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☆ Can the sporty be Godly? Why the Vatican is in the race to become a global sporting presence
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( George Ramsay | Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Rien Schuurhuis never expected to win this year’s cycling world championships, nor come close to claiming the race’s distinctive rainbow jersey. For the sole representative of the Vatican City in the 200-strong field, simply being at the race in Switzerland was enough. “There was one hill in the (2022) world championships and everyone was yelling: ‘The Pope’s cyclist! At every race, Schuurhuis’ ultimate aim has been to get people talking about the team and what it represents. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, is a soccer fan who played as a goalkeeper and supported San Lorenzo while growing up in Argentina.

Persons: Rien Schuurhuis, Schuurhuis, they’re, –, ”, Pope Francis, Valerio Agnoli, “, Chiara Porro, Herself, Porro, ” Schuurhuis, Pope John Paul II, Castel Gandolfo, San, Diego Maradona –, Pope Francis ’, ” Giampaolo Mattei, … Organizations: CNN, Vatican City, CNN Sport, International Cycling Union, UCI, ”, League, Australia’s Embassy, Vaticana, Swiss Guards, England, Culture, Athletica, “, Brisbane Games Locations: Vatican, Switzerland, Belgium, Vaticana, India, Australia, Asia, Rome, St, Peter's, Athletica Vaticana, San Lorenzo, Argentina, Canberra

☆ Pope Francis suggests international study into possible genocide in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Last December South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice for allegedly violating the Genocide Convention. The court has not yet ruled on the core of the case — whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. Israel says accusations of genocide in its Gaza campaign are baseless and that it is solely hunting down Hamas and other armed groups. Francis, leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church, is usually careful not to take sides in international conflicts, and to stress de-escalation. Francis has not previously described the situation in Gaza as a genocide in public.

Persons: Pope Francis, ”, Francis ’, Francis, Israel Organizations: La Stampa, Israel, International Court of Justice, Vatican, Catholic Church, Hamas Locations: Gaza, La, Africa, Israel, Lebanon

☆ Pope Francis calls for investigation into Gaza genocide allegations
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pope Francis has said that allegations of a genocide in Gaza should be “carefully investigated” marking some of his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s war in the territory. “According to some experts… what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” Vatican News, the Holy See’s official news outlet, cited the pontiff as writing in a forthcoming book. Pope Francis rarely comments on politics, often limiting his remarks to calls for peace. He lamented that “unarmed civilians are targets for bombs and gunfire” in Gaza and invoking scripture on war. Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, the ministry of health there says, and has flattened large swathes of the territory, triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, Hope, Yaron, ”, Omar Al, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel Organizations: CNN, Vatican, Vatican News, United Nations ’ International Court of Justice, Getty, ICJ, Hamas, UN, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Pretoria, Jabaliya, AFP, Parish

☆ The Pope has shown openness to greater roles for women – but there’s pressure for him to go further
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Antonia Mortensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In an interview earlier this year, he ruled out the possibility of ordaining women deacons, who can carry out functions like a priest apart from saying Mass and hearing confessions. Furthermore, Catholic teaching bars women from ordination to the priesthood, a decision that Francis has maintained, although he has allowed studies of female deacons. During previous papacies the question of ordaining women was not even up for discussion. Pope Francis attends the second session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod at the Vatican on Saturday. “There is resistance because there is still fear of this co-responsibility in the Catholic Church.

Persons: Pope Francis, Phyllis Zagano, “, ” Francis, Francis, ”, Gregorio Borgia, Julia Oseka, “ There’s, Oseka, Francis ’, ” Helena Jeppesen, ” Kate McElwee Organizations: CNN, Hofstra University, Belgian Catholic, General Assembly, St Joseph’s University, Catholic Church, Catholic Locations: New York, Church, East, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Switzerland

☆ Pope urged at LGBTQ meeting to reverse church ban on gender-affirming care
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis faced calls to overturn the Catholic Church’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender people on Saturday when he held talks with LGBTQ activists at the Vatican. “I really wanted to share with Pope Francis about the joy that I have being a transgender Catholic person,” Michael Sennett, who took part in the meeting, told Reuters. The meeting “means that the church is coming along, the church is joining the modern era,” she said. Gramick’s work with LGBTQ Catholics has attracted the ire of Vatican and U.S. Catholic officials for decades, including Pope Benedict XVI. But she has developed a correspondence with Francis, who first welcomed her for a meeting at the Vatican last year.

Persons: CITY — Pope Francis, “, Pope Francis, ” Michael Sennett, Sennett, I’ve, ”, Cynthia Herrick, Herrick, ” Francis, Jeannine Gramick, Francis, Pope Benedict XVI Organizations: CITY, Vatican, Reuters, Catholic, Ministry Locations: U.S, Boston, Louis , Missouri, Vatican

☆ Pope vows to root out ‘scourge’ of sexual abuse after facing unusually frank call from Belgian PM
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Palace of Laeken, Belgium CNN —Pope Francis has pledged to root out the “scourge” of clerical sexual abuse after Belgium’s prime minster urged him in unusually frank terms to take concrete action. Francis was addressing political leaders on Friday at the official residence of the King of Belgium, a country where devastating clerical abuse scandals have erupted in recent years. Before he spoke, both the Belgian king and Prime Minister Alexander de Croo raised the issue in their speeches, the latter speaking directly to the pope, in remarks that underline how the abuse crisis has come to dominate Belgian national attention. “This is the shame, the shame that we must all take in hand today and ask for forgiveness and solve the problem, the shame of abuse, of child abuse,” the pope said. The scandal has loomed large over the pope’s trip, during which Francis was also expected to meet 15 abuse survivors.

Persons: Belgium CNN — Pope Francis, Francis, King, Alexander de Croo, “, ”, King Herod Organizations: Belgium CNN, Belgian Locations: Laeken, Belgium, Luxembourg, Belgian, Flemish

☆ Pope criticizes Harris and Trump, tells US Catholics to choose ‘lesser evil’
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Francis on Friday criticized both former U.S. President Donald Trump over his plan to deport millions of immigrants and Vice President Kamala Harris over her stance supporting abortion rights. Although the pope did not use Trump and Harris’ names, he referred specifically to their policies and their genders. Pope Francis arrives at a press conference onboard the papal plane. You must vote.”“You must choose the lesser evil,” he said. “Who is the lesser evil?

Persons: — Pope Francis, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, ”, Francis, Trump, Harris, Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Trump’s, ” Trump, Dobbs, “, ” Francis Organizations: U.S, Congress Locations: Rome, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, U.S

☆ Pope criticizes Harris and Trump, tells US Catholics to choose 'lesser evil'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis on Friday criticized both former U.S. President Donald Trump over his plan to deport millions of immigrants and Vice President Kamala Harris over her stance supporting abortion rights. He said U.S. Catholics would have to "choose the lesser evil" when they vote in November, without elaborating. Although the pope did not use Trump and Harris' names, he referred specifically to their policies and their genders. "You must choose the lesser evil," he said. "Who is the lesser evil?

Persons: Pope Francis, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Francis, Trump, Harris, Trump's, Dobbs Organizations: U.S, Congress Locations: Rome, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, U.S

☆ Pope Francis, in Singapore, urges fair wages for migrant workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

SINGAPORE — Pope Francis on Thursday urged political leaders in Singapore, a leading global financial hub, to seek fair wages for the country’s million-plus lower-paid foreign workers. “These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” he said. Many of the migrant workers come from nearby countries such as Malaysia, China, Bangladesh and India. A Singapore NGO that provides services for migrant workers, Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, welcomed the pope’s remarks, saying they were in “full agreement” with his call for fair wages. The Vatican said Francis’ Mass drew some 50,000 people to Singapore’s national sports stadium.

Persons: Pope Francis, ”, Francis, Francis ’, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lawrence Wong, Tiziana Fabi, Getty Images Francis, Singapore’s, John Paul II, Singapore, ” Francis, Taylor Swift, Connie Rodriguez, “, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau Organizations: Singapore NGO, Organisation, Migration Economics, Tiziana, Getty Images, Getty, Catholic Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, AFP, Hong Kong, Indonesia, East Timor, Rome

Dili, East Timor CNN —Pope Francis received a rapturous welcome from the tiny Southeast Asian nation of East Timor, one of the world’s most Catholic countries, where more than half the population is expected to turn out for an open-air mass on Tuesday. People wait for Pope Francis to arrive at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili, East Timor, on September 10, 2024. Pope Francis greets Catholic worshipers in Dili, East Timor, on September 10, 2024. Four hundred years of ensuing Portuguese colonial rule led to the widespread spread of Catholicism in East Timor and other cultural differences from Muslim-majority Indonesia. East Timor is also on track to become the 11th member of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN, which could happen next year.

Persons: East Timor CNN — Pope Francis, Francis, Pope Francis, Firdia, ”, Willy Kurniawan, Francis ’, Carlos Ximenes Belo, Pope Francis ’, Pope John Paul II, Christina Kheng, ” Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Bishop Belo, Jose Ramos, Belo, Groene Amsterdammer, defrocked, Richard Daschbach, Xanana Gusmao, Mary, Bishop, Suharto’s Organizations: East Timor CNN, Timor Leste, Catholic Church, Timor, CNN, Asian Pastoral Institute, Reuters, US, Australia, Southeast, ASEAN, Vatican, Belo, East Timor, Jakarta, UN Locations: Dili, East Timor, Asia, strollers, Dili , East Timor, Timor, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Australia, Portuguese, East, United States, Horta, Portugal, Santa Cruz, East Timor’s, Bishop Belo, Indonesian, Jakarta, Australian

☆ Carlo Maria Viganò: Archbishop critical of Pope Francis excommunicated for schism
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, a former papal ambassador to the United States who became an ultra-conservative critic of Pope Francis, has been excommunicated for schism. As a Vatican diplomat, the archbishop was tasked with serving the pope, which makes his excommunication for schism highly unusual. The Vatican explained Friday that Viganò was excommunicated following an “extrajudicial penal process,” although the archbishop has said he did not “recognize the legitimacy” of the process. “I don’t know what happened,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, said recently about the now-excommunicated archbishop. The Vatican said Viganò had been told of the excommunication and that only the Holy See could lift the sanction.

Persons: Carlo Maria Viganò, Pope Francis, Viganò, Francis, Theodore McCarrick, Francis ’, Kim Davis, “, ” Cardinal Pietro Parolin Organizations: CNN, Vatican, Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church, State Locations: United States, Washington, DC, Francis, Vatican, Kentucky

☆ Italians Respond to Pope’s Slur by Taking Francis to Pride
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Emma Bubola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

At Rome’s Pride celebration, bare-chested men in pink angel wings danced to Abba songs, women wrapped in rainbow flags kissed, and shimmering drag queens waved from parade floats. And then there was Pope Francis. Romans came to the Pride parade on Saturday dressed like Francis, wearing papal hats and T-shirts that read, “There is never too much frociaggine,” a reference to an offensive slur against gay men that the pope has been accused of using twice in recent weeks. The slur “is the slogan of the 2024 Pride,” said Martina Lorina, 28, an actress who was holding up a banner bearing the word. After Italian media reported that Pope Francis used the slur at a meeting with priests to complain that there was too much “gayness” in the church, the Vatican apologized.

Persons: Abba, Pope Francis, Francis, ”, Martina Lorina

☆ The Pope has quickly become one of AI's biggest skeptics
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis warned world leaders that AI could "condemn humanity to a future without hope." The Holy See spoke about the dangers of AI at the G7 Summit in Italy on Friday. Francis urged politicians to make sure humans remain in control of AI, not the other way around. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Italy

☆ ‘You unite people,’ Pope Francis tells star-studded cast of global comedians in Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —As world leaders gather in Italy for a summit addressing entrenched global crises, Pope Francis hosted an international gathering of a different sort on Friday to broadcast his own message – of the importance of humor. The leader of the Catholic Church hosted the equivalent of a conclave of comedians in the Vatican by inviting Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien and others to the Vatican. Over 200 people were in the audience at the Apostolic Palace, with more than 100 comedians from 15 countries. You denounce abuses of power; you give voice to forgotten situations; you highlight abuses; you point out inappropriate behavior,” Pope Francis added. US President Joe Biden, a Catholic who has a warm relationship with Francis, is among the leaders expected to be present at the gathering.

Persons: Pope Francis, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis, Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Goldberg, Louis, Pope, ” –, ” Pope Francis, ”, Joe Biden, Francis, Francis ’, Tig Notaro, Jim Gaffigan, Colbert, Fallon, O’Brien, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Organizations: CNN, Catholic Church, Catholic, Venice Biennale Locations: Italy, Ukraine, Venice, Vatican

☆ Why Pope Francis thinks the Church should play a part in G7 debate on AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This week, the pope is due to make an historic intervention in the debate around AI at the G7 summit in southern Italy’s Puglia region. AI, the pope believes, can make the world a better place only if it serves the “common good” and does not increase inequalities. European Union lawmakers have already passed a law regulating AI, while a bipartisan group of US senators have set out plans for AI regulation that could lead to federal legislation. “AI and emerging technologies are on Pope Francis’ radar screen,” Larrey, now a professor of philsophy at Boston College, told CNN. It’s clear that Francis sees AI as part of what he called the “epochal change” taking place at the beginning of the 21st century.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Joe Biden, ”, “, Paolo Benanti, Benanti, ” Benanti, Vincenzo Paglia, Giorgia, Francis ’, Father Antonio Spadaro, Philip Larrey, Larrey, Pope Francis ’ Organizations: CNN, Catholic, Pontifical Academy for Life, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco Systems, United Nations, Food, Agriculture Organization, Union, Philosophy Department, Pontifical Lateran University, Boston College Locations: Italy’s Puglia, ” Italy, Puglia “, Puglia, Rome, Nevada

☆ Pope Francis apologizes for using a homophobic slur during a meeting with bishops
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Pope Francis has apologized for using an anti-gay slur during a meeting with bishops. The 87-year-old pontiff reportedly made the homophobic remark in a closed-door meeting last week as he told Italian bishops that gay men shouldn’t be allowed to train for the priesthood. “As he (Pope Francis) has said on several occasions, ‘in the Church there is room for everyone, everyone! Francis’ comments were made in the context of proposals from the Italian bishops to amend guidelines on candidates to seminaries. A view of St. Peter’s during a mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the first World Children’s Day on May 26, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Persons: Pope Francis, shouldn’t, “, Pope, ’, Francis ’, Peter’s, Franco Origlia, Francis Organizations: CNN, Repubblica, della Sera, Argentine Locations: Vatican City, Vatican

☆ Pope Francis accused of making homophobic slur in a closed-door meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Sharon Braithwaite | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Pope Francis allegedly told Italian bishops to not permit gay men to train for the priesthood, with two Italian newspapers claiming that the 87-year-old pontiff made a homophobic slur in a closed-door meeting last week. Citing sources from inside the meeting, the Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica newspapers reported Monday that the Pope had made the comments while meeting with Italian bishops on May 20. The remarks took place in the context of proposals from the Italian bishops to amend guidelines on candidates to seminaries. Two years later he told the Italian bishops not to accept gay candidates for the priesthood. A source close to the Pope told CNN that it could also be understood as there is a “gay climate” in the seminaries.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, “ Organizations: CNN, La Repubblica, della Sera, Argentine Locations: La

☆ Venice Biennale: Pope makes landmark visit and proclaims that ‘the world needs artists’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Venice CNN —Pope Francis has become the first pontiff to visit Venice’s contemporary art festival during a trip which saw him visit a female prison and rehabilitate the reputation of a pioneering American nun artist. Francis began his Venice trip by greeting each of the approximately 80 inmates in the prison courtyard, several of whom are involved in the exhibition. For 2024, the Venice Biennale has taken the theme “Foreigners Everywhere” and seeks to highlight artists from marginalized backgrounds. The Venice Biennale was first held in 1895 and takes place every other year, with each country having their own pavilion (the Vatican is the world’s smallest sovereign territory). For 2024, it has taken the theme “Foreigners Everywhere” and seeks to highlight artists from marginalized backgrounds.

Persons: Venice CNN — Pope Francis, Pope, Chiara Parisi, Bruno Racine, —, Francis, Marco Perego, Zoe Saldaña, Saldana, ” Francis, ” Pope Francis, ”, Corita Kent, Kent –, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois —, ” Kent, Mary, James McIntyre, Saint Mark, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Maurizio Cattelan, Pope John Paul II Organizations: Venice CNN, Vatican Media, Getty, Immaculate, Vatican, biennale Locations: American, Italian, Venice, Los Angeles, St, Portuguese

☆ Gender-affirming surgery threatens ‘unique dignity’ of a person, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception,” it adds. The latest Vatican document identifies various “violations” to human dignity, including in the digital world, pointing to the trends where people’s personal lives are laid bare and “combed over” anonymously. “There is a widespread notion that euthanasia or assisted suicide is somehow consistent with respect for the dignity of the human person,” the document states. He also pointed out that church opposition to abortion is not down to “fanaticism” but a consistent defense of the human person. He pointed out that the new document lists violence against women before abortion in its list of violations against human dignity.

Persons: Pope Francis, ”, Francis, “, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández –, ” Francis DeBernardo, ” Pope Francis, Cardinal Fernández, Cardinal Fernández’s Organizations: CNN, New Ways Ministry Locations: Torvaianica, Rome, Vatican, Africa

☆ Pope Francis presides over Easter Mass amid concerns over his health
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Sophie Jeong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Pope Francis presided over Easter Mass on Sunday amid renewed concerns over the health of the 87-year-old pontiff. The Pope had been leading Holy Week liturgies and, on Saturday, presided over Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica. Papal watchers have been closely monitoring the octogenarian’s well-being since last year, when he had an operation on his abdomen and was hospitalized with bronchitis. The Pope has been hospitalized for tests in recent weeks. He has also relied on his aides to read out some of his speeches at times when he was suffering from colds, the flu or bouts of bronchitis.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, ” Francis, Pope, ” Organizations: CNN Locations: St, Europe, Peter’s, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine

☆ Pope Francis skips Good Friday event at last minute ‘to preserve health’ for Easter rituals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Pope Francis pulled out of a Good Friday service at the last minute, the Vatican said, “to preserve his health” ahead of major Easter events over the weekend. The 87-year-old pontiff’s well-being has been watched closely following an operation on his abdomen last year. The stations mark various stages of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death, with the pope seeking to apply the biblical account to contemporary concerns. War, online hatred and the exploitation of women are among the themes tackled by Pope Francis in his Good Friday meditations this year. In them, he reflects on the judgment of the crowd watching the crucifixion, linking it to online hatred.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Jesus Christ’s, ”, Jesus Organizations: CNN, Vatican Locations: Peter’s

☆ Pope Francis breaks with tradition in annual ritual by washing the feet of women only
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Pope Francis on Thursday has washed the feet of 12 women at a prison in Rome during a ceremony emphasizing humility. It is the first time the pope has washed the feet of women only during the special annual service. Since his election, the pope has taken this ceremony out of Vatican territory and celebrated by washing the feet of prisoners, refugees and the disabled. Over the years, Francis has washed the feet of women and Muslims. His predecessor, Benedict XVI, only washed the feet of men, and later switched to washing only the feet of priests.

Persons: Pope Francis, Jesus, Francis, Michael Walsh, Fr Anthony Ruff, Nadia Fontana, Benedict XVI Organizations: CNN, Vatican Media, AP, Vatican Locations: Rome

☆ Pope skips homily at start of busy Holy Week during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, avoiding a strenuous speech at the start of a busy Holy Week that will test his increasingly frail health. Francis had been expected to deliver a homily halfway through the service and a prepared text had been distributed to journalists. Francis though did pronounce prayers throughout the service and offered a long appeal for peace at the end of the Mass. Palm Sunday kicks off a busy week for Francis leading up to Easter Sunday when the faithful commemorate the resurrection of Christ. Usually, the pope doesn't deliver a homily at Easter, but he traditionally offers reflections on Palm Sunday.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, didn't, Christ, God Organizations: Vatican, Sunday Locations: St, Moscow, Ukraine, Gaza, Vatican, Rome

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

☆ 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

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