CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope's future sparks debate, resignation seems unlikely 21-06-2022 11:10 Rumours of Pope Francis' resignation are flaring up again – but experts say Argentine pontiff won't be stepping down in the immediate future.
RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE With Ukraine, Vatican balances diplomacy and inter-faith ties 21-03-2022 08:35 The Vatican has long played global mediator but has struggled to make its mark in the Ukraine conflict.
RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE Pope visits Russian embassy to express "concern about the war" in Ukraine 25-02-2022 23:48 Pope Francis visited the Russian Embassy in the Holy See on Friday, making an unusual gesture to express his “concern about the war” in Ukraine.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Cardinal slams sex abuse cover-ups at Vatican priest forum 17-02-2022 14:58 An influential cardinal opened a Vatican symposium on the priesthood Thursday apologising for "unworthy ministers" and the cover-up of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, before an audience that included Pope Francis.
ARGENTINE PONTIFF Pope appoints Martín Guzmán to Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences 28-11-2021 10:28 In the midst of negotiations for to reach a new agreement with the IMF, Pope Francis names Argentina's Economy Minister Martín Guzmán to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
CATHOLIC LEADERS MEET Biden sidesteps abortion issue in meeting with Pope Francis 29-10-2021 12:46 President Joe Biden said Pope Francis called him a "good Catholic" as they met Friday at the Vatican at the start of a European trip aimed at reasserting the United States' international credentials.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Fewer Catholics in Europe, more in Africa, Americas 21-10-2021 10:49 The Catholic Church continues to lose followers in Europe, but numbers are booming in Africa and the Americas, according to figures released by the Vatican on Thursday.
CATHOLIC CHURCH 'Massive' child sex abuse in French Catholic Church, inquiry finds 05-10-2021 12:17 French Catholic clergy sexually abused around 216,000 minors spanning seven decades since 1950, a "massive phenomenon" that was covered up by a "veil of silence," an independent commission said Tuesday.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Brazil bishop resigns amid sex scandal 18-08-2021 21:09 Pope Francis accepted a Brazilian bishop's resignation Wednesday amid a scandal over a leaked sex tape and allegations he covered up cases of sexual abuse by priests in his diocese.
ARGENTINE PONTIFF Pope Francis leaves hospital after operation 14-07-2021 09:16 Pope Francis on Wednesday left the Rome hospital where the 84-year-old pontiff underwent an operation on his colon on July 4.
ARGENTINE PONTIFF Chicken walk and mate: Pope Francis' health, from colon to sciatica 05-07-2021 10:57 Pope Francis was doing well on Monday after surgery for an inflamed large colon, but the 84-year-old was expected to spend around seven days recovering in hospital, the Vatican said. A look at the Argentine pontiff's other health problems.
ARGENTINE PONTIFF Pope Francis undergoes colon operation, confirms Vatican 04-07-2021 20:55 Pontiff admitted to Rome's Gemelli University Hospital "for a scheduled surgery for symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon," informs Vatican statement.
VATICAN Blinken meets Pope Francis, speaks to Vatican on Venezuela 28-06-2021 15:07 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses crisis-torn Venezuela with Argentine pontiff during meeting at the Vatican.
CATHOLIC CHURCH UN rights experts urge Vatican to halt child sex abuse 21-06-2021 11:02 Experts voice "utmost concern about numerous allegations around the world of sexual abuse and violence committed by members of the Catholic Church against children."
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope Francis updates canon law to address paedophilia by priests 01-06-2021 12:15 Pope Francis has updated the Catholic Church's criminal code, adding details on punishing sexual abuse crimes of minors by priests, measures long sought by activists against paedophilia.
Alberto in Europe President talks poverty and pandemic with Pope at Vatican 15-05-2021 11:41 Alberto Fernández’s inner circle hail “excellent” meeting with Pope Francis. Argentina’s debt woes were also on the agenda.
ALBERTO IN EUROPE Fernández says he wants new IMF deal ‘as quickly as possible’ 15-05-2021 11:18 President holds 'positive' talks with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva in Rome, rounding off week-long European tour.
IMF DEBT TALKS President Fernández holds 'positive' talks with IMF chief in Rome 14-05-2021 14:16 President Alberto Fernández said Friday he was hoping to renegotiate Argentina's debt "as quickly as possible," after talks with the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Rome.
President in Europe President gains Spain’s support for financial negotiations 11-05-2021 14:26 President Alberto Fernández met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez this Tuesday and gained his support in Argentina’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Paris Club, as well as the release of Covid-19 vaccine patents.
PRESIDENT IN EUROPE Fernández kicks off Europe trip as Paris Club debt payment nears 10-05-2021 10:04 Argentina has reportedly asked the Paris Club to allow it to delay upcoming US$2.4-billion payment, due at the end of May, until it has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
Alberto heads to Europe President heads to Europe with IMF and Paris Club debts on agenda 07-05-2021 01:58 Further details emerge of Peronist leader's trip to Europe, which will take in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope Francis tightens Vatican's anti-corruption rules 29-04-2021 12:00 Pope Francis on Thursday announced new anti-corruption rules for top officials as part of his drive to clean up the Vatican following a series of scandals.
SEMANA SANTA Pope Francis urges vaccines for poor in Easter message 04-04-2021 09:04 Pope Francis urged Catholics to remain hopeful in his Easter Sunday address, calling vaccines an "essential tool" in ending the pandemic and urging their swift rollout to the world's poorest countries.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Vatican: Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions 15-03-2021 11:43 Vatican says Catholic Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions despite their "positive elements," saying it was impossible for God to "bless sin."
Argentine pontiff Pope Francis expects to spend his final days in Rome, says new book 28-02-2021 07:01 Asked how he sees his final days, 84-year-old Argentine pontiff tells Nelson Castro: "I will be pope, either active or emeritus, and in Rome. I will not return to Argentina."
GLOBAL PANDEMIC Reports: Pope Francis receives coronavirus vaccine 13-01-2021 12:05 Pope Francis, 84, was given the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, according to media reports.
ARGENTINE PONTIFF Pope recalls his youth playing football, dubs Maradona "poet" 03-01-2021 16:16 The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport in an interview with Italian newspaper.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope Francis appoints first African American cardinal 29-11-2020 08:56 Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals on Saturday – including the first African-American – putting his personal stamp on the body that will one day choose his successor.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Vatican breaks silence, explains pope's civil union comments 02-11-2020 17:36 The Vatican says pontiff's comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context in a documentary that spliced together parts of an old interview, but confirms Francis’ belief that gay couples should enjoy legal protections.
CATHOLIC CHURCH 'Unafraid' pope to escalate Vatican corruption fight 30-10-2020 14:12 Argentine pontiff hints he's preparing to ramp up his fight against corruption in the Vatican, weeks after the shock ousting of a cardinal over embezzlement accusations.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope meets with Australian cardinal acquitted of child abuse charges 12-10-2020 12:35 Pope Francis met Monday with Australian Cardinal George Pell for the first time since he was jailed – and then acquitted – on child sex abuse charges.
Global pandemic Pope: Market capitalism has failed in pandemic, needs reform 04-10-2020 09:04 In new encyclical, Argentine pontiff says the coronavirus pandemic has proven that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed and that the world needs a new type of politics.
Global pandemic Pope Francis makes first trip outside Rome since virus lockdown 03-10-2020 16:47 Pope Francis travels to Assisi for first trip since the Vatican's coronavirus lockdown.
DIPLOMACY US official urges Vatican, Pope to condemn human rights abuses in China 30-09-2020 10:08 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urges Vatican to denounce violations of religious freedom in China, saying the Catholic Church should be at the forefront in the fight to insist on basic human rights there.
CHURCH SEX ABUSE SCANDALS Prosecutors in Entre Ríos investigate claim priest raped nephew 29-09-2020 14:03 Sergio Decuyper accuses his paternal uncle, Reverend José Francisco Decuyper, of raping him more than 35 years ago. 42-year-old says Pope Francis asked him not to file a criminal complaint.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope seeks to 'liberate' Virgin Mary from the Mafia 18-09-2020 14:15 Pope Francis gives blessing to new Vatican think tank that seeks to prevent the Mafia and organised crime groups from exploiting the image of the Virgin Mary for their own illicit ends.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pleasures of food and sex 'simply divine,' says Pope Francis 09-09-2020 16:50 The pleasures of a well-cooked meal or loving sexual intercourse are "divine" and have unjustly fallen victim to "overzealousness" on the part of the Church in the past, says pontiff.
The Pope & the Pandemic What happens when pandemic locks down a globe-trotting pope? 30-08-2020 08:37 During the virus crisis, Francis has become a 21st century “prisoner of the Vatican," as one of his predecessors was once known, robbed of the crowds, foreign travel and visits to the peripheries that so defined and popularised his papacy.
CATHOLIC CHURCH Pope Francis names six women to Vatican economic council 07-08-2020 14:32 Women will serve as lay experts on the 15-member body, which also includes eight cardinals and another male lay expert, the Vatican said in a statement.