Vatican Archives - Page 4 of 139

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Future conclaves need protecting from media interference and ‘megalomaniac occult powers’

February 29, 2024

Amid ongoing concerns about the health of the 87-year-old Pope, a prominent progressive supporter of Francis has suggested making changes to the rules governing conclaves in order to slow down the election of the next pope, and guard against the possibility that well-timed leaks or other forms of interference might influence the outcome. Specifically, veteran Italian

Pope back in action but still has a cold and required a hospital check-up

February 29, 2024

ROME – After taking several days off due to what the Vatican described as a mild flu, Pope Francis on 28 February resumed his normal schedule, though an aide read his remarks during a public address, after which the Pope underwent tests at a hospital in Rome. Speaking to attendees of his general audience, Pope

Vatican warns German bishops of ‘legal consequences’ over disputed ‘Synodal Committee’

February 19, 2024

ROME – As the German bishops meet this week to advance their national reform process, the Vatican has threatened canonical action if they refuse to comply with an order to halt a vote on the statutes of a controversial new committee that had previously been disapproved. As part of their current Feb. 19-22 general assembly

A Jewish perspective on the Catholic Church’s response to the Gaza conflict

February 19, 2024

Amid the plethora of public utterances on the wrongs and rights of Israel’s military action in Gaza, those of several key Vatican officials and spokesmen, including Pope Francis, along with the comments of their neighbour, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo di Segni, have featured prominently in the Catholic Herald. Finding myself invited to supplement

Rift between Vatican and Israel grows after Gaza remarks by top papal advisor

February 15, 2024

ROME – A growing rift between the Vatican and Israel was exacerbated 14 February, when the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See hit back against a top Vatican official who said the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza is disproportionate. On the margins of a 13 Feb. event commemorating the 95th anniversary of the Lateran

Prominent clergy and scholars sign collective letter requesting Pope to retract Fiducia Supplicans

February 15, 2024

A collective letter entitled “Filial Appeal” has gained the signatures of around 90 prominent clergymen, intellectuals and authors around the world and has been submitted to the Vatican requesting the retraction of Fiducia Supplicans and its direction on the blessings of same-sex couples. The letter, originally published on 2 February 2024, addresses senior prelates around

Pope’s Ash Wednesday address: Remove social media ‘mask’ and ‘enter into the secret’ with God

February 14, 2024

ROME – Pope Francis told Catholics to carve out a silent space for God amid the buzz of the digital era in which little remains private as he opened the Lenten season with a procession and Mass on Ash Wednesday. In his homily, the Pope focused on the emphasis that the day’s scripture readings place

European farmers’ protest denied entry to Vatican—along with star cow

February 12, 2024

ROME – As part of continent-wide protests against low food prices and rising costs, a small delegation of farmers on Sunday led a cow that has become a symbol of the uprising toward St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s traditional noontime Angelus address. They were turned away before being able to enter. Convoys of farmers