Culture news Secret 13th century escape passage for popes reopens to the public A historic secret passage connecting the Vatican with Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo has reopened to the public on Monday. 24/12/2024
Europe News Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens right in time for Vatican's Jubilee Rome's iconic fountain opened after roughly three months of renovations, a project that cost €327,000. 23/12/2024
Europe News Pope calls for ceasefire on all war fronts in pre-Christmas prayer Francis delivered his Sunday blessing from indoors with Vatican officials citing the cold weather and his upcoming busy Christmas schedule. 23/12/2024
Europe News Vatican unveils solar panel roof as part of green energy transition Pope Francis outlined his green vision for the Vatican in his 'Brother Sun' letter in June. In it he said solar panels would be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome and the power generated from that could supply all of Vatican City's energy needs. 21/12/2024
Europe News Rome prepares for Pope Francis' second Jubilee In recent months, the city has been transformed into an open-air construction site working towards accommodating some 35 million expected visitors for the Jubilee. 05/12/2024
Mobility Pope Francis goes electric with first eco-friendly 'Popemobile' The Pope will use the electric Mercedes G-Class to greet crowds during General Audiences and other official ceremonies. 05/12/2024
Culture news Vatican to publish new magazine with Pope replying readers’ questions The magazine, as well as the livestream of St. Peter's tomb in the Vatican, are part of the outreach programme for the 2025 Jubilee. 26/11/2024
Vatican Abuse survivors push Vatican for global zero-tolerance policy The policy, which permanently removes priests for a single act of sexual abuse, is currently limited to the US. 19/11/2024
Culture news Rome's Jubilee year mascot is an anime-inspired pilgrim Created by Roman designer Simone Legno, the mascot represents a pilgrim inspired by Japanese comics in an attempt to appeal to young people. 13/11/2024
EuroVerify AI-generated image of Vatican 'devil worship' goes viral A picture showing priests and cardinals gathered around a Satanic-like figure in a black mass is circulating on social media, shared in various contexts. 12/11/2024
Travel News Rome’s Jubilee preparations see Trevi fountain replaced by ‘ugly’ pool Rome is under construction ahead of next year's holy event. 04/11/2024
Cinema Thriller about electing a pope comes close to current Vatican debates 'Conclave' draws the crowds at the Rome Film Festival near the Vatican, but is it too close to the bone for Pope Francis? 27/10/2024
Italy Pope closes Synod but questions over women's role in the church remain The synod’s final document leaves key issues on women’s roles unresolved, with calls for greater inclusion going unanswered. 27/10/2024
Europe News Roberta Metsola praises Pope for promoting peace European Parliament President Roberta Metsola met with Pope Francis on Friday to discuss key issues on the European agenda and emphasised the shared commitment to reconciliation and peace. 25/10/2024
Vatican Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including one from Ukraine The pope named the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia, Bishop Mykola Bychok, in recognition of the ongoing war in Ukraine. 06/10/2024
Belgium Pope to face appalling Catholic abuse legacy on Belgium trip Revelations of Belgium's horrific abuse scandal have dribbled out in bits since 2010, when the country's longest-serving bishop was allowed to resign without punishment, after admitting he had sexually abused his nephew. 26/09/2024
Bosnia and Herzegovina Vatican backs devotion at Bosnian shrine where Virgin Mary 'appeared' The Vatican did not rule that the accounts that children and teenagers saw Mary in the village of Međugorje in 1981 were authentic, but it said that the spiritual experience of visiting the shrine justified pilgrimages there. 19/09/2024
Timor-Leste Pope calls for protection of young people during visit to Timor-Leste It is an indirect acknowledgment of the abuse scandal involving Nobel Peace Prize-winning independence hero, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo. 10/09/2024
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. 09/09/2024
Green 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. 07/08/2024