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☆ Pope to proceed with COP28 trip despite health issues, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square, at the Vatican, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Pope Francis, who is recovering from a lung inflammation, will attend the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai as planned, the Vatican said on Tuesday. "The pope is doing well," Bruni said, adding that the Vatican will decide before the trip whether to take any extra precautions for the 86-year-old pope's health. The Vatican announced on Monday that the pope would limit his activities this week in order to conserve his strength. Also on Tuesday, the Vatican released a schedule of papal activities for the Christmas season.

Persons: Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Matteo Bruni, Francis, Bruni, Philip Pullella, Alison Williams, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Dubai, Argentina, Rome

The White House said it was sending a climate team, including Special Envoy John Kerry, climate adviser Ali Zaidi and clean energy adviser John Podesta. Biden has called climate change the “ultimate threat to humanity.”Earlier this month, he released an assessment on the state of climate change in America and said the issue was impacting all regions in the U.S. “Not just some, all,” he said. “Anyone who willfully denies the impact of climate change is condemning the American people to a very dangerous future,” he said. Under his tenure, the U.S. passed the Inflation Reduction Act, America’s most significant response to climate change, and pushed toward more clean energy manufacturing. The act aims to spur clean energy on a scale that will bend the arc of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Persons: Joe Biden, John Kerry, Ali Zaidi, John Podesta, “, ”, Angelo Fernández Hernández, ” Biden, It's, al, Jaber, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, United Nations, “ Conference, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co Locations: Dubai, Africa, Ukraine, Israel, Eastern Europe, Abu Dhabi, America, U.S

☆ Ailing pope to broadcast Sunday prayer from residence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 26 (Reuters) - An ailing Pope Francis will recite his weekly prayer and message on Sunday from the chapel of his Vatican residence instead of the usual venue overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican on Sunday said he would deliver his usual midday message from the chapel in his residence to avoid going outside for the short journey to the Apostolic Palace. The message will broadcast on giant screens to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, as well as on the usual television and internet channels, the Vatican said without providing further detail on the 86-year-old pope's condition. Reporting by Philip Pullella Writing by Gavin Jones Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Philip Pullella, Gavin Jones, David Goodman Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Thomson Locations: St, Rome, Dubai

☆ Pope cancels Saturday activities because of mild flu - Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis cancelled his morning audiences on Saturday because of mild flu, the Vatican said in a statement. The 86-year-old pontiff holds regular meetings with Vatican officials on Saturdays, including a weekly one with the head of the Vatican department that oversees the appointment of bishops, as well as private audiences. He also had a meeting scheduled with the president of Guinea Bissau. Francis is missing part of one lung, which was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Francis, Angelus, Angelo Amante, Mark Potter Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Thomson Locations: Guinea Bissau, Argentina, St, Dubai

☆ Jewish groups criticize Pope on 'terrorism' remark, seek clarification
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience, at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Jewish groups have criticised Pope Francis and demanded clarifications over his comments that they saw as accusing both Hamas and Israel of "terrorism". Francis made the comments on Wednesday after meeting separately with Jewish relatives of hostages held by Hamas and with Palestinians with family in Gaza. In a toughly worded statement on Thursday, the Council of the Assembly of Italian Rabbis (ARI) accused the pope of "publicly accusing both sides of terrorism". But the AJC added: "Later in the day, he described the Israel-Hamas war as 'beyond war' as 'terrorism.'

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Simon Wiesenthal, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Philip Pullella, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Gunmen, Twitter, American Jewish Committee, Simon, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, St, Hamas, U.S, Nazi Germany, Ukraine

☆ Dispute erupts over whether pope called Gaza situation a 'genocide'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - A messy dispute broke out on Wednesday over whether Pope Francis used the word "genocide" to describe events in Gaza, with Palestinians who met with him insisting that he did and the Vatican saying he did not. The opposing versions emerged at an afternoon press conference with 10 Palestinians who met the pope on Wednesday morning at his Vatican residence. It came from His Holiness, Pope Francis," she said. Other participants at the Palestinian news conference concurred that they had heard the pope use the word genocide. The participants said the pope was very informed about the situation in Gaza and the lack of water, medicine and basic necessities.

Persons: Pope Francis, Shireen Awwad Hilal, Matteo Bruni, Hilal, Israel, Francis, Raphael Schutz, Schutz, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Janet Lawrence, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: CITY, Bethlehem Bible College, Vatican, Hamas, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, United Nations, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Israel's

☆ Pope says Israel-Hamas conflict has gone beyond war to 'terrorism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Pope Francis speaks during the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday met separately with Israeli relatives of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians with family in Gaza and said the conflict had gone beyond war to become "terrorism". Speaking in unscripted remarks at his general audience in St. Peter's Square shortly after the meetings in his residence, Francis said he heard directly how "both sides are suffering" in the conflict. He asked for prayers so that both sides would "not go ahead with passions, which, in the end, kill everyone". Nakba is the Arab word for catastrophe and refers to the displacement and dispossession of Palestinians in the 1948 war that surrounded Israel's founding.

Persons: Pope Francis, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Peter's, Francis, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Wednesday, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Gaza, St, Israel's, Israel

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

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

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

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

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

☆ Pope to meet relatives of hostages, Palestinians with family in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pope Francis gestures as he leaves after the weekly general audience, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Pope Francis will meet separately next week with relatives of hostages held by Hamas militants and with a group of Palestinians with family members in Gaza, the Vatican said on Friday, confirming a Reuters report. One source said 12 relatives of Israeli hostages would meet the pope early on Wednesday morning before his weekly general audience. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Rome, Parolin said the Vatican was working on a meeting between the pope and relatives of the hostages but gave no time frame. About 240 hostages were taken by Hamas gunmen when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Matteo Bruni, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Parolin, Francis, Philip Pullella, Gareth Jones, Jonathan Oatis, Toby Chopra Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Hamas, Reuters, State, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Gaza, Israel, Rome

☆ Pope to Meet Relatives of Israeli Hostages Next Week - Source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis will meet next week with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza, a source said on Friday. The source spoke to Reuters as the Vatican's number two, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy See believed their release and a ceasefire - which Israel has so far ruled out - were two "fundamental points" to resolve the crisis.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Hamas, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Vatican fleet is going all-electric with VW supplying the cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The first two vehicles, both VW ID.3 compact electric cars, have already been delivered to the Vatican, VW said. In a separate announcement, the Holy See also pledged to build a charging network within Vatican City and in other areas it controls. The Vatican referred to VW as its first strategic partner in the process to make its fleet carbon neutral. The electrification of its fleet is among a number of projects Vatican City is undertaking to reduce its overall carbon emissions. Contained within the Italian city of Rome, it gained its independence in 1929 through a treaty signed with the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Persons: VW, Pope, Benito Mussolini Organizations: CNN, Vatican, VW, Volkswagen, Catholic Church Locations: Vatican City, Vatican, Italian, Rome

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

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

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

BALTIMORE (AP) — Soon after U.S. bishops inside a Baltimore hotel approved materials on how Catholics should vote in 2024 elections, their recently ousted colleague and dozens of his supporters rallied outside the annual fall business meeting. We are serving migrants in our dioceses.”Outside the meeting’s last day of public sessions, Strickland, the ousted bishop, continued to make his presence known. When the pope asked Bishop Strickland to resign, it was a wound to the whole church,” Allen said. Many U.S. Catholic student centers are named in honor of Newman, which Bishop William Byrne, a former college chaplain, pointed out. ___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Persons: —, Bishop Joseph Strickland, Pope Francis, restate, ”, William Lori, Strickland, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Pope Francis ’, Mary Rappaport, Suzanne Allen, “, Bishop Strickland, ” Allen, Rappaport, ” Strickland, Cardinal John Henry Newman, Newman, Bishop William Byrne, ” Newman, Robert Barron, ” ___ Smith Organizations: BALTIMORE, U.S . Conference of Catholic Bishops, U.S, Catholic, ___, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Baltimore, Tyler , Texas, America, ”, United States, Alexandria , Virginia, Westport , Connecticut, Winona, Rochester, Minnesota, Pittsburgh

☆ Vatican Confirms Ban on Catholics Becoming Freemasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an estimated global membership of up to six million. "Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry," the Vatican's doctrinal office said in a letter published by Vatican media on Wednesday. The same office said last week that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and act as witnesses at Catholic weddings. The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican's doctrine chief, stating that Catholics "in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion". The group says it has 180,000 male members, with two parallel female lodges in England having another 5,000 members, and estimates global Freemasonry membership at around six million.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Elizabeth's, Prince Philip, Winston Churchill, Peter Sellers, Alf Ramsey, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: VATICAN CITY, Vatican, Freemasons, Catholic Church, United, Lodge of Locations: Philippines, Lodge of England, England

☆ Vatican confirms ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 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 Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Vatican has confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society that the Catholic Church has long viewed with hostility and has an estimated global membership of up to six million. "Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry," the Vatican's doctrinal office said in a letter published by Vatican media on Wednesday. The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican's doctrine chief, stating that Catholics "in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion". The group says it has 180,000 male members, with two parallel female lodges in England having another 5,000 members, and estimates global Freemasonry membership at around six million.

Persons: Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Elizabeth's, Prince Philip, Winston Churchill, Peter Sellers, Alf Ramsey, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, Freemasons, Catholic Church, United, Lodge of, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Philippines, Lodge of England, England

☆ Beijing Bishop Visits Hong Kong Amid Tensions Between China and Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jessie Pang and Joyce ZhouHONG KONG (Reuters) - China's state-backed Bishop of Beijing visited Hong Kong on Tuesday amid fears among some Catholics that Beijing wants tighter control over religious affairs in Hong Kong. The visit is the first trip by a mainland Chinese bishop since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997 and follows a landmark visit to the Chinese capital by his Hong Kong counterpart in April. Hong Kong has traditionally been seen as a regional Catholic hub on the edge of the Chinese mainland under officially-atheist Communist Party rule. Hong Kong has 600,000 Catholics. Tensions between Beijing and the Vatican over the appointment of bishops saw a confidential pact struck in 2018.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou HONG, Bishop, Pope, Bishop Joseph Li, Li, of Hong Kong Stephen Chow, Chow, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Zen, Tyrone Siu, Joyce Zhou, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral, Hong Kong Liaison Office, Communist Party Locations: Joyce Zhou HONG KONG, Beijing, Hong Kong, China, of Hong Kong, Vatican, China . Hong Kong, Asia

☆ Pope Francis Fires Conservative U.S. Bishop
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Francis X. Rocca | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, took part in a protest in June over the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring a pro-LGBTQ+ group at Dodger Stadium. Photo: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConROME— Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of the pope’s most vocal critics in the U.S. hierarchy, the Vatican said Saturday. The Vatican said that the pope had “relieved [the bishop] of the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Texas, and appointed Bishop Joe Vázquez of Austin as “apostolic administrator,” or acting bishop, of Tyler.

Persons: Bishop Joseph Strickland, Kirby Lee, Reuters Con ROME — Pope Francis, Bishop Joe Vázquez Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger, USA, Sports, Reuters Con, Vatican Locations: Tyler , Texas, U.S, Tyler, ” Texas, Austin

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Pope removes outspoken conservative Texas Bishop Joseph E. Strickland after investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Raja Razek | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pope Francis has removed a Texas bishop from his position after an investigation ordered by the Vatican. “The recommendation was made to the Holy Father that the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible,” reads the statement. “After months of careful consideration by the Dicastery for Bishops and the Holy Father, the decision was reached that the resignation of Bishop Strickland should be requested. Having been presented with that request on November 9, 2023, Bishop Strickland declined to resign from office.”“Thereafter, on November 11, 2023, the Holy Father removed Bishop Strickland from the Office of Bishop of Tyler,” he added. Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin has been appointed “apostolic administrator” of the Tyler diocese, according to the Archdiocese’s statement announcing Strickland’s removal.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope, Bishop Joseph E, Strickland, Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, ”, Bishop Dennis Sullivan, Gerald Kicanas, Francis, Joe Biden, Harris, ” Strickland, DiNardo, Tyler, Bishop Strickland, “, ” “, Bishop Joe Vásquez Organizations: CNN, Vatican, National Catholic, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Biden, Bishops, Catholic Locations: Texas, Tyler , Texas, Metropolitan, Galveston, Houston, Tyler, Camden, Tucson, Austin

☆ Texas Bishop Loudly Critical of Pope Francis Is Removed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of the loudest American voices against Pope Francis within his own church, recently responded to a Vatican investigation into his leadership and talk of his potential resignation with a public letter stating, “I cannot resign as Bishop of Tyler because that would be me abandoning the flock.” He added he would step aside only if the pope removed him. “The Holy Father has relieved from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Bishop Strickland, the Vatican said on Saturday in a routine statement of global staffing changes. It added that Francis had appointed Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin as the apostolic administrator of the sede vacante, or temporarily vacant seat, of Tyler. Supporters of Francis, who considered Bishop Strickland’s frequent salvos against the pope beyond the pale and indicative of his extremism, were likely to welcome the firing. But Bishop Strickland, 65 and well below the age of automatic resignation, tested the limits of that tolerance.

Persons: Bishop Joseph Strickland, Pope Francis, “, Tyler, Francis, Bishop Strickland’s, Francis ’, ultraconservatives, ” Bishop Strickland, Bishop Joe S, Bishop Strickland Locations: Tyler , Texas, United States, Tyler, Austin

☆ UK court rejects appeal over where critically ill baby's treatment ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kylie Maclellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Eight-month-old Indi Gregory suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease which means that her cells do not produce enough energy and has been on full life support since early September. Her doctors say she suffers from significant pain and distress and there is no point in continuing treatment. On Wednesday, a judge ruled her life support should be removed, either in hospital or at a hospice. The UK Court of Appeal dismissed their challenge in a remote hearing on Friday. Earlier this week the Italian government granted her citizenship in a further move aimed at preventing doctors from taking her off life support and allowing her to be moved to Italy.

Persons: Indi Gregory, Gregory, Peter Jackson, Jackson, Claire, Dean Gregory, Gregory's, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Alex Richardson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, of Appeal, Christian Concern, Thomson Locations: Nottingham, Britain, Rome, Italy

☆ Vatican rules some transgender people and babies of same-sex couples can be baptized
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Rome CNN —A new ruling by the Vatican’s doctrine department has opened the door to Catholic baptism for transgender people and babies of same-sex couples. Regarding transgender people, the document says a person who identifies as transgender can be baptized like any other adult, “as long as there is no risk of causing scandal or disorientation” to other Catholics. Children who identify as transgender can also be baptized if “well prepared and willing,” it says. The document cites several sermons by Pope Francis for the ruling. In each circumstance, the priest is asked to use “pastoral prudence” in deciding whether to allow a transgender person’s participation.

Persons: Rome, Giuseppe Negri, Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, ”, Francis DeBernardo, Pope Francis ’, ” DeBernardo Organizations: Rome CNN, New Ways Ministry, Catholic Locations: United States

Pope Francis, who has made reaching out to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics a hallmark of his papacy, has made clear that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents and be witnesses at church weddings, furthering his vision of a more inclusive church. The pope’s embrace of transgender people’s participation in the church was revealed in a Vatican document that he approved on Oct. 31 and that was posted online Wednesday. The decision “signals Pope Francis’ desire for a pastorally focused approach to L.G.B.T.Q.+ issues is taking hold,” he added. The immediate public response from American bishops, who have taken more restrictive stances on transgender issues, was generally muted.

Persons: Pope Francis, ” Francis DeBernardo, Pope Francis ’, ” Organizations: Roman Catholic Church, New Ways Ministry, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Locations: Maryland

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