Pope Francis's health is improving after he was hospitalised with a respiratory infection and he has resumed working while treatment continues, the Vatican said on Thursday. "His Holiness Pope Francis rested well during the night. His clinical picture is gradually improving and he is continuing his planned treatment," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. "I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer," the pope wrote separately on Twitter.

Summary Pontiff was hospitalised unexpectedly on WednesdayVatican says he has respiratory infectionNot clear if pope will be able to lead Easter servicesVATICAN CITY, March 30 (Reuters) - Pope Francis spent a peaceful night in a Rome hospital after suffering from a respiratory infection, a Vatican source said on Thursday. Bruni has said Francis would have to stay at Rome's Gemelli hospital for "a few days" for "appropriate" medical treatment. An official update on his condition was expected in late morning, the Vatican source said. Last year, the pope attended but did not preside at some of the Easter services due to his knee pain. Francis, who this month marked 10 years as pope, is sometimes short of breath and generally more exposed to respiratory problems.

☆ Pope Francis hospitalized for pulmonary infection, had difficulty breathing in recent days
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis kisses a child during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 29, 2023. Pope Francis was hospitalized with a lung infection Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days and will remain in the hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said. Bruni said Francis had been suffering breathing troubles in recent days and went to the Gemelli hospital for tests. "The tests showed a respiratory infection (Covid-19 infection excluded) that will require some days of medical therapy," Bruni's statement said. He has canceled all audiences through Friday, but it wasn't clear whether he could keep the Holy Week plans.

☆ Pell's secret memo casts shadow at cardinal's funeral
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] Pope Francis attends a funeral of Cardinal George Pell in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 14, 2023. About 300 people attended Pell's funeral Mass in a secondary chapel of St. Peter's Basilica. In keeping with tradition for deceased cardinals, the Mass was said by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re. But Pell was given a standard solemn Vatican funeral for a cardinal. Father Joseph Hamilton, Pell's personal secretary, declined to comment on Magister's report and Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said it had no comment.

☆ Cardinal Pell lies in state, funeral plans overshadowed by memo revelation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VATICAN CITY, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Australian Cardinal George Pell was lying in state on Friday, with funeral preparations overshadowed by revelations that he was the author of an anonymous memo that branded Pope Francis' pontificate a catastrophe. Early on Friday, a reporter saw about 20 people kneeling in prayer in the church when it opened for 10 hours of lying in state. The small church, which is normally used for baptisms and weddings, is one of the oldest in the Vatican. Last year, respected Italian journalist Sandro Magister, who has a long track record of receiving leaked Vatican documents, published an anonymous memo circulating in the Vatican condemning Pope Francis' papacy as a "catastrophe". Pell will be buried in the crypt at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, where he served as archbishop, the Australian Church has announced.

☆ Pell wrote secret memo calling Francis' papacy 'catastrophe', journalist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Commentators of every school, if for different reasons ... agree that this pontificate is a disaster in many or most respects; a catastrophe," the memo begins. The Vatican's political prestige is now at a low ebb." Pell appeared to like the more liberal-minded Francis personally, but not how he ran the Church. Francis supported Pell privately during the abuse saga and on the day of the acquittal offered Mass for all who suffer unjust sentences. "The political influence of Pope Francis and the Vatican is negligible.

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