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☆ 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

[1/4] Carla and Claudia Victoria, transgender women, sit inside the Blessed Immaculate Virgin Church in Torvaianica, near Rome, Italy, November 16, 2023. But for transgender women who live there it had seemed light years away until a rapprochement with the Catholic Church that began during the COVID-19 lockdown and led to an invitation to have lunch with Pope Francis on Sunday. Claudia Victoria Salas, 55, and Carla Segovia, 46, both Argentinian, were in a group of transgender people, among about 1,200 poor and homeless people, who attended the lunch on the Church's World Day of the poor. As well as sending money, the cardinal arranged for them to have COVID vaccinations in the Vatican and to meet the pope. On Sunday, Conocchia arrived at the Vatican on a bus with about 50 poor from his parish, including transgender people, both foreign born and Italian.

Persons: Carla, Claudia Victoria, Antonio Denti, Pope Francis, Claudia Victoria Salas, Carla Segovia, Salas, Francis, Father Andrea Conocchia, Conocchia, " Salas, Segovia, Philip Pullella, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Immaculate Virgin Church, REUTERS, VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Immaculate, Thomson Locations: Torvaianica, Rome, Italy, VATICAN

☆ Italy's Transgender Women Thank Pope for Making Them Feel 'More Human'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

But for transgender women who live there it had seemed light years away until a rapprochement with the Catholic Church that began during the COVID-19 lockdown and led to an invitation to have lunch with Pope Francis on Sunday. Last week, the Vatican's doctrinal office issued a statement saying transgender people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves. As well as sending money, the cardinal arranged for them to have COVID vaccinations in the Vatican and to meet the pope. "For us, he is our saint," Salas said of Conocchia last week. On Sunday, Conocchia arrived at the Vatican on a bus with about 50 poor from his parish, including transgender people, both foreign born and Italian.

Persons: Oriana Boselli, Antonio Denti, Philip Pullella TORVAIANICA, Pope Francis, Claudia Victoria Salas, Carla Segovia, Salas, Francis, Father Andrea Conocchia, Conocchia, " Salas, Segovia, Philip Pullella, Barbara Lewis Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic Church, Immaculate Locations: Italy, VATICAN, Torvaianica

☆ 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

Colonel Tsury acknowledged the pressure on Israel to show evidence of Hamas activity at the hospital, but said it might be days before troops descended into the shaft. Another military official said Israeli troops had captured and interrogated a Hamas operative at the hospital, but offered no further detail. Israel has the backing of the Biden administration in its assertion that Hamas is operating under the Al-Shifa complex. At the same time, the Biden administration has cautioned Israel not to conduct airstrikes against Gaza’s hospitals, where thousands of Palestinians continue to take refuge. Amid pressure from European allies and a resolution by the U.N. Security Council calling for greater aid to civilians in Gaza, Israel on Friday agreed to permit two tankers of fuel to enter the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.

Persons: Tsury, Biden, Israel, Tzachi, Mr, Hanegbi, —, Abeer, ” Organizations: Shifa, Senior U.S, . Security, United Nations, Food, “ Locations: Al, Israel, Gaza

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israeli Army Takes Journalists on Controlled Visit to Gaza Hospital
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Philip P. Pan | Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Israeli soldiers from the 7th Brigade escorted journalists to see a stone and concrete shaft, on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital, in Gaza City on Thursday. But Col. Elad Tsury, commander of Israel’s Seventh Brigade, said Israeli forces, fearing booby traps, had not ventured down the shaft at the hospital, Al-Shifa. The controlled visit will not settle the question of whether Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that rules Gaza, has been using Al-Shifa Hospital to hide weapons and command centers, as Israel has said. Image A stone and concrete shaft on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital, on Thursday. The Times journalists were allowed to see only a portion of the sprawling Al-Shifa complex.

Persons: Elad Tsury, Israel’s, Daniel Berehulak, Israel, Tsury Organizations: 7th Brigade, New York Times, Israel’s Seventh Brigade, Shifa, ., New York, Hamas, The New York Times, Times, World Health Organization Locations: Gaza City, Al, Gaza, Israel

☆ Vatican in deal with Volkswagen for all-electric car fleet by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowVATICAN CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Wednesday signed an agreement with German carmaker Volkswagen to replace the city-state's entire car fleet with electric vehicles by 2030. The Vatican's fleet of cars includes dozens of vehicles, most of them dark blue. A pool of drivers take senior Vatican officials to events in Rome and beyond. Many lower-ranking Vatican officials and employees own and drive their own cars into the city-state from Rome. The statement said the Vatican would build a network of electric charging stations inside its walls and at its properties in Rome.

Persons: Pope Francis, Benoit Tessier, Mercedes, Francis, Philip Pullella, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Prado, REUTERS, AG, VATICAN, German, Volkswagen, Skoda, Volkswagen Group, Vatican, Fiat, Thomson Locations: Marseille, France, Rome, St

☆ In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative US bishop Strickland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Catholic conservatives, a Vatican statement said on Saturday. It is very rare for a Roman Catholic bishop to be relieved of his duties outright. Usually bishops in trouble with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting a resignation, which the pope accepts. Popes make such moves, considered drastic, when a bishop refuses a request to resign. Francis named the bishop of Austin, Texas, Joe Vasquez, as the interim administrator of the diocese, the statement said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph E . Strickland, Strickland, Francis, Joe Vasquez, Phil Pullella, Alvise Armellini, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: CITY, U.S, Roman, Vatican, Bishops Conference, Thomson Locations: Tyler , Texas, Tyler, Austin , Texas

OXFORD, England (AP) — Fans of Philip Pullman have been waiting almost five years for the final instalment in the author’s sextet of books about his intrepid heroine Lyra and her adventures in multiple worlds. “I haven’t got a title yet,” Pullman told The Associated Press in his home city of Oxford, where he was honored Thursday with the Bodley Medal. I haven’t found the right title yet — but I will.”The medal, awarded by Oxford University’s 400-year-old Bodleian Libraries, honors contributions to literature, media or science. Pullman says the next book will be his final foray into Lyra’s world -– though he also said that after the first trilogy, only to be tempted back. “There are other things I want to do,” including a book about words and images and how they work together on the imagination.

Persons: Philip Pullman, Lyra, haven’t, ” Pullman, Bodley, ”, Tim Berners, Lee, Stephen Hawking, Hilary, Kazuo Ishiguro, Zadie Smith, Colm Tóibín, Pullman, Canterbury Rowan Williams, “, Pullman’s, Philip doesn’t, ” Williams Organizations: OXFORD, Associated Press, Oxford, HBO, “ Locations: England, Oxford, Pullman, Canada, United States

☆ Transsexuals Can Be Baptized Catholic, Serve as Godparents, Vatican Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Transsexuals can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said on Wednesday, responding to questions from a bishop. A person in a same-sex relationship could also be a witness at a Catholic wedding, the office said, citing current Church canonical legislation which contained no prohibition against it. The Brazilian bishop sought guidance on whether a same-sex couple who had adopted a child or obtained it from a surrogate mother could have that child baptized in a Catholic ceremony. The response said that for the child of a same-sex couple to be baptized, there had to be "a well-founded hope that it would be educated in the Catholic religion". There was a similarly nuanced response to a question whether a person in a same-sex relationship could be a godparent at a Church baptism.

Persons: Philip Pullella, Bishop Jose Negri, Santo, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Pope Francis, Francis, David Gregorio Organizations: CITY, Argentine Locations: Santo Amaro, Brazil

☆ Transsexuals can be baptized Catholic, serve as godparents, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Transsexuals can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said on Wednesday, responding to questions from a bishop. A person in a same-sex relationship could also be a witness at a Catholic wedding, the office said, citing current Church canonical legislation which contained no prohibition against it. The Brazilian bishop sought guidance on whether a same-sex couple who had adopted a child or obtained it from a surrogate mother could have that child baptized in a Catholic ceremony. The response said that for the child of a same-sex couple to be baptized, there had to be "a well-founded hope that it would be educated in the Catholic religion". There was a similarly nuanced response to a question whether a person in a same-sex relationship could be a godparent at a Church baptism.

Persons: Bishop Jose Negri, Santo, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Pope Francis, Francis, Philip Pullella, David Gregorio Our Organizations: CITY, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Santo Amaro, Brazil

☆ 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

☆ Opinion | Two Ways of Looking at the West’s Population Dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

That means the dilemma of the 21st century isn’t how Earth will feed an ever-growing population, but how the world will deal with a potential mass rebalancing of population via migration, an altered wealth-and-people equilibrium, in a world where technology is making the movement of peoples easier than ever. Clearly, the richest countries will be able to replenish their populations with immigration across the 21st century — if they choose. (A 25 percent ratio means there are four workers for every retiree; a 50 percent ratio, just two.) I don’t think you need to be especially pessimistic to regard that kind of transformation as incompatible with stable democratic governance. It’s among the reasons you already have the rightward shift in European politics and why immigration restriction will be a winning issue for the foreseeable future in many European countries.

Persons: Declan Walsh, Africa’s “, Hannah Reyes Morales, Walsh, it’s, Paul Morland, Philip Pilkington, —, hasn’t, don’t, ’, Morland, Pilkington, Biden, Trump, “, Gilbert Meilaender, Blake Smith, Yuan Yi Zhu, Valerie Stivers, Tim Miller, John Gallagher, — Sarah Neville Organizations: Financial Times Locations: Israel, Gaza, Europe, Africa, East Asia, Latin America, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Sweden, Nigeria, Morocco, Americas, America, United States, Palestine, Denmark, Britain, South Korea, Japan, Asia, Poland, ”, London, North America

☆ Pope, on Visit to Military Cemetery, Says There Are No Real Winners in War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaROME (Reuters) - There are no real winners in any war, Pope Francis said on Thursday during a visit to a World War Two military cemetery, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine on his mind. The cemetery, in an area of Rome that was the scene of street fighting during World War Two, is the final resting place of about 425 soldiers from Britain and its former colonies who died while fighting in Italy. Truncated lives, lives without a future, here," he said"I thought of the parents, of the mothers who received that letter: 'Madam, I have the honour of telling you your son is a hero.' So many tears in these truncated lives," he said. So many people, young and not so young, in the wars of the world, even those closer to us, in Europe and beyond ... so many dead".

Persons: Philip Pullella ROME, Pope Francis, Francis, Israel, Philip Pullella, Gareth Jones Organizations: Roman Catholic Church Locations: East, Ukraine, Commonwealth, Gaza, Rome, Britain, Italy, Europe

☆ Pope says two-state solution needed for Israel-Palestine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fadi Whadi Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday a two-state solution was needed for Israel and Palestine in order to put an end to wars such as the current one and called for a special status for Jerusalem. With that wise solution, two states. The Oslo accords, two well-defined states and Jerusalem with a special status," Francis said in an interview with Italy's RAI broadcaster. Israel has consistently rejected suggestions that the city, which is sacred to Christians, Muslims and Jews, could have a special, or international, status. The war between Israel and Hamas, he said, should not make people forget other conflicts, including in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar.

Persons: Fadi, Pope Francis, Francis, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, Arafat, Israel, Gazans, Keith Wier, Franklin Paul, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, CITY, TG1, Hamas, Italy's RAI, Palestine Liberation, U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Jerusalem, Oslo, Israeli, Arab East Jerusalem, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Myanmar

☆ Pope says he will attend COP28 climate summit in Dubai, a first by a pontiff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | 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, October 18, 2023. The pope told Italy's state-run RAI television TG1 news in an interview that he expected to be in Dubai Dec. 1-3. In Dubai, the pope is expected to drive home his recent appeal for action to curb global warming. Francis, 86, has made protection of the environment one of the hallmarks of his papacy and met last month with COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber. Failure in Dubai, Francis said in the document, "will be a great disappointment and jeopardize whatever good has been achieved thus far".

Persons: Pope Francis, Italy's, Francis, Sultan al, Jaber, Deum, Joe Biden, Philip Pullella, Diane Craft, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, RAI, TG1, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Dubai, el, Sheikh, Egypt, Glasgow, Scotland

☆ Pope Calls for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Hostage Release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and renewed an appeal for the release of hostages held by the militant group in Gaza. "Let no-one abandon the possibility of stopping the weapons," he said at his weekly blessing in St. Peter's Square. "Ceasefire ... we say 'ceasefire, ceasefire'. War is always a defeat, always," he added. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alexander Smith)

Persons: Pope Francis, Brothers, Philip Pullella, Alexander Smith Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza, St

☆ Vatican Synod Ends Without Clear Stances on Women Deacons, LGBT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. The 365 synod participants included 300 bishops along with lay men and about 50 women who were mostly lay people. At the synod, the pope gave women and lay people a vote on Church affairs for the first time. The body released a final document with 81 paragraphs that each received at least two-thirds approval. The final report did not take a stand on LGBT issues despite discussion beforehand that the synod might call on the Church to be more welcoming to the LGBT community.

Persons: Philip Pullella, Cardinal Jean, Claude Hollerich, Francis DeBernardo, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: CITY, Roman Catholic Church, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Church Locations: St, Peter's

☆ Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women deacons, LGBT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Pope Francis attends a meeting of General Congregation during the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, October 28, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A month-long Vatican meeting on the future of the Roman Catholic Church ended on Saturday without clear stands on hot-button issues such as women deacons and welcoming the LGBT community. The 365 synod participants included 300 bishops along with lay men and about 50 women who were mostly lay people. At the synod, the pope gave women and lay people a vote on Church affairs for the first time. The final report did not take a stand on LGBT issues despite discussion beforehand that the synod might call on the Church to be more welcoming to the LGBT community.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal Jean, Claude Hollerich, Francis DeBernardo, Philip Pullella, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Roman Catholic Church, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: St, Peter's

POZZUOLI, Italy, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The talk in shops and coffee bars in Pozzuoli, a port town outside Naples, is not about soccer or politics, but of the fear that has gripped residents since a supervolcano sparked a swarm of earthquakes. Sulphurous fumes escape from the surface, giving the area a surreal look and making it a magnet for tourists. "Even those small ones (quakes) make us afraid," she said. There are big ones and small ones. Prezzini, 78, said he would defy any evacuation order, while 66-year-old Luigi Ilardi, chimed in: "We are used to it.

Persons: Stefania Briganti, Ciro De, Sophia Loren, Vincenzo Russo, Angelo Prezzini, Luigi Ilardi, I've, Ciro De Luca, Philip Pullella, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: POZZUOLI, Italy, Pozzuoli, Naples, Milan, Castel, Rome

☆ Pope Francis may attend global climate talks in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | 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, October 18, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Pope Francis may attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, Vatican sources say, to drive home his recent appeal for action to curb global warming. It would be the first time a pope has attended a U.N. climate change conference since they began in 1995. Other Vatican sources put the probability that the pope would go to the Nov. 30-Dec. 12 event as high as 90 percent. Failure in Dubai, Francis said in the document, "will be a great disappointment and jeopardize whatever good has been achieved thus far".

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Joe Biden, Sultan al, Jaber, Philip Pullella, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, State, Reuters, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Dubai, Vatican, Rome, el, Sheikh, Egypt, Glasgow, Scotland, Mongolia, French, Marseilles

☆ Jerusalem Catholic Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM looks on after being elevated to the rank of cardinal at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, made his comment in response to a question during a video conference with journalists in Italy. Diplomatic efforts have been intensifying to get aid into Gaza as Israel prepares a ground invasion to destroy Hamas. Pizzaballa said that about 1,000 Christians were sheltering in Church buildings in northern Gaza after their homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message.

Persons: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Yara, Pope Francis, Pizzaballa, Gazans, Philip Pullella, Nick Macfie Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Roman Catholic, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Church

[1/2] Pope Francis looks on as he leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, in his strongest comments since the start of the conflict in Gaza, on Wednesday called for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas militants and said Israel has a right to defend itself. On Saturday, Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip rampaged through parts of southern Israel, in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel's history. The pope's mention of Israel's right to self defence followed diplomatic pressure from Israel for him to make such a statement, following earlier statements from the pope and Vatican officials which Israel saw as too timid. But I would like to hear stronger words about Israel's right to defend itself."

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Israel, Raphael Schutz, Francis, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Gaza, St, Israel, Palestine, Rome

☆ Conservatives challenge pope on women, same-sex couples before Vatican meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends a consistory as Pope Francis elevates five Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, June 28, 2017. The action was the latest latest clash between the pope and minority conservatives, who have accused him of undermining a number of traditional precepts. Topics will include the role of women, greater acceptance of LGBT Catholics, social justice and the effects of climate change on the poor. At the meeting, around 365 "members", including cardinals, bishops, lay people and, for the first time, women will vote on proposals. Conservatives have taken issue with the fact that many lay people will have voting rights in a what is formally a Synod of Bishops.

Persons: Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Pope Francis, Alessandro Bianchi, Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmueller of, Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah of Guinea, Juan Sandoval Iniquez, Francis, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, Burke, Saint Pope John Paul II, Philip Pullella, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, America, National Catholic Register, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Asia, Europe, Africa, United States, Walter Brandmueller of Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany, Vatican, U.S

☆ Pope Francis hints at slight opening to blessings of same-sex couples
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis looks on as he meets with French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) at the Palais du Pharo, on the occasion of the Mediterranean Meetings (MED 2023), in Marseille, France September 23, 2023. Andreas Solaro/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has appeared to leave open the possibility of priests blessing same-sex couples, if they are limited, decided on a case-by-case basis and not confused with wedding ceremonies of heterosexuals. Francis made his opinion known in one answer to five questions from five conservative cardinals from Asia, Europe, Africa, the United States and Latin America. The pope's nuanced response differed from an explicit ruling against such blessings by the Vatican's doctrinal office in 2021. Any eventual blessings, Francis said, should not become the norm or get blanket approval from Church jurisdictions such as dioceses or national bishops conferences.

Persons: Pope Francis, Emmanuel Macron, Andreas Solaro, Francis, Francis DeBernardo, DeBernardo, Philip Pullella, Alison Williams Organizations: CITY, New Ways Ministry, Thomson Locations: Marseille, France, Asia, Europe, Africa, United States, Latin America, Germany

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