Vatican cardinal and nine others will stand trial on charges including extortion, embezzlement and fraud over purchase of property in Chelsea using Church funds Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu will appear before the tribunal of the Holy See The 73-year-old was dismissed from a powerful Vatican job last September Becciu charged with embezzlement, abuse of power … Read more
Founding father of the EU moves step closer to being declared a SAINT: Vatican official says Robert Schuman’s ‘heroic virtues’ could be recognised by the Pope this summer Robert Schuman, twice PM of France, is known as the ‘Father of Europe’ He helped forge deep economic ties between nations after WWII Pope Francis could recognise … Read more
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden encouraged Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccines as part of their Easter Sunday message. ‘We share the sentiments of Pope Francis, who has said that getting vaccinated is a moral obligation, one that can save your life and the lives of others,’ the president said in a … Read more
Pope Francis has ordered cardinals to take a pay cut and reduced the salaries of most other Vatican clerics as the coronavirus pandemic hits the Holy See’s income. Francis issued a decree introducing the proportional cuts starting on April 1, the Vatican said on Wednesday. The pontiff has often insisted that he does not want … Read more
Vladimir Putin will receive Russian-made Covid jab tonight – but refuses to do so on camera or reveal which vaccine he will be given Russian President Putin will receive one of three Russian-made jabs tonight The Kremlin said refusing to reveal which vaccine Putin will have was deliberate Only four million of Russia’s 144 million people … Read more
Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country Francis and his entourage were waved off by Iraq’s president at Baghdad airport He will fly back to Rome after covering more than 900 miles on his four-day trip The 84-year-old pontiff urged Iraqis to embrace diversity and reject extremism By Tim Stickings … Read more
Pope Francis today held a historic meeting with the top Shia Islam cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on day two of his landmark visit to Iraq. The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to the Gulf, met with the Grand Ayatollah in Najaf as his four-day trip … Read more
Pope Francis appears for the first time since sciatica forced him to skip New Year Mass and wishes the world ‘peace and serenity’ Pope Francis led the traditional Angelus prayers in the Apostolic Palace ‘I send you all my best wishes for peace and serenity in the new year,’ he said Comes after the Pope skipped … Read more
Christians across the world celebrated Christmas today under unusual circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. Streams of drummers marched through Bethlehem yesterday and Notre Dame hosted a choral concert for the first time since it was destroyed by fire. Pope Francis hosted Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City slightly earlier … Read more
Pope Francis urges countries to strive for peace as he leads just 200 masked faithful at an early evening Covid-restricted ‘midnight’ mass in St Peter’s Basilica Pope celebrated the mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, on Christmas Eve Mostly employees of the state attended papal ceremony whilst wearing masks Mass was held at 7.30pm instead … Read more