Vatican cardinal resigns from his post amid £180m financial scandal following purchase of London apartment block using Church funds Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on Thursday He renounced his rights as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Mr Becciu was implicated in scandal involving Vatican’s investment in property … Read more
Pope Francis tells parents of LGBT children that ‘God loves them as they are’ Pope Francis reassures the parents of LGBT children that God loves them Parents of LGBT children felt that some religious figures would not accept them The Pope met a group seeking greater acceptance from the church to LGBT people They gave … Read more
Pope Francis removes his mask as he touches worshippers and vows to defeat coronavirus with love at a ‘limited’ public audience at the Vatican as he steps up his return to normal duties Pope was all smiles as he shook hands and touched foreheads on Wednesday The 83-year-old removed his mask as he arrived at … Read more
Pope Francis has urged world leaders to only give coronavirus bailouts to companies which protect the environment and help the needy. The 83-year-old pontiff said the pandemic has laid bare inequalities in the world, and it would be a ‘scandal’ if leaders missed the opportunity to fix them. As countries race to return to ‘normal’, … Read more
Pope Francis praises UN Security Council campaign for ceasefires in wars across the globe to help in fight against Covid-19 Pope Francis praised the UN Security Council efforts for worldwide ceasefires to help tackle the pandemic He called for the prompt implementation ‘for the good of the so many persons who are suffering’ Security Council resolution … Read more
An exiled billionaire has accused the Chinese government of giving the Vatican £1.6billion every year in bribes to prevent it from criticising Beijing’s sweeping clampdown on religions. Fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui claimed in a podcast that the Communist Party had been paying the Holy See generously since 2014 because Beijing ‘wanted the Vatican to shut … Read more
‘Evil seems to reign supreme’: Pope Francis urges Christian faithful to ‘fill your hearts with hope’ amid anger at death of George Floyd and coronavirus pandemic Pope Francis today delivered a message marking the 4th World Day of the Poor Urged faithful to ‘revive responsibility’ for their neighbour to end world’s crises He told followers … Read more
Pope Francis calls El Paso bishop and thanks him for showing solidarity with George Floyd protesters after he took a knee and prayed silently for 8 minutes and 46 seconds during demonstrations Catholic Bishop Mark Seitz, of the Diocese of El Paso, was joined by 12 other priests as they knelt in silence for 8 … Read more
Pope Francis warns coronavirus recovery must not ‘leave anyone behind’ or world faces ‘an even worse virus of selfish indifference’ to follow Pope Francis said today that now was the time to heal injustice around the world He spoke at the church of Santo Spirito in Sassia to mark Divine Mercy Sunday More than 23,000 people have … Read more
Pope Francis prays for the ‘many mothers and sisters’ subjected to domestic violence during Covid-19 lockdown as he livestreams Easter Monday service from empty Vatican Argentine pontiff live-streamed an Easter Monday prayer from his private library Worries about domestic abuse have spread across world amid mass lockdown Italy and the Vatican entered a second month … Read more