Pope Francis

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Pope Allows Pilgrimages to Site of Reported Apparitions

Vatican, however, is not authenticating purported sightings of the Virgin Mary in Bosnia

(Newser) - The Vatican on Thursday gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to a southern Bosnian village where children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, per the AP . In a detailed analysis after nearly 15 years of study, the Vatican's doctrine office didn't declare that the...

Pope Francis Doesn't Like Either 2024 Candidate

Pontiff says Harris, Trump are both 'against life' and suggests people vote for 'the lesser of two evils'

(Newser) - Pope Francis would apparently like a third option when it comes to 2024 presidential candidates. Speaking to reporters Friday on a plane returning from Asia, the pope declared that both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are "against life," though for different reasons.
  • He summed up Trump and Harris,
...

Nearly Half of Small Nation Showed Up for Pope

About 600K faithful converged on park in East Timor to hear Francis speak

(Newser) - An estimated 600,000 people—nearly half of East Timor's population—packed a seaside park Tuesday for Pope Francis' final Mass, held on the same field where St. John Paul II prayed 35 years ago during the nation's fight for independence from Indonesia. The remarkable turnout was a...

Pope Keeps Promise to Visit 'Peripheries'

Francis takes message, aid to remote jungles of Papua New Guinea

(Newser) - Pope Francis traveled to the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea on Sunday to celebrate the Catholic Church on the peripheries, bringing with him a ton of medicine, musical instruments, and a message of love for the people who live there. Francis flew aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C-130...

Francis Kicks Off Longest Trip of His Papacy

Pope touches down in Indonesia first to start longest journey of his papacy

(Newser) - Pope Francis arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday at the start of the longest trip of his pontificate, hoping to encourage its Catholic community and celebrate the tradition of interfaith harmony in a country with the world's largest Muslim population. After an overnight flight from Rome, Francis was wheeled off...

In Asia and Oceania, Challenges Await Pope

20K-mile trip begins Monday, with relations with China in the background

(Newser) - If any evidence were needed to underscore that Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Asia and Oceania is the longest, farthest, and most challenging of his pontificate, it's that he's bringing along his secretaries to help him navigate the four-country program while keeping up with work back home. Francis...

Archbishop Excommunicated for the 'Crime of Schism'

In rare move, Vatican boots Carlo Maria Vigano for not recognizing Pope Francis, among other things

(Newser) - Carlo Maria Vigano used to be the Vatican's envoy to the United States. Today, he's a former archbishop, excommunicated on Friday in a rare move by the Holy See for refusing to recognize Pope Francis, among other things, per the Washington Post . On June 20, Vigano announced he'...

Russia Releases 10 Ukrainians Stuck Behind Bars for Years

After an intervention from Pope Francis

(Newser) - Ten Ukrainian civilians held prisoner for years by Russia arrived in Kyiv overnight Saturday after mediation via the Vatican, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said. They were freed Friday, per the AP . Some had been captured years before Russia's full-scale invasion. The pope has said the Holy See has been...

After Pope Uses Gay Slur, Pride Parade Celebrates It

Francis' image appears throughout Rome event

(Newser) - Participants in Rome's Pride celebration decided not to fight Pope Francis over his use of a gay slur. Instead, they made him a star in absentia in their parade Saturday, the New York Times reports: The pope's image appeared on T-shirts, hats, and cardboard cutouts. So did the...

Francis Raises Red Flag on Artificial Intelligence

Pope says human dignity should come first when dealing with AI

(Newser) - Pope Francis challenged leaders of the world's wealthy democracies on Friday to keep human dignity foremost in developing and using artificial intelligence, warning that such powerful technology risks turning human relations themselves into mere algorithms. Francis brought his moral authority to bear on the Group of Seven, invited by...

Chris Rock, Conan O'Brien, and the Pope Walk Into a Bar...

Or rather, the Vatican, as pontiff hosts 100-plus comedians to celebrate the importance of humor

(Newser) - Before flying to Italy's southern Puglia region to meet world leaders at the Group of Seven summit, Pope Francis hosted a very different audience at the Vatican on Friday to celebrate the importance of humor. The pontiff welcomed more than 100 comedians from 15 nations, including US celebrities Whoopi...

Pope Francis Once Again Accused of Using Anti-Gay Slur

Vatican has not commented on the latest report yet

(Newser) - Two weeks after he apologized for using an anti-gay slur , Pope Francis has been accused of using it again. The pontiff was reportedly behind closed doors at a meeting with priests Tuesday when he once again used the slur "frociaggine," which, according to Pink News , roughly translates to...

Pope Raises Eyebrows Over Alleged Remark on Women

Days after a reported gay slur, Francis is alleged to have called gossip a 'woman's thing'

(Newser) - Just days after Pope Francis apologized for a gay slur he's said to have used during a private bishops meeting, an allegation of another eyebrow-raising comment. The Guardian reports that the 87-year-old pontiff had another closed-door gathering in Rome on Thursday, this time with a group of young priests,...

Bishops 'Shocked' at Word the Pope Used in a Meeting

Francis has apologized for using gay slur during private debate on gay individuals becoming priests

(Newser) - Pope Francis has been more publicly welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community than his predecessors, but according to Italian media, his language behind closed doors caused a stir that has the pontiff apologizing. Reuters cites newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere Della Sera in reporting that the 87-year-old pope used a slur...

In Venice, Pope Meets Inmates Behind Hit Art Exhibit

Francis calls for imparting hope to the marginalized

(Newser) - Pope Francis traveled to Venice on Sunday to visit the Holy See's pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. But because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in Venice's women's prison and invited inmates to collaborate with the...

Transgender Christians Slam 'Hurtful' New Vatican Document

Declaration approved by Pope Francis says surrogacy, gender-affirming surgery are affronts to human dignity

(Newser) - The Vatican on Monday declared gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as grave threats to human dignity, putting them on par with abortion and euthanasia as practices that violate God's plan for human life. The Vatican's doctrine office issued "Infinite Dignity," a 20-page declaration that's been in...

Pope in Good Form at Easter Mass
Pope in Good Form
at Easter Mass
Mar 31, 2024 7:30 AM CDT

Pope in Good Form at Easter Mass

Pontiff, 87, shakes off winter illness as he calls for peace

(Newser) - Rallying from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems, Pope Francis led some 30,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday while making a strong appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. From the AP :
  • Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St.
...

Pope Skips Procession at Last Minute

Vatican announces decision was made to conserve Francis' health

(Newser) - Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, adding to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period. Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross, which reenacts Christ's Passion and...

Ukraine Responds to Pope's 'White Flag' Remarks

Zelensky, foreign minister, others don't seem inclined to surrender to Russia anytime soon

(Newser) - Allies of Ukraine have been expressing their dismay at recently aired comments made by Pope Francis last month, in which he said Ukraine should have the "courage" to send up the "white flag" in its war with Russia, implying Ukraine should surrender. Now, a slew of Ukrainian officials...

Allies Join Ukraine in Criticizing Pope's 'White Flag' Remark

Responses include references to prewar appeasement of Hitler

(Newser) - Ukrainian and allied officials criticized Pope Francis for saying that Kyiv should have the "courage" to negotiate an end to the war with Russia, a statement many interpreted as a call for Ukraine to surrender. The foreign minister of Poland, a vocal ally of Kyiv, and Ukraine's ambassador...

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