Pope Francis

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Pope: Priests Can Bless Same-Sex Couples

Those seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to 'exhaustive moral analysis' to get it

(Newser) - If same-sex couples go to their priest looking for a blessing, Pope Francis is cool with it. This news comes via a new document approving a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral...

Pope Celebrates After &#39;Quite a Year&#39;
Children Help Pope Celebrate
Dec 17, 2023 1:05 PM CST

Children Help Pope Celebrate

'It was quite a year' for Francis, who turned 87, professor says

(Newser) - Pope Francis turned 87 on Sunday, closing out a year that saw big milestones in his efforts to make changes in the Catholic Church as well as health scares that raise questions about his future in office. Francis celebrated his birthday with cake during a festive audience with children Sunday...

In a First, Vatican Court Convicts a Cardinal

Angelo Becciu, who was a close adviser to Pope Francis, found guilty of embezzlement

(Newser) - Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a onetime adviser to Pope Francis who was touted as a potential successor, was convicted Saturday by a Vatican court of embezzlement. Cardinal Angelo Becciu was sentenced to 5½ years in prison, the BBC reports. He was charged after an investigation sparked by a losing property investment...

Pope Calls for Global AI Rules
Pope Urges Global AI Treaty
Dec 14, 2023 7:15 PM CST

Pope Urges Global AI Treaty

'Brilliant' technology's dangers require regulation, Francis says

(Newser) - Pope Francis, who has been victimized by the technology, called Thursday for a global treaty to regulate artificial intelligence. In his message marking the World Day of Peace, the pope acknowledged the possible benefits of AI, the Washington Post reports, describing the technology as "brilliant." But it also...

Pope: I've Chosen My Tomb, and It's Not in the Vatican

Francis is working on simplifying papal funeral rites

(Newser) - Pope Francis plans to break with tradition in death as well as in life. In an interview with Mexico's N+ television on Tuesday, the pope said he plans to be the first pontiff in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican, Reuters reports. Francis, who turns...

Pope's Top Critic Is About to Have to Find New Digs

Pontiff has apparently had it with Cardinal Raymond Burke

(Newser) - Cardinal Raymond Burke , an American who's led conservative resistance to Pope Francis' progressive moves since his election a decade ago, has apparently poked the pontiff one too many times. As the New York Times reports, Francis has "frequently demoted and stripped the American cleric of influence"—...

Ailing Pope Will Miss UN Climate Summit

He's recovering from flu, lung inflammation

(Newser) - Pope Francis canceled his trip to Dubai for the UN climate conference on doctors' orders Tuesday, even though he is recovering from the flu and lung inflammation, the Vatican said. Francis, who turns 87 next month, was scheduled to leave Rome on Friday to address the COP28 meeting first thing...

Vatican Reminds Catholics Freemasonry Is Banned

Church believes those Catholics who join are in a state of 'grave sin'

(Newser) - In 1738, Pope Clement XII declared Freemasonry an excommunicable offense, and the Catholic Church's position hasn't softened much since then. The Vatican this week confirmed its ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a secretive and ritualistic society with an estimated 6 million members worldwide. "Active membership in Freemasonry...

After Fierce Criticism, Pope Fires Texas Bishop

Bishop Joseph Strickland has opposed attempts to make church more welcoming

(Newser) - Pope Francis has taken the rare step of removing a bishop who has been a persistent social media critic of his leadership. Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland was relieved of his duties in the Tyler Diocese, announcements by the Vatican and the US Bishops Conference said. Neither gave a reason, Reuters...

Pope's Meeting Calls Expanding Women's Church Roles 'Urgent'

Session is part of Francis' effort to include laypeople in decision-making

(Newser) - Pope Francis' big gathering of Catholic bishops and laypeople declared Saturday that guaranteeing fuller participation of women in church governance is "urgent," calling for research on allowing women to be deacons to be released within a year. After a month of closed-door debate, the Vatican meeting on the...

Gaza Set to Run Out of Electricity Within Hours
Gaza's Sole Power Plant
Has Run Out of Fuel
UPDATED
Oct 11, 2023 7:25 AM CDT

Gaza's Sole Power Plant Has Run Out of Fuel

Hospitals struggle to treat the injured as fuel, medical supplies dwindle

(Newser) - Gaza's only power plant has run out of fuel, forcing it to shut down after Israel cut off supplies, the Energy Ministry said Wednesday. That will leave only generators to power the territory. The blackouts come as Israel has blocked fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip as part of...

Pope's Comments on Same-Sex Unions Make Waves

Francis suggests there could be ways to bless such unions

(Newser) - Pope Francis has suggested there could be ways to bless same-sex unions, responding to five conservative cardinals who challenged him to affirm church teaching on homosexuality ahead of a big meeting where LGBTQ+ Catholics are on the agenda. The Vatican on Monday published a letter Francis wrote to the cardinals...

Pope Enters 'Crucial New Phase' for Church

Francis appoints 21 new cardinals to help him enact his reforms, cement his legacy

(Newser) - Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals at a ritual-filled ceremony Saturday, including key figures at the Vatican and in the field who will help enact his reforms and cement his legacy as he enters a crucial new phase in running the Catholic Church. On a crisp sunny day filled with...

Pope to Europe: There's No Migrant 'Emergency' Here

Francis implores Macron, other leaders to open their doors to people fleeing hardships

(Newser) - Pope Francis challenged French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders to open their ports to people fleeing hardship and poverty, insisting Saturday that the continent isn't facing a migration "emergency," but rather a long-term reality that governments must deal with humanely. For a second straight day...

Pope Arrives in Country With Fewer Than 2K Catholics

Francis is the first pope ever to visit Mongolia

(Newser) - Pope Francis arrived in Mongolia on Friday morning to encourage one of the world's smallest and newest Catholic communities. It's the first time a pope has visited the landlocked Asian country and comes at a time when the Vatican's relations with Mongolia's two powerful neighbors, Russia...

Vatican Walks Back Francis' Praise for 'Russian Empire'

Objections to unscripted remarks come from Ukraine, Eastern Rite archbishop

(Newser) - The Vatican is walking back Pope Francis' words on Russia, while Moscow is walking them forward. As the Wall Street Journal reports, a Vatican rep had this to say about the pontiff's glowing words for Russia's past: "The pope intended to encourage young people to preserve and...

Pope Plans to Visit Country With 1,450 Catholics

Francis' August trip will be first-ever papal visit to Mongolia

(Newser) - The young cardinal in charge of Mongolia's tiny Catholic community said Monday that Pope Francis' upcoming visit to a country with just 1,450 Catholics is evidence of his willingness to travel to the farthest corners of the globe to minister to even a handful of the faithful. Italian...

Pope Accepts Bishop Named By China
Pope Yields
to China on
New Bishop
Jul 15, 2023 3:25 PM CDT

Pope Yields to China on New Bishop

Government filled Shanghai post months ago, despite agreement with Vatican

(Newser) - Pope Francis has given in to China's unilateral appointment of a new bishop in Shanghai, formally recognizing the government's installation of Bishop Shen Bin three months after the fact. The Vatican said Saturday that Francis had appointed Shen as bishop of Shanghai, transferring him from Haimen. The announcement...

Pope Adds to Group That Will Pick His Successor

New cardinals include choices for Hong Kong, Jerusalem

(Newser) - Pope Francis on Sunday announced he has chosen 21 new cardinals, including prelates from Jerusalem and Hong Kong—places where Catholics are a small minority—as he shapes the body of churchmen who will select his successor. The pope announced his picks during his weekly appearance in St. Peter's...

Pope Leaves Hospital 9 Days After Operation

Surgeon says Francis is 'better than before'

(Newser) - Pope Francis was discharged Friday from the Rome hospital where he had abdominal surgery nine days earlier to repair a hernia and remove painful scarring, with his surgeon saying the pontiff is now "better than before" the hospitalization. Francis, 86, left through Gemelli Polyclinic's main exit in a...

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