After a 57-year stretch of loyalty to the same company, papal travel is set to change this fall with the closure of Italy’s national airline Alitalia, which has taken four popes to a total of 171 countries on all continents.
Pope Francis
Bioethicist: Conscience Must be Protected in Vaccination Mandate Debate
While Pope Francis, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, and other prelates emphasize the Catholic Church’s pro-COVID-19 vaccination stance, what remains murky is its position on vaccination mandates and religious exemptions.
A Church in Mission or A Church in Meetings?
On the Solemnity of Christ the King in 2013, Pope Francis completed the work of the 2012 Synod of Bishops with the apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), issuing a ringing call for the entire Church to “embark on a new chapter of evangelization.” Catholicism, the Pope urged, must move from maintenance to mission: “from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry.”
Vaccination Is an Act of Love, Pope Francis Says in Ad Campaign
When each individual makes a small act of charity, like getting the COVID-19 vaccine, every gesture added together can transform the world, Pope Francis said in a global ad campaign.
Two Nuns Killed in South Sudan After Vehicle Ambushed Along Highway
Two Catholic nuns were shot and killed along a highway in South Sudan Aug. 16 as they were returning home to Juba. Seven other sisters survived the attack.
Pope Prays For Peace in Afghanistan as Taliban Takes Control
Hours before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, Pope Francis expressed his hope for the peace and safety of the country’s citizens.
U.S. Church Offers Prayers For Haiti After Devastating Earthquake
The president of the U.S. bishops conference expressed his “heartfelt prayers for the people of Haiti who are mourning the loss of loved ones and are suffering” after an earthquake hit the Caribbean nation early on Aug. 14.
Pope Francis Extends his Condolences After Murder of French Priest Father Olivier Maire
At his general audience Aug. 11, Pope Francis told French-speaking visitors that it was “with great sorrow” that he learned of the Aug. 6 murder.
Italian Police Identify Sender of Envelope with Bullets Addressed to Pope Francis
Italian police identified the sender of the letter addressed to Pope Francis that contained three bullets as a French citizen “already known to Vatican security.” The name of the individual has not been released by authorities.
Police Investigating Source of Letter Containing Bullets Addressed to Pope Francis
Italian police have launched an investigation after postal workers discovered an envelope containing three bullets and addressed to “the pope.”