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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 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 expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over ‘sadistic’ abuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Associated Press | Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

VATICAN CITY Associated Press —Pope Francis took the unusual decision Wednesday to expel 10 people – a bishop, priests and laypeople – from a troubled Catholic movement in Peru after a Vatican investigation uncovered “sadistic” abuses of power, authority and spirituality. It was announced by the Peruvian Bishops Conference, which posted a statement from the Vatican embassy on its website. The statement was astonishing because it listed abuses uncovered by the Vatican investigation that have rarely if ever been punished canonically — such as hacking someone’s communications — and cited the people the pope held responsible. Victims of Figari’s abuses complained to the Lima archdiocese in 2011, though other claims against him reportedly date to 2000. The investigation, published in 2017, found that Figari sodomized his recruits and forced them to fondle him and one another.

Persons: CITY Associated Press — Pope Francis, –, Francis ’, Luis Figari, ”, Figari, Pedro Salinas, Paola Ugaz, Sodalitium, Jordi Bertomeu, Charles Scicluna, Martin Mejia, Jose Antonio Eguren, Francis, Salinas, “ Organizations: CITY Associated Press, Peruvian Bishops Conference, CNN, South, Catholic, Maltese, Associated Press Locations: Peru, Vatican, America, South America, United States, Lima, Rome, Spain, Malta, Lima , Peru, Figari, Piura, Ugaz, Eguren’s, Peruvian

Almost half the population of East Timor, the most Catholic nation outside Vatican City, attended a Mass presided over by Pope Francis on Tuesday on the third leg of his Asia trip. An estimated 600,000 people packed the seaside park of Tasitolu near the capital, Dili, the Vatican told reporters, citing local authorities. But the Vatican has also admitted it concealed sexual abuse by members of the clergy in East Timor, including key figures in the independence movement. Francis, 87, is the first pope to visit East Timor since it became an independent state in 2002. “We have the opportunity to see the pope face to face.”The Mass was held at the same site where St. John Paul II, the last pope to visit East Timor, celebrated a historic liturgy in 1989.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, “ Viva, Francisco, ”, Lucrecia Nono, “, John Paul II, John Paul Organizations: Vatican City, Vatican, Catholic Locations: East Timor, Vatican, Asia, Tasitolu, Dili, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore

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

☆ I thought I was a respectful traveler until I visited Japan. I felt like a rude child and wished I'd known better before I left.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Tricia Patras | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But when I recently traveled from the US to Tokyo with friends, I found I wasn't as prepared for Japan as I'd thought. AdvertisementThrough trial and error, I learned rules I wish I'd known before I left — and things travelers should keep in mind if they visit Japan. AdvertisementIn Japan, it's considered rude to eat or drink in public while walking or standing. I also had to get used to removing my shoesRemoving your shoes upon entering certain places is considered respectful in Japan. Toru Kimura/ShutterstockDuring my trip, I also got used to taking off my shoes upon entering shared spaces, including my hotel.

Persons: —, I'm, it's, we're, who've, Toru Kimura, what's Organizations: Service, Business, Food Locations: Japan, Vatican, Taiwan, Tokyo, Chicago

☆ Carlo Acutis: Teenager to become first Catholic millennial saint as pope and cardinals approve canonization
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A video-gaming Italian teenager will become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint after his cause for canonization was approved by church authorities. Often depicted wearing jeans and trainers, his story is seen as helpful for the Catholic Church as it seeks to better connect with the younger generation in a digital age, and he’s become popular with Catholic youth groups. In May, a second miracle attributed to Acutis was recognized by Pope Francis, a decision which paved the way for him to be declared a saint. He was reportedly healed after his mother said she prayed to Acutis to intercede and help heal her son. Her mother said she prayed for her daughter’s recovery at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi.

Persons: Carlo Acutis, ”, Acutis, he’s, Pope Francis, ” Acutis, Matteo Berlenga, Reuters Acutis, –, Mario, Pokémon, Antonia Salzano, “, Salzano Organizations: CNN, Catholic, Vatican, Catholic Church, Reuters, PlayStation Locations: Catholic, St Peter’s, Vatican City, London, United Kingdom, Milan, Costa Rica, Florence, Italy, Assisi

☆ Vatican investigation of secretive society in Peru brings fresh hope for victims
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Like many victims of sexual abuse, it took years for Santiago to acknowledge that he was raped as a teenager. I come here to tell the truth because the authorities have not allowed me to speak,” Figari told reporters in Rome. At the age of 15, Figari told him he had great mental powers and offered to train him in ancient techniques, Santiago said. Years later, Santiago first reported his abuse to SCV members and filed a complaint against Figari at Lima’s Archdiocesan Tribunal in 2011. “I felt privileged, I felt listened to … (with) that phone call,” Santiago told CNN about when he first learned the Pope’s envoys wanted to meet him.

Persons: Santiago, “, ” Santiago, Sodalitium, Luis Fernando Figari, Figari, ”, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Jordi Bertomeu, Pope Francis, Cristiana's, José David Correa, Holy, Charles J, Scicluna, Vida Cristiana, White, Pedro Salinas, Salinas, Paola Ugaz, ” Figari, Martin Mejia, Young, Oscar Osterling, Superior Jose David Correa, Peru’s, Dr, Jose Ugaz, “ Sodalitium, ” Salinas, Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto, Pope, Chris Lamb, online.rainn.org Organizations: CNN, Catholic, Vatican, Military, SCV’s, Superior, Figari, Peruvian, Canon Law Locations: Peru, Santiago, Vatican City, Lima, Mons, America, Peruvian, Salinas, Rome, Italy, Lima , Peru, Lima’s

☆ 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

☆ Rome is building an eight-story underground museum – but treasures keep getting in the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Barbie Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Pope Francis opens the "Holy Doors" at St. Peter's Basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Now the hope is to have the line’s showcase Piazza Venezia stop, featuring an eight-story underground museum, ready in 10 years, according to engineer Andrea Sciotti, who is in charge of the metro museum complex. Each will be placed exactly where it was found inside the metro museum, which is being dug some 85 meters (280 feet) deep, encompassing eight stories below the modern city of Rome. The Venezia station museum stop is not the only treasure on the new line. In 2025, the new Colosseo-Fori station, complete with a four-level underground museum to showcase artifacts including 25 archaic wells unearthed when it was built, will also open after activation tests, meant to begin in October, are completed.

Persons: Rome, it’s, wasn’t, Pope Francis, Mercy, VINCENZO PINTO, Emperor Hadrian’s, Andrea Sciotti, Jesus Christ, “, ” Sciotti, Emperor Hadrian's, Stefano Montesi, Sciotti, It’s, ” Organizations: Rome CNN —, San, Vatican, AFP, Piazza Venezia, CNN, Corbis, Roman, Palazzo Venezia, Colosseum Locations: Rome CNN — Rome, San Giovanni Cathedral, Peter’s, St, AFP, Rome, San Giovanni, Italy, London ., Venezia

☆ Mayor Adams to Meet With Pope Francis in Rome
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Dana Rubinstein | William K. Rashbaum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mayor Eric Adams will travel to Rome on Thursday to meet with Pope Francis, becoming the latest in a recent succession of New York City mayors to pay respects to the leader of the Catholic Church. The trip comes as Mr. Adams, a moderate Democrat facing languishing poll numbers and a federal criminal investigation, prepares to run for re-election next year in what is expected to be a contested primary. A spokesman for the mayor had no immediate comment when asked about the trip; roughly an hour later, the mayor’s press office released an advisory that Mr. Adams would be in Rome later this week. The advisory mentions “travel to the Vatican City,” but did not specify if he would meet with the pope. But three sources familiar with Mr. Adams’s itinerary confirmed that he would see Pope Francis.

Persons: Eric Adams, Pope Francis, Adams, Frank Carone Organizations: Catholic Church Locations: Rome, New York City, Vatican City, ”

☆ Pope soldiers through Easter Vigil after missing procession
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis presides the liturgy of the light during Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on March 30, 2024 in Vatican City. Pope Francis on Saturday soldiered through a more than 2-hour Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter's Basilica, one of the longest services in Catholic liturgy, amid renewed concerns about the 87-year-old's frail condition. The pope is also restricted in his mobility due to a knee ailment, and regularly uses a wheelchair or a cane. Holy Week consists of several solemn ceremonies leading to Easter on Sunday, the most important festivity in the Christian calendar, celebrating the day in which the faithful believe Jesus rose from the dead. Francis is set to conclude Easter celebrations on Sunday with Mass in St. Peter's Square and his twice-annual "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Vatican, Jesus Locations: St, Peter's, Vatican City, St Peter's, Christendom's

☆ A woman aimed to visit 80 countries by 50 after a near-death experience. She did it — and then some.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Pamela Holt lost her entertainment career after two car accidents. "I hit rock bottom on that second accident," Holt told BI. Related storiesAfter a successful surgery, Holt woke up to her mom, who was already on the phone with American Airlines. After booking the trip, Holt told her doctors she planned to lug around a 40-pound backpack just half a year later. Pamela Holt at Vatican City, which is surrounded by Rome.

Persons: Pamela Holt, —, Holt, Pamela Holt Holt's, Petra —, Pamela Holt's Organizations: Service, American Airlines, Vatican City, Amazon Prime Locations: Mexico, Machu Picchu, Peru, Petra, Jordan, South America, Rome, Vatican, Holt, Thailand, Vietnam, Iceland, Bhutan

☆ I grew up trying to win my parents' approval. I ended up getting a Ph.D., but it was solo travel that changed my life.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I traveled solo after breaking off my engagementApart from visiting family in China — my last trip to Beijing was in 2018 — I hadn't traveled solo until last year. Last year, I decided to try something I'd never done before, which was to travel solo internationally. I began documenting my solo travel on TikTok and Instagram. I found it easy to connect with people abroadI started my journey with a solo trip to Denmark and Sweden in November. A month later, I embarked on a monthlong solo trip traveling to eight cities in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Vatican City.

Persons: —, Angela, I've, I'm, hadn't, @realphdfoodie, I'd, It's Organizations: Service, Business, San, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: Europe, Beijing, Florida , Texas, Southern California, San Francisco Bay, Bay, China, Copenhagen, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Vatican City, Iceland, 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis congratulated Italy on Monday after tennis player Jannik Sinner became the country's first man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly a half century. Sinner won the Australian Open title on Sunday and Francis made the acknowledgement during an audience with the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. “Today we have to congratulate the Italians because yesterday they won in Australia, so we congratulate them, too,” the pope said. “In tennis, as in life, we can’t always win,” Francis added. He's got a mix of great skill, great desire and great character.

Persons: — Pope Francis, Italy, Jannik Sinner, Sinner, Francis, can’t, ” Francis, ”, Davis, Italy’s, Sergio Mattarella, Adriano Panatta, Panatta, he's, “, ” Panatta, He's, I've, ” Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, ___ Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Real, de Tenis, “, Davis Locations: de Tenis Barcelona, Australia, Barcelona, Italy, Sunday's

☆ Religious trips will fuel India’s tourism boom — airlines are gearing up with record aircraft orders
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

India's tourism sector is set for a boom as more travelers take trips around the country for religious purposes. "Religious tourism is still the biggest segment of tourism in India … the creation of a new religious tourist centre (Ayodhya) with improved connectivity and infrastructure can create a meaningfully large economic impact," Jefferies highlighted. Indian media reported that around half a million people visited the Ram temple on its opening day which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The YouTube broadcast of the opening ceremony on Modi's channel alone received more than 11 million views. If it continues develop tourist destination including religious tourism, chances are that more and more people will come to visit India and it will even benefit on the foreign exchange side," said Nilesh Shah, managing director at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management.

Persons: Jefferies, —, Narendra Modi, Nilesh Shah Organizations: YouTube, Mahindra Asset Management Locations: Ayodhya, India, Rome's Vatican, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, Temple, Jammu, Kashmir

☆ Pope Says LGBT Blessings Are for Individuals, Not Approval of Unions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Friday defended a Vatican document on blessings for same-sex couples but said they were not an approval of a lifestyle the Church sees as potentially sinful but of individuals seeking to get closer to God. The pope said that while "moral perfection" was not required of people seeking such blessings, they were not intended to justify a relationship the Church considers irregular. Francis stressed that such blessings should not be given in a liturgical context. Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the Church, with its 1.35 billion members, more welcoming to LGBT people, without changing moral doctrine. Francis said that when the blessings are given, priests should "naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it".

Persons: Philip Pullella, Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez Organizations: CITY Locations: Supplicating, Africa

☆ Pope Issues New Anti-War Plea as He Evokes Nazi Holocaust
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has issued a new plea against all wars as he evoked the horror of the mass killing of Jews and other victims of the Nazis ahead of Saturday's Holocaust Memorial Day. "Let us not get tired of praying for peace, for conflicts to end, for weapons to stop, for relief for exhausted populations," Francis added. The leader of the world's more than 1.35 billion Roman Catholics mentioned the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the bombing of civilians in "martyred Ukraine". He repeated his assertion that "war is always a defeat" in which "the only winners, so to speak, are weapons manufacturers". (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Angus MacSwan)

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Alvise Armellini, Angus MacSwan Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Ukraine

☆ Pope Francis, Victim of AI, Warns Against Its 'Perverse' Dangers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis, acknowledging that he was the victim of a deepfake photo, on Wednesday warned against the "perverse" dangers of artificial intelligence, renewing a call for its worldwide regulation to harness it for the common good. Francis spoke of his fears and hopes for artificial intelligence (AI) in his message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Social Communications, which will be marked around the world on May 12. Francis also spoke of fake "audio messages that use a person's voice to say things which that person never said". He renewed a call he made last month for a legally binding international treaty to regulate AI. AI must support and not eliminate the role of journalism on the ground, he said.

Persons: Philip Pullella, Pope Francis, Francis, Joe Biden's, Angus MacSwan Organizations: CITY, Wednesday, Roman Catholic, Social Communications Locations: U.S ., New Hampshire

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