The announcement of the resignation of two bishops, also on Saturday, was always likely to go unremarked, if unnoticed. But there are resignations and resignations, and these two were not without interest.

Travellers to Rome are all too easily fleeced, but play 
your cards right and you can bypass the heaving 
crowds and overpriced cafes

In his address for the opening of the General States of Birth, Pope Francis confronted the issue head on, noting that the Italy has long had the lowest birth rate in Europe. In 2020, Italy saw the fewest number of births since national unification in the 19th century. Although young people want to have children, the Pope said, “their dreams of life, buds of rebirth for the country, clash with a demographic winter that is still cold and dark: only half of young people believe they will be able to have two children in their lifetime.”

Cecilia Marogna faces extradition to the Vatican from Italy for allegedly misappropriating €575,000 from the Holy See

Scientists confirmed this month that a crucifix in the Italian city of Lucca is the oldest wooden statue in Europe

Shops are preparing to reopen next month, but no date has been given for the resumption of public Masses

As we enter Week Two of lockdown, our spirits remain high

You may have heard that the bishop of a small city in Tuscany denounced a priest in his diocese to secular authorities in connection with sexual abuse allegations. The bishop is Giovanni Nerbini – a 66-year-old from Fiesole, consecrated bishop last June and installed in the see of Prato on September 7 of last year