Vatican cardinal and nine others will stand trial over purchase of property in Chelsea 

Vatican cardinal and nine others will stand trial on charges including extortion, embezzlement and fraud over purchase of property in Chelsea using Church funds Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu will appear before the tribunal of the Holy See The 73-year-old was dismissed from a powerful Vatican job last September Becciu charged with embezzlement, abuse of power … Read more

Pope Francis announces ‘marathon’ month of prayer for May to end Covid-19 pandemic

Pope Francis has announced a ‘marathon’ month of prayer throughout May with the aim of ending the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pope has encouraged Catholics around the world to dedicate next month to praying for the end of the virus which has seen more than three million people die. The month will involve 30 Marian shrines, … Read more

Pope Francis pays tribute to Prince Philip in telegram to the Queen

Pope Francis today paid tribute to Prince Philip and praised him for his ‘distinguished record’ of public service and his devotion to his marriage and family. The leader of the Catholic Church said he was ‘saddened’ to learn of Prince Philip’s death on Friday at the age of 99 and offered his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Her Majesty … Read more

Pope Francis pays tribute to Prince Philip in telegram to the Queen

Pope Francis today paid tribute to Prince Philip and praised him for his ‘distinguished record’ of public service and his devotion to his marriage and family. The leader of the Catholic Church said he was ‘saddened’ to learn of Prince Philip’s death on Friday at the age of 99 and offered his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Her Majesty … Read more

Joe and Jill Biden use their Easter message to encourage Americans to get vaccinated

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden encouraged Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccines as part of their Easter Sunday message.  ‘We share the sentiments of Pope Francis, who has said that getting vaccinated is a moral obligation, one that can save your life and the lives of others,’ the president said in a … Read more

Joe and Jill Biden use their Easter message to encourage Americans to get vaccinated

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden encouraged Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccines as part of their Easter Sunday message.  ‘We share the sentiments of Pope Francis, who has said that getting vaccinated is a moral obligation, one that can save your life and the lives of others,’ the president said in a … Read more

Covid lockdown: Millions of Christians mark Palm Sunday as Pope Francis leads mass at Vatican

Millions of Christians across the world today marked a second Palm Sunday during the pandemic as Pope Francis warned ‘the Devil is taking advantage of the crisis to sow distrust, desperation and discord’.  The pontiff traditionally leads a Palm Sunday procession through St Peter’s Square in front of tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists clutching … Read more

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country Francis and his entourage were waved off by Iraq’s president at Baghdad airport He will fly back to Rome after covering more than 900 miles on his four-day trip  The 84-year-old pontiff urged Iraqis to embrace diversity and reject extremism  By Tim Stickings … Read more

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country

Pope Francis leaves Iraq after successful first-ever papal visit to the country Francis and his entourage were waved off by Iraq’s president at Baghdad airport He will fly back to Rome after covering more than 900 miles on his four-day trip  The 84-year-old pontiff urged Iraqis to embrace diversity and reject extremism  By Tim Stickings … Read more

Pope Francis holds historic meeting with powerful Shia Islam cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistan

Pope Francis today held a historic meeting with the top Shia Islam cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on day two of his landmark visit to Iraq. The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to the Gulf, met with the Grand Ayatollah in Najaf as his four-day trip … Read more