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☆ 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

[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

☆ 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

☆ Solanke double fires Bournemouth to upset win over Newcastle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOURNEMOUTH, England, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Two second-half strikes by forward Dominic Solanke gave Bournemouth a 2-0 home win over a depleted Newcastle United on Saturday which lifted the Cherries to 17th place in the Premier League table, three points clear of the relegation zone. Newcastle were missing a slew of players through injury and suspension, forcing manager Eddie Howe, a former player and manager at Bournemouth, to deploy Anthony Gordon as a makeshift centre forward. Pope's efforts were undone at the resulting corner as his defence failed to clear and Solanke was on hand with an improvised close-range finish to double the lead. The second goal took the wind out of Newcastle's sails and Bournemouth wasted chances to add to their lead through Solanke and substitutes Luis Sinisterra and Dango Outtara. Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier declined to blame his side's hectic schedule and the injuries and suspensions that caused key players to miss the game.

Persons: Dominic Solanke, Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff, Solanke, Newcastle's Joe Willock, Nick Pope, Marcus Tavernier, Pope's, Luis Sinisterra, haven't, We've, Kieran Trippier, we're, Philip O'Connor, Ed Osmond Organizations: BOURNEMOUTH, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Premier League, Manchester City, Luton Town, Newcastle, Sky Sports, Champions League football, Thomson Locations: England, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Luton

☆ 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

☆ In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative U.S. bishop Strickland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, a Vatican statement said on Saturday. Usually bishops in trouble with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting a resignation, which the pope accepts. Strickland, a prolific user of social media who was named to the diocese by the late Pope Benedict in 2012, tweeted earlier this year that he rejected Pope Francis' "program undermining the Deposit of Faith". Strickland is a strong supporter of former U.S. president Donald Trump and is seen as a hero by conservative U.S. Catholic media outlets that are aligned with Trump. The Vatican said Francis named the bishop of Austin, Texas, Joe Vasquez, as the interim administrator of the Tyler diocese.

Persons: Joseph Strickland, Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph E . Strickland, Strickland, Pope Benedict, Francis, Donald Trump, Frank Pavone, Joe Vasquez Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger, Roman, Vatican, Bishops Conference, U.S . Church, Catholic, U.S, Trump, Twitter Locations: Tyler , Texas, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Tyler, Texas, United States, Austin , Texas

☆ A man was shoved out of campaign event after asking John Fetterman why he doesn't support a ceasefire in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The man is a human rights attorney who also writes op-eds for a Russian state news outlet. AdvertisementAdvertisementA man was forcibly removed from a campaign event on Sunday after he approached Sen. John Fetterman and asked why he's opposed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. According to his website, Kovalik is a "lawyer and human rights advocate" who "currently" teaches courses on international human rights law at the University of Pittsburgh's Law School. A man off-camera who said he worked for the senator told Kovalik he could direct his questions to him. After Kovalik told Fetterman "this is important," another man told the human rights attorney he needed to leave.

Persons: Sen, John Fetterman, —, he's, Dan Kovalik, Kovalik, Sara Innamorato, Fetterman, I'm, John Organizations: Service, University of Pittsburgh's Law, Russia Today, US Department of State, UN, Gaza Health Ministry Locations: Gaza, Russian, West Homestead , Pennsylvania, Israel

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Two Vatican trials are coming to a head this week and posing uncomfortable questions for the Holy See, given they both underscore Pope Francis’ power as an absolute monarch and the legal, financial and reputational problems that can arise when he wields it. The rationale: The pope hired Milone and then wanted him out, and the court has no right to judge his decisions. For Vatican prosecutors, that amounted to extortion. The Vatican is the lone absolute monarchy left in Europe, with Francis wielding supreme legislative, executive and judicial power. While he delegates that power on a day-to-day basis, he is still pope and what he says goes.

Persons: Pope Francis ’, Libero Milone, Francis, “, ”, Milone, Vatican, Gianluigi, Rene Bruelhart, Tommaso Di Ruzza, didn’t, Monsignor Edgar Pena Parra, Torzi, Pena Parra, Bruelhart, Filippo Dinacci, Di Ruzza, Roberto Borgogno, Di Ruzza's, –, Filippo Di Giacomo, Francis ’ Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, ” Prosecutors, Prosecutors, Islamic, RAI Locations: London, British, Torzi, Britain, Luxembourg, Vatican, Europe

☆ Israel Protests Pope Francis' Statement on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Francis X. Rocca | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

"It is inconceivable that an announcement essentially expressing concern for the residents of Gaza is issued at the same time Israel is burying 1,300 murdered citizens," Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen said in a statement on Sunday evening. Earlier in the day, the pope had called for humanitarian corridors for Gaza and for the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas. Cohen spoke with his Vatican counterpart, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on Sunday evening, the Israeli foreign ministry said, and called on the Vatican to unequivocally condemn the attacks. On Monday, the pope's representative in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said that he was willing to offer himself in exchange for Israeli children being held hostage.

Persons: Eli Cohen, Cohen, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa Organizations: Foreign, Vatican Locations: Gaza, Israel

[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

☆ 'The Exorcist: Believer' and Hispanic audiences: A match made in horror movie heaven
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Mike Calia | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In this article CMCSAUVV Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTStill from the set of "The Exorcist: Believer." The new "Exorcist" movie will draw big Hispanic audiences. Universal is seeing stronger-than-average Hispanic interest for "The Exorcist: Believer" as the movie heads into its opening weekend, according to people familiar with the matter. Hispanic and Latino viewers will have a big say in how "The Exorcist: Believer" does at the box office, no matter what. They tend to represent 26% of horror movie audiences, compared with 20% for other genres, according to the Comscore/Screen Engine PostTrak Audience Survey.

Persons: Lea, Rolando Rodriguez, Leslie Odom Jr, Hamilton, Taylor Swift, Paul Dergarabedian, R.C, Jara, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Bela Lugosi, Guillermo del Toro, bogeyman El, Llorona, Angel Melanson, they're, William Peter Blatty, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Melanson, David Gordon Green, Alfred Hitchcock's, William Friedkin, there's, Green Organizations: Studios, National Association of Theatre Owners, Comscore, Survey, Bettmann, Getty, Universal, CNBC, Pew Research Center, Universal Studios, Hollywood Locations: Cuban, Georgia, Hollywood, United States

☆ 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

☆ 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

GENEVA (AP) — The new head of the U.N.'s migration agency said Monday that the private sector is “desperate” for their countries to take in migrants to mop up labor shortages, especially in the West — endeavoring to steer a narrative away from reticence and suspicion about migrants in many parts of the world. ”We hear from ... the private sector globally, but especially in Europe and in North America, that they are desperate for migration in order to meet their own labor market needs and in order to continue to fuel innovation within their own companies,” Pope, who is American, told reporters. Pope insisted that countries must ensure legal and proper “pathways” to migration, a longstanding call by U.N. institutions. Pope officially took over Sunday from Antonio Vitorino of Portugal, her former boss, whom she outlasted in a U.S.-vs.-European Union showdown earlier this year. The Geneva-based agency has only had two non-American directors-general since its founding in 1951, and today it brings together 175 member countries and more than 20,000 staff.

Persons: Amy Pope, ” Pope, That’s, Biden, —, Pope, ”, “, Antonio Vitorino Organizations: GENEVA, International Organization for Migration, Union Locations: reticence, United States, Latin America, Europe, North America, East Africa, Africa, Asia, Portugal, U.S, Geneva, American

☆ Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Church future with new cardinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Pope Francis attends the consistory ceremony to elevate Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 30, 2023. There are now 137 cardinal electors, about 73 percent of them chosen by Francis. This increases - but does not guarantee - the possibility that the next pope will share his vision of a more progressive, inclusive Church. They are known as cardinal electors. On October 4, he will open a month-long major meeting in the Vatican, known as a synod, that could chart the Church's future.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Peter's, Francis, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau, Chow, Italian Bishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, convokes, Philip Pullella, William Maclean 私たち Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Church, Catholic Church, Malaysian Locations: Saint Peter's, St, U.S, France, Italy, Argentina, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Colombia, South Sudan, Hong Kong, Poland, Malaysia, Tanzania, Venezuela, Portugal, China, Beijing, Italian, Europe

☆ Newcastle dump Man City out of EFL Cup and draw Man Utd
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"It was a game of two halves for us," said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who brought on Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon after the interval. It was the third year in a row that City, winners four times in a row from 2018 to 2021, had gone out of the competition early. "We played an incredible game," City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports television. LIVERPOOL THROUGHManchester United beat Crystal Palace , also their league opponents next weekend, 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Blackburn Rovers thrashed Championship rivals Cardiff City 5-2 in the highest scoring match of the night and are at Chelsea next.

Persons: Alexander Isak, Isak slotting, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Nick Pope, Julian Alvarez, Eddie Howe, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Pep Guardiola, Sean Dyche's, Cody Gakpo, Kasey McAteer's, Dominik Szoboszlai, Diogo Jota, Juergen Klopp, Alex Iwobi, Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya, Reiss Nelson, Alan Baldwin, Toby Davis Organizations: Newcastle, Man, St James, Park Magpies, Manchester United, Liverpool, Leicester, Brentford Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Newcastle United, Manchester, League, City, Sheffield United, Sky Sports, Southampton, LIVERPOOL, Crystal, Old, ., Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, Arsenal, Burnley, Leicester City, Anfield, Premier League rivals Bournemouth, Stoke City, Norwich City, Ipswich Town, Ipswich Town . West Ham United, Lincoln City, Gunners, Community, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City, Thomson Locations: West Ham, LONDON, Manchester City, Swedish, Joelinton, Newcastle, Old Trafford, Nigeria, Ipswich Town ., Lincoln, London

☆ New Vatican letter suggests Pope Pius XII knew about the Holocaust as early as 1942
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A newly-uncovered Vatican 1942 letter suggests that then-Pope Pius XII likely knew about Nazi genocide. Pope Pius XII had already been scrutinized for his negotiations with Nazi Germany. Pope Pius XII was afraid Hitler would winGalerie Bilderwelt/Getty ImagesThe relationship between Pope Pius XII and Nazi leadership, especially Adolf Hitler, has long been uncovered and brought Pius under scrutiny, suggesting the pontiff was probably aware of Leiber's correspondence with König. "Pius XII was afraid of, certainly in the first years of the war, that the Nazis were going to win. The beatification process for Pius XII, which started in 1967, has been delayed because of his controversial choices during World War II.

Persons: Pope Pius XII, Sera, Pope, Pius, David Kertzer's, Giovanni Coco, Corriere, Robert Leiber, Lothar König, Hitler, Adolf Hitler, Pius XII, Mussolini, David Kertzer Organizations: Nazi, Service, The Guardian, Nazi Jesuit, Galerie, PBS Locations: Nazi Germany, Wall, Silicon, Germany, German, Polish, Rava, Ukraine, Belzec, Nazi, Poland, Auschwitz, Dachau, There's, Europe

☆ Letter shows Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] A man opens a door leading to the shelves where folders containing documents on Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939-1958, are stored inside the Vatican archives ahead of the full opening of the secret archives to scholars on March 2, at the Vatican, February 27,2020. "The newness and importance of this document derives from a fact: now we have the certainty that the Catholic Church in Germany sent Pius XII exact and detailed news about the crimes that were being perpetrated against the Jews," Coco told the newspaper, whose article was headlined: "Pius XII Knew". Asked by the Corriere interviewer if the letter showed that Pius knew, Coco said: "Yes, and not only from then." The letter was among documents Coco said were kept in haphazard ways in the Vatican's Secretariat of State and only recently handed over to the central archives where he works. Reporting by Philip Pullella, Additional reporting by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pope Pius XII, Guglielmo, Holy, Father Lother Koenig, Robert Leiber, Giovanni Coco, Koenig, Leiber, Pius XII, Coco, Pius, Corriere, Suzanne Brown, Fleming, Pope Francis, David Kertzer, Brown, Kertzer, Philip Pullella, Ludwig Burger, Alex Richardson Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, Holy, Jesuit, Corriere, Catholic Church, of State, U.S . Holocaust, Museum, Washington DC, Reuters, Pontifical, Catholic, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Germany, Vatican, Rava, Poland, Ukraine, Auschwitz, Dachau, Nazi, Europe, Vatican's, U.S, Washington, Frankfurt

☆ Pope's visit to France stirs debate over immigration, secularism
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis meets people on the day of the weekly general audience at the Vatican, September 13, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Pope Francis' scheduled visit to France next week has stirred debate in the French political class, with left-wing politicians criticising the president for attending Mass while the far-right objects to the pope's positive views on immigration. Macron's advisers said French leaders had attended Mass before, and there was "confusion" as to what secularism means. "I disagree with Pope Francis," Marechal said on BFM TV on Thursday. France, home to Europe's largest Muslim community, is regularly convulsed with debates on immigration.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Emmanuel Macron, Fabien Roussel, Macron, Marion Marechal, Marine Le, Marechal, doesn't, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Philip Pullella, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, French Communist, Thomson Locations: France, Marseille, France's, Republic, Europe, Paris, Rome

☆ Pope wraps up Mongolia trip, says Church not bent on conversion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People wave Chinese and Hong Kong flags, as Pope Francis arrives to attend the Holy Mass in the Steppe Arena, during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 3, 2023. Mongolia was part of China until 1921 and the pope's trip was dotted by allusions or appeals to the superpower next door, where the Vatican has scratchy relations with the communist government. At the end of Sunday's Mass he sent greetings to China, calling its citizens a "noble" people and asking Catholics in China to be "good Christians and good citizens." On Saturday, in words that appeared to be aimed at China rather than Mongolia, Francis said governments have nothing to fear from the Catholic Church because it has no political agenda. Beijing has been following a policy of "Sinicisation" of religion, trying to root out foreign influences and enforce obedience to the Communist Party.

Persons: Pope Francis, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Francis, Mercy, Italian Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Philip Pullella, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Catholic, Communist Party, United, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Italian, Beijing, United States, Iran, Russia, Vatican

☆ Pope acknowledges his Russia comments were faulty
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Pope Francis holds a news conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after visiting Mongolia, September 4, 2023. "I was not thinking of imperialism when I said that," Francis said about his comments last month. The comments caused an uproar in Ukraine because Russian President Vladimir Putin has invoked the legacies of the two Russian monarchs in justifying his invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of its territory. They were welcomed by the Kremlin, which praised the pope for his knowledge of Russian history. There were dark political years in Russia but the heritage is there, available to all," he said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Ciro Fusco, Pope, Catholic Church Pope, Francis, tsars Peter I, Catherine II, Vladimir Putin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Peter, Catherine, Francis said, John XXIV, Philip Pullella Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Catholic Church, Kremlin, Communist Party, Vatican, coy, Thomson Locations: Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Kremlin China, China, Vatican, Beijing, Vietnam, Marseilles

☆ Pope, quoting Buddha, urges religious dialogue to fight fundamentalism
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Pope Francis speaks during an ecumenical and interreligious meeting at the Hun Theatre, during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 3, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Calling himself one of the "humble heirs" of ancient schools of wisdom and quoting the Buddha, Pope Francis on Sunday urged all religions to live in harmony and shun ideological fundamentalism that foments violence. But the pope repeated on Sunday that he put great importance in "ecumenical, inter-religious and cultural dialogue". "There can be no mixing, then, of religious beliefs and violence, of holiness and oppression, of religious traditions and sectarianism," Francis said. Several of the leaders, including the rabbi and the shaman, imparted a special blessing from their religions on the pope, wishing him health and a long life.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Francis, Jesus, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Philip Pullella, Lincoln Organizations: Hun, REUTERS, Sunday, Catholic, Mongolian, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, Mongolian, China, Beijing, Soviet, Kazakhstan

☆ Pope, in Mongolia, sends apparent message to China on Catholic aims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On his first working day in Mongolia, the government feted the pope with traditional events such a parade including men on horseback dressed as ancient Mongol warriors. Chow, who will be a made a cardinal by the pope this month, told reporters he hoped the Church in Hong Kong could be a "bridge Church" with mainland China. "This is the Church of the world, especially for the margins, and that is a good thing," Chow said. Outside the pope's meeting with Mongolian leaders, about two dozen Catholics from China waved red, five-starred Chinese flags. Reporting by Philip Pullella in Ulaanbaatar; Additional reporting by Joseph Campbell; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Jesus, Saints Peter, Paul, Virgin Mary, Hong, Archbishop Stephen Chow, Chow, Oyun, ALBERTO PIZZOLI, I’ve, It’s, I’m, ”, Yang Guang, Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Zuppi, Philip Pullella, Joseph Campbell, William Mallard Organizations: Catholic, Communist Party, Saints, Mongolia's, REUTERS Acquire, Catholic Church, of, Thomson Locations: ULAANBAATAR, China, Mongolia, Beijing, Vatican, British, Hong Kong, Ulaanbaatar, Asia, of Rome, Shanghai, Kyiv , Washington, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Taiwan hopes Pope's China engagement helps 'worsening' religious freedom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the bishop's house during his Apostolic Journey, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. China's foreign ministry said the pope's blessing reflected friendship and goodwill, noting China and the Vatican had maintained communication in recent years. "We hope that Vatican-China exchanges will help improve China's worsening religious freedom and human rights issues," it added. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. Taiwan puts no restrictions on freedom of faith and has a thriving religious community that includes Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Francis messaged, Xi Jinping, Francis, Xi, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, China's

☆ Pope keen to 'move on' after criticism of US Catholic Church
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Pope Francis acknowledged on Thursday that his recent remarks calling out the U.S. Catholic Church as "reactionary" have ruffled feathers, and added that he wanted to "move on" from the controversy. "They got angry, but let's move on, move on," Francis told a journalist on the plane taking him to Mongolia. On Monday, the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica published comments Francis made while meeting Jesuit priests in Lisbon for World Youth Day in early August. "You have seen that in the United States the situation is not easy: there is a very strong reactionary attitude. It is organised and shapes the way people belong, even emotionally," the pope responded.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Cattolica, Phil Pullella, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: . Catholic, U.S . Church, Jesuit, Thomson Locations: Mongolia, Lisbon, Portuguese, United States

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