Cardinal Matteo Zuppi will be in Moscow June 28-29 “as the envoy of Pope Francis,” the Vatican announced today, on the second stage of a mission to explore ways to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
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
New research reveals Argentine bishops knew the military junta was ‘disappearing’ people and chose not to speak out publicly
The Argentine bishops knew for certain as early as 1979 that it was the military junta’s official policy to “disappear” people in order to quash opposition. The Vatican urged the bishops’ conference to intervene using all possible means.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Vatican releases Synod document calling for discussion of women, LGBT Catholics, church authority and more
The synod’s working document, released at the Vatican on June 20, highlights three priorities for building a synodal church: communion, mission and participation.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis to leave hospital tomorrow and return to Vatican
Pope Francis’ recovery from an operation for an incisional hernia on June 7 has “progressed in a regular way,” and he will be discharged from hospital and return to the Vatican on Friday morning, June 16.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Surgeon: Pope Francis will not recite the Angelus on Sunday
Pope Francis’ recovery from the operation for an incisional hernia is “progressing well,” but on the advice of his doctors, he will not recite the midday Angelus in public from Gemelli Hospital on Sunday.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis thanks children for the love and drawings they have given him while he recovers from surgery
Rome’s Gemelli hospital shared photographs of some drawings, cards and crafts that children and young adults recovering in its pediatric oncology ward had sent to Pope Francis during his recovery.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
‘Do not be afraid, we are with you!’: Four kids in children’s hospital send Pope Francis a get-well card
Four children from Bambino Gesú Children’s Hospital in Rome sent a colorful drawing to the pope, depicting him in a hospital bed, with the message, “Do not be afraid, we are with you!”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Surgeon: Pope Francis is ‘alert’ and cracking jokes after hernia operation
“Pope Francis is alert and conscious and [sends] thanks for the many messages of closeness and prayers that have reached him immediately,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis’ 3-hour abdominal surgery finished ‘without complications’
“The surgery on the pope has finished,” the Vatican press office said in a statement on the evening of June 7. “It was done without complications, and lasted three hours.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis returned to Gemelli Hospital today for a scheduled check-up
Because his check-up was on Tuesday, a day on which he normally does not have any audiences in the Vatican, it seems reasonable to say the visit was scheduled in advance.