Pope Francis also appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid to the 2.3 million Palestinians living there.
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 head to Asia and Oceania in September for his longest foreign trip yet
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from Sept. 2 to 13.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
In surprise move, Pope Francis to rehabilitate Benedict XVI’s longtime aide by appointing him nuncio
In a recent interview book, Pope Francis said Archbishop Gänswein “at times made difficulties for me.” Now the former private secretary to Pope Benedict XVI will be made a nuncio in an as-yet-unnamed country.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
New Vatican doc ‘Dignitas Infinita’: What it says on gender theory, surrogacy, poverty and more
The declaration from the Vatican goes beyond the focus on single issues and throws a spotlight on the much broader field of violations of human dignity.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis appoints Italian Cardinal as Major Penitentiary and head of the Catholic Church’s ‘Tribunal of Mercy’
The Major Penitentiary is sometimes referred to as chief confessor of the Catholic Church because he has broad faculties that are reserved to the Holy See to grant pardon and forgiveness for sins for which an ordinary priest or bishop cannot grant absolution.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza after Israeli strike kills 7 aid workers, including one Catholic
Pope Francis appealed for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza after the killing of seven aid workers and the bombing of the Iranian consulate, warning against the war’s escalation.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis opens up about Benedict XVI, past conclaves and more in new book
It appears Pope Francis did not want the story of his relationship with Benedict XVI to be told by others, least of all by Archbishop Georg Gänswein.
Posted inFaith, News
Pope Francis, in Easter message, calls for ceasefire in Gaza and prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine
The pope called for specific, concrete, immediate steps that political leaders could take to end the wars and bring peace to the Holy Land and to Ukraine.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Interview: Pope Francis’ foreign minister on Gaza, Ukraine and the future of the church in China
Does the Holy See think Israel is conducting a genocide in Gaza? Did Pope Francis call on Ukraine to surrender? Gerard O’Connell asks these questions and more in an exclusive interview with Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis condemns ‘vile terrorist attack’ in Moscow at Palm Sunday ceremony
Though Pope Francis skipped over his prepared homily at today’s Palm Sunday Mass, he used the opening of Holy Week to condemn terrorism and war in Moscow, Ukraine and Gaza.