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“This is the United States of America, and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it,” Ms. Britt said. “President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace.”As a rhetorical device, it would be hard conjure up a more powerful and resonant example. In a video released shortly after that trip, Ms. Britt discussed Ms. Jacinto’s experiences. “I thought it was very strange.”She said she preferred to keep politics out of the question of human trafficking. “The work I do is not a game.”A spokesman for Ms. Britt, Sean Ross, stood behind her speech.

Persons: Katie Britt, Donald J, Britt, Ms, George W, Bush, Biden, Biden didn’t, ”, “, Karla Jacinto Romero, Jacinto, Jonathan Katz, Sean Ross, Mr, Ross, Andrew Bates, Britt’s, Marsha Blackburn, Rosi Orozco, Blackburn, Karla, ” Andy McCullough, that’s, Pope Francis, Chris Smith of, McCullough Organizations: Republican, White, Times, Biden, U.S, Vatican Locations: Alabama, Montgomery , Ala, Biden’s, United States of America, Mexican, United States, Texas, Mexico, TikTok, U.S, Latin America, Eagle Pass , Texas, Tennessee, Chris Smith of New Jersey

☆ Pope Francis Undergoes ‘Diagnostic Tests’ in Rome Hospital
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | More About Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis, who has had a mild flu in recent days, was taken to a hospital in downtown Rome on Wednesday, reviving concerns about the 87-year old pontiff’s health. The Vatican said in a statement that he had gone for “some diagnostic tests,” but did not offer details about a visit that lasted less than an hour. Traffic police officers at the Gemelli Hospital on Tiber Island said that Francis arrived around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday and left about 40 minutes later. The pope has been under the weather for several days. On Saturday, Francis’s public audiences were canceled “as a result of a slight flu,” according to the Vatican.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis Organizations: Vatican, Traffic, Gemelli Locations: Rome, Tiber, St

☆ Opinion: Cecilia Gentili’s life can’t be diminished by one Catholic archdiocese
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Opinion Allison Hope | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The day after Valentine’s Day, a massive, fabulous funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to honor the late, great Cecila Gentili. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is perhaps the most famous Catholic church outside of the Vatican. Enrique Salvo, pastor of St. Patrick’s, did not mince words in a statement he issued from the Archdiocese of New York’s office only days later. Cecilia Gentili's casket is brought into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, on February 15. The Archdiocese of New York revealed its true colors with this statement, and along with them, the persistence of anti-LGBTQ judgment within the Catholic Church.

Persons: Allison Hope, Read, Billy Porter, Gentili’s, Gentili, Patrick’s, ” Allison Hope, Allison Hope “, Enrique Salvo, ’, Lent, Salvo, “, “ Saint Cecilia, Mother, Liaam Winslet, Mary Magdalene, ”, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cecilia Gentili's, Laura Oliverio, Webster, it’s, Pope Francis’s Organizations: New Yorker, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Slate, Patrick’s, Archdiocese, Gentili, Catholic, Patrick's, Merriam Locations: New, St, New York, Patrick’s, ‘ America’s Parish, “ Saint, New York City, Archdiocese

☆ Child abuse scandal rattles Orban’s image as defender of ‘family values’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Orban has long posed as a globetrotting defender of Christian values and an enemy of liberalism. But Orban’s critics say his carefully constructed image is a thin guise for a plutocratic mode of governance designed to enrich a small group of oligarchs. The scandal could also weaken Hungary’s bid to gain more influence in Brussels in the upcoming European elections. Since the scandal was revealed last weekend by Hungarian news site 444.hu, “Orban has not made an appearance or said anything. Critics argue that Orban’s proposed constitutional solution to the scandal is a symptom of his autocratic mode of governance.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Katalin Novak, Orban’s, ”, Judit Varga, Fidesz party’s, Varga, Orban, Hungary’s, “ Orban, Kim Lane Scheppele, Attila Kisbendek, Peter Magyar, “, ” Magyar, Magyar, Hungary ”, ” Orban, Critics, ” Scheppele, Hungary –, Bernadett Szabo, Scheppele, ‘, illiberal, ’ ”, Pope Francis, Eva Fodor, Fodor, Attila Kisbenedek, Zoltan Balog, Balog, hasn’t, Mark Rutte, Europe’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Fidesz, European Union, Princeton University, Partizan, State of, Reuters, Survey, Christian, Central European University, Getty Locations: Washington, Moscow, Brussels, Budapest, AFP, Varga’s, Hungary, State, Christian Europe, China, Venezuela, ”, Netherlands

☆ Israel Tones Down Criticism of Vatican's Gaza Remarks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israel on Thursday toned down its criticism of the Vatican, saying that remarks by Pope Francis' deputy on the killings in Gaza were "regrettable" rather than "deplorable". War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 ImagesBut on Thursday, the embassy said it should have used the word "regrettable", and that the mix-up was the result of an imprecise translation. But any comments involving Israel have particular historical and cultural sensitivities, built up over centuries. "A more precise" Italian translation would have been "sfortunata", the embassy said, a word which means something more like unfortunate. The air and ground offensive that Israel launched in response has so far killed 28,663 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pietro Parolin, Israel, Pope Francis of, Alvise Armellini, Andrew Heavens Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Hamas, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian

☆ Israeli Embassy Protests After Vatican Denounces Gaza 'Carnage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israel protested with the Vatican on Wednesday after Pope Francis' deputy defined what is happening in Gaza as "carnage" resulting from a disproportionate Israeli military response to Hamas. A day earlier, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin reiterated the "request that Israel's right to defence, which has been invoked to justify this operation, be proportional, and certainly with 30,000 deaths, it is not." Photos You Should See View All 22 Images"No one can define what is happening in the (Gaza) Strip as 'collateral damage' in the fight against terrorism. The right to defence, Israel's right to bring the perpetrators of the October massacre to justice, cannot justify this carnage," it said. At least 28,576 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli strikes, the health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pietro Parolin, Parolin, L'Osservatore Romano, Francis, Alvise, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestine

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Argentina’s faith and politics came together Sunday as Pope Francis canonized the country’s first female saint with Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei, sitting in the front row of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass to declare Mama Antula a saint marked the first meeting between the Argentine pope and Milei, who once called Francis an “imbecile” for defending social justice. Milei is to meet privately with Francis on Monday, before also having private talks with Italy’s far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni and the president. “It’s a gift of God that Pope Francis — an Argentine pope, a Jesuit pope — can canonize her,” he said. “But Mama Antula is a saint independent of Francis.”

Persons: Pope Francis, Javier Milei, Mama Antula, Milei, Francis, ”, Francis ’, —, Italy’s, Giorgia Meloni, ” Francis, Moses, “, María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, Silvia Correale, Mama, Mama Antula's, ” Correale, Ignatius, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, Antula, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis — Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Argentine, Associated Press, St, Catholic Church Locations: Peter’s, Argentina, Rome, Israel, Argentine, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires, Uruguay

The fear of the ongoing crackdown by President Daniel Ortega – on the Catholic Church in particular but not sparing evangelicals – has become so pervasive that it is silencing criticism of the authoritarian government and even mentions of the repression from the pulpit. Her work recording hundreds of instances of church persecution recently won her an International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. State Department. “If it’s dangerous to pray the rosary in the street, it is exceedingly so to report attacks,” Molina said. Despite the growing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services – where they remain available. “The dictatorship, what it wants is to completely eliminate the Catholic faith, because they haven’t succeeded in making the church kneel before them,” Molina said.

Persons: Daniel Ortega –, –, ”, Martha Patricia Molina, ” Molina, ’, Ortega, Nicaragua’s, ” Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Alicia Quiñones, It’s, Molina, Mother Teresa’s, didn’t, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Silvio Báez, Pope Francis, Dolly Mora, “ It’s, they’re, “, haven’t, Nicole Winfield Organizations: MIAMI, Central American, Catholic Church, U.S . State Department, Associated Press, “, . government’s, PEN International, Ortega’s Sandinista, Liberation, University of Central America, Jesuit, Vatican, AP, Lilly Endowment Inc Locations: Nicaragua, Nicaraguan, United States, Americas, America, –, Rome, Managua’s, Miami, ”

☆ Hungary’s president resigns amid uproar over child sex abuse case pardon
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Pierre Meilhan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hungarian President Katalin Novak has announced that she is resigning from office following mounting public criticism over her decision to pardon a man implicated in a child sexual abuse case. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the country’s capital Budapest on Friday, calling for Novak to step down. Protesters took to the streets in Hungary this week. Bernadett Szabo/ReutersNovak is a close ally of Hungary’s hardline nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán and was the former family minister. Saturday’s address was her final one as president, less than two years after she took office.

Persons: Katalin Novak, “, ” Novak, ”, Novak, Pope Francis –, Protesters, Bernadett Szabo, Viktor Orbán Organizations: CNN, Reuters Locations: Budapest, Doha, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ First Female Argentine Saint Brings Together Pope Francis and Milei
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Alvise ArmelliniVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday will elevate to sainthood the first female saint from his native Argentina, an event that will be attended at the Vatican by his former strong critic, Argentine President Javier Milei. Milei, a maverick right-wing libertarian, in the past called Francis an "imbecile", a "son-of-a-bitch preaching communism" and the devil's man on earth - but has softened his tone since taking office in December. Francis has said he hopes to be able make his first trip back to his homeland since being pope in 2013 in the second half of this year. Francis, himself a Jesuit, described her on Friday in a meeting with pilgrims from Argentina as a "gift to the Argentine people and also to the entire Church," praising her dedication to the poor. Quoting from his past writings, the pope condemned the "radical individualism" that permeates today's society as a "virus", in words that may jar with Milei's radical free-market instincts.

Persons: Alvise, Pope Francis, Javier Milei, Francis, Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, Mama Antula, Milei, Sergio Mattarella, Giorgia Meloni, Lucinda Alice Elliot, Clelia Oziel Organizations: CITY, Jesuit Locations: Argentina, Argentine, St Peter's, America, Israel, Italy, Buenos Aires

☆ The Friar Who Became the Vatican’s Go-To Guy on A.I.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Before dawn, Paolo Benanti climbed to the bell tower of his 16th-century monastery, admired the sunrise over the ruins of the Roman forum and reflected on a world in flux. “It was a wonderful meditation on what is going on inside,” he said, stepping onto the street in his friar robe. “And outside too.”There is a lot is going on for Father Benanti, who, as both the Vatican’s and the Italian government’s go-to artificial intelligence ethicist, spends his days thinking about the Holy Ghost and the ghosts in the machines. In recent weeks, the ethics professor, ordained priest and self-proclaimed geek has joined Bill Gates at a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, presided over a commission seeking to save Italian media from ChatGPT bylines and general A.I. oblivion, and met with Vatican officials to further Pope Francis’s aim of protecting the vulnerable from the coming technological storm.

Persons: Paolo Benanti, ”, Father Benanti, Bill Gates, Giorgia Meloni, bylines, Pope Francis’s Organizations: Vatican Locations: Italian

☆ Argentina's Milei Calls on Two Officials to Resign After Reform Setback
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday called for two government officials to resign, saying he needed greater commitment to his agenda after congress rejected his reform package earlier in the week. Milei, a self-defined anarcho-capitalist who took office in December, called for Mining Secretary Flavia Royon and Osvaldo Giordano, head of the country's ANSES social insurance agency, to step down. Congress' rejection of the omnibus bill on Tuesday marked a major setback for Milei, who has accused opposition lawmakers of "betrayal". "I wish the president a great administration and wherever I go I will continue to work for the good of Argentina," he said. On Friday he was in Rome, where he is scheduled to meet with his countryman Pope Francis.

Persons: Javier Milei, Flavia Royon, Osvaldo Giordano, Milei, Giordano, Royon, Pope Francis, Maximilian Heath, Sarah Morland, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: BUENOS AIRES, Reuters, Mining, Peronist Locations: BUENOS, Argentine, Argentina, Rome

☆ Hungary's President Under Pressure to Quit Over Pardon in Sex Abuse Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian opposition parties have demanded the resignation of the president over her decision to pardon a man convicted as an accomplice in helping cover up a case in a children's home whose director sexually abused children. She added that the reasoning behind her decision was not public and all pardons were divisive by their nature. The former director was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing several under-age boys in 2004-2016. "I am baffled by Katalin Novak's decision as a human being and as a mother," Momentum chair Anna Donath said in a statement on Wednesday, adding she believed the decision was "morally incomprehensible". Some of the opposition and civilians called a protest in front of Novak's presidential office for Friday.

Persons: Katalin, Pope Francis, Novak, Viktor Orban, paedophiles, MTI, Anna Donath, Orban's, Judit Varga, Krisztina, Alison Williams Organizations: Democratic Coalition, Socialists Locations: BUDAPEST

☆ Pope Francis hits back at critics of blessings for same-sex couples
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pope Francis has hit back at those criticizing his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples, saying the critics are guilty of hypocrisy. The heart of the document is welcome.”Last year, the 87-year-old Pontiff authorized priests to offer informal blessings of couples in “irregular” unions in a landmark document issued on December 18, 2023. It is the first time the Vatican has allowed for such blessings, having previously forbidden any such move. The Vatican has insisted that the blessings for same-sex couples are not of the “union” but for the people who request them. Francis’ authorizing of blessings for same-sex couples is part of his broader efforts to shift the church’s tone and approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, although this has been met with resistance from some sections within Catholicism.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, ”, ’, Don Vincenzo Vitale, “, Francis ’, Francis Organizations: CNN, Credere Locations: Africa, United States, Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — Even as Catholic dogma continues to repudiate same-sex marriage and gender transition, one of the most prominent religious orders in the United States — the Jesuits — is strengthening a unique outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics. James Martin, a Jesuit who is one of the country's most prominent advocates for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. On Tuesday, there was another milestone for Outreach — the appointment of journalist and author Michael O'Loughlin as its first executive director. The latest expansion of Outreach occurs amid a time of division within the global Catholic Church as it grapples with LGBTQ+ issues. “It’s a special grace for LGBTQ Catholics to know that the pope is praying for them," Martin said.

Persons: James Martin, Michael O'Loughlin, O'Loughlin, “, they’re, ” O'Loughlin, Pope Francis, Martin, ” Martin, “ Pope Francis, Brian Paulson, Jesus, ” Paulson, Martin's, ”, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Tania Tetlow, Archbishop John Wester Organizations: Jesuit, Catholic Church . Outreach, America, Associated Press, Vatican, Outreach, Jesuit Conference of Canada, Fordham University, Church, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: United States, New York City, America, U.S, Africa, Europe, Ireland, New York, Santa Fe , New Mexico

☆ Pope Condemns Anti-Judaism, Anti-Semitism Amid New Wave of Attacks Against Jews
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis condemned all forms of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, labelling them as a "sin against God", after noticing an increase in attacks against Jews around the world. "Together with you, we, Catholics, are very concerned about the terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world. The Pope noted that wars and divisions are increasing all over the world "in a sort of piecemeal world war", hitting the lives of many populations. He has also said on several occasions that a two-state solution was needed to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesIn his letter, the pope also called, once again, for the release of those hostages still being held by militants.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, Giulia Segreti, David Holmes Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza

With the 2024 presidential campaign shaping up as a likely rematch between Biden and Trump, immigration has moved to the forefront as one of the president's biggest potential liabilities. “If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly,” Biden said last weekend. That was due in part to a lack of cooperation from many cities and states whose leaders opposed Trump’s immigration policies. Wayne Bowens, a 72-year-old retired real estate agent in Scottsdale, Arizona, said he's disgusted by both Biden and Trump's recent border moves. Most Republicans, 55%, say the government needs to focus on immigration in 2024, while 22% of Democrats listed immigration as a priority.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, I’d, ” Biden, Katie Hobbs, ” Hobbs, Washington “, Trump, ”, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s, ” Trump, “, “ Nobody, it’s, Pope Francis, Barack Obama, Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Biden’s, ” Fernandez Hernandez, Wayne Bowens, he's, ’ ”, Bowens, It’s, Mike Madrid, Jill Colvin, Erin Hooley, Anita Snow Organizations: Biden, Trump, Democratic, Arizona Gov, Democrat, National Guard, Nine, Republicans, U.S ., White, GOP, “, Border Patrol, Republican, Associated Press Locations: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, United States, New York, Chicago, Denver, Washington, States, Arizona , California , Colorado , Illinois, Maryland , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York, New Mexico, Mexico, Las Vegas, U.S, Scottsdale , Arizona, “ Ukraine, Israel, California, Madrid, ” Madrid, Manchester , New Hampshire, Phoenix

☆ Pope Francis says Africa’s criticism of same-sex blessing a “special case”
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pope Francis has addressed criticism over his consent to priests to bless same-sex couples, saying the pushback from African bishops was “a special case” influenced by culture. African Catholic bishops said in a letter the pope’s endorsement “caused a shockwave” on the continent and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many”, including pastors. Kazakhstani bishops Tomash Peta and Athanasius Schneider jointly described blessings for same-sex unions as a contradiction to the age-long practice and doctrine of the Catholic Church. “To bless couples in an irregular situation and same-sex couples is a serious abuse of the most Holy name of God,” said the preachers who head the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in the country’s capital Astana. French Archbishop Hervé Giraud said last month he could bless a gay couple as he believed such a blessing was not an acceptance of a same-sex union.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, Francis, ”, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Tomash Peta, Athanasius Schneider, of Saint Mary, Hervé Giraud, ” Giraud Organizations: CNN, Italian, Stampa, Catholic Church, of, “, Catholic, La Croix Locations: Africa, Madagascar, Uganda, Asia, of Saint, Astana, Europe, France, Austria, Germany, Sens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ROME (AP) — A Vatican-affiliated Catholic charity made a last-minute appeal Tuesday to the U.S. state of Alabama to halt a planned execution using nitrogen gas, saying the method is “barbarous" and “uncivilized” and would bring “indelible shame” to the state. The Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community has lobbied for decades to abolish the death penalty around the world. It has turned its attention to Thursday's scheduled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in what would be the first U.S. execution using nitrogen hypoxia. Marazziti noted that around the world, the trend has been to abolish the death penalty. Pope Francis in 2018 declared the death penalty inadmissable in all cases.

Persons: ”, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, ” Mario Marazziti, general’s, Kay Ivey, Marazziti, Pope Francis Organizations: ROME, Catholic, Alabama Gov, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Alabama Locations: ., Alabama, Rome, Europe, Sant’Egidio, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United States

☆ Pope Francis takes on vested interests to speak out on humanitarian crises
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Analysis Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Pope Francis received an emotional welcome on the island during a visit showing solidarity with migrants fleeing war and poverty. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica during the Vatican's Penitential Celebration on Friday, March 4, 2016. Alessandro Di Meo/AP Pope Francis arrives for his visit with prisoners in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on Friday, July 10, 2015. Franco Origlia/Getty Images Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I address the faithful in Istanbul on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Gokhan Tan/Getty Images Pope Francis speaks during the feast-day Mass while on a one-day trip to Italy's Calabria region in June 2014.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Francis, “, ”, Regina Coeli, Vincenzo Pinto, Juan Manuel Santos, Santos, Alessandra Tarantino, L'Osservatore Romano, VINCENZO PINTO, Simon Bar Sabbae, Pope, FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, Karekin, TIZIANA FABI, Giuseppe Ciccia, MAX, Pope Francis tries, Pope Benedict XVI, Alessandro Di Meo, Evo Morales, OSSERVATORE ROMANO, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Federico Lombardi, Lombardi, Gregorio Borgia, Getty Pope Francis, Raul Castro, Castro, GABRIEL BOUYS, ANDREAS SOLARO, Kurukkal SivaSri, Mahadeva, Pope Francis in, Eranga, Franco Origlia, Bartholomew I, Gokhan Tan, San Gregorio Magno, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh, Oli Scarff, Barack Obama, SAUL LOEB, Santa Sabina, Max ROSSI, Daniele De Sanctis, Pope Francis ', FABIO FRUSTACI, Benedict XVI, Benedict, L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO, Osservatore Romano Pope Francis, Vinicio Riva, Riva, CLAUDIO PERI, Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus, Fotografia, Father Don Renzo Zocca, Osservatore Romano, LUCA ZENNARO, Jorge Saenz, Dan Kitwood, Jesus, Internationalis Paulus VI, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Roman Catholic Church's, Peter Macdiarmid, Pope Francis Prev, it’s, He’s, Filippo Monteforte, Donald Trump’s, Czerny, Trump, Donald Trump, Melania, Evan Vucci, Reuters “, ” Cardinal Czerny, Cardinal Czerny, doesn’t, Francis ’, “ Jesus Organizations: CNN, Getty Images, Colombian, Revolutionary Armed Forces, International Catholic Rural Association, Vatican, AFP, Getty, Catholic Chaldean, St, Mercy, ARIS MESSINIS, MAX ROSSI, Getty Images Bolivian, Cuban, Sunday, Queen, getty, Rainbow Association, Renault, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Intelligence, Warner Bros, Discovery, “, Republican, Reuters Locations: St, AFP, Colombia, Rome, Tbilisi , Georgia, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Poland, Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, Armenia, Vatican City, Moria, Lesbos, Peter's, Mexican, Havana, Cuba, Mexico, Santa Cruz , Bolivia, South America, Ecuador, Paraguay, La Paz, Bolivia, Italian, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Havana and Washington, Vatican, Pope Francis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Istanbul, Italy's Calabria, Jerusalem's Old City, Argentina, Roman Parish, San, Rome's, Santa, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Argentine, America, Gaza, Nove, Lampedusa, Italy, Ciampino, Czechoslovakia, Canada, United States, Africa

☆ Pope Francis Calls for Release of Nuns, Other Hostages Kidnapped in Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for the release of hostages, including six nuns, who were kidnapped on a bus in Haiti on Friday, and said he was praying for social harmony in the country. Armed gunmen hijacked a bus in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince with at least six nuns on board and drove off to an unknown destination taking all passengers hostage, Vatican News reported on Saturday, citing the Haitian Conference of Religious group. "I have learned with sorrow of the kidnapping, in Haiti, of a group of people, including six religious sisters", Pope Francis said after his weekly Angelus prayer. The violence comes ahead of a court decision expected on Jan. 26 on a Kenyan-led multinational force to address gang violence in the country, one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; Editing by Conor Humphries)

Persons: Pope Francis, Ariel Henry, Gianluca Semeraro, Conor Humphries Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, Haitian, Religious, Kenyan Locations: Haiti, Port

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