An artistic masterpiece conceived by the Renaissance master Raphael was on display for one week in the Sistine Chapel to help celebrate the 500-year anniversary of the artist’s death.
International News
Survivors Storm Rome to Mark Anniversary of Global Abuse Summit
This week, clerical abuse survivors from around the world have flocked to Rome to mark the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis’s global summit on child protection, which took place at the Vatican in February of last year.
Bari Trip Gives Pope a Chance to Help Save Christianity in the Middle East
During the Roman Empire, the entire Mediterranean region was known as Mare Nostrum,“Our Sea.” It was an imperial assertion of dominance, of course, but it also reflected the idea that the peoples of the Mediterranean are linked by geography and destiny, sharing a common fate.
Pope Says New Vatican Finance Laws, Norms Are Working
The decade-long process of updating the laws of Vatican City State is part of the Vatican’s support for international commitments to protect people and safeguard vulnerable groups, who are “frequently the victims of new, odious forms of illegality,” Pope Francis said.
Gunmen Attack Church in Burkina Faso, Kill 24
Twenty-four people, including a church pastor, were killed during a Sunday service on Feb. 16 at a Protestant church in Burkina Faso, according to the regional governor.
Public Masses Canceled in Hong Kong as Fears Over Coronavirus Swell
Responding to a government appeal for citizens to stay home in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the administrator of the Hong Kong diocese has suspended public Masses until the end of the month, including the Ash Wednesday service marking the beginning of the Lenten season.
Pope Francis Demurs on Issue Of Married Priests in Amazon
Pope Francis’ highly anticipated document on the Amazon, released on Feb. 12, bypasses two hot-button issues looming over its publication — married priests and women deacons. Meanwhile, it calls for “outrage” over the treatment of the region’s land and its peoples.
Human Trafficking: Millions Are Trapped in Forced Marriages, Labor
Around the world, human trafficking has reached horrific new heights. Fueled by conflict, poverty, food insecurity and the effects of climate change, traffickers are finding new opportunities to prey on those who are searching for safety. Pope Francis, who has made combating human trafficking a priority, recently acknowledged the impact of Talitha Kum at an exhibit in Rome.
Only in Print: Coptic Christians Are Still Enduring Brutal Violence in Egypt | February 15, 2020
Gruesome incidents of violence against Christians in Egypt show the danger they continue to face in the Muslim-majority country, despite President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi’s promises to protect them.
Pope Ducks Debates Over Married Priests, Women Deacons in Amazon Doc
Pope Francis’s highly anticipated document on the Amazon bypasses two hot-button issues looming over its publication – the possibility of married priests and women deacons – while calling for “outrage” over the treatment of the region’s land and its peoples.
