Apr 04 In Easter speech, pope calls wars in pandemic 'scandalous' By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press Pope Francis in his traditional Easter Sunday address denounced as “scandalous” how armed conflicts continue to rage even as the coronavirus pandemic has triggered severe social and economic suffering and swollen the ranks of the poor. Continue reading
Mar 21 Pope decries shame of racism, like 'virus' lurking in wait By Associated Press Pope Francis has denounced racism, likening it to a virus that lurks in waiting and continues to be shameful. Francis in a tweet on Sunday called racism “a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and… Continue reading
Mar 16 Watch 6:52 Could the Vatican's decree on same-sex unions turn people away from church? By Amna Nawaz After Pope Francis initially signaled support for same-sex unions, the Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot support them, saying God “cannot bless sin.” The latest decree has disappointed LGBTQ advocates and cast doubt on the church’s acceptance of… Continue watching
Mar 15 Vatican bars same-sex union blessing, says God 'can't bless sin' By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press The Vatican's orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions. Its conclusion was "negative."… Continue reading
Mar 07 Where IS ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuild By Nicole Winfield, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic heartland, which was nearly erased… Continue reading
Mar 06 Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric deliver message of coexistence By Nicole Winfield, Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press Pope Francis walked through a narrow alley in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf for a historic meeting with the country’s top Shiite cleric Saturday, and together they delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence in a country still reeling from… Continue reading
Mar 05 Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic By Nicole Winfield, Samya Kullab, Associated Press Pope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his… Continue reading
Feb 20 Pope, others hail Italian health workers on COVID anniversary By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press Pope Francis and Italy’s president on Saturday marked a newly established annual day to honor doctors, nurses and other health care workers, exactly one year after the nation’s first known native case of COVID-19 emerged. Continue reading
Jan 11 Watch 3:25 News Wrap: States expand COVID-19 vaccinations amid supply shortages In our news wrap Monday, states begin widening vaccination campaigns amid frustrations, Michigan bans the open carrying of guns in the state Capitol, President-elect Biden picks long-time diplomat Williams Burns for CIA director, Israel is moving forward with plans for… Continue watching
Dec 30 Argentina's Senate passes law legalizing abortion By Associated Press The vote means that abortion will be legalized up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and also will be legal after that time in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life. Continue reading