Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Sunday called for an immediate end to violence in Syria to allow aid deliveries, especially in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta which has been hit by regime bombardment. “This February has been one of the most violent (periods) in …
Read More »Pope condemns media denigration of migrants
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Monday criticised media which “denigrates” migrants through emotive or incomplete reporting on their situation. “Some months ago I saw a newspaper headline about a small town in Italy which read, ‘this is the town where there were the most rapes this …
Read More »Pope praises Korean Olympic rapprochement
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Wednesday praised as a gesture for a “better world” plans for a joint parade Friday by delegations from South and North Korea to open the Winter Olympics. “The traditional Olympic truce this year takes on special importance,” the pontiff said …
Read More »Rome bans protests ahead of Erdogan talks with pope
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet Pope Francis on Monday, with a protest ban imposed in central Rome as feelings run high over Turkey’s offensive against Kurdish militia inside Syria. For the first such visit by a Turkish leader for 59 years, …
Read More »Pope to send investigator to Chile over accused bishop
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis will send the Vatican’s top expert on sex abuse to Chile to hear from witnesses in the case of a Chilean bishop accused of covering for a paedophile priest, the Vatican announced Tuesday. The pope’s decision was taken on the basis of …
Read More »Pope offers apologies for comments on accused bishop
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, Undefined | AFP | Pope Francis on Monday apologised to victims of sexual abuse after he caused outrage by appearing to support a controversial Chilean bishop. The pope acknowledged he had “hurt” people by suggesting there was no “proof” against Juan Barros, who is accused of covering …
Read More »Pope Francis urges DR Congo to ‘avoid all forms of violence’
Lima, Peru | AFP | Pope Francis called Sunday for authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to “avoid all forms of violence” after a crackdown on protesters in the capital left six dead. Francis, who was in Peru on the final day of a South American tour, called on …
Read More »Scandals overshadow pope’s meetings in Chile
Santiago, Chile | AFP | Pope Francis will hold a closely watched meeting with members of Chile’s under-fire clergy on Tuesday, the first full day of his visit to a country whose Church is beset by sex abuse scandals. He arrived in Santiago Monday night and was received by leftist President …
Read More »Do not fear the other, pope says on World Migrant Day
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis called Sunday for hospitality towards migrants, calling it a “sin” to give in to fear of the other as he marked the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. “It is not easy… to put oneself in the shoes of people so …
Read More »Churches in Chile firebombed ahead of pope visit
Santiago, Chile | AFP | Three Catholic churches were firebombed in the Chilean capital Santiago on Friday, days before the start of a visit to the country by Pope Francis. President Michelle Bachelet condemned the incidents, which happened during the night and caused minor damage. “It’s very strange, because it’s …
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