News of francis

Cardinal slams sex abuse cover-ups at Vatican priest forum

17-02-2022 14:58 An influential cardinal opened a Vatican symposium on the priesthood Thursday apologising for "unworthy ministers" and the cover-up of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, before an audience that included Pope Francis.

Pope calls for 'reality therapy' for Covid vaccine opponents

10-01-2022 12:30 Pope Francis says "reality therapy" was needed to battle "baseless information" putting people off getting jabbed.

Biden sidesteps abortion issue in meeting with Pope Francis

29-10-2021 12:46 President Joe Biden said Pope Francis called him a "good Catholic" as they met Friday at the Vatican at the start of a European trip aimed at reasserting the United States' international credentials.

Fewer Catholics in Europe, more in Africa, Americas

21-10-2021 10:49 The Catholic Church continues to lose followers in Europe, but numbers are booming in Africa and the Americas, according to figures released by the Vatican on Thursday.

Pope Francis leaves hospital after operation

14-07-2021 09:16 Pope Francis on Wednesday left the Rome hospital where the 84-year-old pontiff underwent an operation on his colon on July 4.

Vatican: Pope to return home 'as soon as possible'

13-07-2021 12:52 Pope Francis continues to recover and will return home "as soon as possible" from hospital following surgery on his colon, according to Holy See.

UN rights experts urge Vatican to halt child sex abuse

21-06-2021 11:02 Experts voice "utmost concern about numerous allegations around the world of sexual abuse and violence committed by members of the Catholic Church against children."

Pope Francis: 'Private property is a secondary right'

18-06-2021 18:10 “We should continue exercising special care for the common good” – leader of Catholic Church speaks his mind during a video speech before the International Labour Organisation.

Fernández kicks off Europe trip as Paris Club debt payment nears

10-05-2021 10:04 Argentina has reportedly asked the Paris Club to allow it to delay upcoming US$2.4-billion payment, due at the end of May, until it has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

Pope backs temporary suspension of vaccine patents

09-05-2021 08:28 Pope Francis offered his support Saturday for waiving coronavirus vaccine patents to boost supply to poorer countries, in a video message to the "Vax Live" concert.

Pope Francis urges vaccines for poor in Easter message

04-04-2021 09:04 Pope Francis urged Catholics to remain hopeful in his Easter Sunday address, calling vaccines an "essential tool" in ending the pandemic and urging their swift rollout to the world's poorest countries.

Francis Fukuyama: ‘There’s similarities between populism of Trump and Kirchnerism’

27-03-2021 07:46 US political scientist Francis Fukuyama – perhaps the most important intellectual of the last 50 years – on ‘The End of History,’ the coronavirus pandemic and populism.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Pope recalls his youth playing football, dubs Maradona "poet"

03-01-2021 16:16 The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport in an interview with Italian newspaper.

Argentina's Catholics, evangelicals unite against abortion bill

27-12-2020 09:12 As the Senate prepares for a December 29 vote on a bill that would legalise abortion in the first 14 weeks, the Catholic Church has joined forces with evangelical Christians to fight the measure tooth and nail.

Pope Francis congratulates Biden on election win in phone call

14-11-2020 10:44 Argentine pontiff calls US president-elect, only the second Catholic elected to the White House, to offer congratulations.

Vatican breaks silence, explains pope's civil union comments

02-11-2020 17:36 The Vatican says pontiff's comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context in a documentary that spliced together parts of an old interview, but confirms Francis’ belief that gay couples should enjoy legal protections.

Pope meets with Australian cardinal acquitted of child abuse charges

12-10-2020 12:35 Pope Francis met Monday with Australian Cardinal George Pell for the first time since he was jailed – and then acquitted – on child sex abuse charges.

Pope: Market capitalism has failed in pandemic, needs reform

04-10-2020 09:04 In new encyclical, Argentine pontiff says the coronavirus pandemic has proven that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed and that the world needs a new type of politics.

Prosecutors in Entre Ríos investigate claim priest raped nephew

29-09-2020 14:03 Sergio Decuyper accuses his paternal uncle, Reverend José Francisco Decuyper, of raping him more than 35 years ago. 42-year-old says Pope Francis asked him not to file a criminal complaint.

Pope seeks to 'liberate' Virgin Mary from the Mafia

18-09-2020 14:15 Pope Francis gives blessing to new Vatican think tank that seeks to prevent the Mafia and organised crime groups from exploiting the image of the Virgin Mary for their own illicit ends.