DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A few years ago, Pope Francis told the head of the main Vatican-backed Catholic women's organization to be “brave” in pushing for change for women in the Catholic Church. “Not only because of these events in October in Rome, but because the church has found a different way of being church,” Zervino said in a recent interview in her Vatican offices. It's the culmination of an unprecedented two-year canvasing of rank-and-file Catholics about their hopes for the future of the institution. But the voting reform is nevertheless significant, tangible evidence of Francis’ vision of the Catholic Church as being more about its flock than its shepherds. Zervino’s group, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, a Vatican-based umbrella organization of 100 Catholic associations, conducted a survey earlier this year of Catholics who participated in the synod consultations.

Persons: Pope Francis, Maria Lia Zervino, Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, “, ” Zervino, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Francis ’, ”, Sheila Pires, ” Pires, ” Francis, Nathalie Becquart, Becquart, ” Becquart, Kate McElwee, Zervino, they'll, Sebabatso Mosamo Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Catholic, Catholic Church, World Union of Catholic, Bishops, Associated Press Locations: Argentine, Rome, Africa, Johannesburg, Vatican, North America, Europe, “

☆ Two mainland China bishops to attend big Vatican meeting after tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Two bishops from mainland China are due to attend a major Vatican meeting next month, officials said on Thursday, a positive sign after recent tensions between the Holy See and Beijing. The two bishops were chosen by their brother bishops in China, meaning they likely had approval from the Communist government, which holds great sway over the Chinese Catholic Church. Two other Chinese bishops were allowed by the government to attend another synod for the first time in 2018 but did not stay for the entire meeting. A landmark 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops has been tenuous at best, with the Vatican complaining that Beijing has violated it several times. Two months ago the Vatican chided Beijing for not consulting over the transfer of two bishops from one diocese to another.

Persons: Pope Francis, Anthony Yao Shun, Jining, Joseph Yang Yongqiang, Francis, Philip Pullella, Alex Richardson Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Communist, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Catholic, Churches, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Zhoucun, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vatican, Mongolia

☆ China agrees to rare visit by Vatican envoy for Ukraine talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Vatican envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi will visit China for talks on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, despite the lack of formal bilateral relations between Beijing and the Holy See. Li Hui, China's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs, will meet with Zuppi, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news conference. "On the issue of Ukraine, China has always been committed to promoting peace talks," said Mao. Zuppi will be in China from Wednesday to Friday as part of a diplomatic push to facilitate peace in Ukraine, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The Chinese foreign ministry did not give details on Zuppi's schedule or say whether he would meet China's top officials.

Persons: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Francis, Maxim, Li Hui, Mao Ning, Mao, Li Qiang, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Wang Yi, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Christian Schmollinger, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Italian Episcopal Conference, REUTERS, Rights, Eurasian Affairs, Kyiv, Vatican, Repubblica, Foreign, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Rights BEIJING, China, Ukraine, Beijing, Russian, Italian, Washington, Taiwan, Europe, Taipei, Munich

☆ Ukrainian Catholic bishops rebuke pope over his Russia comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Pope Francis attends a meeting with bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church at the Vatican, September 6, 2023. In a statement that was remarkable for its candour, they said their two-hour session with the pope at the Vatican was a "frank conversation". They were welcomed by the Kremlin, which praised the pope for what it said was his knowledge of Russian history. The statement from the Ukrainian bishops said the prelates "expressed the Ukrainian people's pain, suffering, and a certain disappointment" over the papal remarks. The statement quoted the pope as telling the bishops: "The fact that you doubted whom the pope is with was particularly painful for the Ukrainian people.

Persons: Pope Francis, tsars Peter I, Catherine II, Vladimir Putin, Francis, Putin, Philip Pullella, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Catholic Church, Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, CITY, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Mongolia, Russian, propounding

☆ 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

CNN —Pope Francis urged Chinese Catholics to be “good citizens” and “good Christians,” a rare instance of the Holy Father publicly addressing the issue of religion in China. Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine Francis has publicly criticized, and China, an atheist state where religious practice is heavily curtailed by the government. And to the Chinese Catholics, I ask you to be good Christians and good citizens.”Pope Francis leads Mass at the Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty ImagesChina may be officially an atheist state, but religious practice is legal in the country – albeit under tight government supervision and surveillance. Francis landed in Mongolia Friday for a trip that has lacked the usual fanfare of a Papal visit.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis ’, Pope, Ukraine Francis, Stephen Chow, Cardinal John Tong, ”, Francis, Hong, “, ” Pope Francis, Mass, Pedro Pardo, Pontiff Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong’s, Getty, Vatican News, Mongolian, Sunday Locations: China, Mongolian, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Vatican, Beijing, AFP, Russian

☆ In overture to China, pope sends greetings to a 'noble' people
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis sent greetings to China on Sunday, calling its citizens a "noble" people and asking Catholics in China to be "good Christians and good citizens," in his latest overture to the communist country to ease restrictions on religion. Francis made the unscripted comments at the end of a Mass in Mongolia's capital, calling up the former and current archbishops of Hong Kong, Cardinal John Tong Hon and Archbishop Stephen Chow, to flank him as he spoke. "These two brother bishops - the emeritus of Hong Kong and the current bishop of Hong Kong. I would like to take advantage of their presence to send a warm greeting to the noble Chinese people," he said in Italian. And to Chinese Catholics I ask to be good Christians and good citizens," he said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal John Tong, Hong Kong's, Stephen Chow, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Francis, Chow, Hong, Philip Pullella, William Mallard, David Evans, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Hong, Catholic, Communist Party, Reuters, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Mongolia's, Hong Kong, Beijing, Vatican, Vietnam, Hanoi, British, Asia

☆ Vietnamese Catholics travel to Mongolia to see pope, ask him to visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Joseph Campbell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Vietnamese Catholics who flew thousands of miles to see Pope Francis in Mongolia had one message for the pontiff: They want him to visit their communist-run country too. It was announced on July 27 when the pope received Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at the Vatican. "I really hope that he will visit Vietnam in the short term," Pham said, mentioning the hope spawned by president's visit to the Vatican. "I cannot tell (you) my feelings right now, because I'm so happy," said Vo, seeing the pope for the first time. "Vietnamese people, we love him and are waiting for him to visit us in Vietnam."

Persons: Mai Anh, Peter, Paul Cathedral, Pope Francis, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Cindy Pham, Ho, Vo Van Thuong, Pham, president's, Maria Vo, Francis, Joseph Campbell, Philip Pullella, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Catholic, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, Saturday, France, Ho Chi Minh City, Vatican, Hanoi, Vietnamese, Philippines

☆ Chinese Catholics sneak a peek at pope in Mongolia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Joseph Campbell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A member of security stands outside Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral on the day Pope Francis meets with bishops, priests, missionaries, consecrated persons and pastoral workers at the cathedral, during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A few Chinese Catholics came to sneak a peek at Pope Francis during an official welcome ceremony in the main square of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar on Saturday, enthusiastically waving their country's flag. The Vatican does not have diplomatic relations with China, instead recognising Chinese-claimed Taiwan, while China's Catholics have long been split between a state-backed official church and an underground flock loyal to the pope. Brandishing red, five-starred Chinese flags, two dozen Chinese nationals who identified themselves as Catholic devotees crowded around a police barrier to catch a glimpse of Francis on Saturday morning. Yang Guang, a 37-year-old Catholic from Shanghai, said he came to Mongolia for a holiday but was glad to catch a glimpse of the pope at Sukhbaatar Square.

Persons: Saints Peter, Paul Cathedral, Pope Francis, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Francis, Yang Guang, I've, It's, I'm, Yang, Suzanne Willis, Willis, Xi Jinping, Joseph Campbell, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Saints, REUTERS, Reuters, Roman Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Taiwan, Shanghai, Sukhbaatar, Hong Kong

CNN —Pope Francis formally began his 8,000-kilometer trip to Mongolia on Saturday, a country sandwiched between Russia and China that has a tiny Catholic population. With just 1,500 Catholics in the entire country, the visit was lacking the usual fanfare and mass crowds typically associated with Pope Francis’ trips abroad. Yang Guang from China told Reuters: “I’m just extremely happy because this is the first time I’ve seen him. He came at the invite of the government and spent the first day resting,Mongolian President Ukhnaagin Khurelsukh signs the honor book alingside Pope Francis on Saturday. China is officially an atheist state, but religious practice is legal in the country – albeit under tight government supervision and surveillance.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Francis ’, Pope, Yang Guang, “, I’ve, It’s, I’m, Ukhnaagin Khurelsukh, alingside Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Madame Tsetsege, ” Pope Francis, Saints Peter, Louise Delmotte, ”, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Vatican Media, Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, Saints, Paul Catholic Cathedral, Vatican News Locations: Mongolia, Russia, China, Ulaanbaatar, Portugal, Mongolian, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Pope Francis laments "reactionary," politicised, US Catholic Church
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican, August 27, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has lamented what he called a "reactionary" Catholic Church in the United States, where he said political ideology has replaced faith in some cases. "You have seen that in the United States the situation is not easy: there is a very strong reactionary attitude. "You have been to the United States and you say you have felt a climate of closure. In other words, ideology replaces faith, membership in a sector of the Church replaces membership in the Church," he said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Philip Pullella, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Catholic, U.S . Church, Jesuit, Thomson Locations: United States, Lisbon, Portuguese, Rome

CNN —A crowd vandalized eight churches and several homes following accusations of blasphemy against Islam in Pakistan’s most populated province of Punjab on Wednesday, according to government authorities and residents, stoking tensions between local Muslim and minority Christian communities. Multiple churches including the town’s Catholic Church, the Salvation Army Church and the Pentecostal Church, as well as the local Christian colony, were also vandalized and set on fire, Talib told CNN. Religious minorities in Pakistan are vulnerable to persecution under the country's strict blasphemy laws. Pakistan is among the countries where blasphemy is a crime punishable by the death sentence. Three years earlier, a mother of five from Punjab was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to hang, after she was accused of defiling the name of the Prophet Mohammed.

Persons: “, Prophet Mohammed, ”, Yasir Talib, Talib, Ghazanfar Majidi, ” Pakistan’s, Anwaar, Haq Kakar, Bishop, Church of Pakistan Azad Marshall, ” Marshall, ” Riina Kionka, Asia Bibi Organizations: CNN, National Commission for Human Rights, Centre for Social Justice, Catholic Church, Salvation Army Church, Pentecostal Church, Police, . District Police, AP People, Getty, Church of, European Union Locations: Pakistan’s, Punjab, Jaranwala, Pakistani, Faisalabad, Wednesday, Pakistan, AFP, Church of Pakistan, EU, Lahore’s Badami Bagh

☆ Priest: My conversion on LGBTQ rights tells an important story
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Opinion Michael Coren | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Some background and context: Until 2013 I was a Roman Catholic, and as a journalist and broadcaster with a fairly high profile, spoke and wrote frequently in support of Catholic sexual teachings. And according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” Pope Francis has made some soothing and compromising comments but, at heart, very little has changed. As a result, I was roundly attacked by Christian conservatives, Catholic as well as Protestant. I made a public apology in my syndicated newspaper column for harm caused to the LGBTQ+ community by my writing and broadcasting. I’m now a priest, spend my time trying to preach the genuine song of the Gospels, and write books and columns doing the same.

Persons: Michael Coren, I’ve, –, ” Pope Francis, Pope Francis, ”, Canada’s, John Baird, Baird, I’d, “ Tolle, Augustine, wasn’t, Ezekiel, Samuel, it’s, Jesus doesn’t, Paul’s, It’s, Jesus, Will Jesus, David, Jonathan, We’re, Matthew, Luke, I’m Organizations: Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, CNN, Roman Catholic, Catholic Church, Associated Press, Catholic, Twitter Locations: Canada, Roman, St, Northern Ireland, I’m

[1/5] Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at the end of the Holy Mass on the last day of World Youth Day (WYD) at Parque Tejo in Lisbon, Portugal, 06 August 2023. About 1.5 million people attended his closing Mass at a riverside park in the Portuguese capital, the Vatican said, quoting local authorities. "Dear friends, allow me, this old man, to share with you young people a dream that I carry within me: it is the dream of peace, the dream of young people praying for peace, living in peace and building a peaceful future," Francis said. Francis, who was returning to Rome on Sunday evening after an event to thank volunteers at the World Youth Day festival, met a delegation of 15 young people from Ukraine during his trip. The pope announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in Seoul, South Korea in 2027.

Persons: Pope Francis, Read, Francis, Marina Sylvester, DJ, Guilherme, Philip Pullella, Frances Kerry Organizations: Parque Tejo, Catholic Youth, Church, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, LISBON, Ukraine, Rome, pope's, Argentina, Seoul, South Korea

☆ Pope Francis Embraces ‘Youth Day,’ With an Eye on the Future
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“In Lisbon, I would like to see a seed for the world’s future,” Francis, 86, said in video remarks to young people ahead of World Youth Day, which he first attended in Brazil at the start of his papacy 10 years ago. The church, he warned, could not be a “club” for the elderly. The meeting will also be attended by more than 700 bishops and 20 cardinals, and comes as Portugal grapples with an exploding clerical sex abuse crisis. Francis is also preparing for a major meeting of the world’s bishops — and for the first time women and laypeople — to tackle divisive issues like the role of women and L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics in the church.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, ” Francis, Francis ’, Francis, — Organizations: Roman Catholic Church, ” Locations: Portugal, Lisbon, Brazil

Francis was speaking in Lisbon at the start of a five-day visit to the country in which he hopes to energize young Catholics during World Youth Day, the world's largest Catholic festival. The Vatican added the victims were accompanied by some representatives of institutions of the Portuguese Church responsible for the protection of minors. YOUNG CATHOLICS CONVERGE ON LISBONThe pope landed in Lisbon to a sea of young Catholics who have poured into the city from around the globe for the World Youth Day festival, held every two or three years in a different city. In Lisbon, young believers jumped and sang as they proudly waved their country's flag outside the Vatican embassy, where the pope is residing. REUTERS/Guglielmo MangiapaneWorld Youth Day "is a sign of faith and union in which all of us get together for a cause," said 20-year-old Carlos Hernandez.

Persons: Pope, Francis, Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Carlos Hernandez, Australian Andrew De Santos, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Philip Pullella, Catarina Demony, Patricia Rua, Alison Williams, Conor Humphries, Grant McCool Organizations: Catholic, Wednesday, Catholic Church, Vatican, Bishops, Conference, Cultural, Belem, REUTERS, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Portugal, LISBON, Lisbon, Portuguese, Vatican, Australian, Brazil, Rome, Ukraine, Europe

[1/3] A person walks by a church in the center of Lisbon, Portugal, December 2, 2021. Unimpressed, Almeida and two other victims launched the Coracao Silenciado (Silenced Heart) association, which gives a voice and support to those who have suffered abuse. "The only thing that helps us is to make other victims feel like they are not alone," Almeida said. Francis, who is visiting Portugal to attend a global gathering of young Catholics known as World Youth Day, is expected to meet privately with abuse victims. "There will be young people from all over the world and the reality (of abuse) is present in all continents," she said.

Persons: Pedro Nunes, Filipa Almeida, Pope Francis, Manuel Clemente, Almeida, Francis, Catarina Demony, Andrei Khalip, Conor Humphries Organizations: Reuters Connect, Portuguese Bishops, Conference, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Reuters Connect LISBON, Portuguese

☆ Pope urges Russian 'brothers' to restore Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, July 30 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called on Russia to reverse its decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, under which it had allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war. "I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea initiative may be resumed and grain may be transported safely," Francis said during his weekly Angelus message. Global wheat prices have spiked since Russia on July 17 quit the pact, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, and began targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River. Addressing crowds in St Peter's Square, the pope urged the faithful to continue praying "for martyred Ukraine, where war is destroying everything, even grain," calling this "a grave insult to God." Russia walked out of the Black Sea deal after saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertilizer exports had not been met.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Angelus, Vladimir Putin, Azali Assoumani, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Zuppi, Alvise Armellini, Angus MacSwan, Susan Fenton Organizations: CITY, Russian Federation, United, African Union, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United Nations, Turkey, St Peter's, Moscow, Africa, Kyiv, Washington

☆ Sinéad O’Connor paid dearly for criticizing the Catholic church. History proved her right
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Following the announcement of Sinéad O’Connor’s death aged 56 Wednesday, her life and music with all their complexities and convulsions have been put back into the spotlight. At first, the act drew widespread condemnation, but in subsequent years this eventually gave way to admiration as the Catholic Church acknowledged and apologized for the sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the clergy, often toward children. Ripping up that photo of the pope defined her career in a “beautiful f**king way,” she told the Guardian in 2021. Joe Pesci hosted the show the following week and in his opening monologue said that O’Connor “was very lucky it wasn’t my show. As the years passed, however, the public’s stance toward O’Connor softened as sexual abuse by members of the clergy became a matter of record.

Persons: Sinéad, Pope John Paul II, Bob Marley’s, ” O’Connor, John Paul II, “, O’Connor, ”, O'Connor, Stringer, Bob Dylan, Joe Pesci, she’s, Joey Buttafuoco, Amy Fisher, Pope Benedict XVI, O’Connor’s, Aisling Bea, sayer, Morrisey Organizations: CNN, Catholic Church, Rolling Stone, SNL, Guardian, Defamation League, Smiths Locations: Irish, United States, London, Antigua, Australia, Ireland

☆ Pope tells transgender person: 'God loves us as we are'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, July 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has told a young transgender person that "God loves us as we are", his latest outreach gesture towards the LGBT community. One of the young people was Giona, an Italian in their early 20s who said they were "torn by the dichotomy between (their Catholic) faith and transgender identity". The Catholic Church teaches that members of the LGBT community should be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity, and their human rights respected. Whether the Church can and should be more welcoming towards LGBT people, for example by offering blessings for same-sex unions, is a particularly sensitive topic. He backs civil laws giving same-sex couples rights in bureaucratic matters such as pensions and health care.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Alvise, Philip Pullella, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: CITY, Vatican, Catholic, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Portugal

☆ Pope approves Shanghai bishop as Vatican chides China for lack of consultation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY, July 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has approved a new bishop of Shanghai as the Vatican chided China for transferring him there without consultation, in violation of bi-lateral accords. A Vatican statement on Saturday said the pope had named Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to head the vacant Shanghai diocese position. It is the latest dispute between the Vatican and China over the transfer of a bishop. In November, the Vatican accused Chinese authorities of violating the 2018 pact by installing a bishop in a diocese not recognised by the Holy See. For the first time since the 1950s, both sides recognised the pope as supreme leader of the Catholic Church.

Persons: Pope Francis, Bishop Joseph Shen Bin, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Shen, Parolin, Philip Pullella, Frank Jack Daniel, Mike Harrison Organizations: CITY, State, Conservative, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Vatican, China, Haimen, Jiangsu province

☆ The 21 new cardinals named by Pope Francis on Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY, July 9 (Reuters) - Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he would induct 21 churchmen to the high rank of cardinal in September. The following are set to become cardinals:Cardinal Electors under 801 - Archbishop Robert Prevost, American, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for Bishops2 - Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Italian, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches3 - Archbishop Víctor Fernández, Argentine, Vatican official, head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith4 - Archbishop Emil Tscherrig, Swiss, Vatican ambassador to Italy5 - Archbishop Christophe Pierre, French, Vatican ambassador to the United States6 - Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Italian, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem7 - Archbishop Stephen Brislin, South African, Archbishop of Cape Town8 - Archbishop Ángel Rossi, Argentine, Archbishop of Córdoba9 - Archbishop Luis Aparicio, Colombian, Archbishop of Bogotá10 - Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś, Polish, Archbishop of Lodz11 - Archbishop Stephen Mulla, Sudanese, Archbishop of Juba, South Sudan12 - Archbishop José Cano, Spanish, Archbishop of Madrid13 - Archbishop Protase Rugambwa, Tanzanian, Archbishop of Tabora14 - Bishop Sebastian Francis, Malaysian, Bishop of Penang15 - Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, Bishop of Hong Kong16 - Archbishop François-Xavier Bustillo, Spanish-French, Bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica. 17 - Bishop Américo Alves Aguiar, Portuguese, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon18 - Father Ángel Fernández Artime, Spanish, head of the Salesian orderOver 80 and not eligible to enter a conclave19 - Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Italian, former Vatican diplomat20 - Archbishop Diego Padrón Sánchez, Venezuelan, Archbishop Emeritus of Cumaná. 21- Father Luis Dri, Argentine priestReporting by Philip Pulella and Federico Maccioni; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal, Robert Prevost, Claudio Gugerotti, Víctor Fernández, Emil Tscherrig, Christophe Pierre, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Stephen Brislin, Ángel Rossi, Luis Aparicio, Grzegorz Ryś, Stephen Mulla, of, José Cano, Protase Rugambwa, Bishop Sebastian Francis, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau, Bishop, François, Xavier Bustillo, Bishop of, Bishop Américo Alves Aguiar, Ángel Fernández, Agostino Marchetto, Diego Padrón Sánchez, Luis Dri, Philip Pulella, Federico Maccioni, Alexander Smith Organizations: CITY, Cardinal Electors, Vatican, Bishops, Cape, Argentine, Salesian, Cumaná, Thomson Locations: Argentine, Italy, Vatican, United States, Jerusalem, South, Córdoba, Bogotá, Lodz, of Juba, South Sudan, Madrid, Tabora, Bishop, Penang, Hong Kong, Spanish, Bishop of Ajaccio, Corsica, Portuguese, Lisbon

Search resuls for: "Bishops"

25 mentions found