Prior to 1964, no pope had left Italy for 150 years. The advent of the 747 and long-haul flights enabled popes to finally visit the world, and the world to visit the pope.
Pope Francis
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
‘We thank God for the pope’: Takeaways from Pope Francis’ visit to the D.R.C.
In the D.R.C., Pope Francis has shown his advanced age and physical mobility problems have not limited his extraordinary capacity to console the afflicted, call evildoers to conversion and sustain the faithful in hope.
Posted inExplainer, Politics & Society
Three things to know about Pope Francis’ visit to South Sudan
The contemporary tension in South Sudan has a complex and disturbing history.
Posted inInterviews, Politics & Society
Congolese Jesuit on Pope Francis’ Africa visit: ‘Women are expecting some changes to happen’
Toussaint Kafarhire Murhula, S.J., a priest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, describes the joy of Congolese people at the pope’s visit and his hopes for what the pope’s journey might bring.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Pope Francis tells foreign exploiters in Congo: ‘Hands off Africa!’
”Hands off Africa!” Pope Francis said on the first day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Stop choking Africa: It is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis taps Chicago-born bishop to lead Vatican department that evaluates new bishops
The decision comes at a time when Cardinal Ouellet is pursuing a defamation case against a Canadian woman church worker, who had accused him of unwanted sexual touching.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
What to expect during Pope Francis’ visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan
Pope Francis will make his fourth journey to Africa on January 31. Hopes are high that Francis’ visit may kick-start the struggling peace processes in both countries.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis makes urgent appeal for peace in Holy Land
He called for dialogue “immediately and without delay.”
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
Podcast: Cardinal Müller, former head of the C.D.F., criticizes Pope Francis in new book
This week on Inside the Vatican, Gerry and Ricardo discuss the new book by Cardinal Gerhard Müller which blasts Pope Francis and some of his actions, and Francis’ upcoming trip to Africa.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Decriminalization and dialogue: What statements from Pope Francis and Cardinal McElroy mean for L.G.B.T. Catholics
The pope and Cardinal McElroy both made statements this week on L.G.B.T. issues, which have until recently not been discussed by church officials.