Rome — The Vatican has blasted the practices of gender-affirming surgery and maternal surrogacy in a new document, declaring both are inconsistent with God’s plan for human life. The Catholic Church’s document puts both practices on a par with abortion and euthanasia in terms of their perceived negative impact on human dignity. The document, titled …
Pope Francis made renewed calls on Easter Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages in a peace-focused address marking the most important day on the Christian calendar. Issued on: 31/03/2024 – 13:06 1 min Francis presided over Mass in a packed St Peter’s Square, and then delivered his …
Pope Francis carried out a heartfelt gesture by washing and kissing the feet of 12 women inmates at a Rome prison during a Holy Thursday ceremony. This act highlighted his dedication to service and humility. The 87-year-old pontiff, facing mobility challenges due to recent health concerns, conducted the ritual from his wheelchair. The venue at …
Pope Francis on Monday deplored the desperate humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages in his Christmas message. Issued on: 25/12/2023 – 12:53 3 min “My heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of 7 October, and I reiterate my urgent appeal for …
The Vatican on Monday approved blessings for same-sex couples, a hugely contested issue in the Catholic Church, as long as they are not in contexts related to civil unions or weddings. Issued on: 19/12/2023 – 09:45 2 min In a document approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in …
Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. Pope Francis waves during the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his …
A Vatican tribunal on Saturday convicted a cardinal of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison in one of several verdicts handed down in a complicated financial trial that aired the city state’s dirty laundry and tested its justice system. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal …
A Vatican tribunal on Saturday convicted a cardinal of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison in one of several verdicts handed down in a complicated financial trial that aired the city state’s dirty laundry and tested its justice system. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court, …
Saturday schedule canceled, Vatican says Saturday, November 25, 2023 3:27PM ROME — Pope Francis went to the hospital Saturday for tests after he came down with the flu, but the results ruled out any respiratory problems, the Vatican said. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, underwent a CAT scan, …
The Vatican announced Wednesday that transgender people can be baptized and become godparents under certain conditions, as well as serve as witnesses to church weddings. The statement, which was written in Portuguese, was made in response to a Brazilian bishop who asked the Vatican about the church’s stance on transgender people within its congregations. The …