Tag: Pope Francis
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Better to be an atheist than a hypocrite – Pope Francis
Pope Francis has criticized hypocrites in the Catholic Church, the pontiff said on Wednesday during his general audience in the Vatican. “How often do we see the scandal of these people who go to church and are there every day, and then they lead a life in which they hate others or talk badly about…
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Breaking: Vatican spokesman, deputy resign
The spokesman for the Vatican and his deputy resigned suddenly on Monday, an official statement said. The statement gave no reason for the resignation of Greg Burke, an American, and Paloma Ovejero, a Spaniard. But they quit several weeks after Pope Francis appointed an Italian journalist and personal friend, Andrea Tornielli, to become editorial director…
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Pope Francis to visit Bulgaria, Macedonia in May
Pope Francis plans to visit Bulgaria and Macedonia from May, the Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, said on Thursday. Francis is scheduled to visit Sofia and Rakovski in Bulgaria during May 5-7 and Skopje in Macedonia on May 7, a statement said. The trip is set to be the pontiff’s fourth foreign trip for 2019. He…
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Pope removes 2 cardinals hit by scandal from group of close advisers
Pope Francis on Wednesday removed two cardinals who have been hit by scandals from his group of close advisers, the Vatican said. The two are Cardinal George Pell of Australia and Francisco Javier Errázuriz of Chile. Both have been the subject of allegations related to sexual abuse — accusations they have denied. A third cardinal…
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Pope Francis condemns anti-Semitism amid increased attacks on Jews
Pope Francis on Monday called for the eradication of anti-Semitism following an increase in attacks and hate directed at Jews in several countries. Francis stressed that it was vital to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. In the worst attack ever against U.S. Jews, a gunman yelling “All Jews must die” stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue…
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Child abuse: Pope condemns clergy sex scandals
Pope Francis says clergy sex abuse scandals are an “open wound” that must be treated with “firm and decisive” action. Pope Francis said this at the Marian Shrine of Knock on Sunday, his second day in Ireland. “This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice,” Francis…
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Pope names Venezuelan archbishop as new Vatican ‘chief of staff’
A Venezuelan archbishop, who served as Pope Francis’ ambassador to Mozambique was named on Wednesday as the Vatican’s new substitute of the Secretariat of State. The head of the Secretariat of State is considered the Vatican’s unofficial prime minister, and the substitute can be compared to a chief of staff position. Monsignor Parra, 58, will…
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Breaking: Pope declares death penalty inadmissible in all circumstances
The Roman Catholic Church on Thursday formally changed its teaching to declare the death penalty inadmissible in all circumstances. TheNewsGuru reports the Vatican said it had changed its universal catechism to reflect Pope Francis’ total opposition to the death penalty. Previously the catechism, a summary of Church teaching, had allowed the death penalty in rare…
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Pope condemns Gaza killings, says Mideast needs justice, peace
Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the killing of Palestinians near the Gaza-Israel border, saying the deaths would only lead to more violence, and appealed for dialogue to bring justice and peace to the Middle East. “I express my great pain for the dead and wounded and I am close in prayer and affection to all…
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Pope Francis prays by Bello’s grave, urges Church must help the poor
The main concern of the Catholic Church must be to help the poor, Pope Francis said on a Friday pilgrimage to southern Italy in honour of a local bishop who is a candidate for sainthood. Francis was paying a half-day visit to Alessano and Molfetta in Puglia, the region that forms the heel of Italy’s…