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Timor-Leste

Pope Francis lands in Timor-Leste for his Asia trip's third leg

About 98% of its 1.3 million people are Catholic, making it the most Catholic country outside the Vatican.

Europe News

Christian pilgrims in Lourdes evacuated after nearby river overflowood

Approximately 450 pilgrims to the Lourdes shrine in France were evacuated after heavy rainfall caused flooding, submerging the popular pilgrimage site.

Europe News

Will Pope Francis stay silent over child abuse scandal in Timor-Leste?

In 2002, the head of Timor-Leste's church abruptly resigned and moved to Mozambique amidst claims he sexually abused young boys over a 20-year period.

Papua New Guinea

Pope visits Catholics in remote coastal town in Papua New Guinea

Pope Francis is the second pope to visit Papua New Guinea, on the second leg of his four-nation trip through Southeast Asia and Oceania.

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Europe News

Ireland to set up inquiry into 'harrowing' abuse at religious schools

The government's scoping inquiry found almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse by hundreds of schools run by religious orders across Ireland.

Earth News

Pope interrupted by activists calling for an end to bullfighting

The animal rights organisation says 10,000s of bulls are killed annually in bullfighting dedicated to Catholic saints.

Culture news

Have archaeologists uncovered a pre-Vatican papal palace?

Experts say the architectural structure – where popes lived before the Vatican became the official residence – could have been built between the 9th-13th century AD.

Europe News

'Democracy is not in good health,' says Pope Francis

The leader of the Catholic Church addressed thousands in Trieste and renewed his commitment to pray and work for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Sudan and Myanmar.

Earth News

Pope: Vatican City will run solely on solar power thanks to new plant

A letter entitled ‘Brother Sun’ laid out the pontiff’s plans.

World News

Vatican calls gender-affirming surgery violations of human dignity

The Vatican's new doctrine put both gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy on par with abortion and euthanasia.

World News

Silence: The sole custodian of San Benedetto al Subasio abbey

A sole custodian watches over the remote St Benedict's Abbey in Assisi.

Art

Pancaked Popes & bananas: The Vatican's choice for the Venice Biennale

An infamous Italian artist will create an outdoor installation for the Vatican’s exhibition, held in a women’s prison on the island of Giudecca. Pope Francis will visit the pavilion in April, marking the first papal attendance at the Venice Biennale.

Vatican

Spanish bishop rebukes priests for hoping Pope 'goes to heaven soon'

Priests from Toledo were chastised for a comment made earlier this month about praying for Pope Francis "so that he can go to heaven as soon as possible."

Turkey

Turkey arrests 47 alleged IS members over Istanbul church attack

The Interior Ministry said police raided 30 locations and arrested 47 people as part of the investigation into the attack.

Vatican

Priest hit by first-ever conviction for sexual abuse in the Vatican

An Italian priest and ex-altar boy has been convicted to 2 years and 6 months in prison for committing sexual abuse against a minor, a student he was tutoring in a vocational institute.

Culture news

Vatican doctrine chief’s book describing orgasms divides Catholics

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez’s 1998 book about mystical-sensual experiences with God describes orgasms in graphic detail. It’s exposing rifts within the Catholic Church.

Vatican

Vatican says blessings for same-sex couples are not heresy

The Vatican said it is “vital” that all bishops’ conferences respect the decision made by Pope Francis last month.

Vatican

Vatican top prosecutor appeals watershed fraud verdict

Despite the Holy See tribunal doling out an unprecedented prison sentence to Cardinal Angelo Becciu for embezzlement, the ruling made clear that the judges rejected most of the 487-page indictment.

World News

Pope Francis celebrates his 87th birthday

The Pontiff continues his reign as the oldest pope in the past century and one of the oldest popes in the Church’s history.

Vatican

Top Cardinal gets Vatican jail term following financial fraud trial

The trial of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former close advisor to Pope Francis, has come to an end following some 2 years of hearings.