Conversations: Photographer Stephen Wilkes’ Easter Sunday at St Peter’s
JIM MCDERMOTT reports, in an article first published on Religion News Service, that an exhibition of the photographer’s Day and Night view of the Vatican on Easter, one in a series of Wilkes’ epic shots of religion festivals, vaults the day into an almost cosmological framework…
Pope overcomes health concerns to preside over Easter Mass and appeal for peace in Gaza and Ukraine
Updated: 8am, 1st April, 2024 (AEDT) Rome. Italy AP Pope Francis rallied from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems to lead some 60,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday, making a strong appeal for a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St […]
Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily at start of busy Holy Week that will test his health
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, avoiding a strenuous speech at the start of a busy Holy Week that will test his increasingly frail health. Hobbled by bad knees and persistent respiratory problems, Francis also didn’t participate in the procession […]
Vatican to unveil nativity scene celebrating the 800th anniversary of the crèche
Vatican CityRNS A life-size crèche representing the nativity will be unveiled at St Peter’s Square on Saturday, celebrating the 800th anniversary of a Catholic tradition long since adopted by Christians across denominations. The crèche has enjoyed great popularity in Italy and beyond ever since St Francis of Assisi created the first one in 1223 in […]
Pope Francis opens a big Vatican meeting on the church’s future and says ‘everyone’ is welcome
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis said the Catholic Church needed to be rebuilt to make it a place of welcome for “everyone, everyone, everyone,” as he opened a divisive meeting on the future of the church that has sparked hope among progressives and alarm among conservatives. Francis presided over a solemn Mass in St Peter’s Square […]
Pope calls for rival Sudanese parties to lay down arms
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis on Sunday called for warring factions in Sudan to set aside their weapons, expressing sadness at the violence that has continued for more than a month in the African nation. “In encouraging the partial agreements reached so far, I renew my heartfelt plea for weapons to be set aside,” the Pope […]
Pope evokes cold-war replay, says leaders should avoid arms
Vatican City AP Pope Francis urged world leaders Wednesday to use reason and not arms to resolve differences, evoking memories of the 1960s Cold War between Washington and Moscow. At his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square, Francis noted that Tuesday marked the 60th anniversary of the issuance of a Cold War-era encyclical by Pope John […]
Pope at Easter: Pray for Ukrainian, Russian people, refugees
Vatican CityAP In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a “climate of trust.” Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of […]
Pope Francis leads Palm Sunday service, bounces back from illness
Vatican CtyReuters Pope Francis led a Palm Sunday service the day after he was discharged from hospital following a bout of bronchitis, and urged the world to take better care of the poor, the lonely and the infirm. Thousands of people waved palm and olive branches as Francis was driven into St Peter’s Square sitting […]
Pope invites all Christians to event in St Peter’s Square
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis on Sunday invited Christians of all dominations to gather in prayer in St Peter’s Square in September to help further the cause of Christian unity. Pope Francis delivers the Angelus noon prayer in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on Sunday, 15th January, 2023. PICTURE: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia. Speaking during his […]