Pope will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in longest trip of papacy
Vatican City AP Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, confirming the longest trip of Francis’ papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina and mobility. The Vatican confirmed the 2nd to 13th September visit, saying the 87-year-old Pope would visit Jakarta, Indonesia; Port […]
Pope shows off rosary of slain Ukrainian soldier, denounces “madness of war”; Indonesian minister says Pope planning visit
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis led thousands of people in a moment of silence Wednesday to pray for the aid workers killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza and a young Ukrainian soldier named Oleksandre who was killed in ‘’this madness of war”. Francis appealed anew for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release […]
Pope meets Vietnam political delegation, wants to visit the country
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis met a delegation from Vietnam’s Communist Party on Thursday and the Vatican’s foreign minister said the pontiff was keen to visit the South-East Asian country in the wake of upgraded relations. The meeting followed a private audience between the Pope and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in July, when both […]
“Nothing is lost in peace”: Pope Francis mobilising Vatican diplomats to quell a world war he says has begun
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports on how Pope Francis and the Vatican are pursuing peace in the globe’s two major conflicts, working through official and unofficial channels…
Vatican presses world leaders at UN to work on rules for lethal autonomous weapons
United NationsAP The Vatican’s top diplomat urged world leaders Tuesday to put a pause on lethal autonomous weapons systems for long enough negotiate an agreement on them, joining a series of UN General Assembly speakers who have expressed concern about various aspects of artificial intelligence. “It is imperative to ensure adequate, meaningful and consistent human oversight of weapon systems,” Archbishop […]
Vatican minister visits Ukraine as Pope toes delicate line
Vatican CityAP The Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, is heading to Kyiv this week as the Holy See seeks to balance its concern for Ukrainians with its efforts to keep open a channel of dialogue with Russia. Gallagher is due to arrive Wednesday and meet Friday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, a visit […]
Vatican envoy slams Lebanese politicians during visit to Beirut
Beirut, LebanonReuters A Vatican envoy criticised Lebanon’s politicians on his visit to Beirut on Tuesday, calling for an end to “the few profiting of the suffering of many” in a financial crisis which has plunged the bulk of the country into poverty. Vatican’s foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher speaks at the presidential palace in Baabda, […]
Pope: Lebanon must remain a “land of tolerance, pluralism”
Rome, ItalyAP Pope Francis insisted Thursday that Lebanon must remain a “land of tolerance and pluralism” as he welcomed the country’s Christian patriarchs to the Vatican to pray for an end to the economic and political crisis that has thrown the country into chaos and threatened its Christian community. Francis presided over an evening prayer […]
Vatican hosts faith leaders ahead of Glasgow climate meeting
Rome, ItalyAP The Vatican will host a gathering of faith leaders this fall to build momentum behind a moral appeal for strong, courageous commitments to be taken at a November climate change conference in Glasgow, organisers said Thursday. The Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, said the 4th October gathering, sponsored by the British and […]
Pompeo, Vatican talk China after tensions spill out publicly
Rome, ItalyAP The US and the Vatican butted heads over China on Thursday as the Holy See chafed at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s public call to take a harsher stance against Chinese restrictions on religious freedom. The State Department sought to play down the differences, but tensions were palpable during Pompeo’s two-day visit […]