Vatican Archives - Page 7 of 138

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Vatican appears to endorse couples in ‘irregular situations’ receiving blessings that do not ‘validate their status’

December 18, 2023

A new declaration from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith appears to attempt to square the controversial issue of approving blessings for same-sex couples without undermining the Church’s traditional teaching on the sanctity of marriage. The Declaration Fiducia supplicans issued by the Dicastery on 18 December, approved by Pope Francis, means “it will be

Vatican trial raises the question: Is Pope Francis ‘Great Reformer’ or ‘Great Restorer’?

December 18, 2023

ROME – Anyone who’s ever read or seen Inherit the Wind knows that almost 100 years ago, a celebrated trial took place in the American state of Tennessee, dubbed at the time the “Trial of the Century”, in which a teacher was accused of teaching evolution in a public school in violation of state law, thereby creating

Scattering ashes still contentious: Vatican maintains ban but approves preservation in ‘sacred places’

December 13, 2023

ROME – In response to a new set of dubia, or doubts, on the Catholic Church’s cremation practices, the Vatican’s doctrinal office has reaffirmed a ban on spreading ashes in nature. It has also said, however, that they can be conserved in “sacred places”. In an Oct. 30 letter, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, president of

‘Trial of the century’ verdict poses ‘key stress test’ for Pope Francis’ papacy

December 11, 2023

ROME – The Vatican’s “trial of the century” is due to come to its long-awaited conclusion at some point this week. It follows two and a half years and 85 separate hearings on charges of embezzlement and other financial crimes against Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine fellow defendants. Giuseppe Pignatone, a veteran Italian jurist

Expert says church is ‘waking up’ to climate crisis under Pope Francis

December 04, 2023

LEICESTER, United Kingdom – A leading Catholic expert on the environment has said that under Pope Francis’ leadership, “the whole church is waking up” to the climate crisis. “It feels like Pope Francis is acting as a barometer for climate action,” said Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy and Communications at CAFOD, the overseas development arm

Pope attends nine appointments in one day despite ill health

November 30, 2023

ROME – Pope Francis kept a busy schedule Thursday, with nine separate appointments, despite receiving ongoing antibiotic treatment for a flu causing lung inflammation. In a statement Wednesday night, the Vatican said that the pope’s condition is “stable” and that “he does not have a fever, but the pulmonary inflammation associated with difficulty breathing persists.

Pope keeps appointments but avoids speeches amid ongoing health concerns

November 29, 2023

ROME – Pope Francis, despite suffering from a flu and lung inflammation, kept major appointments on Wednesday but refrained from reading prepared speeches. The pontiff cancelled a trip to Dubai this week for a high-profile United Nations climate summit due to ill health. Entering the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall for his Nov. 29 weekly

Bishop Strickland: ‘I defended the truth and the Pope removed me’

November 29, 2023

The following interview appeared in the Tuesday, November 28 edition of the widely read Italian daily, La Verità, a translation of which is published here with their kind permission. A statement from the Holy See on November 11 announced the Pope Francis’ decision to “relieve” Bishop Joseph Strickland from governing the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.