25,000 children and pilgrim sang the pope “Happy Birthday” today in St. Peter’s Square.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will extend the commission for the protection of children for 3 more years
Pope Francis will renew the mandate of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors for another three years, informed sources told America this week.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls on world leaders to “avert a new spiral of violence” in Jerusalem and the Middle East
Sources in the Vatican say they cannot understand how President Trump’s decision to recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel can be in the best interests of the United States.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls for abolition of nuclear arms as ICAN formally receives Nobel Peace Prize
The pope was lauded at the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize for condemning the “false sense of security” of nuclear weapons.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis warns of new ‘tension’ if U.S. embassy is moved to Jerusalem
Without naming President Trump, the pope urged all nations to “respect the status quo” of Jerusalem in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
We have reached “the limit” with nuclear arms, says Pope Francis, and must “go back”
The pope’s comments on nuclear weapons are seen as a significant change from John Paul II’s reluctant acceptance of them for their deterrent value.
Posted inFaith
Pope Francis explains why he did not use the word ‘Rohingya’ in Myanmar
Pope Francis answered questions about avoiding the use of the word “Rohingya” while in Myanmar, during his flight back to Rome this evening.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis: “The presence of God today is also called ‘Rohingya’”
Pope Francis asked for forgiveness Friday from refugees in Bangladesh for all the hurt and indifference Muslim Rohingya have endured.
Posted inPolitics & Society
Pope Francis calls for humanitarian aid and political solution for the Rohingya refugees
While in Bangladesh Pope Francis continued to avoid the “R” word in his calls to aid refugees from the Rakhine State.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
In Bangladesh, Pope Francis will encounter ‘natural and man-made’ disasters
The pope’s coming “will be a message of hope,” Cardinal D’Rozario said.